There's a lot of puff in the article, followed by this astounding revelation:
Re/construction refers to the reshaping of the body through relations with technologies and is seen as an ongoing practice.
i.e. Mountain biking gets you buff, but only if done regularly.
In this context, the MtB could be considered as a technology through which the limitations of the body could be 'overcome'. However, dislodgment can also be thought of as a shift from the body being thought of as having an ontology, to a recognition "we are all cyborgs"
Using MTBs to overcome limitations of the body? It's not like I'm going to be able to fly after cycling round the Pentlands. Rather, I will be able to cycle round the Pentlands more easily next time.
And anyway, that we are all half-man, half-bike was covered in Flann O'Brien's The Third Policeman. And if you've not read it, I urge you to. One of the first postmodern novels and hilarious.
I don't get the impression the Sophie Taysom ever rode a MTB or looked at mainstream MTB magazines. Unless I've been bamboozled by the jargon, the article does not cover the issues that advertisements in MTB magazines usually have a scantily-clad women pictured just behind a piece of tech, nor does it cover some of the vituperative misogyny of top MTB riders. For me, those are the important feminist issues regarding MTBing, but then I'm just an old-skool feminist rather than an academic poststructuralist.
Interestingly, I read it that way - unless the context indicates specifically male I interpret "man" as human anyway. All the alternatives are polysylabic and sound awkward - to me they smack of tokenism, and the sort of person who puts lots of effort into getting the words right but never actually does anything.
There was a guardian Notes & Queries discussion years ago about a replacement for man in words like chairman & postman. The most popular suggestion was bod - hence chairbod, postbod, ombudsbod.... I quite like the idea.
Hmm. I haven't read The Third Policeman. Do you have it available for loan?
I don't think misogyny is limited to top riders, but their example is certainly counterproductive. More could be done to make the sport welcoming to women - but then, more could be done to make the sport welcoming, anyway. There are plenty of elitists out there. And I agree about the adverts - though to be fair it's a minority of ads that do that. I choose to shop elsewhere, personally. But MBUK has been pursuing the "Lad's Mag" market, and I stopped buying MBR partly because of their "Workshop Babes". Singletrack seems to be resisting the lure, so far. It would be interesting to see the response if a "reversed" issue of a magazine was produced, how much outrage would there be? Long live Old Skool, I say. If something's an ongoing issue you can't just treat it as a subject for academic study - you have to engage with it.
I do have a copy of The Third Policeman somewhere. When I find it I'll bring it round.
Please share any ideas you have about making MTBing more welcoming! I believe having good rides accessible by public transport would work, but then I would, wouldn't I? And if one hasn't been on a bike for a long time, any gradient is going to be awkward: gears, strength, stamina.
I suppose I shouldn't set the bar too low. If I wanted to take tours with my company I'd want to plan routes that I could do with energy to spare, but not too simple that I'm bored. Maybe I should do some market research.
I was more thinking about the way some riders can be elitist - if you haven't got the right gear, or if you aren't competitive, or in some other way fit into their view of what a "proper" cyclist is then they can be anything from just unwelcoming to downright unpleasant. I guess what I'd try to do is be friendly and supportive, while getting them to gently push their limits. Establish their commitment, budget etc and then make suggestions for kit upgrades etc that would make things easier/more enjoyable for what they want to do. From the point of planning rides I'd be aiming to fing things that are a bit more than they've done before, but not going to utterly defeat them so they gain confidence rather than being discouraged. Measuring their achievements against what they've done before, not what a much more experienced rider does. But I was really thinking about us in general as people whose friends might give it a try, or who might meet newbies while out and about. I suspect this is better done over a few beers - it could go on for a while!
Recommendations for kit upgrades are good, but adjusting the kit that they already have may be better. I regularly see cyclebods riding round with their saddle too low.
I've kindof missed the thread here, but yes to beers! Was that the question?
That's true - how to wear a helmet is another one. Loads of people, particularly women, wear them on the back of their heads - no frontal impact protection, and pressing on the neck if they go backwards. Basic bike setup is a good idea too. Adjusting suspension appropriately, brake lever reach, travel and bite point. Gear indexing. Tyre pressure. Appropriate clothing - not overdressing so the sweat cills you. Appropriate fabrics - not jeans!
We don't have any plans for this evening - fancy dropping by for some beer & chat?
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From:
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Re/construction refers to the reshaping of the body through relations with technologies and is seen as an ongoing practice.
i.e. Mountain biking gets you buff, but only if done regularly.
In this context, the MtB could be considered as a technology through which the limitations of the body could be 'overcome'. However, dislodgment can also be thought of as a shift from the body being thought of as having an ontology, to a recognition "we are all cyborgs"
Using MTBs to overcome limitations of the body? It's not like I'm going to be able to fly after cycling round the Pentlands. Rather, I will be able to cycle round the Pentlands more easily next time.
And anyway, that we are all half-man, half-bike was covered in Flann O'Brien's The Third Policeman. And if you've not read it, I urge you to. One of the first postmodern novels and hilarious.
I don't get the impression the Sophie Taysom ever rode a MTB or looked at mainstream MTB magazines. Unless I've been bamboozled by the jargon, the article does not cover the issues that advertisements in MTB magazines usually have a scantily-clad women pictured just behind a piece of tech, nor does it cover some of the vituperative misogyny of top MTB riders. For me, those are the important feminist issues regarding MTBing, but then I'm just an old-skool feminist rather than an academic poststructuralist.
HTH!
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Re:
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no subject
There was a guardian Notes & Queries discussion years ago about a replacement for man in words like chairman & postman. The most popular suggestion was bod - hence chairbod, postbod, ombudsbod.... I quite like the idea.
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ombusbod rocks!
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no subject
From:
no subject
I don't think misogyny is limited to top riders, but their example is certainly counterproductive. More could be done to make the sport welcoming to women - but then, more could be done to make the sport welcoming, anyway. There are plenty of elitists out there. And I agree about the adverts - though to be fair it's a minority of ads that do that. I choose to shop elsewhere, personally. But MBUK has been pursuing the "Lad's Mag" market, and I stopped buying MBR partly because of their "Workshop Babes". Singletrack seems to be resisting the lure, so far. It would be interesting to see the response if a "reversed" issue of a magazine was produced, how much outrage would there be? Long live Old Skool, I say. If something's an ongoing issue you can't just treat it as a subject for academic study - you have to engage with it.
From:
Re:
Please share any ideas you have about making MTBing more welcoming! I believe having good rides accessible by public transport would work, but then I would, wouldn't I? And if one hasn't been on a bike for a long time, any gradient is going to be awkward: gears, strength, stamina.
I suppose I shouldn't set the bar too low. If I wanted to take tours with my company I'd want to plan routes that I could do with energy to spare, but not too simple that I'm bored. Maybe I should do some market research.
From:
no subject
From:
Re:
I've kindof missed the thread here, but yes to beers! Was that the question?
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no subject
We don't have any plans for this evening - fancy dropping by for some beer & chat?
From:
no subject
Although I've never done anything this theory-heavy, because it bores me to tears.