| Subject: | Re: bike guy syndrome |
| Date: | 01/31/2005 04:54 AM |
| From: | Eric C. |
|
I think the premise of the article is a little flawed.... whatever diversion or escape cycling may provide for some men is no different than other sports and hobbies that may be considered "guy stuff". and to say that men enjoy or pursue such a diversion specifically to avoid relating to women (consciously or subconsciously) is a bit narrow....if such a phenomenon exists...the discussion should be broader. it's true that men and women are wired differently... it doesn't take a genius to figure that out.. (that whole men are from mars, women from venus thing). it's probably fairer to say that for the most part , from the dawn of time to eternity, guys will tend to enjoy "guy stuff", for better or worse....to express themselves, share their feelings and all that stuff is still pretty much a super-human feat for most males. there is a realsyndrome or dysfunction...where guys will fixate, ramble, and obsess about cycling gear (it could easily be stereos, motorcycles, dungeons and dragons, sports trivia)...and these folks have trouble relating to PEOPLE period....not just women. It's all about social skills. Poor social and emotional development is not a RESULT of an interest or active participation in cycling or any other hobby, but something that my push a person toward a certain activity. I would have to argue that activities like cycling do more good than harm and if there is a negative impact on someone's personal life..that has more to do with the person and their circumstances, social and emotional development and less to do with the actual activity or hobby. Now....triathlon...that's a sport that's screwed up, for sure. and will doom any relationship. :) Eric ------------------- bikemecca.com On Monday, January 31, 2005, at 03:51 AM, ob-@topica.com wrote: -- Topica Digest -- It's not about the bike - or is it? By lynch-@yahoo.com results-Cyclcross World Championsips By cmur-@obra.org FS: Fixed gear and Jamis Mt. Bike By palm-@comcast.net Fw: Road racing clinics? By E-Ra-@comcast.net ------------------------------------------------------------ Date: Sun, 30 Jan 2005 09:08:44 -0800 From: Lynette Chiang <lynch-@yahoo.com> Subject: It's not about the bike - or is it? Folks, I am doing some research for a different kind of bike article. I meet a lot of bike people in my job at Bike Friday. It seems there is a 'bike-guy' syndrome (or 'phenomenon' for those who might take exception to 'syndrome'), where from a young age (or even an old age) a man, typically, uses the bike to escape having to relate, especially to the opposite sex. This has often been written about in the realm of athletics. Perhaps it is no different, and quite a few male cyclists, the ones who have been divorced twice or have been alone for several years) or their estranged partners, tell me that this is a definite syndrome. "I did not know any better." they say. "If only I could have been different, if my father didn't do/say blah blah to me etc etc ". Any thoughts you have on this are welcome. Indicate what I can quote from you and what I cannot. And who else you think I could interview about it. Mainly, I am interested in your view. I received interesting replies from people like Phil Liggett and Maynard Hershon, so it's definitely one to ponder! Maynard of course, wrote the seminal satirical article 'The Rules' back in 1997 about how to meet women on centuries. 'Do not mention bike brand parts' etc. Wry and true. It's OK, also, if you think I am talking a load of post modernist feminist psychobabble - you can tell me so. And of course, there are women who are 'bike gals' but this syndrome it is definitely skewed towards men, particularly in the roadie sense rather than MTB. Send replies about this to lynchiang at yahoo dot com as I am sure many well balanced and happily married or partnered readers will hate to have their brake shoe discussions interrupted by talk about such angst-ridden matters ... :o) Thanks in advance. Lynette Lynette Chiang, Bike Friday World Traveler http://www.galfromdownunder.com PERU trip: http://www.bikefriday.com/bf/galfromdownunder-peru2004 THE HANDSOMEST MAN IN CUBA USA Edition http://www.galfromdownunder.com/cuba "One of the best on-the-road travel books of this generation." - Martin Stevenson, the Launceston Examiner "The only time you will put it down is when you finish it." - Australian Cyclist magazine. "I can't put the @#$% thing down" - Amazon reviews http://tinyurl.com/696bw ISBN: 0-9755816-0-0, $14.95, available from Bike Friday, 1-800-777-0258, serv-@bikefriday.com | Amazon.com |
