Topic: Michael Shermer - Sport Cycling (1985)

[WC]

Picked this up last night, reading Part I now... My money is on Shermer mentioning Rand as his cycling and fitness mojo benefactor by page 100, and that all things wonderful in cycling are the result of 'bottom up' free market forces (i kid, I kid... kind of)... Ahh, skepticism, the 80s, and cycling; nice.

[WC]

Okay, the black and white photos of Shermer demonstrating how to do weighted lunges in full on cycling gear are... Words can't describe.

[Johnny Slick]

There's that theory about how people who get really, really into Alcoholics Anonymous aren't ending addiction so much as they are replacing one (alcohol) with another (AA meetings). I can't help but think that Shermer's move from radical theism to fairly radical libertarianism is somewhat similar. Oh well. At least he accepts the fact of global warming now.

[WC]

I know, right? Shermer has been so totally ass-backwards wrong over his life on so many things. It is no coincidence that the things he has been wrong about directly correspond to where his political ideology leads him... Okay, maybe I'm just speaking out my ass there, I mean I don't get the christian fundie thing in his youth. But that is forgivable. In the last year or so, it seems, he's been writing an awful lot about libertarianism and his fondness for Rand, her work, and her Objectivism. I'm just gonna say it; Rand was a terrible writer, I mean the pits. L. Ron Hubbard was a better writer. I am having a real problem understanding how these folks, from the 80s College Republicans to todays crop of Randian Libertarians don't see how they are inhabiting an in-group cult based around reading Ayn Rand in adolescence is beyond me.

[WC]

Actually, this is a very interesting book for anyone who is into cycling. And for skeptics or nerds into Shermer's type of long haul marathon cycling (or in my case touring) this oldie from the 80s is like manna from heaven.

[WC]

(page 109) he starts talking about wearing headphones while riding... Keep in mind that this is in the early 80s (remember the Walkman?)... Anyway, a bit of his Libertarianism pops up as he complains about states that are (were) passing laws to prohibit this for safety reasons, and he thought it really ought to be a personal freedom, an individual's choice to decide for themselves if they should or shouldn't wear headphones...

I disagree with Shermer's point back then, I stopped wearing earbuds a while back due to safety concerns. I noticed that other cyclists who wear them have the volume up loud enough that they can't hear my bell, horn, or shouts. When I would wear them, I was always consciously keeping the volume low enough in order to hear for traffic, but not low enough that I could hear other cyclists and pedestrians. After a few close calls where I was at fault, and a bunch of close calls where another oblivious earbud cyclers were at fault, I've sworn it off. I will miss my podcasts and audiobooks on my long hauls and during my commutes. But safety first, both mine, and everyone else's.

*Edited due to atrocious grammer (what else is new).

[Neon Genesis]

Couldn't you just turn the volume down on your iPod?

[WC]

It's too much of a hassle dealing with the volume all the time, and it just isn't safe in the end. I think what I'm gonna do is use bluetooth headset in my right ear, and keep my left ear free for safety. I really do miss listening to books for hours on end in the saddle.

It is also illegal in my area to have buds in, people get cited, but everyone stills does it. All it takes are a few close calls due to headphones to make you think twice about them.

[Johnny Slick]

I used to have a pair of Bluetooth headphones; actually I probably do have them lying around somewhere. My problem with using them walking around was that if I turned my head to the side the connection would be lost for a split second. IMO you're better off using earbuds but leaving one of them out, or using a non-BT single-ear headset for what you're wanting to do.

[WC]

Yeah, Bluetooth always ends up being a headache. Sticking with wired would be smart. I was looking at a flesh colored mic/single bud thing a while ago... Skin toned, so I can sneak it up under my shirt and up my neck and no one would notice, especially those ball busting bike cops on the trails. And then if they want to give me shit about it, I can just holler back something or other about "hands free" and being safe or whatever.

[WC]

Hm, I need to get a longer stem for my handle bars, I've been riding all hunched over in my dropdowns. Thank you 1985 Michael Shermer! You're the best!

[WC]

(snicker) I'm tring to figure out if he came to 'skepticism' (his version of it) while working on this book, or after... He often repeats and antedate about spitting out his nutritionists' pills on an ultra long marathon and realized it was nonsense... Anyway, enjoy, chiropractor and all... Oh you silly Shermer...

More scans to come 

[WC]

From the marvelous chapter "Excellence in Stretching"  (i kid, but seriously, I cannot overemphasize the importance of stretching, expecially the older you get... start young, and keep at it... weird shit happens after 70 miles in the saddle, weird excruciatingly painful shit. Practice good stretching for heavens sake, before and after and during)

[Caffiene]

I cannot overemphasize the importance of stretching

I thought the current science says that stretching is actually bad for you when done before major exercise. IIRC, it causes micro-tears, which decrease performance and at the same time significantly increase the risk of muscle injuries like more major tears and strains. The recommendation is to do a good gradual warm-up to get your muscles active, rather than straining them with stretches.

[WC]

Really?

I'm all ears (this kooky book was published in 84 or something). I'm trying to figure out how to minimize the insane muscle pain I begin getting after about 50 or 60 miles, cause stretching doesn't help much... Terrible pain. It's not like normal cramps, it feels more like deep puncture wounds (which I've had via nail gun, tools, knives, surgery, and a bullet- don't ask, not as bad as it sounds; just life in Utah) and spasms. Weird, I know, but I don't know how else to describe it. Extremely painful.