The social world of cycling explained - sociologically

[cafebeard]

I have just started a blog based on 4 years of research of racing cyclists in training for my PhD - I will post some links to my blog posts soon - if that OK ?

 

[Moderators]

Hi

Blog linking is not really what CycleChat is about, we prefer it if you stay here and talk with us, particularly with a subject that sounds like it could be of interest and benefit to our membership to discuss and engage in conversation on.

In time and with some more posts under your belt, you may be able to put a link to your blog in your signature so people see it when you post. You'll need to have a word with Shaun (AKA da Boss).

Might we also suggest that you look at our Cycling Junkies site, link at the top of the page here, Your research and interest in the subject referred to may well make for an interesting article and may be better placed for a longer discussion piece or series.

 

[S-Express]

Blog linking is not really what CycleChat is about, we prefer it if you stay here and talk with us, particularly with a subject that sounds like it could be of interest and benefit to our membership to discuss and engage in conversation on.

Agree completely. Linking to a blog post simply invites the debate to move somewhere else, which in my mind is a little disingenuous. If the debate is worth having, discuss it on here. That won't get hits on the blog page though.

 

[mjr]

Agree completely. Linking to a blog post simply invites the debate to move somewhere else, which in my mind is a little disingenuous. If the debate is worth having, discuss it on here. That won't get hits on the blog page though.

I don't mind links as long as there's a little summary with it and we can discuss it here. I can understand why people prefer to keep their own blogs rather than post i all on a forum: too much of my old writing has been nuked from the internet when site owners die or close their forums (grr ITV cycling forum!). If the blog post links to the discussion here (as well as whatever comments discussion it has on its own site), it might help more people to discover this site, too. But I'm not @Moderators.

 

[cafebeard]

You missed out the word 'racing' in your title. There's a whole lot more to cycling than racing.

I could not agree more - my research is not about racing but about 'racing cyclists' in the training setting. The term ‘racing cyclist’ applied in my research is used as a general descriptor of the cyclists who comprise my research population, and whose level of cycling participation places them at different points on a continuum of racing cycling participation (created by me simply for the purposes of my research). - thesis extract: "The common denominator across the continuum is that all of the racing cyclists referred to in my work ride ‘road bicycles’ designed for racing which are generally lighter than other types of bicycle, and are equipped with: ‘drop’ handle bars; multiple gears; and, narrow high-pressure tyres" - This was a definition was required for academic readers of my thesis (my examiners) who have limited knowledge of cycling - unlike forum members. Bit of a long-winded reply but I hope it clarifies?

 

[cafebeard]

I don't mind links as long as there's a little summary with it and we can discuss it here. I can understand why people prefer to keep their own blogs rather than post i all on a forum: too much of my old writing has been nuked from the internet when site owners die or close their forums (grr ITV cycling forum!). If the blog post links to the discussion here (as well as whatever comments discussion it has on its own site), it might help more people to discover this site, too. But I'm not @Moderators.

Sorry if I have unintentionally breached blog etiquette. My purpose is to share my original and quite topical research with forum members - and enter in to discussion with them.

 

[Banjo]

I would be interested to read your blog and any disc ussion .

Often wondered what makes cyclists tick.

Any chance of sending a link via a private message.

 

[cafebeard]

Agree completely. Linking to a blog post simply invites the debate to move somewhere else, which in my mind is a little disingenuous. If the debate is worth having, discuss it on here. That won't get hits on the blog page though.

The debate is what is important to me too and I have no wish to appear disingenuous (bit harsh I think) I feel as if I come to the forum offering something that members would be keen to debate - here. I am offering my research up because don't want it to be hidden away behind the 'paywalls' of academic journals. I want to share it with people who I think will be interested - which in turn will provide me with connections to interested parties for future (potential) research engagements.

 

[S-Express]

Often wondered what makes cyclists tick.

At the end of the day, they are just people like any other. My own race team back in the 90s consisted of a PhD biochemist, a shop assistant, a postgrad student, a PR consultant and a telecoms engineer, amongst others. Other than a commitment to cycling/performance, I seriously doubt if there was any 'common thread' linking us all, but I've no doubt the research will be able to prove otherwise.

 

[S-Express]

The debate is what is important to me too and I have no wish to appear disingenuous (bit harsh I think) I feel as if I come to the forum offering something that members would be keen to debate - here. I am offering my research up because don't want it to be hidden away behind the 'paywalls' of academic journals. I want to share it with people who I think will be interested - which in turn will provide me with connections to interested parties for future (potential) research engagements.

Tony - good answer. No issue from me other than a hope to see the discussion on here continue.

 

[r04DiE]

I don't mind links as long as there's a little summary with it and we can discuss it here. I can understand why people prefer to keep their own blogs rather than post i all on a forum: too much of my old writing has been nuked from the internet when site owners die or close their forums (grr ITV cycling forum!). If the blog post links to the discussion here (as well as whatever comments discussion it has on its own site), it might help more people to discover this site, too. But I'm not @Moderators.

^^^This.

 

[Globalti]

I actually believe there's a deep anthropological explanation for sports like cycling, walking and skiing; it first struck me when I used to go mountain biking and I saw members of my club charging around the countryside like a pack of animals patrolling their territory. It is said that golf is actually a subliminal prey-chasing game, a super-formalised substitute for chasing a small animal around a lansdcape that has been manipulated to resemble the savannas where Mankind first began to roam. In the same way I believe that, aside from the enjoyment of exercise and the aesthetic pleasures of landscape, discovery, equipment and adventure, cyclists, walkers, skiers and runners actually satisfy a deep primeval urge to patrol their territory and mark out their boundaries.

 

[Spinney]

I actually believe there's a deep anthropological explanation for sports like cycling, walking and skiing; it first struck me when I used to go mountain biking and I saw members of my club charging around the countryside like a pack of animals patrolling their territory. It is said that golf is actually a subliminal prey-chasing game, a super-formalised substitute for chasing a small animal around a lansdcape that has been manipulated to resemble the savannas where Mankind first began to roam. In the same way I believe that, aside from the enjoyment of exercise and the aesthetic pleasures of landscape, discovery, equipment and adventure, cyclists, walkers, skiers and runners actually satisfy a deep primeval urge to patrol their territory and mark out their boundaries.

At least most of us don't feel the need to leave scent marks while we're at it!

 

[Dogtrousers]

At least most of us don't feel the need to leave scent marks while we're at it!

You don't?

 

[marzjennings]

At least most of us don't feel the need to leave scent marks while we're at it!

Really!? I'd have thought half the hedgerows of England would smell of fox, badger, dog and cyclist markings.