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Elizabeth Fu
Tesla Schaeffer
English 131S
1 October 2012
High-Speed Roadside Hazards Are Beneficial to Your Wellbeing
Cycling is commonly associated with athleticism, pride, and as roadside
hazards. Although there may be differing perspectives of cycling, its discourse
community’s behavior remains fairly consistent. Like many sports, cycling began as
a pastime and evolved into a commodity that fuels the mind, body, soul, and
economy. The cycling community is structurally similar to other sports’ discourse
communities, yet unique in its behaviors, and content that is discoursed.
The content discussed within this community can be split between two
genres: competitive and soulful.
The competitive cyclist is known to value
commitment and pride, whereas the soulful rider rides bikes for the sake of
challenge, compassion, and simplicity of the two wheels. Universal topics discussed
are races, mechanics, socialization, current news, and personal achievements.
Community members are generally receptive and outreaching. Generic topics are
discussed more openly with others, through social networking sites, public forums,
and group emails. In comparison, when discoursing content that may be sensitive to
one’s reputation, one is likely to cautiously censor the material, limiting—
sometimes manipulating reality—to suit the rider’s reputation best in the public
eye.
Common public discourse may consist of online forum discussions spanning
from universal topics, bike parts, to personal concerns, athletic hygiene, to public
matters like Lance Armstrong’s doping scandal. This community’s discourse content
encompasses all the social and political aspects of a miniature society—applied to a
specific community. Given an anonymous setting, one can seek advice for more
private matters—athletic hygiene—from a wider audience, typically found online,
without the worry of peer judgment. Other members of this community recognize
that these discussions are well-intentioned and for all to benefit from. Anonymous
communication reveals the cycling community’s bridge between private and public
spheres of discourse.
Regardless of anonymity, members within the cycling discourse community
are typically positive, inspiring, and constructive to those who they are in contact
with. It is not rare to encounter another cyclist who goes out of his way to offer
encouraging words in the form of an inspirational story about overcoming
obstacles—life-changing stories are not rare. Personally, these words of
encouragement continue to inspire my determination to ride, race, and live without
regrets. The personal discourse sphere preaches that actions should be supported
by constructive motives.
There are few topics that are not publically discussed. The most common is
doping, or the ingestion of illegal banned supplemental substances. Professional
cycling is the misunderstood face of cycling. Its universal association with doping
has unfortunately tainted the reputation of the entire sport—encompassing over 10
different disciplines and participants of ages spanning over seventy years. Ingesting
supplements of varying extent is common among cyclists of all expertise—young
and seasoned. These are protein supplements that are legal and commercially
available. Cycling reveres integrity and the ability to overcome obstacles, but when
illegal or banned substances come into play, common members and officials may
turn a blind eye, knowing that others may be on such supplements as well. Legal
supplements are publically and privately discussed, whereas illegal ones are not, in
fear of official consequences.
The vast majority of this community’s content
discussed is for the benefit of all. Involved in a sport that promotes personal
achievement, members push public and personal limits to compete at their pinnacle
performance. These limits include social networking.
The cycling community utilizes a multitude of modes of communication. With
the simplest mechanism of communication being verbal communication, the vast
majority of the community’s members are positive and constructive when
exchanging discourse.
Public means of communication—Facebook, Twitter,
Pinkbike, and public forums—are utilized for topics that pertain to the entire
community. Such topics may include, but are not limited to: training techniques,
public international news, hygiene, dietary plans, events, and commercial product
promotions. Less public, more personal topics such as local events, news, or races
are promoted through more centralized means such as a group Facebook page or
group e-mail.
The most private means of communication would be verbal
communication. Most topics can be discussed verbally. Because most forms of
communication within the community are public, members need to be proactive in
their research. The content within the cycling discourse community grows to cover
broader ranges of topics as the audience size decreases; topics need to be generic
and commonly accepted by the general public, whereas the more controversial the
topic, the more intimate the understanding need be.
Communication is key in this discourse community.
By communicating
through a variety of genres, most audiences are reached. A favorite genre that
shares updates—connecting members—in the cycling world is the video. Not only
do videos convey information, but also videos provide a sense of experience,
participation, and acceptance. Videos are appealing to the senses and the most
effective method of promotion. The compact GoPro action sports video camera’s
signature feature—the ability to be mounted to one’s various body parts, enabling
viewers to experience a simulated experience—is arguably a mode of
communication that keeps members engaged. Another visual genre is the still-life
photo, often as posters, stickers, and advertisements. This is a simple and effective
method of conveying information. A photo does mean a captures an instant in time.
Such photos act as “proof-photos”—proof of product reliability, or event popularity.
Furthermore, members’ value of pride is often conveyed in the number of stickers
on the back of one’s windshield. Advertisements on posters and stickers often
promote events and products. The most common genre is online social networking.
This genre provides current updates—news, events, and products—connecting
members within the community.
Lexis, syntax, and grammar differ between genres within the discourse
community.
Within each genre and content topic, there is always a range of
conversational formality. The vocabulary used frequently includes technical terms
relating to bicycle parts, human body parts, and bicycle-handling techniques. Other
than the use of these technical terms—acceptable in any formality—the
community’s vocabulary is universal, and intuitive. More profound cyclists tend to
use more sophisticated vocabulary, whereas less experienced riders use more
casual and common vocabulary in communication. Yet, light profanity is sometimes
used for emphasis.
Within localized groups of members, casual and slang vocabulary—dude,
bro, sick, gnarly—are common, especially amongst the younger members. This more
casual way of communicating is slightly less effective than more formal vocabulary,
but those within this inner ring of communication understand the lingo well.
The syntax most often utilized is semi-professional, yet simple. Complex
sentence structure is not common; direct and concise sentence structure is most
effective in communicating within the community. This syntax is commonly used for
giving directions, instruction, conversing, and online social networking.
When
riding or racing, terse directional syntax is the preferred form of communication:
“on your right”, “passing”, “ruts”, “switchback”, and “car back”. These directions are
used to communicate location and preserve safety when moving at high speeds.
Grammar is accurate, but mostly casual. To communicate efficiently,
members’ grammar is accurate, concise, and commonly understood rather than
complex and difficult to comprehend. Because communication is key for personal
improvement and relations with others, universal lexis, syntax, and grammar
preserve the community’s culture.
Within the community, there are novices and experts. Differing extents of
experiences distinguish seasoned veterans from greenhorns. Seasoned members
are more knowledgeable within the detail-oriented technical and interactive
societal aspects of the community; they are simply accustomed to functioning within
this miniature society. Their riding experience is apparent in their more skilled and
cautious bike-handling techniques. Although most of the cycling community is wellintentioned, it is apparent that expert members are more beneficial to lessexperienced members’ social growth and riding experience. Novices are often
distinguished by lack of technical term usage and use of less advanced equipment;
professional cycling conveys a materialistic image, but the underlying majority
community accepts and praises perseverance. Although different extents of
experience may distinguish novices from experts, the vast majority is eager to
involve newcomers in this constructive lifestyle. We can accurately assume that
most members are more than willing to assist others, and that experience is easily
distinguished with poise and confidence.
Although I belong within this community, I distinctly remember being on the
outside for seventeen years. On the outside of this community, I was intrigued by
the two-wheeled peloton that passed home every Saturday morning. It always
emitted a sense of mystery.
I had so many questions about the sport, the
determined faces, and what drove them to push pedal stroke after pedal stroke. I
also wondered about their bright, densely designed outfits as I encountered the
occasional cyclist on the road. I thought there were only several types of bicycles,
children’s and adults’. Boy was I ever taken aback when I hopped on this eccentric
community’s bandwagon. What I once referred to as a nuisance on the road soon
became a lifestyle. I learned what a complex and detailed society it was on the
interior. This sport does not simply distinguish the fastest competitor, but its
community is built around self-improvement and camaraderie. Within in the
community, I quickly proved all my superficial assumptions about cycling, wrong.
These were not only two-wheeled road hazards—I admit that they are—but also
respectful, law-abiding citizens who ride for a cornucopia of reasons. Some ride for
exercise, others for a deeper cause, to inspire, be inspired, or for a worthwhile
cause. Many cyclists’ experiences have involved a greater good, often in support of
cancer research, disease prevention, or to assist a fellow cyclist through hard times.
Outside of this community, I did not have much respect for these two-wheeled road
obstacles. Within the community, I have a much more thorough understanding of
this community’s constructive motives, causes, and culture.