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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.