Help with my Presentation

[Geonz]

... Monday I am going to give a 1-hour "Professional Development" presentation about "Blending Bicycles INto Your Life." I *think* there are people here who need just a nudge, some encouragement to get on their bkes (or to get a bike). The terrain & traffic (lack thereof, at least relative to the East Coast!) so lend themselves to bi-pedal locomotion.
I'm thinking of focusing on casual riding - basically, the "one hit won't get you addicted" approach (knowing full well it happened to me!), as well as the idea that we *think* driving is so much easier... because we've forgotten how hard it was to learn and develop the habit.
Any other nudgy ideas? I think I'll refrain from actually singing (I've got this bluesy number about holding out for a carbon fiber frame... my legs can't wait to straddle that carbon fiber saddle, and ride that baby all day long...) but I still want to be mildly entertaining.
I'm not sure I'll have the blender up and running since I think I lost the adjustment bolts already :-( But... we'll see...
...oh, the audience will be HOPEFULLY at least a couple other folks who work here at Parkland College. Faculty, staff, whoever...

[bikerchick68]

2 things I think people don't think about are 1) how beneficial it is to the environment if you ride even one day a week instead of drive...(and they get to SEE nature around them... I love seeing the birds and wildflowers!) and 2) how much money they can save by riding once a week rather than driving! Especially with gas at almost $3 a gallon

Sometimes the $$$ factor can be the biggest motivation...

good luck with it... sure wish I could hear that blues number... I'm a BIG blues fan... just saw Buddy Guy a couple weeks ago... fabulous!

[Adventure Girl]

Be sure you touch on the vast variety of cycling. Road biking, touring, commuting, mountain biking, brevets, centuries, triathlons, racing, etc. etc. When I have to make a presentation, I'm always concerned how I will fill my allotted speaking time. 3 to 5 minutes about each type of cycling will kill about half an hour.

And I don't think you should rule out the singing!!

[Nokomis]

Better parking - closer to your destination? Gives you an easy way in to meet the new "just a little exercize a day makes a difference" as suggested by US health dept? Go Atkins, and swallow those bugs along the way? wait - no, probably not helpful. For women - firm & raise those glutes, don't pay Victoria's Secret for jeans to do it for you

I'd love to see what you come up with!

[DrBee]

It can provide an opportunity to do an exercise-related activity with your kids that's fun. Take a trip to the local park, feed the ducks, play on the swings, have a picnic, and ride around and get some exercise all in one.

Good luck with the presentation! Let us know how it goes. I'd like to hear the blues number, but I'd get a feel for the audience before I broke out in song.

[MomOnBike]

You might emphasize the parking thing. I always have a place to park my bike that is closer than the handicapped slots for cars.

Depending on the group, you could mention that it is smarter and more scenic to ride a block or two over from the main arterials. I've discovered some pretty neat houses, gardens and views on my bike that would have gone unseen and unappreciated in a car.

I'd also not make too much of the health and environmental aspects. It's too easy to get preachy and turn people off that way. Though, fitting into sexy clothes more easily is always a selling point...

[DebW]

You could tie it into global warming, energy independence, drilling in Alaska. That might be kind of heavy, but our lifestyles really do affect the health of the planet. Especially the lifestyles of Americans, the energy hogs.

[doc]

I'd go the $$ route. It seems to appeal to everyone. Make sure you have tons of pictures. Ones that show non-lance type people really enjoying riding. Show recumbents, hybrids, tandems all sorts of stuff. You don't want people to have the false idea that they have to have 5% bodyfat and giant gluts. You want them to see themselves in one of those pictures and say "why not?"

[fixedgeargirl]

What if you time a short errand door to door? Something like going to the post office. Really, by the time you add up all the mini-tasks involved with driving to somewhere w/in a mile or two, it takes less actual time to do it by bike. And it's more scenic, makes your butt cuter, etc .

Driving entails: open garage door, put on seat belt, insert key, start car, back out, close garage, wait to enter street, drive time, time looking for a parking spot, park, turn off car, remove seat belt, exit car, lock car, walk across parking lot.

Biking entails: open garage, hop on bike that has combo lock already on it, ride to destination, roll up to the front door, lock bike to rack. Rinse, repeat.

[Geonz]

Being college folks, the planet and politics are on many minds, though we're very much a "purple" area. Right wing and left wing get flapping together and soon everybody's flying around in circles, feathers and dander *everywhere!* (Okay, we have also had this bunch of wild turkeys running loose in the town, resisting efforts to round 'em up... allusions to left and right wings, the reasonable rights of immigrants and migrants, and turkeys in general are currently rampant.) What's awesome about cycling is that it's the right thing to do for a zillion reasons.
However, my current inclination is to focus on "how to do this" - as in, okay, you have a bike, how *do* you really make that left turn? When it's a one way street, which side do you ride on? What *do* you do at a red light?
What I think I will do is have three hours' worth of information and let the audience steer me.
But here's a tangential thought: when I had a teensy tinesy motorcycle, 'cause I couldn't afford a car, I was amazed that other motorcyclists were always smiling and waving at me; and a lot of people get into motorbikes becuase of the social culture. So: how can we get that rolling with the unmotor cycles?

[Blueberry]

I agree with what everyone has already chimed in with - but wanted to add that you don't have to be a super cyclist and ride everywhere to make a difference. One short trip every once in a while still makes a difference. Most people are much more comfortable with the small step than the large one. And I agree that the "how to's" are very important - they were quite difficult for me when I started cycling - the what to wear, how to lock, etc. I would have loved a presentation like yours

[allabouteva]

Hi Geonz

I think it sounds like a very practical sort of a presentation. I think you should definitely bring your bike, along with all the biking gear that comes with it, eg helmet, gloves, jerseys, arm and leg warmers, sunglasses, shoes, knicks, etc. I know as a newbie, I was very surprised at the amount of specialist cycling gear you can get....

Also, if you're going to do the green thing, then here's a story that might interest you:

http://info.anu.edu.au/mac/Newslette..._treadlies.asp

The Australian National University bought a bunch of Treks for it's dept staff to use on campus, and if all colleges and universities did this, wouldn't the world be a greater place!

And I think it has to resonate with people so that they don't think all cyclists are in the Lance mould, where you have to be a super fit athlete. Cyclists come in all shapes and sizes

Good luck and like the others, we're keen to find out how it goes!

e

[arnaew]

For women - firm & raise those glutes, don't pay Victoria's Secret for jeans to do it for you

I'm sorry - there are jeans that do this FOR you? And I'm busting my arse (if you'll pardon the pun) for why?
A

[Bad JuJu]

I agree that you might bring your bike and some other gear with you, but be careful not to overwhelm. Some folks will be afraid it's too much of a $$$ investment to even get started. Of course others will be delighted with all the extra gear they CAN get for cycling. Same goes for cycling clothing--some may hesitate because they think they have to wear lycra shorts, while others will be just itching to buy some new clothes. So I guess you just need to be aware of your particular audience and what's most likely to appeal to them.

But here's another angle--daily exercise, including cycling, can limit some of the effects of aging. Have you ever read the book Younger Next Year? I thought it was just more diet hype, but when a friend recommended it and lent me a copy, I found that it has some sound advice. Most of us who cycle already know this, but others may not. Specifically, the authors strongly recommend exercising 6 days a week, and if you do this, they claim, it can actually not only stave off some of the most negative effects of aging, but in many people it can actually make the body behave as if it were younger. There's lots of science behind this claim, and you'll have to read the book to get into it, but it seems to me that many people are looking for ways to avoid a frail old age, and cycling is a pleasant, easy-on-the-body way to do that. BTW, one of the book's authors still cycles in his late 70s.

Anyway, just some additional ideas. I think you're right to plan what you want to include, but also be flexible enough to be guided by your audience's concerns. Have fun!

[Geonz]

I *know* that the folks in the cycling club consistently look younger than our years, and it ain't just 'cause we know how to use sunscreen.
I'm towards the minimalist side, so my Xtracycle is on an originally $400 bike (and that's when I'm not riding the $32-from-ebay Schwinn Racer) and aside from that it's helmet and bottle cage (sporting sunflower, though that's not going to last through next MOnday). I'm not even clipless and anything under 25 miles or so I don't bother with chamois (tough Norwegian-Irish-German peasant stock here).