In yesterday's post, I decried the sexism and lack of artistry displayed by Allan Abbott in building a bicycle that's supposed to look like a nude woman.
So...how am I going to follow it up? With a post about one of the most andro-centric topics imaginable. Why? Well, for one thing, as one of the few (if not the only) male-to-female transsexual bike bloggers, I am one of the few people in this world who can get away with such a thing.
But, dear readers, please indulge me. I'm not writing this post to be politically incorrect or contrarian, although I rarely shy away from being either. Rather, I saw a cartoon and photo on the topic that was purely and simply humorous.
The subject? Beards. Yes, facial hair in which some men take pride. According to the photo, the longer a male cyclist's beard, the greater his bike knowledge.
There might actually be some truth to the bike knowledge-to-beard ratio. The photo at the end of it confirms what you know about Sheldon Brown if you ever looked at his webpages: The man was a Library of Congress, a Biblitheque Nationale of cycling knowledge. And Frank Chrinko III, the proprietor of Highland Park (NJ) Cyclery--where I worked--knew more about bikes than anyone in his twenties or thirties should. During the time I worked for him, his beard grew from "Rides and has built a bike from old parts" to "Wizard" length.
Me? I grew a beard in those days, too. Mine, though, never got longer than "Rides" length. I didn't let it.
So...how am I going to follow it up? With a post about one of the most andro-centric topics imaginable. Why? Well, for one thing, as one of the few (if not the only) male-to-female transsexual bike bloggers, I am one of the few people in this world who can get away with such a thing.
But, dear readers, please indulge me. I'm not writing this post to be politically incorrect or contrarian, although I rarely shy away from being either. Rather, I saw a cartoon and photo on the topic that was purely and simply humorous.
The subject? Beards. Yes, facial hair in which some men take pride. According to the photo, the longer a male cyclist's beard, the greater his bike knowledge.
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| From Imagur. com |
There might actually be some truth to the bike knowledge-to-beard ratio. The photo at the end of it confirms what you know about Sheldon Brown if you ever looked at his webpages: The man was a Library of Congress, a Biblitheque Nationale of cycling knowledge. And Frank Chrinko III, the proprietor of Highland Park (NJ) Cyclery--where I worked--knew more about bikes than anyone in his twenties or thirties should. During the time I worked for him, his beard grew from "Rides and has built a bike from old parts" to "Wizard" length.
Me? I grew a beard in those days, too. Mine, though, never got longer than "Rides" length. I didn't let it.
Did Merckx or Campagnolo have beards?
ReplyDeleteWoke up feeling quite unwell this morning but this made me smile. Obviously my partner is presenting a very deceptive face to the world. (He shaves.)
ReplyDeleteSteve--Every photo I've seen shows them clean-shaven. Maybe Tullio knew so much that he was hors de categorie. And, of course, Mercx didn't actually have to know anything about putting a bike together: His team's mechanics did that for him.
ReplyDeleteRebecca--I'm glad I made your and your partner's day a little brighter!
If clean-shaven people are deceptive, what does that make us, as women?
Sheldon Brown was a treasure. I couldn't tell you how often I've looked to his site for advice, or to answer questions I've had.
ReplyDeleteBrooks--Yes, he certainly was. Or should I say is: We're still using his site, right?
ReplyDeleteJohn Allen and others keep contributing new items to Sheldon's site.
ReplyDeleteSteve--Do they have beards? ;-)
ReplyDeleteI never quite reached wizard status. It never occurred to me that I was displaying my bikeological knowledge, I was just hiding from the world...
ReplyDeleteWorked with Frank and Wendy, mentioned in your post as entrepreneurs (I owned the Corner Confectionary). Lost touch over the years as they moved to B.C and set up Sun Coast cycles and moved to Albuquerque. Frank and Wendy are missed. Nice finding the reference and memories of the Cyclery! Rich
ReplyDeleteRich--You owned the Corner Confectionary? I loved that place. Where are you now?
ReplyDelete