I went to the Speaking Center today, May 9th, with Tiffany Toor and went in with my final write out and Powerpoint Presentation.  Tiffany first had me go through my entire speech, as if I were presenting, and then gave me feedback. She didn’t have much feedback to give me, which was good, but she did give me some very helpful tips. We focused more on my visual aids and how I can improve them as well as improve the delivery of my speech. Getting her positive feedback about my speech was very encouraging. She did point out a part in my speech that was unclear as to the point I was trying to make, so I went back and re-wrote that one part to clarify. Overall, I feel very confident and she suggested I practice a few more times today.

When the Cyclecide Heavy Pedal Bike Rodeo came to class, I was very impressed. The uniqueness of each bike truly amazed me and I loved how passionate the men speaking about them were. As they were talking, I didn’t at all think I would be riding one of the bikes they brought, but as they started bringing them out and people started riding them, my mind kind of changed. I even went back to my room to change my outfit and shoes so that I could ride the bikes. I decided to go with one of the tall ones, because it looked the most fun and easy and though I struggled getting up, once I started pedaling and got the hang of it, it was very, very fun! I was scared at first but in the end I’m so glad I did it. I even rode the tiny bike with the tall handlebars (not as fun, but still cool). I loved it and I think having the men from Cyclecide come for our class that day was a great idea and experience.

I visited the speaking center on May 2nd with Chloe Jones. I came prepared with the topic I wanted to do my speech on and my write up pretty much done. Chloe was very helpful in going through and turning my full sentences into more of an outline, so that I don’t read off of my notes as much. This tactic was very helpful and I will definitely incorporate it into my final presentation. We also talked about keeping eye contact with the audience and she told me about a tactic she’s uses which is doing a V formation with her eyes as she’s talking. I found this to be very helpful because maintaining eye contact throughout a speech is definitely something I struggle with. Overall, my visit to the speaking center was very helpful!

Topic: World Naked Bike Ride in Portland, Oregon

Outline:

1. Introduce Topic relating to advocacy
   1. World Naked Bike Ride
      1. What is it
      2. Where is it

• How long it’s been happening

1. What does it stand for/advocate?
2. Motto

1. Police Department and Bike Ride
   1. Enforce the law
   2. Oregon nudity law

• Police and riders compromise

1. Ride growth
   1. (Show chart)
   2. Explain chart decrease in 2016
      1. Why it was positive
   3. End on Jamie Hale quote

Write Out:

So since this section is regarding bicycle advocacy, I decided to do my speech on: The World Naked Bike Ride. What is it? The World Naked Bike Ride is a free public event that has been going on in Portland, Oregon for more than 10 years and it is the biggest naked bike ride in the world. It has been described as a celebration of the bicycle and the human body. But more importantly, it is a protest against dependence on oil and emphasizes the vulnerability of cyclists in traffic. Their motto is: As Bare as you dare. Meaning riders choose the level of nudity they are comfortable with like none, partial or total nudity. The first official year of the World Naked Bike Ride was in 2004. Which was a rather small gathering, about 125 people. Bret Barnum, who is a special events coordinator for Portland police, reported on how the police felt when the World Naked Bike Ride first began, which wasn’t very positive. He was a traffic officer at the time in 2004, and said the police department’s approach was basically the same as it was for Critical Mass, which was to enforce the law. However, since 1985, an Oregon law holds that public nudity is allowed as long as it’s a form of protest, and since The World Naked Bike Ride has always been a protest, the police have allowed it to go on. The biggest problem for the police, then, was not being informed of the details of the event. So after the 2008 ride, the Police Department approached organizers of the ride, and asked them to meet to discuss future events, which eventually settled the following deal: Portland police would block off traffic and offer a motorcade for the ride, if the Naked Bike Ride organizers agreed to run the route by city officials and cut back on the pre-ride drinking. And as the years followed, it turned out the assistance by the police was very necessary. That same summer the ride grew again, from 2,000 to 5,000 riders. In 2010 it grew to 7,000 riders. The amount of riders peaked at 10,100 riders in 2015 This only meant one thing, that Portland’s World Naked Bike Ride was the biggest in the world. However, if you look at the numbers, there was actually a decrease in 2016, which was very much planned. The organizers for that year decided to start the Naked Bike Ride much farther into southeast Portland, specifically at Mt. Scott Park, hoping to draw a smaller crowd. An organizer of the event, Meghan Sinnot said, “We’re the largest ride in the world and we never meant to be, 10,000 is a really awesome number, we don’t need any more.” And her concern was backed by the Portland Police department who had announced they would be cutting back staffing on events, which officials of the bike ride said could have negative effects if it got to be much bigger. And since their move to Mt. Scott Park, attendance for the ride has been lowered and no problems have truly been created. The organization reported that yes, the record-setting crowds were nice for the ride, since it is officially a protest with several causes, but this year’s decrease is seen as good news within Portland’s nude cycling community. And to end, Jamie Hale who is a writer for Oregonian, a daily newspaper based in Portland, wrote about his experience in the ride and this is a part from it: “When I told people I was going to participate in the World Naked Bike Ride, most of them shook their heads. “Good luck,” they’d say. “I could never do that.” I get it – used to think the same thing. But as the crowd of 10,000 smiling faces reached the end of the ride Saturday night, I felt like a fresh convert into the religion of naked cycling. It was an incredible experience, and as it turns out, the bike seat feels just fine.” Lastly, if you’re interested, the next ride is June 24^th, 2017!

Works Cited:

http://www.oregonlive.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2015/06/world_naked_bike_ride_portland.html

https://pdxwnbr.org

https://www.facebook.com/PDX.WNBR/

http://www.kgw.com/life/date-set-for-portlands-2017-world-naked-bike-ride/412963406

Topic:

SoulCycle

Outline:

1. Ask class question
2. Discuss what SoulCycle is
   1. Who founded it, when, where
   2. What a typical class is like
   3. What makes it so appealing
3. Celebrities that love SoulCycle
4. My experience
   1. First class experience with my sister
5. Tips & Conclusion

Write Up:

How many of you have ever heard of SoulCyle?

If you haven’t, SoulCycle is a New-York based fitness company that has basically re-invented indoor cycling. It was founded in 2006 by Elizabeth Cutler, Julie Rice and Ruth Zukerman. SoulCycle has become incredibly successful, to the point where it’s members have been described as obsessed and cult-like. It’s unlike typical indoor biking because every workout session is marketed as a dance party on a bike. It’s set in a dark room with blasting music, and riders spend most of their time doing choreography like push-ups on the handlebars or “tap backs” designed to work your core. A lot of classes include candles too which really makes the experience more like a sweaty nightclub than a standard workout. SoulCycle is also extremely popular because in just 45 minutes, you can burn up to 700 calories. Each session starts with a warm up, a high-intensity cardio and strength session, and a cool down. Each class also includes a short session using free weights. As of 2016, SoulCycle has opened 85 locations in the United States and offers classes to all age groups with approximately 20,000 people riding at SoulCycle every week and currently has about 440,000 active riders. The company operates on a pay-by-class model and does not offer memberships, and a class is typically around $35. SoulCycle also attracts many celebrities to its Los Angeles locations, for example, Demi Lovato, Vanessa Hudgens, David Beckham, and Oprah.

My experience: I have been to SoulCycle a total of 3 times in my life. The very first time I went was about 2 years ago with my older sister, who is very into trendy and expensive workouts like this one. I didn’t know what to expect other than knowing I’ll be pedaling on a stationary bike for a very long time with a large intimidating group of strangers. Before the class started, no one told me you have to adjust just about everything on the bike to your preference, so I struggled to figure that out alone while the rest of the class all robotically knew exactly what they were doing. Another thing I didn’t know was that your shoes are clipped into the bike, which made me feel quite trapped. So the class started, which meant the lights turn off and the music went on, the instructor began explaining basic instructions along with words and phrases of intense inspiration. As I said earlier, the class incorporates things like handlebar push-ups and “taps backs” while you’re on the bike, also something I did not know going in. I have never felt more lost, out of place, and confused in my life than in my first SoulCycle class. While everyone was simultaneously going up and down on their bikes, I was frantically moving my head from side to side trying to pick up on the movements everyone else seemed to have memorized. And then, to make things worse, my left shoe popped out of its slot in the bike, I knocked over my cap-less water bottle on the ground next to me, and my towel, the one they give you which is supposed to sit on your handlebars, fell to the floor. This all increased my panic mode by a good 34% as I tried to re-pop my shoe into the bike and ignore the other things. It was the slowest and kind of most dreadful 45 minutes of my life but I powered through and somehow survived. After the class was over, I realized 2 things; 1, I was incredibly out of shape, and 2, I don’t think SoulCycle is for me. I did go back another two times in my life, hoping I would get the hang of it or magically become obsessed, but neither of those things happened. However, that doesn’t mean it’s not for you! In terms of audience we are all ideal candidates to become SoulCycle cyclists so I encourage you all to sign up for a class at one point in your life because it’s quite an experience.

And for your first class here are some tips: 1, Come prepared (mentally and physically) 2, Show up early so you can adjust your bike 3, Be ready to sweat a lot and 4 Be open-minded and have fun!

Thank you.

Sources:

https://www.soul-cycle.com/about/find-your-soul/

https://www.beamly.com/tv-film/10-celebrities-obsessed-soulcycle

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SoulCycle

I thought Rendell’s chapter Ocean of Air said very interesting things about the relationship of the individual and team. For example, he said on page 10, “American football has its offensive linemen and soccer its midfield stoppers, but they are their team-mates equals in victory or defeat.” Although cycling is an individual sport, it succeeds through the work of a team, which is true in many aspects of life. Thinking back on a time I belonged to a particular community or team, I think of when I played soccer in high school. It’s an interesting experience because you want to be the best you can be on an individual level, be a fast runner, have stamina, ball control, etc., however, you really can’t win the game without the help from others. I can’t think of a specific time when I’ve sacrificed my own benefit in order to help the group, but I’m sure it has happened many times. Just in terms of who you pass the ball to, when you pass the ball, where you pass the ball, it all determines the future outcome, which typically means setting someone else up or setting yourself up. Either way, you can’t achieve success without the help from others and I think that’s a very valuable life lesson to live by.

1. Tim Knoll, BMX rider; when gymnastics meets BMX http://www.redbull.com/en/bike/stories/1331769920267/tim-knoll-pulls-crazy-bike-stunts-in-berlin-red-bull
   • How did the two hobbies meet?
   • Is it therapeutic?
   • What is his biking/BMX background?
2. 560-Lb Man Biking Across US to Save His Marriage http://www.newser.com/story/210246/560-lb-man-biking-across-us-to-save-his-marriage.html and http://www.fatguyacrossamerica.com/my-story/
   • Why bike riding? Why not personal trainer or other method of exercise?
   • Was he successful?
   • Did he make it across the US?
3. Soul cycle;  https://www.soul-cycle.com
   • What is it?
   • Why is it so popular/trendy?
   • My personal experiences
   • Celebrity/other people’s opinions of soul cycle

1) On page 88 in David Bryne’s chapter “Istanbul,” he talks about bike riding to a beautiful and popular tourist attraction called the Topkapi Palace. Bryne doesn’t give us any more information about the Topkapi Palace other than the fact it is a tourist attraction. However, upon googling it, the Topkapi Palace is a large palace in Istanbul and was one of the major residences of the Ottoman sultans for almost 400 years of their 624-year reign. As well as a royal residence, the palace was a setting for state occasions and royal entertainments. It is now a museum and as such a major tourist attraction. It also contains important relics of the Muslim world, including Muhammed’s cloak and sword.

2) Upon reading Byrne’s chapter, I was saddening to hear his account of all the beautiful unique architecture being replaced with identical bland grey apartment buildings. I did appreciate Bryne’s attempt to see the beauty in the gentrification of neighbors by saying the residents might feel empowered by the new developments because they are leaving their past behind and are no longer “peasants”. The concept of gentrification is something that I am not a fan of and unfortunately it happens all across the world. However, despite seeing the bland ugly buildings, I liked how Bryne was still able to bike around Istanbul and come across beautiful areas with beautiful art and eclectic neighborhoods.

I really enjoyed Nancy Duarte’s Ted Talk, The Secret Structure of Great Talks. I thought it had a very persuasive and gripping beginning and ending. I think the idea or concept to do a presentation on essentially helping others and teaching the skills to better express oneself and ones ideas to change the world is an amazing topic and I think it applies to all of life’s communication opportunities. A quote that stood out to me was, “The future isn’t a place that we go, it is a place that you get to create.” It’s true, our future depends on we are to do and how we are to do it. I also thought her unique critique and evaluation of some of the most popular speech’s in history gave great background to how people compose their ideas. At around 7:45 she discusses the idea of capturing resistance which means to reach those that are unreachable and turn resistance into acceptance. Talk about what they will resist and then speak to a solution, which is a very simple but great tip for giving presentations. Overall, I found Nancy’s speech to be very information and also inspiring. As someone who is not the best at public speaking, I find that learning about how to present yourself and ideas well can really have a positive impact on your life.

I find audience to be very important to me as a speaker because the kind of audience you’re speaking to determines how they and also you feel about the performance. If you’re speaking to a group of Catholic elderly women about drugs, rape, prisons, and devil worshipers…you may not feel the most inviting or intriguing feeling from the audience. However, if your speaking to a group of men and women in their 20’s about college partying and date rape, you’re more likely to make an impact. The kinds of audiences I want to talk about are young, educated, and curious individuals. Some difficulties in making an impact on my chosen audience could be that we don’t share the same experiences, so it could be hard to relate, or lack of attention. When speaking to younger audiences, attention is something sometimes very difficult to attain, but given the right topic, it shouldn’t be a problem.