Do Bikers dream of Penfield Mood Devices? Or of a Wilbur Mercer Empathy Box for that matter?

A little to esoteric in the reference?

Let me explain.

Philip K Dick wrote about both devices in his classic Sci-Fi novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? A somewhat edited version for those who don’t care for the smell of ink on wood pulp would be the movie Blade Runner.

Ever since I read Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? I have been waiting eagerly for technology to catch up with the brilliant concept behind the Penfield Mood Device. Someone using this device can dial in emotions or even a regiment of feelings for the day and then go about their business. Get up each morning and dial in that you are a fantastic rider. No stunt is too hard or too impossible. Think how much more would be achieved if that pesky subconscious wasn’t always rearing up its nasty head with nagging thoughts like: “What really? You’re going to jump that?” Or “I don’t see this ending well at all…” One would never be slamming on the hand brakes and sailing over the handlebars from last minute second thoughts. We would all be transformed effortlessly into incredibly proficient riders.

The Empathy Box, on the other hand, is a little trickier. In the novel, the user grips onto handles attached to the box and is transported/fused into the subconscious of another person. In the book this happens to be Wilbur Mercer, but think about being telekinetically connect with a Pro Rider. How much easier could it be to pick up knowledge and skills when you are experiencing the ride via an expert rider? You would literally be ‘dialed in’ to borrow a phrase.

The draw back? Any injury sustained while piggy backing on the other’s subconscious while using the empathy box is physically manifested in the real world. Ouch. Better hope you pick the right pro to mind-meld with.

At any case, it doesn’t look as though science has been taking either of these ideas seriously-much to my dismay- so it looks like we are stuck learning to ride the old fashioned, and perhaps, more gratifying way. By trail and error. And hey, what’s a bloody knee/dirt in the eye every now and then?

The International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) seeks a Database Administrator and Manager of Interactive Marketing to work as part of the management team at its Boulder, CO, offices. This position is housed in the Membership and Development Department, and reports to the Director of Development. Duties include managing and implementing IMBA’s in-house database (currently File Maker Pro), constituent interactions and acquisition via its CRM application (currently powered by Convio). Online interactions will include grassroots advocacy/action alerts, e-newsletter subscriptions, membership renewals and acquisition, donations, event registration, e-commerce/online store, constituent profile/contact information and support of affiliate data management services. Continued….

Trek founder Richard Burke has passed away. The company reported today that Burke died
last night after having heart surgery. He was 73 years young.

Dick founded Trek in 1976, and shortly thereafter built this bike –

And my brother bought one. Which I wish to God I hadn’t sold years ago to buy some dogstained sofa or the OED or something.

Great old feature in Inc magazine: Richard Burke, “How I Did It.”

The Bike Film as a genre is beginning to expand and fragment. There are more than a few regional BFF’s emerging — just saw a call for entries up in Boston, for example. And now there is the “Pornography of the Bike” traveling filmfest, uh, coming to a venue near you.

There are a number of trailers in circulation at bike porn FF homepage many of which are not safe for work — or so I am told, since I averted my eyes of course. Great soundtrack though!

Upcoming dates:

Looking for something to do on a Monday evening? Live in the Boston area? Then check out this enticing offer from the Boston LUNA Chix:

The Boston LUNA Chix welcome LUNAFEST(R), the fundraising film festival dedicated to promoting awareness about women’s issues, highlighting women filmmakers, and bringing women together in their communities, to the historic Coolidge Corner Theatre on Monday, March 10. The film festival features women as leaders in society, illustrated through nine short films by women filmmakers. The films range from animation to fictional drama, and cover topics such as women’s health, motherhood, body image, sexuality, cultural diversity, and breaking barriers.

To enhance the experience, members of the Boston LUNA Chix running and cycling teams have collected a rich variety of prizes to be raffled off during intermission. Spa gift certificates, performance clothing, restaurant gifts certificates, movie passes, gift baskets, and handcrafted silver jewelry count among some of the items generously donated by local and national businesses.

Each participant will receive a raffle ticket with a film festival ticket purchase. Additional raffle tickets are available for $5 each or three for $10.

All proceeds from LUNAFEST will benefit the Breast Cancer Fund, a national organization that identifies and advocates for the elimination of environmental causes of the disease. The BCF is the only national breast cancer organization focused solely on prevention. Thus far, LUNAFEST, which is created and funded by LUNA, The Whole Nutrition Bar for Women, has raised more than $150,000 for the BCF and more than $300,000 for other women’s non-profit organizations.

WHEN: Monday, March 10

TIME: 7:00 p.m.

WHERE: Coolidge Corner Theatre, 290 Harvard Street, Brookline, Mass. (Free parking behind the theatre.)

TICKETS: $12 at the door

The brain is always brewing up something and today I am going to share some of those thoughts.
Always going, go, go, go, that is what we are all trained to do. That is where my mind went today, the comparison of racing a bike and the so-called “rat race” that we live on a daily basis.
Today started off with the 7:30 am departure on my bicycle to go deliver some packages. That lasted until 10:15 am when it was time for me to race home, change my costume and leave, dripping with sweat, to my next appointment/job. On my race home on my bike is when I started to think that I spend my whole life racing. And I am not the only one, that is how the world operates. It was comical to me to start comparing the act of racing my bicycle and daily life.
The “rat race” is no myth. That is what we all do, wake up and Go. And once the going gets started it is hard to stop. Next thing you know you are spinning out of control trying to slow down. For me sometimes slowing down is next to impossible and only comes when my head finally hits the pillow.
That is oh so similar to what I do out on the mountain bike course. It is a slow start but once I get warmed up there is no stopping. It is time to Go and that is what I do. And before I know it I am focused and caught in the moment. The moment is like a wave that is carrying me to shore, or the finish line. And again I am spinning out of control and won’t stop until I reach the end, the finish.
“You sleep when you are dead”, right? I find that to be a useful and funny quote but finding other times to sleep is good too. Naps are priceless and necessary at times. So lets try to relax sometimes too. Stretch, read a book and listening to music.
On that note, I think it is nap time.