Guardian.UK: Marines shield Obama from the Washington rain – but not from criticism.
Just out of curiousity, I’m going to have to see how long I could hold up an umbrella in that position. Looks like a deltoid/bicep burner. Props to the Marines. Ignore the catcalls.
Guardian.UK: Yoga guru Bikram Choudhury accused of rape in two new lawsuits.
Ugh. Read this, esp. the end of the article! Double ugh.
SciAm: Riding Technique Affects Horse Force.
“Researchers filmed dressage riders as they trotted using both techniques. And they found that riders who use the more bouncy ‘rising trot’ actually keep their center of mass more steady when they stand—which reduces the force on the horse’s back.” Never sit like a sack of potatoes. Terrible for the horse.
NY Times: Practicing Yoga at 30,000 Feet.
Airline yoga. I’m sure the person in the seat next to you will appreciate that rogue elbow or knee.
Pacific Standard: Genetic Evidence of Yoga’s Impact on the Immune System.
“The researchers found that the nature walk and music-driven relaxation changed the expression of 38 genes in these circulating immune cells. In comparison, the yoga produced changes in 111.” Grain of salt time (very small sample size), but still worthy of note.
Guardian.UK: London Marathon security stepped up after Boston attacks.
My sister will be running.
Eddie Bauer: 50th Anniversary of Everest.
Nice little feature. Jim Whittaker went on to run REI, didn’t he? Unsoeld and Hornbein were real gutsy dudes. One of the many climbing histories that got me to strap into Raichles and Sacs Millet in the 70’s.
Guardian.UK: Can shaving your legs offer any advantage for regular male cyclists?
“If you’ve got a little bit of hair on your legs it will turbulate [sic] the air so you get a better flow. Now this in itself creates friction, so you don’t want all your leg hairy you just want two thin strips, each about 10mm wide, just before the sides of your legs – though you will look really stupid.” I shave in-season, without a qualm. It’s only embarrassing on the earliest rides … looking fish-belly white.
ThinkProgress: Explosions At The Boston Marathon.
At least a dozen injured/dead/dismembered, according to reports. Link via KCM on FB.
[I didn’t post this right away because I was checking my sister’s status, who has run the Marathon in previous years. She’s safe at home, planning to run in London this year (Thank GOD).]
Later: An emailer accused me of rumormongering about ‘dismemberments’. #8, beware. Do not view if squeamish.
Vanity Fair: Felix Baumgartner’s Story—Who Is the Man Who Pierced the Sky?
A William Langewiesche article? Instant link.
Guardian.UK: Brisk walk healthier than running.
“If the amount of energy expended was the same between the two groups, then the health benefits were comparable.” Large study groups here, tens of thousands of runners and walkers.
zenhabits: The 38 Best Methods of Successful Exercisers.
Some of zenhabits’ readers best tips.
SF New Mexican: New trails in Arroyo Honda carry hikers through history, high desert beauty.
I’ve MTB’d by, but now I’ll stop to hike and take a few shots soon.
Gizmodo: Why You Should Switch to Clipless Pedals
On my road bike, yes. On my MTB I prefer Power Grips. My riding is not on a competition level, and I enjoy not having to pay a premium for specialized MTB shoes.
Amazon.com: SKLZ Speed Resistance Training Parachute.
Use one o’ these in NM in the springtime, you’ll either have the thighs of a Titan or you’ll end up tucked in a ball as you get hurricaned eastward past Texas and Oklahoma.
Cycle EXIF Review: Patebury toestraps for your vintage cycle.
Gizmodo: Would You Wear These Crazy Shoes?
Yes. I wore Nike waffle-trainers when they came out - and loved them. People considered them just as weird, at the time.
Taylor | Simpson: cycle horns.
I’ve gotta say it. As cool as they are, I hope I never see ‘em on the streets. I can picture pedestrians getting skewered, or someone doing a header and getting an eye pierced.
Daily Beast/Sullivan: The Cyclist You Didn’t Hear About This Week.
Later: I agree with Betsy Andreu.
Globe and Mail.CA: Massive layoffs and mediocrity - Has Cirque du Soleil lost its way?
Their recent productions have lost that sense of wonder. Perhaps it is just overexposure?
SciAm: Some Barefoot Runners Tip Orthodoxy Back on Heels.
Ah, so the current forefoot fashion may not be the final word in running gaits. That makes me feel better. Every time I go out and try it, I blow out my calves very swiftly and have to abstain from running entirely for a period of time.
SciAm: Slow And Steady Wins The Staircase Workout.
I disagree. If you’re going for aerobics, sure. But if you need short-burst strength, two at a time. I used to bound up and down the stairs at our offices in NYC two at a time. Kept me in fine leg-shape all year long.
Salt Lake Tribune: Turn off iPhone, take a hike – your creativity will soar.
“The most-telling number from the research is 50 percent: as in backpackers scored 50 percent better on a creativity test after four days in nature and away from smartphones, iPods and laptops.” Cool. Already knew taking a walk wakes up my creative self.
Vanity Fair: The Dark Romance and Grim Reality of Life in the French Foreign Legion.
William Langewiesche is always a worthy read.
SciAm: The Science of Swords - The Sound of Approaching Doom.
“You don’t need to swing at a solid target to know if you had good hasuji — the sound a sword can make when it is swung, known in Japanese as tachikaze, or ‘sword wind,’ can serve as a sign. If the hasuji was right, tachikaze will sound like sharp whistling. If the hasuji was wrong, tachikaze will sound like flat whooshing, or there will be no tachikaze.” Nothing’s quite as rewarding as wielding an incredibly sharp blade with skill. I used to practice iai-do, once upon a time.
