Adventure Team featured in Silent Sports Magazine
Stories of teenagers doing the Marji and little tikes with gorillas Check out the upcoming issue of Silent Sports magazine featuring a multi-page article on the Adventure Team and the work we do to spread our mission of healthy communities. Download the April edition of Silent Sports Magazine Subscribe Subscriptions for the monthly magazine can be 1 year ($24.95 or about $2:08 per issue), 2 years ($41.95 or $1.75 per issue), or 3 years ($54.95 or $1.53 per issue). The magazine is 52 pages (up from 28) with usually about 17 stories per. And, we’re biased, they’re all outstanding because they always make readers think as they read – “I didn’t know that!” SUBSCRIBE!
DNA of Adventure Series: Self-Supported Ethos
DNA of Adventure Series:Self-Supported Ethos (This is the second blog post of the series.) By Todd Poquette, Director of Adventure You are on your own. You accept responsibility for your preparation, choices, and the outcome. – The Crusher, Enhanced Gravel Wilderness Adventure Our introduction to the DNA of Adventure Series began with a review of two distinct mindsets: I have a fixed amount of intelligence and natural ability that cannot be changed (fixed mindset) and I can get better at anything provided the right strategy and enough effort (growth mindset). While managing and coaching people over the past 25 years, I have found people with fixed mindsets are quick to blame the rules and others for their shortcomings while people with a growth mindset thrive by finding ways to improvise, adapt, and overcome. Blog #2 in the DNA of Adventure Series builds on the discussion of mindset and introduces the self-supported ethos. Setting the tone The self-supported ethos can be summed up quite simply: You are on your own. You are responsible for yourself. You are accountable for your actions and behavior. Simple. Direct. Honest. The bar is set high – for everyone. No excuses, no finger-pointing. For the uninitiated, this might all seem a bit heavy handed. Modern society panders to the unprepared, perpetually offended, and entitled. One thing will never change: If you want it, you gotta earn it. There are no shortcuts, and by constantly trying to create them we undermine the foundation of strong communities. Stability rises from a clear and equal distribution of responsibility among the people, mutual respect, and character. No one gets a pass. Life is not fair People love playing games. What makes a good game? Is it the action? The rules? Winning? While we certainly don’t line up to lose, what happens when we do? Do we blame someone, or do we look in the mirror? What happens when a rule is changed or misused? So many people are quick to yell “That’s not fair!” from the stands. It’s also common to hear a dad tell his kid, “You got robbed.” With these messages, we’re grooming kids to expect predictability and fairness. They automatically blame someone else when things don’t go as planned. Instead of mentoring resilience and durability, we seem to be giving preference to comfort and safety. The result? Kids who are scared and insecure – lashing out at the world around them. Adventure is inherently unpredictable, uncomfortable, and unsafe. You control your preparation and adaptability. A lack of rules and predictability is a lesson in and of itself: to prepare for the unexpected. Adventure empowers individuals, not rules. Adventure ignores fairness, viewing complications as experience enhancements and an opportunity for personal development. While many sports (including competitive cycling) give priority to natural skill and athletic ability, adventure-centric programs level the playing field for kids who may not have been born the fastest or most coordinated but are equally capable and worthy of our time. Collaborators instead of competitors Interesting things happen when we remove head-to-head competition and focus on personal conduct, character, and responsibility. Behaviors change. We become collaborators. We focus on the journey, what we hope to accomplish, and what must be done to see it through – forging relationships more likely to endure adversity. Kids are getting a lot of pressure from adults to succeed now and become a leader now, as though they need to prove their worth now. Whatever happened to being a kid? Becoming a good follower today is an important prerequisite to future leadership. Yet it seems few people want to take orders or respect the learning than comes from a chain of command. An unsafe world The self-supported ethos is predicated on a belief that the world is not safe. We are not at the mercy of the world. We are at the mercy of our own willingness to face the world. We possess the ability to adapt and better ourselves. Success is a choice. Preparation, work ethic, and commitment will pay dividends long after natural ability. That’s why the self-supported ethos is such a defining part of the adventure team. Instead of paving the path to make everything easy for kids, we give them the tools to forge their own path. Why? Because we believe sending kids off unprepared would be the real tragedy.
Getting Geared Up for Adventure Bike Club
Mike Kates You are signed up for Adventure Bike Club (ABC), now what?You’ve got the gumption, now you need the gear.We want every ride to go as smoothly as possible so these are the things we think you should have.Listed below is the required and highly recommended gear for each ABC ride. THE GEAR The Bike (Required)You will need a trail specific bike. A road or BMX bike may be great for riding around town but in ABC you will be taking you on terrain that is wet, sandy, and rocky. It is important that your bike can take the uneven trails. It is also important that your bike shifts well and has good working brakes. If you are unsure if your bike is suitable, show it to your coach or take it to a local bike shop. We can help you figure out what needs to be fixed or adjusted in order to be safe. If your bike is not appropriate we do have a limited number of bikes available for you to ride until you get a new bike or have repairs completed. Helmet (Required)You must have a helmet to ride. No helmet, no ride. End of story.Your brain is the most important equipment you have. We must keep it safe.Be sure that the helmet fits you. A helmet that is too large will move around on your head, can cover your eyes, or even come off if you fall. The helmet will not protect you very well if it doesn’t sit on your head so make sure it isn’t too small. Before you put your helmet on loosen up all of the straps and clasps. Set the helmet on your head and make sure it sits fully on your head. If it doesn’t sit I your head when all the straps are loosened it is too small. Once the helmet is in your head, slowly tighten all the straps until they feel comfortable but secure. Move your head around and make sure that the helmet does not easily move around or slide on your head. It is also important that your helmet is in good condition. The materials that keep your head safe only work if they are in good condition. If your helmet is several years old, has spent significant time in the sun, water, or is significantly dirty, it may not properly protect you. If your helmet has been involved in a large impact or many small impacts it may not protect your head. Once your helmet has been involved in a large impact it should be replaced. Most people go though a helmet every few seasons, depending on how much they ride and what kind of falls or impacts they experience. If you have questions on the fit of your helmet bring it to a local bike shop or ask on of your coaches. EyewearWe recommend that everyone have eye protection. When riding you may encounter sticks, rocks, dust and other objects that can get into your eyes during a fall or be being kicked up by another rider. Having eyewear can help to protect your eyes from these things. You can get special biking glasses but normal safety glasses can work as well. Bike specific safety glasses are typically more expensive. We recommend clear lenses for ABC because we are riding in the evening and in wooded areas. Glasses with strong tints can make it more difficult to see the trail when the sun goes down or when you are in tick woods.If you choose to wear prescription lenses be aware that you are risking breaking these glasses. GlovesGloves help to keep your hands safe during falls and collisions but also help you maintain control of your bike. Your grips can get covered with rain, mud, dirt, sweat and biking gloves can help with these factors. We recommend bicycle specific gloves as other gloves may not give you the protection or control that you need. Water (Required)You must have water with you for every ride. We recommend that everyone carry at least one water bottle. The easiest way to take water on the trail is attached to the bike frame. Many bikes with larger frames have spots for the bottle to be mounted inside the frame, others allow the bottle to be mounted to the front fork. Bottle cages that screw or bolt onto the handlebars can be dangerous during a fall. We don’t allow bolt on handlebar cages. Hydration packs can be very good for carrying water. If your bike doesn’t have the ability to carry a water bottle you will need a hydration pack. The advantage of a hydration pack is that you can carry nutrition, clothes, and whatever extra gear you may want to carry. Nutrition (Required)You must carry a snack on the trail. We recommend you carry a snack around 200 calories. We recommend a high protein snack such as granola bars, trail mix, bananas, peanut butter and jelly sandwich, beef jerky. Obviously, take care to not pack anything that you are allergic to. Footwear (Required)Your shoes need to be closed-toe shoes. No sandals. Slip-on or soft-soled shoes are not recommended. Slip-on shoes can come off your feet too easily and soft soles don’t give you good control and can slip off the pedals. A good mountain bike shoe securely attaches to your foot and has a hard sole. Be sure that your shoe laces are not too long or they will get caught in your chain. Clothes (Required, of course)We recommend loose fitting athletic clothing. Pay attention to the weather, if the weather is colder you may need to wear longer sleeves and pants. Be sure that your pants aren’t too baggy or long, potentially causing your clothes to get caught in the chain. Bringing layers can be very beneficial. You may start out feeling cold but as you get moving you may feel warm, or you may start warm but when the sun sets you may
Don’t go into the woods, unprepared!
Don’t go into the woods….. unprepared! Social Distancing doesn’t mean you can’t get outside and enjoy some fresh air and exercise! However, many of our more popular parks and trailheads are seeing an increase in traffic which makes social distancing guidelines difficult to maintain. To combat that some folks will head into the backcountry or to an area that’s new to them. If you’re think about getting off the beaten path, be sure you are prepared! My husband and I teach Wilderness Survival classes at a few different events throughout the year. We talk at length about how to make some safe choices before you head into the woods, especially the backcountry. Preparedness is the key. That means planning and preparation before you head out. Most likely, nothing will go wrong, but if you operate in that mindset, and don’t prepare, you could find yourself in a world of hurt without an escape plan. So, be prepared. Familiarize yourself with the area you’re heading to by using online resources, a map, and/or GPS unit. Consider taking some courses on using a map and compass and learning about topography. Check the weather before you head out and dress accordingly. When you get ready to head into the woods, it’s best to let somebody know your plans. If you run into trouble in the woods (an injury, without cell service, for example) how will anybody know to send a rescue team if nobody knows that you left? And, once folks realize you’re missing, how will anybody know where to look for you, if you didn’t tell anyone where you were going? So, leave your itinerary with a family member or friend. That includes where you’re headed, how long you plan to be out and what time you expect to come home. If you don’t return by a certain time, your family member or friend can alert the necessary people. Your daypack should always contain items necessary for your specific trip such as water, snack, extra clothes for changes in weather, bug dope, sun block, etc and your Wilderness Survival Kit. The Wilderness Survival Kit contains items that will help you increase your chances of overnight(s) survival should an emergency occur. I carry a small daypack with my extra clothing/outwear, water and snacks, and my Wilderness Survival Kit. Below is a list of our recommended items based on our own research and experience in the backcountry. Everything in my Wilderness Survival Kit, with the exception of the last two bullet points, fits into a waterproof container barely larger than a typical Nalgene bottle. My Wilderness Survival Kit contains: A few last things:
DNA of Adventure Series: Growth Mindset
(This is the first blog post of the series.) By Todd Poquette, Director of Adventure Those of us involved with the Adventure Team often talk about an “adventure mindset.” After reading Carol Dweck’s Mindset: The New Psychology of Success, I discovered this concept is what Dweck calls a “growth mindset.” And it’s a primary goal of the team as we invite kids and coaches to explore and grow with us. According to Dweck, “People with a growth mindset believe talent and intelligence aren’t gifts. You need to work for them, and with the right strategy and enough effort they can get better at anything.” These people welcome challenges, focus on effort, and create new strategies to improve. They don’t worry about looking stupid but focus instead on what can be learned and applied. Courage and confidence allows them to overcome current and future challenges. On the contrary, people with a “fixed mindset” believe everyone has a set amount of intelligence or natural ability. If they begin to struggle or make mistakes, they think they must not be that smart or talented – and no amount of effort will help them improve. The result? Avoidance of failure. Individuals with a fixed mindset have often been praised for “being smart” or “being talented,” leading them to see themselves as special or gifted. But as they get older, face tougher competition in school, make mistakes on tests, and encounter challenging situations, they will begin to avoid anything they might look bad at. It becomes harder to determine how smart and talented a person is if they stop trying and act like they don’t care, so a person with a fixed mindset might take this path. With the Adventure Team, we encourage and nurture a growth mindset. Growing through Risk I’m going to be honest with you: Mountain biking is inherently dangerous. Riding a bike requires a certain assumption of risk. This is a good thing. Kids need to experience risk and the sensation of fear, and they need to develop strategies to overcome them. We give kids the space they need to build confidence and tackle new challenges. Some kids will take new challenges head on while others take a little more time. It’s OK. We have time. Doing it in that exact moment is unimportant. Try it on the next ride or the ride after that. I guarantee at some point they’re going to do it. When the emphasis shifts from head-to-head competition and kids can be kids, they have an incredible tendency to support and motivate each other. Redefining a Win We have a responsibility as role models (to kids) to consider the unspoken lessons a child learns when we create unnecessary urgency around their ability to perform or not perform a particular task at a specific point in time. Actions, mannerisms, and words in those subtle moments fill their sails with wind and send them down a mindset path. Remember, many athletic models are designed to reward talent and skill with starting roles and minutes played. Adventure Bike Club emphasizes effort, development, and the journey. Our idea of a win is watching kids go from “I can’t do that” to “Holy cow, coach. I did it!” Rethinking the End Goal It’s important for a process to support the desired result. Most sports are played with a specific set of skill positions, a limited number of players on a team, and playing time awarded for skill and ability. I think it’s important to look at this objectively and realize the intent of most sports is, in fact, to win a specific game or series of games. The odds of winning those games will increase exponentially the more you play the most talented kids. That process supports the desired result of winning, and for a select group of kids and families it’s acceptable. Perhaps unintentionally we start to label kids as best, better, good, or not good enough. Some kids are born with natural coordination, athletic ability, and competitive acuity. That’s not to say if offered the same opportunities more kids wouldn’t develop, or even overtake the “more naturally talented kids,” through work ethic, consistency, and commitment. But the focus to win now means those kids often do not get a chance. NOTE: I do want to commend the many great traditional sport coaches out there who are overcoming these pitfalls. In pointing out these pitfalls, we don’t intend to indict a person, group of people, or even a sport. Empowering a New Mindset Our process is simple and the desired result is clear: Empower kids to discover their best selves by learning respect, effort, consistency, and grit. Kids are grouped by age and relative proficiency on a bicycle, and we don’t label them good, better, or best. Everyone is required to ride their bike and give their best effort. No one is sitting on a bench. When opportunity is equal and failure is encouraged, we promote a growth mindset. We do it by providing a support system without coddling and by actively promoting representation – working to ensure men and women are equally represented and working together respectfully in our coaching staff and at the youth level. Ride on.Todd
I’m a runner.
I’m a runner. Running has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. My dad and uncle used to run marathons in Detroit and the surrounding areas. I remember going to Belle Isle to watch him finish and I was always in awe of every part of the race. I understood race magic before I was even a participant. Then, sometime in late grade school and through middle school, I started running. I wasn’t consistent, serious or even competitive but I enjoyed it. I dabbled with it, on and off, for years. In my late 20s, I started signing up for 5ks, then 10ks. And, finally, when I was coming up on 31 and dad on 57, I convinced dad, who had stopped running marathons years earlier and was now “maintenance running” with his coffee buddies (and me), to train with me for the Detroit Free Press International (Half) Marathon. From July to October, we increased our mileage from 3 miles to 13. Dad trained with me though it was evident based on his ability to carry on a conversation while we ran that his pace could have been faster. He had been running for almost 30 years. That race was spectacular – we ran over the Ambassador Bridge and back through the tunnel under the Detroit River, we encountered mariachi bands in Mexican Town and folks dancing a jig in Corktown, and lots of spectators all along the way. The race magic was high. A few miles in, just as we were going to climb the Ambassador Bridge, I told dad just to go at his own pace and I’d see him at the finish. When I finally got to Ford Field for the finish, I was relieved and not nearly as exhausted as I thought I would be. I ran into the stadium and was surprised at how many people were cheering for everyone coming through the finish. I mean, seriously, the crowd was erupting in a way I would not have expected at a finish line expecting thousands of racers over a few hours. I ran through the finish, all smiles, and found dad. As I was removing the timing chip from my laces, I expressed to him how great it was that the crowd was so engaged and cheering that loudly for everyone that finished. He laughed and told me, “Tara, they weren’t cheering for everyone. The winner of the full marathon came into the stadium right behind you.” Doh! So, here’s the thing. People often look at their accomplishment with a competitive or comparative eye. I could have felt defeated knowing that someone running 26.2 miles finished in nearly the same time as I did, running 13.1. I could have felt “less-than” because my dad, 26 years my senior, finished 10 minutes ahead of me. But, instead, I chose to be happy with my accomplishment. Happy that I did what I set out to do. Happy that I finished. Happy with my pace. Just happy… and ready to keep doing it. But, that’s not exactly what happened. I woke up the next morning and couldn’t walk. IT band injury. I walked with a cane for the next several weeks. By the time I could run again, I had lost so much of the endurance I had built for the race and I let it frustrate me. Over the next fifteen years, life presented some challenges to being a runner (injury, asthma, demanding job) but I let those challenges become obstacles. That’s on me. And, while I was still running, I wasn’t doing it with consistency or seriousness. I didn’t do anymore races except a few 5ks here and there. Two years ago, I can’t say what shifted my mindset again, but I set a goal to run another 10k. And, in June of last year, coming up on 46, a friend convinced me to sign up for a trail half marathon in July. I had never done much trail running and it intimidated me a bit… the hills! She said, “Just come run with us this week and see how it feels.” She told me she was sure I’d do better than I thought and I knew that if I couldn’t keep up, I could easily get myself back to the trailhead. I went on my first training run with her and another runner and we ran (and even walked… remember the hills?) six miles. I was hooked again. I did the half marathon the next month and another in September (with a broken collarbone but that’s a whole other story)! What an adventure. I am not a fast runner. I am not a competitive runner. I’m a runner. Sometimes I just run a mile and sometimes a few. When I sign up for a race, I do it because it’s fun and it challenges me. My motto is not “In it to win it.” I’ve reframed that for myself and I like to say, “I’m in-ish to finish.” If I set my mind to do it and I train for it and I accomplish it, I’ve won! That’s the spirit of 906AT. Our youth aren’t coming to Adventure Bike Club to compete with one another. They aren’t coming to compare skills. They’re here to challenge themselves, to improve themselves and to support one another. That makes them all winners, too. – Tara Gluski
4 Steps to Adventuring by bike
#1: PURCHASE A GOOD BIKE THAT FITS We can’t stress this enough – the bike matters. Off-road riding is not enjoyable on a bike designed for driveways and bike paths. Visit your local bike shop for help selecting a bike designed for trails in a size that fits your youngster. Bike fit is very important for comfort and safety. #2: CREATE AN ADVENTURE Don’t go for a bike ride – go on an Adventure. This might be a park, yurt, or a trail through the woods leading to an inland lake. Create a story – let their imagination run wild. Slow down. Make it interesting. Bring lots of snacks! If they get tired and begin to lose interest, keep the story alive and remind them of the destination. #3: MAKE IT FUN A lot of us (adults) want to get to the destination (goal) as fast as possible. We want to make it a race! We also like to critique kids – do this, do that, try to keep up! News flash – this is not fun for them and won’t be fun for you. Slow down. Enjoy the journey. If you (the adult) must have a goal – it should be to have them want to do it again. #4: TALK LESS, LISTEN MORE Here’s a coaching tip: Kids don’t want to hear us talk. Save the skill clinic for adults. Don’t sit on their back wheel giving orders like “elbows bent”, “level pedals”, and “attack position”. Pick a skill you’ll work on while you adventure and focus on that – but be selective and creative in how you talk about it. Ask more questions and listen to their answers, or ask questions and have them demonstrate what you’re trying to teach. When you’re riding – enjoy the silence and natural sounds.