The “Bikinator” is a blog about my biking exploits, my opinions about bike related things, and my progress as I strive to get better at racing. When I first started writing this blog, I wanted an emotional outlet for my feelings about my poor race results in the Women’s Elite class. I also wanted to use this blog as a journal, to document my training progress, to release stress, to communicate my love of biking, and to relate to readers who have some of the same feelings that I do. I wanted people to read my blog and say, “Wow, I go through the same things when I ride,” or “ Wow this chick has a lot to say about biking in general and it’s pretty interesting.”
I did a little research online about writing a successful blog. Some of the things that rang true for me were you need to figure out who your target audience is and write a blog that's specific to that niche. You should have some interesting gimmick that you can always relate back to, something catchy. The posts should be released with a consistent frequency. I should consider my audience and decide why anyone would care what I have to say about a given topic. I learned about the use of pictures, labels, hyperlinks, and videos. I learned how to promote my blog on industry specific websites. I have long term plans for this blog and hope to one day achieve a huge amount of readers, credibility in the industry, to get free stuff from bike related companies, and meet celebrities in the biking industry. I know I have set the bar high, but if you consider that I am also the same person who started racing mountain bikes at age 35, yet hopes to compete and hold my own with the Pros one day, you’ll see this isn’t a far stretch for my personality. If there is something I want to achieve, and if I think I can do it, I will try.
So, I decided to make my favorite hobby the focus of my blog: Biking. I know many riders who are into riding as much as I am. So, I knew that my drive to ride every chance I got would resonate with people who share my love for riding bikes. The title of the blog would be "The Bikinator" and I’d relate back to it in an effort to be humorous and witty. The posts would range in theme (from ride/race reports, to training plans, to bikes and parts, to my opinions) but would always be about biking in some way. I’d mention specific races, rides, and people so that friends could see a recap of an event they played a part in. I’d post 4-6 times per week. I’d leave out the details about my life; After all, this blog is not called “Angie’s Life”. Through it all, I would be myself. I’d show my good and bad times alike. I’d be real. I hope that one day, I will be rocking it in the Women’s Elite field, and readers will be able to see the progression as I reach my goal.
So, I’m the Bikinator, a bike addict, a bike fiend... This means that my posts are going to be about biking and my interest in such. Because I will be focusing on this subject, it’s going to seem like I am obsessed with biking, like it’s all I think about. Before anyone feels they need to stage an intervention and rescue me from my unhealthy addiction, please realize that I do have a life outside of biking. I am a newlywed, and I spend time with my husband, working on our house, going shopping, making nice dinners, and going out together. I just completed my second college degree (in the midst of biking, training, and racing). Since school has been finished, George and I have done something social almost every single weekend with friends or family. I have two adorable cats that I love and play with every day. I watch a bunch of TV shows like True Blood, Survivor, Bad Girls Club, and Tosh.0. I spend too much time online. I have a full time job. Biking is a huge part of my life, but it’s not MY LIFE.
Please know that when I refer to myself as the Bikinator, I am trying to be witty and relate back to my theme. I will be doing a bit of “playing a role” in this blog. I will be choosing certain elements of my personality and magnifying them. But rest assured, I am competitive and I am heavily into biking. It does take up a portion of every day of my life. Even when I have a rest day, I am still eating for my next ride, prepping my gear for tomorrow, or blogging about biking. There will be truth in what I say, but it is intended to be somewhat “tongue in cheek”. Please don’t be offended when I talk about stalking competitors and competing with everyone I’ve ever ridden with. I am still a nice person. I am still a good person. And I am still a mentally stable person (and so am I).
One of the elements of my blog is that I talk openly about my fears, insecurities, and failures. I believe that this can speak to people. If I blog about something that others are feeling but have not wanted to say out loud, it might make readers feel like they’re not alone. There’s this internal part of each person that is often kept secret, but by bringing it out and owning my secrets, I can help others and I can help myself. You see, I’m getting the junk out of my system, I’m clearing my head, and I’m using this blog to refocus and start fresh every day. Maybe some people read my blog and say to themselves, “Oh, I can’t believe she said that. She should have kept that to herself!” But to the naysayers, I say: Try to accept the blog for what it is and maybe you can realize that I’m being real, which is something to respect. If you have a strong opinion, feel free to post a comment. You can even remain anonymous.
My openness is a departure from my mentality in 2010. At the end of that season, I started getting to know some of my competitors. I found friends in the process. This year, I don’t think that being open about my training is going to hurt my ability to compete. The women I race against are so much faster than me, and will remain that way until my training program changes me for the better. So, I say let the Iron Curtain come down! What’s the harm?
I just hope that as I continue to put my opinions out there in the public forum, I can just as quickly develop the backbone I need to deal with the criticism that undoubtedly comes.
6 comments:
said...
Angie, I love the openness, the honesty. It is refreshing.
The Bikinator says...
Thanks TG!
said...
just. keep. posting.
:)
said...
Yeah, what kim said...keep it coming. People read your blog because they like it. If they did not like it, they wouldnt read it. You've got readers that want you to KEEP WRITING. Ve vant you to keep vriting
The Bikinator said...
I will Kim. You inspired me with your openness. I'm glad you read mine!
The Bikinator says...
Sandie, I love ya! Thanks!
