Well, lets just say, hypermobile people should not be moving houses (or do any heavy lifting). I had been moving house (packing, carrying things, moving things, unpacking things) since Monday and as a result, my joints have been inflamed and my limbs are now swollen to the point where it is difficult to do anything.
I have never had this before and my hypermobility as been reduced to “no mobility” with a side of chubbiness. I couldn’t even fit into my cycling or running shoes.
The only training I did was a small 1.5km swim which was not too eventful as my body struggled to move and I ended it very early as it was just not worth the pain. Putting on fins was not a great idea when your ankles refused to flex. I thought a swim would help my back but at the end of the session, I was in more pain than before.
So this week’s reflection will be different as I did no training at all. If you want to read about my views on a topic non-triathlon related, continue reading....if not, see you soon for my next post about my journey in long course triathlon racing.
So....
What I wanted to talk briefly was about what happened on Thursday evening and the subsequent days from that event. For those who are not aware, click here.....as I don’t want to publish any of those pictures in my blog.
The following views is completely my own and not of my employee (just to be clear). This is just a reflection on how I felt about it and what broke my heart.
· As much as the owner of this shop “appeared” to support women in cycling (and his other shop with triathlon), I feel that it is your core values which will shine through and by the scenes of what he did it showed a different story. You could have poured billions of dollars into women cycling, it takes one action to demise it. You must support your brand and its association through and through and hold your integrity.
· His (shop manager) actions (may) mirror him as a person and not necessarily of the shop or the guys who work there. This is why you will continue to get great service from the guys when you enter the shop. Some social media comments spoke about how they (and their partners) have received great service from that shop (even days after the incident happened) but how else would they (shop guys) have behaved? Great service does not necessarily reflect a person’s core values.
· The shop manager still denies that feedback regarding that idea was sexist. Even from someone whom I personally admire (Bridie O’Donnell – she is strong, powerful female cyclist with integrity) who he ran past the idea. Was her feedback brushed aside as it was not important? Bridie is tops and she even won her race on Sunday. What a superstar.
· He has yet to apologise - I guess you only apologise when you admit what you have done is wrong and so he still doesn’t see the wrong of his doing (?)
· Comments regarding sexism, using and exploiting women have been removed on their facebook page yet they have kept some of them who support misogyny....very wrong. These comments and what they leave/remove on their page changes every minute so I don’t know what is left on there.
· As a female who cycles, I am heart broken that this took place in a bike shop. If they wanted to step outside of the box to raise money (for a children’s charity), was using topless women the best answer? So did the guys who donated (bid) dug deep into their pockets as a reaction of seeing tits? The statement released by the shop manager mentioned that this same method was used in other functions, one of them was a Breast Cancer function – now you don’t have to be a genius to understand how this function has a different context to a bike shop.
· I personally feel alienated and as a result, won’t be stepping into this shop, not even just to kill time. How can I be taken as a (female) customer when a stunt like this was done? This is my personal choice.
Anyways, this little duck will continue to ride her bike, fully clothed.
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