Sample Speaking Outline

The History and Sport of Mountain Biking

ZACHARY DOMINQUE

St. Edwards University

Introduction

(Attention getter:)

  1. Imagine on bike, plunging rock-strewn, yet control.
  2. Adrenaline, hurtle, touch downstream, rocket.
  3. Be scared, but not—time of life.
  4. Nirvana.
  5. How many bike, fitness, fun?
  6. Might own lightweight, thin wheels, serious mileage—or comfort, soft seat, solid tires.

(Credibility Statement:)

  1. Morning, Zachary, MTBer
  2. Eight; champion, heart.

(Preview:)

  1. Today, tour, exciting sport of . . . engine, driver, MTB-speak.
  2. Ride begins brief overview; do hopturn—colorful history.
  3. Pedalling ahead autumn, chat differences between mountain, road.
  4. Conclude shop, compare MTBs.
  5. Three types bikes, designed for three . . .
  6. Hope catch fever, exciting, intense, and physically.
TRANSITION: MTB sport extreme . . . in-between. But no matter, always great way natural world, adrenaline. Start, define.

Body

  1. ABC/MB def: “MTB is a form of cycling on off-road or unpaved surfaces such as mountain trails and dirt roads; the biker uses a bicycle with a sturdy frame and fat tires.” (ABC of Mountain Biking)
    1. The idea—go where others.
      1. MTBs ride backcountry, single-track winding fields, forests.
      2. Climb steep, rock-strewn, race down.
      3. Self-reliance, miles from help.
    2. National Bicycle Dealers Assoc., 2013 MTBs 25 percent sold.
      1. Factor comfort, actually MTB modified recreational, sales 38%.
      2. 50 million love riding, data gathered NE MTB Assn.
TRANSITION: So MTB popular people. But fairly new.
  1. History MTB less 50, founders.
    1. Gary Fisher, founders MTB. (SHOW PICTURE)
    2. Original Mountain Bike Book, written 1998 by van der Plas, Kelly; they, along with Fisher, Breeze, other members posse Marin, instrumental founding modern sport early 1970s. (Original MTB Book)
    3. MTBs or ATBs (terrain)—didn’t exist, so picture Fisher, modified Schwinn cruiser. (SHOW PICTURE)
      1. Cruisers, “ballooners,” off-road.
      2. Nothing equips navigate, brakes equipped stops descents.
      3. But bike Fisher, others started.
    4. Mid-1970s, growing numbers using modified race downhill.
      1. Meet bottom Tamalpais, CA.
      2. Walk bikes mile up steep, hurl.
    5. Even involved, Kelly, others organized Repack.
      1. 1976–1979, magnet enthusiasts, on map, Original MTB. (Original MTB Book)
      TRANSITION: Reason called “Repack” story itself.
      1. Trail plummeted 1,300 feet 2 miles, according Breeze article posted MTB Fame website.
        1. Such drop constant braking, required riders replace, “repack,” grease each run.
        2. Breeze recounts: “The bikes’ antiquated hub coaster brake would get so hot that the grease would vaporize, and after a run or two, the hub had to be repacked with new grease.”
        TRANSITION: Might imagine, early enthusiasts tired.
    6. Bikers tinkered, gearing, drum, suspension.
    7. 1979, Breeze new frame—“Breezer”—first actual MTB.
    8. 1982, as van der Plas, Kelly write in Original MTB, standardized took off.
      TRANSITION: Now learned history, let’s look today’s can do. Clearer, compare road. Class cyclists Tour de France use.
  2. MTB, road built different purposes.
    1. MTB tackle rough, road designed fast, paved, smooth.
      1. Accomplish task, wide tire, tough tread.
      2. In contrast, road ultrathin, frames lightweight.
        1. Take off-road, destroy.
        2. Without knobby tread, thickness MTB tires, road can’t grip rocks, obstacles.
    2. Handlebars differ.
      1. MTB flat; upright stance, don’t flip.
      2. Drop handlebars require lean forward; suits road cycling, prizes speed.
    3. Gears, suspension also differentiate.
      1. MTB lower gears, widely spaced—more control difficult terrain.
      2. As for suspension, road don’t, absorb power.
        1. That is, don’t have shock, not supposed to.
        2. Imagine without shocks; wouldn’t pretty.
      3. Many MTBs at least a great front.
        1. Some rear.
        2. Some dual.
      TRANSITION: Hope sense MTB design. But finer distinctions to draw.
  3. Actually three types MTB, accommodate three kinds.
    TRANSITION: Let’s start with downhill.
    1. Downhill fewest gears, weigh most.
      1. Because downhill daredevil—crazy!
      2. Slide insane, off jumps.
      3. Lots gravity checks.
    2. Trails.com, downhill racers catch shuttle going up, speed downhill chewing up.
    3. Think racing skiing bike.
      TRANSITION: Now let’s swing by trails biking.
    4. Trails bikes look different than either.
      1. Small wheels, 20, 24, or 260, smaller frames.
      2. Differences design help trail do best—jump obstacles—cars, rocks, large logs.
    5. Trail goal not foot on ground.
    6. Trail racing few types done by time, not mass.
      TRANSITION: Third major type MTB, cross-country, or XC.
    7. Cross-country most common—Olympics.
      1. That’s right. In 1996 . . .
      2. Just two decades inception.
    8. With XC, best all worlds, humble.
      1. Courses creative, incorporating hills, valleys, rough, not-so-.
      2. Competitively, XC like marathon.
      3. Recreationally, chance see outdoors, shape.
    9. XC two forms.
      1. Lightweight, full or partial.
      2. Trails/Marathon XC hybrids heavier, full suspension; designed seriously long.
      TRANSITION: Quite tour. (Signals close of speech)

Conclusion

  1. Course began overview, hopturn history sport.
  2. Also learned differences mountain, road, three major categories of MTB, three types MTB accommodate fans. (Summarizes main points)
  3. To me, MTB, especially XC, perfect—fulfilling physical, spiritual, social needs.
  4. Great take up recreationally. (Leaves audience with something to think about)
  5. Decide bike competitively, remember: ride fast, drive hard, leave blood. (Memorable close)