Top Power Poses

October 14, 2016 - Willie Weir blogs with Adventure Cycling every other Friday.

We asked you to post your bike power poses ... and you delivered. #bikepowerpose

What’s a bike power pose? Two weeks ago, I shared a TED talk (also embedded below) that has been watched over 36 million times. Trust me, you’ll be glad you watched it through to the end. Social psychologist Amy Cuddy describes how your body language shapes who you are. After watching this, I came upon an image of my wife Kat taking a break after climbing a long mountain pass. There she was in full-on power pose — hands on her hips, chest forward, and with a confident, beaming smile.

So, thanks to everyone who shared their images on Adventure Cycling’s Facebook page and Instagram. Here are some of my favorites. The above photo was posted on Instagram by Sylvia Cantor. She didn’t include any details, but the photo says it all — power, joy, “the world is my bike path.”

Max Rekowski posted the image above. Looks like Max took off his Superman cape so it wouldn’t get in the way of the summit sign. 

At first glance, this is a little casual for a power pose. But then, Daniel Partner writes: 

For thirty days in August and September I rode the TransAmerica Trail from my home on the Oregon coast to Walden, Colorado where we dropped down the Cache la Poudre River canyon on Colorado Highway 14 to Fort Collins and then to Wheat Ridge High School for my 50th high school reunion — my first long distance ride.

Whoa. First long distance ride ... to your 50th high school reunion? That entire journey is a living power pose!

Steve Pap posted the above photo with the caption — Recumbent trike in Australia. 

I’m thinking ... I want to see Australia. I want to see the rest of his bike. I want to see a bike version of The X-Files.

Sarah Millette Nadeau is “Enjoying a break on the Hiawatha trail.”

For those of us who after thousands of miles of bike travel and not enough stretching, can barely touch our toes ... this power pose is enviable. 

Matthew Garrett: “I had just surpassed 18,000 miles on the road and was nearing the end of my tour.”

Congratulations! There is so much exuberance in this photo! It looks like the Carson Pass summit sign had originally stood four feet tall, and Matthew ranked it another 10 feet out of the earth. 

Thanks again for your bike power poses everyone!

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SIGHTS AND SOUNDS is posted every other Friday.

Willie Weir is a contributor for Adventure Cyclist magazine. His books, Travels with Willie and Spokesongs, will inspire you to hit the road and might change the way you approach bicycle travel. He lives in Seattle with his wife Kat. You can also find him at WillieWeir.com, Facebook, and Instagram.