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The Thrills and Spills of Mountain Biking 高潮迭起的登山车运动

课文朗读

课文讲解

繁體中文譯本

Is your weekend warrior screaming for challenge?

你心中的周末战士正吶喊要寻找挑战吗？

As a sport, mountain biking invites the weekend warrior in all of us to explore nature on two fat tires. Despite the name, mountain biking isn’t restricted to mountains alone, but can take place on a wide range of off-road terrain. Off-road riding is a test of body and mind: The mind must be alert to sudden changes in the trail’s surface while the body responds to obstacles like logs, rocks, and treacherous tree roots.

登山车这项运动邀请每个人心中的周末战士，一起骑着粗轮胎的越野单车来探索大自然。可别被「登山车」的名字给局限了，登山车运动不只是上山而已，还可以骑在广阔的野地。骑在越野林道上是身体和心智的一项考验：不但要好好注意地面的高低起伏，身体同时要马上对障碍物反应，像是圆木、岩石、危机四伏的树根。

Compared to road bikes, typical mountain bikes have wider, flatter tires, straight handlebars (allowing for easier upright riding), sturdier smaller frames, and twenty-one to twenty-seven gears. Also, mountain bike gears are usually set in a lower range to facilitate climbing uphill and riding over obstacles. When introduced back in `79, mountain bikes weighed approximately 20 kg. Since then, advances in technology have seen bikes grow considerably lighter, while suspended forks and frames have become almost standard equipment.

和一般单车相比，标准的登山车有较宽且较粗的轮胎、直立的手把（为让登山时更好握）、更坚固且更小的车身、21到27段的变速档。另外，登山车具有更小段的变速档，这样上斜坡和越过障碍都能更得心应手。登山车在七九年引进时约有20公斤重。之后随着科技的进步，自行车重量大大减轻，而悬空的前叉子和车架也几乎成为标准配备了。

Most major cities in Taiwan have a plethora of world-class trails lying just outside their limits. Many retailers of quality mountain bikes offer regular group rides as well as expert advice and knowledge. For more information on riding in Taiwan, http://www.formosanfattire.com is a valuable bilingual resource.

台湾主要城市的市郊都有世界级种类齐全的登山车道。许多高级的登山车贩卖商会提供定期的行程信息，也会提供专家的建议和知识。想要取得台湾登山车运动更多的信息，请见http://www.formosanfattire.com 这个重要的双语资源网站。

Vocabulary

单词发音

thrills and spills  (参加或观看危险的文体活动或表演所感受的)紧张和刺激  excitement and exhilaration, especially when derived from dangerous sports or entertainments

warrior [ˋwɔrɪɚ] n. 战士，勇士

off-road [ˋɔf͵rod] adj. 越野的；不在大路上行驶的 existing, taking place, or designed for use off paved or public roads or in rugged terrain

treacherous [ˋtrɛtʃərəs] adj. 危险的; 暗藏危险的

handlebar [ˋhænd!͵bɑr] n.（常复数）（脚踏车的）手把

sturdy [ˋstɝdɪ] adj. 坚固的，经久耐用的

gear [gɪr] n. 齿轮; 排挡

suspend [səˋspɛnd] v. 悬挂

plethora [ˋplɛθərə] n. 过多

Sentence of the Day

“Every time I see an adult on a bicycle, I no longer despair for the human race.”

 – H. G. Wells, writer (1866- 1946)

「每次看到成人骑单车，我就不再为人类摇头叹息了」。–作家: H.G. 韦尔斯

despair [dɪˋspɛr] v. 绝望，丧失信心

课文讲解

Amber and her friend Declan are taking a rest from mountain biking halfway up a mountain: 安柏和朋友迪克兰在前往山上的自行车登山道上休息：

D: Don’t you love the view of Taipei from up here?

妳喜欢从这里鸟瞰台北的风景吗？

A: Yeah, but I love downhilling even more. Let’s get going!

喜欢，但我更喜欢下山的风景。我们走吧。

D: Wait a minute! I’m spent. This grind is wiping me out.

等一下！我好累，这斜坡把我力气都用光了。

A: Did you eat before we left?

我们出发前你有吃东西吗？

D: Actually, I slept in and didn’t want to be late, so I skipped breakfast. I’m in need of some carbohydrates. This camel pack is keeping me hydrated, but not fed.

事实上，我睡过头又希望不要迟到，所以我没吃早餐。我需要一些碳水化合物，这水壸【注】只能让我不脱水，但我还是很饿。

A: Here, have an energy bar. I got them at the bike trade show.

来，来根能量补充棒吧。我从自行车展买回来的。

D: I forgot you went to that. How was it? The range of equipment these days is overwhelming.

我都忘了妳去过那里了。那展览如何？现今装备的规模很惊人。

A: It was a mecca for gearheads! The industry is obsessed with innovation. There were bikes and accessories enough to tickle anyone’s fancy.

那可是爱好者的圣地呢！脚踏车工业充满了创意，登山车和其配件足够让人看得眼花撩乱。

D: I bet you were in seventh heaven!

我猜妳一定乐歪了！

A: I sure was. And check out the sweet shocks I bought there. They’re perfect for this kind of single track riding.

没错。来看看我买的这个超正点的避震器，这超级适合这种单道的车程。

D: Hey, did you see any devices that could carry me up the rest of this mountain?

那妳有没有任何的设备可以帮我骑完后半段的路程？我现在可真需要一个。

A: Like a motor-cycle? Declan, get on your bike and start pedaling.

比如说一个「自动的」脚踏车？迪克兰，骑你自己的车吧，咱们要上路了。

－by Ben Andrews

 【注】像狭长型背包的一种水壸，连着一根管子背在后头，越过肩膀上方，方便让跑者、登山者或脚踏车骑士能随时喝上一口水。

Vocabulary

单词发音

spent [spɛnt] adj. 精疲力竭的

grind [graɪnd] n. 枯燥乏味的事；苦差事

wipe someone out  使疲惫不堪 to destroy or be destroyed completely.

sleep in  迟起, 睡到很晚起床 to sleep longer than usual

carbohydrate [͵kɑrbəˋhaɪdret] n. 碳水化合物，醣

range [rendʒ] n.（变化等的）幅度

mecca [ˋmɛkə] n. 众人想去参观的地方﹐众人向往之胜地

gearhead  爱好者 a person who is very interested in mechanical or technical things (such as cars or computers)

tickle one’s fancy 使某人愉快 to amuse, entertain, or appeal to someone

seventh heaven【口】极乐; 欢天喜地 a state of great joy and satisfaction

shock [ʃɑk] n. 减震器 (=shock absorber)

single track 单行车道

Sentence of the Day

“The bicycle is the most civilized conveyance known to man. Other forms of transportation grow daily more nightmarish. Only the bicycle remains pure in heart.”

– Iris Murdoch, writer (1919-1999)

「脚踏车是人类的历史中，最闻名的交通工具了。其他的交通工具每天都变得更面目可憎，只有脚踏车保有最纯真的面貌。」

–作家艾瑞斯‧梅铎

conveyance [kənˋveəns] n. 运输工具，交通工具