Filed under: Uncategorized
Great read from my friend in a previous life, CJ Ong.
http://trainingwiththepitbull.blogspot.com/2008/09/searching-for-ordinary-man-ironman.html
Filed under: Uncategorized
Saw a great generalization about Bike To Work Week earlier today – it is the biker equivalent of St. Patty’s Day.
Every Day is St. Patty’s for me.
Filed under: 1
You need equal tension to make the wheel work. Same with your family, work, and training.
The Inside Triathlon website just posted an insightful article, “Exploring the Life-Triathlon Balance,” by Jordan D. Metzl, M.D. The question of sacrifice is pondered and the analogy of food groups is proposed to bring things back into balance.
Spend some time reading the article and thinking long and hard about priorities as you’re pulling out the calendar, spreadsheets, and setting goals. How about putting “No Pressure” “Fun” or “Meet New People” into the mix?
So when you’re tired of blowing money, facing endless miles of windshield time, counting calories, trainer-time, charting power, incompetent teammates, worthless training diaries, analyzing heartrates, self-denial, rolling in crappy weather because you have to, idiotic directors, saying ‘no’ to life, dried-up sponsorship, you may find that zen moment. It doesn’t matter.
You are ready to be an ex/bikeracer.
Embrace the freedom and realize you can be that kid again who rides just because they can. Take each opportunity to spin as it comes and don’t ever take it for granted. The wind in your face is a fleeting pleasure, and tomorrow it may not happen. The smile on your face as you know you’ve been blessed to spend your time doing something you love. All you had to do is find that love once again.
Where's the kid who used to ride because they COULD?
You are finding out what it feels like to be an ex/bikeracer.
Cotton t-shirts and sweatshirts. Dirty khakis. Sneakers. Underwear. You don’t need a kit to roll out the door. You don’t mind looking… normal.
You are finding your way to the freedom of an ex/bikeracer.
Pizza, alfredo, wine, hamburgers, steaks, bread, desserts, beer, biscuits and gravy, pancakes with extra butter, whiskey, cookies become part of your diet.
You just don’t care and you’re an ex/bikeracer.
Filed under: Justified
Great conversation overheard the other day between a roadie and a budding multi-sport racer.
Roadie: “You’ve got to give up that triathlon sh*t.”
…
Note, that is the end of the conversation. Instead of thanking the budding athlete for their participation, complimenting him on his growing skill set, and open mind to try new things, he showed why roadies continue to turn off anyone and everyone.
Great conversation with a budding junior’s parents and team directors.
Roadie: “You’ve got to stick to the road only if you want to be successful.”
…
Yet another one-sided view of the world. What ever happened to “riding a bike for fun” and seeing where the chips may fall?
Seriously.
Filed under: M A N I F E S T O
What is your team mission?
Keep on working toward the big goal.
Name a goal of the team?
How are you giving back to the sport?
What does the community think of you?
Are your riders in tune with your brand?
Do you ask for hand-outs or give hand-ups?
Are you mentoring within the community?
Who have you prepared to follow you?
The community can get a WIFM attitude and not realize the subtle work and preparation it took to develop the scene to the point where you wanted to engage and participate. The quicker you recognize that it is bigger than one person and you can give back, the better you will feel about it.
Start today. What would a collective look like if money, results, recognition and sponsors weren’t a condition of existence. What could they do without being painted into a corner – locked by the expectations of doing the same thing as before.
Filed under: 1
What is right with the local sporting community?
What is growing with the local sporting community?
What is happening nationally that would be cool locally?
Where are people travelling to race?
What is inspiring?
What looks cool in the blogs and magazines?
What is missing from the picture?
What do businesses want and need to be successful?
What do people really want?
Figure it out and do it. People will love you for it.
Filed under: 1
As this has been my sounding board for fun bike stuff for the past year or so and a forum to play with WordPress (thanks Garrett), I figure since it is cyclocross season, I’d better post.
When Halloween comes around during cyclocross season, I bring it.
Usually, I post on my www.CyclocrossMafia.blogspot.com address, but since there is no event in 2009 to speak of, I’ll just post CCFA updates. Looks like we’re going to give another couple hundred dollars to CCFA Iowa. I need to figure out what the running total is, but clearly in the thousands of dollars – thanks Iowa cyclists!
I skipped out to my first Renegade Cyclocross ever last Tuesday night – the season has been so fast and I’ve been so busy that it just hasn’t worked… yet.
So what is cyclocross like since I’ve been effectively out of the loop since 2006? Freaking fast. Fun. Crowds of people. Enthusiasm. I had a great time riding myself into the ground for forty minutes, cutting some tight curves and rolling through the sand pit over… and over… and over.
Being said – I enjoyed the experience and wish I’d make time to do it again, but doubt it will happen. Will I get out to race this year? Well, got the Flatland Series to think about – currently, I’m in the running for a good spot, so may as well finish with my favorite sport of ‘em all at Spooky Cross.
Filed under: 1
The last two weeks of commuting into work have been fun to say the least. I couldn’t believe all of the crap on the road as I nearly had a yardsale in a corner off of Grand due to all the sand. The bike lane on Ingersoll was crapped out with tons of rock salt pushed to the side.
I can dig we didn’t have the early season showers, nor have the street sweepers been out, but when I’m riding on a chewed up Specialized Mondo and shredded Michelin Race tyre, it won’t take much to blow it.
So, I took the rig into Rassys last Thursday after a nice 70-degree commute and had Sterling and Adam throw on a new pair of Serfas super-tough road tires. Took off the fender, too, so I need to pick up a pair of clip-ons. In my relatively old age, fenders are de rigeur.
Technically, I'm still a Conti rider. They're on my road bike and cross/tour rig.
Well, since the Iowa weather has returned to the crapper, it is doubtful I’ll get any riding in this week. I can’t say I’ll be missing the saddle time, since I haven’t been riding anyways.
Squrl isn't only a great rider, but he is an artiste as well!
Filed under: 1
I’m aghast that I haven’t posted in the past ten weeks, but there hasn’t been much to say. I watched a little of the Tour of California and tweeted about the idiot runners. I rode the fixie when the weather hit forty. I’ve spent a ton of time with the family and wouldn’t trade a single mile for it.
Don't call it a comeback... because it isn't.
I did enjoy the most recent VeloNews “At The Back” article. I think journalism is at it’s best when you can see yourself in the writing. I appreciated the perspective that riding for the sake of riding is key. I love riding fast as much as the next guy or gal, but once that is over, there is still a helluva lot more exploring to do.
The past thirty months has given me great perspective that I’m not as much a part of cycling as cycling is a part of me. Some days more, some less.
