simply brilliant.

>>>-----Original Message-----

>>>From: Steve Jones [mailto:velo_steve@hotmail.com]

>>>Sent: Thursday, April 06, 2006 7:40 AM

>>>To: uscf-district20@topica.com

>>>Subject: RE: VAcycling: Re: [Fwd: VAcycling: Re: D20: Jefferson Cup

>>>results

>>>

>>>>Now I understand why I can never get a good result in a race...... 

>>>>I must be the only guy in VA who has a job.  You guys have way too much

>>>>time on your hands if all you can do is spend your time arguing over

>>>>minor issues.

>>>>And for the record, some of you are just plain ignorant. 

>>>>(You know who you are.)

>>>>

>>>>Tom String

 

Maybe you just suck?  Seems to be my main problem, maybe it's yours too...

 

Steve

there is a long history of the court jester speaking truth to power.  it's a good paradox, where only the "fool" can speak with wisdom.  syncophants, who are cautious of their social or economic position are leery of sticking their neck out and risking something by telling the emperor that he wears no clothes.  but the jester fears none of that.  he speaks from a place of confidence and understands his place in the order of things.  steve shows us all a bit of wisdom.

alas, i believe the lesson is lost on messr. string.  his point is difficult to follow at best.  he's the only guy in virginia who is gainfully employed.  check.  everyone else has too much time on their hands, based upon some specified volume of email traffic which he has characterized as argumentative.  check.  and some of the readers of that same forum are dumbassess.  and they know who they are.  check?  that last bit is difficult to understand.  it looks like he's calling people(s) out but it's not clear who exactly he's referring to.  it seems that if you're going to go to the trouble to call people out, you should name them.   that's pretty weak.

you think this guy is going to come out on the stage, down the ramp, and up onto the top rope and tell people that there will be beatdowns of unspecified individuals?  that someone-or-other is in for an ass kicking?  that unspeficied wrestler-athletes have pushed the bounds of good behaviour (they know who they are!) and that's good enough?  no.  you see what i mean?  it's all posture and it's not even good posture. 

steve was just trying to help this person out.  it's a shame ot see this kind of useful effort spoiled.  like day old croissants thrown out in the street, pearls before swine, etc etc, etc.  but there's another whole element to steve's message that has probably escaped many.  you know the first step in making a change is to admit that you have a problem.  steve is light years ahead of most of us (including me) in this regard, and i offer him my congratulations.  many people struggle and limp along, never quite figuring out why they can't get where they want to be.  it takes confidence and humility to take that bold first step and admit that you suck.  but once you take it, you will never look back.  this is the first step in properly placing cycling as a hobby amidst all the other interests and issues in your life.  balance, son, balance.  it's what we seek, so onwards and upwards with the 12 step program for those who suck at racing their bikes:

step 1: admit that you suck at bike racing.  truly admit it, and be humble in accepting this fact.

step 2: stop taking yourself too seriously on the bike.  it's counterproductive for you and it's embarrassing for us to watch.  really, just stop it.

step 3: catalog the dumbass things you have done on a bike while hopped up on cytomax and hammer gel.  think carefully.  consider these events form a neutral or detached perspective.  keep a mental inventory the dumbass things you have done.  try to come to a true understanding of why you did them.

step 4: seek out those cyclists you have wronged and make a show of contrition.  apologize to your teammate for that time you chased down his break because you were clueless or because you really wanted the win for yourself.  apologize to other riders for cutting a corner short and then endangering them as you have to slot back into line.  apologize to every single person who was in the field at that criterium where you took a few free laps that you didn't really deserve.  note: your contrition must be sincere.  if you don't really mean it, go back to step one.  we all know the difference between a platitude and a genuine sentiment.  also note that others do not have to accept your apology.  for this purpose, it is enough that you make a solid effort.

step 5: truly, truly understand that cycling is a hobby.  find a way to balance it with all of your other obligations and interests, and by investing a good dose of passion and hard work, you can be a better cyclist.  if you fail here, go back to step 2.

step 6: learn to enjoy riding your bike again.  remember why you started doing it in the first place: it's fun, it's good exercise and it's liberating.  join a neighborhood bike gang and ride hard after work.

step 7: help others to rekindle their enjoyment of cycling.  join your friends on rides and don't worry about your average speed or wattage or whether the pace line is rotating the proper way.  tell jokes, share food and have a good time.

step 8: benchmark multiple aspects of your current fitness in an objective way.  record data for use in steps 7 and 8.

step 9: seriously and critically assess your weaknesses.  be honest.  this is where most cyclists fail.  ask others to give you feedback on your tactics and racing habits.

step 10: set reasonable goals.  don't just set the goals based on some abstract level of desired achievement.  figure out how much time you have to train based on all the other obligaitons you have.  pick an attainable goal and work hard towards it.

step 11: develop a serious wattage based training plan, using common concepts, peer reviewed literature and peer feedback to work on your limiters.  your time is valuable, you should train as if you realize that.

step 12: radiate a beatific calm as you exude a sort of centered happiness while racing the wheels off your bike.

okay, it may not be perfect.  there's clearly room for improvement and i'll happily take comments in the place where comments go.  but i do think it's got promise and i've tentatively booked the airport hilton for seminar in late april.  tell your friends that i'm coing to town to have the biggest intervention ever.

- - posted by scott