@scaler911 likes beer and pizza, as we all do. I bet Jensie does too. He races more, we drink more, he has to finish each stage at the Tour, us, not so much. There must be a balance to all our cycling lives. Since we don’t have to earn a living racing we can relax a bit but this word “relax” maybe where the trouble lies.
Yours in Cycling, Gianni
“For him who has no concentration, there is no tranquility”- Bhagavad Gita c. BC 400.
If you ask people close to me about my ability on the bike, you’ll probably hear different versions of the same story, “Scaler is a genetically talented cyclist, but it’s too bad he lacks focus.” I’m the first to admit it. If I put any energy into developing a solid training plan, laid off the IPAs, and (my VMH’s fine/ healthy cooking aside) stopped having pizza and Monster energy drinks for staples at work, I might be able to be consistent in my beloved craft. Instead, I have a few flashes of decency, but I’m mostly just pack fodder and excuses these days.
I’m consistently amazed at people that have this ability to focus. It’s akin to a superpower I think, like flying or laser beams shooting out of your eyeballs.
It really breaks down to a few different types of focus, with the endgame being the same. Focus from a global perspective: setting and achieving season-long goals, from winning the TdF, to being the first up the big climb at your local Tuesday night club ride; abiding the hard days of winter Rule #9 training; not having that 5th slice of combo pizza that you wash down with your 4th (or 8th) beer. Focus in the short term- be it tapering before a Grand Tour, or spending time in the shop making sure your rig is cleaned and tuned to perfection before your group ride. Focus in the moment- being right near the front before the big climb, finding just the right gear, the right stroke, position, rhythm. This is the one place I can find that focus. All the joys and troubles of day to day living melt away. All that’s left is the deep, singular objective of the task at hand. Pushing a little harder to bridge to that wheel 50m ahead of you; not making eye contact with them as you stay in focus, or my favorite-smiling and saying “Hi” just before grabbing the shovel to make the Pain Cave a little deeper.
I firmly believe that this, along with choosing the right parents and a bit of luck is what separates us mortals from the pros.
There are many hours and kilometers where we suffer alone. Velominati strive to Look Fantastic, and we make sure our machines glisten and are properly silent. We study our heros as well as the douchebags. This all requires some form of focus, and I hope that I get as good at it as others here already are.
VLVV!
-scaler911
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Niiiiice article dude. I'm perfect, so I don't know what you're talking about when you say you "lack focus", but I can empathise.
I wish I could focus on more than one or two things at a time. Trying to juggle 4 at the moment is a daunting task. At least I am getting more time on the bike this year, even if it is a MTB.
@scaler911
Nice article. I'm trying to make the change this year by taking my training seriously, putting in the hard miles over the winter and the dull hours in the garage on the turbo. #1 sits next to me while I'm churning away in a sweaty mess to remind me of why I'm doing this. So that I can a) look fantastic and b) pull the legs off people I couldn't keep up with last year.
@gaswepass
Its a bit like that this side of the pond, except our lowest level is 4th Cat. 3rd is a relatively easy jump, I'm halfway there from a 5th place last weekend and another reasonable race should get me the upgrade. I've still got 3 weeks of training camps to come so that should lay the foundations of success for my target for the season - my 2nd Cat licence. This is where the selection is made for those who will go on to greater things, as you often get lumped in with the big boys in mixed Elite/1st/2nd Cat races - prisoners will not be taken. I know that realistically my chance of going further is vanishingly low as I don't have the time to step y training up another level and at 36 I'm already getting too old for this shit. But a year ago I was a fat downhiller, and now I'm faster, leaner and keener so this is the best time to try it.
Focus is getting me there. My sights might be on 2nd Cat and not P-R or the Tour, but a little realism doesn't hurt.
And as a wise man once said - better to be a racer for a moment in time than a spectator all your life.
@James
Aha there we go again my lack of knowledge of all things cow...or bull....or bullock reltated has let me down. So what is the correct name for a young bull...answers on a postcard to Frank please!
"We study our heros as well as the douchebags..."
This.
Especially apt with the photo of Captain Bogus.
This is a well, written, and very timely article. For us in central Nebraska it's that time when we're about to be saved by the changing weather from our slowly expanding beer guts, and the nearly suicidal boredom that the last few months on the indoor trainer have caused. Or, it should be anyway, until Mother Nature dumped 10 inches of snow on us this week.
I tend to obsess about my weight this time of year, but until I can get outside and ride on a consistent basis, it's tough to focus on not having said 8th beer.
@Fausto
Nicely put. Good for you for having that hunger and fire in the belly. A local coach told me to beware the rapid upgrade. There is a lot of ego and pride going into the decision to upgrade prior to being forced to, but perhaps not best for ones racing career. Unless you're "one of those" that is a natural and already wins at almost everything, it is beneficial to be able to spend some time attempting to be "the patron" of the races at your level. The goal being not just having the strength to bury everyone else, but to see, experience and hopefully determine the selections being made on the fly. Once you upgrade youre back to climbing to survive in your new group.
The point, however, is not racing specifically for results. The point is to enjoy it and be engaged maximally -and certainly getting that taste adds longevity to training in that garage, pain cave, etc
@Deakus
That would be, young bull, I thank you! A bullock is a castrated male as is steer, a heifer is a young female (i.e. cow). So therefore the bull would be looking to "do" the heifers.
nice work scaler
Being that my grandfather was a moonshiner, and drank his wealth into oblivion and ended up starving to death from Alzheimers, as a boy, it painted an ugly picture and i have never really drank, as i have been fearful of the 'indwelling spirit'.
Your point is well taken, as a culture, we lack focus in general, but hey, as cyclists, we are above par my friend. In our clinic, with people supposedly sick, we have to tell them turn off the iPhone, iPad and please...distract yourself long enough to tell us what is going on...your sick..right?
Focus as you mention, is a lost art and skillset and it reminds us well to think in years...as i have this year actually laid a base for once, and it feels great. Keep up the good work
Souleur - a friend is an ENT doctor & she has told me that more than once she has needed to ask someone sitting on the examining table to remove their cell phone earpiece so she could look in there. Yikes.
Nice work, scaler! I've always been able to focus on athletic pursuits. My problem is sitting still for long periods and trying to get work done, which my current pursuits require. I could ride all day long, but sitting in a chair for six hours is hard damn work for me. Oh well, I'll continue to try and repurpose my athletic focus to my career work focus.
I actually enjoy just riding to ride these days, as I'm officially retired from overly competitive sports. Racing can be fun, but I get nerves in preparation, lining up, etc. and that sometimes destroys the joy I take in riding a bicycle.