@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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@all Thanks for the kudos. I went and watched the local season opener TT here (prompting the photo on the Rules page). ITT was always an event that I enjoyed, yet haven't participated in since coming back to the sport. Seeing @gaswepass and others out there has lit the fire under my ass once again and has me setting goals (for the first time in years).
That and I'd better be able to finish me and McSqueaks Super Cogal this summer. With style.
@scaler911
"With style" includes anything up to "not dying in a ditch on a forest service road", correct?
@mcsqueak
I believe it is a reference to any fires lit under his ass not to be ones celebrating membership in the blue flame club. and not making the list in the riding ugly post, altho that would in effect be pro... what were we talking about?
I'm also curious to see how my focus changes over time. I hope/think cycling will always be a part of my life, but we'll see how things change as career/family, etc. come into play.
The one thing I know is that so long as I pull on Lycra, Lampre Man will always serve as proper motivation to never let things go completely off the rails...
Submitted for your approval after inspiration struck me during intervals on the trainer this evening.
Our father which art in Belgium,
Eddy be thy name.
thy pave come
thy V be done
on road as it is on trainers.
Give us this day, our daily V
and forgive us our sandbagging,
as we forgive those that half wheel against us.
And lead us not into the Anti-V,
but deliver us from sucking.
For thine is the maillot jaune,
the green, and the dotted.
Forever and ever.
A-Merckx.
@lordmoos3
Nice effort, but Eddy's Prayer is already written...
Our Father who art in Belgium
Eddy be thy name
thy cobbles come, thy hands are numb
from pavé
as it isn't heaven
Give us this day our daily V (five),
and forgive us our Rule violations,
as we drop those who attack against us,
lead us not off our line
but deliver us from COTHO
For thine is the big ring,
and the power, and the glory,
for Eddy and ever.
A-Merckx.
Apologies, I had missed it whilst perusing.
I was pretty close though :) I must have absorbed some wisdom over time.
@lordmoos3
Damn close! Divine wisdom there indeed...
@brett
We should strike COTHO from there. He doesn't deserve to be mentioned in any prayer, especially not ours.
@frank If you're going to drop any reference to corrosive individuals or organisations (we desperately need deleverance from fat pat and Heiny but that has no poetry and they are even less deserving of any mention) you could use "but deliver us from the Arenberg" as it's fairly dark and foreboding place but "but deliver us from Hem" might be better as it's fucking awful bit of road.
Alternatively you could go for the P word or "tritards"