the short:
commitment...
But seriously fools
after a kwick polling of a few folks deep inside the circle we all agree..to the general population of cyclists..Fondos are way more fun than shelling out x amount of dollars to pretend your going to be the next big thing..
I know i know i aint that dam old to understand most of the local hot-shoes dont see it that way..but you got to admit it prolly crosses there mind at some point during the season...
They dont call it the three/five year cycle for nothin...a new to the sport...durable, well rounded , motivated and slightly talented cyclist is good for a solid three to five years..
racing...
- First year...fun.there learning..excited...
- second year...there racing getting some nics in on the local fast guys..maybe sticking there nose into the breaks now and then
- third year..now there a solid Cat 3 rider..racing a ton...winning occasionally... maybe..not "really" training..just racing alot..and its showing..maybe gettin close to a good podium at one of the race car track weekday races.
- Fourth year..they might make the jump..Elite/Cat 2..now things become alittle harder for most..there now racing 25 other riders as fast, or smarter than them.. the gifted, motivated and smart enough to train properly start rising to the top..taking chances..winning...and gaining valuable confidence
- Year Five..ruling out the just riding fast guys..the Ones training..motivated..hungry start heading outside there local world..and rightfully should..now the real measuring begins...might take a few years of getting kicked in the teeth, or to figure it out..some make it..some dont..soo many factors go into the success each human is seeking..
Bike racing is a cruel sport with very little monetary gain of sorts..its not cheap..sure its fun..but you all would kidding yourself to say there isnt a stress level that comes along with that fun..you never see i guy winning cry burnout... not to mention requires a lot of time commitment all of this just to be good at local level..some last longer than the five years..others dont...the sport can very humbling when you least expect it..
Now the Fondo side:
if you have never done one of these you might understand...but its like the wild west..were the local non category rider can try and roll the dice with even the most gifted neo-pros..like real-life starva..most of the folks you meet there are happy..not all stoned faced talking silly power numbers..you wanna ride fast line up the front..you wanna chill and talk with your best lady about how much Madonna is missin out not datin your washed butt
you can do so as well..free-the mind and the butt will follow..it aint no dam surprise why the gravel-world is so dam popular..Good buddy Rick has it figured out..i hatin cuz i aint makin the grip he is..im just tickled jealous i dont have that gig..
Sadly T wont be around to see who the Adams, Zmans, The Foshags, DC..Lil Ponys..the Hess..the Highlanders ..the Black Ace...The ScottyQs...etc..will be in 20 years....
The sport is hard if u dont stop for a few weekends and take in its little accomplishments and forgo the next big pinnin on weekend..your gonna miss it..
call me crazy
call me lost
call me whatever you like and T will still love you no matter what..
thanks for stoppin by.
Passionately your T
you can do so as well..free-the mind and the butt will follow..it aint no dam surprise why the gravel-world is so dam popular..Good buddy Rick has it figured out..i hatin cuz i aint makin the grip he is..im just tickled jealous i dont have that gig..
Sadly T wont be around to see who the Adams, Zmans, The Foshags, DC..Lil Ponys..the Hess..the Highlanders ..the Black Ace...The ScottyQs...etc..will be in 20 years....
The sport is hard if u dont stop for a few weekends and take in its little accomplishments and forgo the next big pinnin on weekend..your gonna miss it..
call me crazy
call me lost
call me whatever you like and T will still love you no matter what..
thanks for stoppin by.
Passionately your T
7 comments:
T nails this one. Gravel is for the masses. It's not road racing, which is largely filled with pretentious a$$es. BUT...Ricky P and the others need to think about safety. Running the Costume division side by side with the Pro/I/II's is just dangerous. Maybe a Saturday fondo and a Sunday race? Simple as that.
Perfectly put.
I will never understand how self hating some cyclists can be. The filled with pretentious asses comment is far from true. Sure there are some loud and out there individuals blowing up your social media, but by and large some of the best individuals I know are the people I ride and have raced with, whether we share the same jersey or not. The idea that taking your result, the competition, or your preparation in a more light-hearted manner makes someone less of a pretentious ass is ludicrous. I know plenty of gravel grinder I'm just out here for fun people that are asshats off the bike, but at the race they are geewhiz this is fun. I also know plenty of competitive don't take my line racers that are fantastic humans when they don't have a number pinned on, and I'd much rather deal with a nice person that is competitive than a two faced dick.
12:05 PM
i agree, not sure though if that was what this post was meant to state. :/
12:05 PM
true
but through a pro-deal at some guys and a payout of 80$ and turns a fair number of people into dickheads.
Im on board for both Fondos&Racing
the list of the USAC dickheads would far out number the Fondo Fakos anyday.
10:49 looping back in...I don't disagree with 12:05, so perhaps I was unclear. Road racing is an elitist sport. It simply doesn't have the same aura as cross or mtb or definitely gravel that are more welcoming. That's not to say some road guys and girls are awesome people on and off the bike and some gravel riders are asses on and off the bike. But in general, gravel is welcoming. Just look at the numbers - the Hastings race draws THOUSANDS of people. There is no other race in the state that even comes close to that.
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