DON'T MUTE YOUR MUTT
DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU LEAN ON THE CYCLING SPECTRUM, you may have been tempted to mute your inner mutt. I came in during the extremely stodgy road only days...
... just after the invention of the wheel.
The shops and race scene were dominated by these cats who basically looked down on all the new clowns in town...
... which meant mocking Little Young Diesel.
My position,
my grip,
my gear choice,
hairy legs,
touring bicycle...
... and, oh, the horror!...
... my yellow jersey.
The mockery and meanery was discouraging, and lame.
But, I was undaunted.
In love.
I came from surfing, which I never would have left if there there unlimited and predictable waves. The idea that I could grab my bike and get my stoke anytime, all the time, was incredible.
And here's where the mutt comes in.
We're all mutts.
We all bring with us the other sporty things we did before finding the best of them all.
I brought surfing, and here's the skill set that helped me smack the highbrow lowlifes:
When 20 guys are sitting on the peak and only a handful of waves roll through with each set, you have to be very crafty. Very. Or, you're gonna get skunked. Turns out those very skills come in handy in a sprint finish.
So, what ya wanna do is think back on the sporty things you got good at before and apply those skills to bikyracy stuff.
You probably already do, unconsciously.
Get concious.
Little things, just recognizing them, gives incredible confidence.
This morning, I did a local group ride knowing full well they'd hit the climb way harder than I've ridden in months. Bam! Sprinting up a 10% grade which levels off to a false flat/rolling top.
My eyes were watering it hurt so bad...
... reminded me of the days I'd sit on the far side of the peak, dudes would think I was too far out, and I'd paddle so hard and so fast I'd catch the wave before they even had a chance.
Bark!
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