A glimpse behind the podcast

 Post #4: Be honest, you are a recreational rider, and that is okay.  

    I've been listening to people talk bikes a lot lately.  As I listen to what people say and what they state others say.  I giggle to myself.  I often wonder how serious people want cycling in their life?  How far are they willing to go?  For what benefit do they perceive to get?  This matters, because the amount of emotional energy they put in to it vs their actual effort amuses me.  I gave up being elite at any sport after high school.  My freshmen year college I ran cross country for a short while, I became injured and realized the amount of effort I had to put in vs the reward (non-existent) was not worth my time.  I realized that being hazed and putting in all that work for Division III team without a scholarship was pretty wasteful of my time. So I moved on with my life, and took up Judo, weight lifting, and beer pong. 

    Then the Army came into my life.  I only failed one PT test ever.  Now before you judge me all you veterans.  Understand I failed the 2 mile run by 10 seconds and in Alaska at -20.  Yup my lungs were burning, the snot and the whole deal.  I was not acclimatized and I have list of excuses.  Reality was only 2 people passed the test that day.  It may or may not of been the fact we were leaving for Iraq in the next month. Other than that, I was in shape and usually was in the in the top 20% of finishers. Fast forward from that cold December day in 2003 and after I was medically evacuated from Iraq in February of 2004 for a broken hand.  I missed qualifying for the USARK 10 miler team by one position.  I ran a time of 57 minutes.  So running was never really a problem for me.  Hence, when I listen to what people's efforts are reality vs their expectations I liked to think I have an understanding.  

    If you have a full time job that is not cycling, chances are you are recreational rider.  Yup, Professional riders can fall into this category as well.  Yes, professional as they have license that tells them that.  I would argue those folks are recreational riders as well.  Here is the thing, are you making your living from the bike? Some bike shop cat is gonna say yeah, and I will roll my eyes.  Let me rephrase it, does your performance on the bike directly correlate to you making a living?  Again, shop kiddos, stay off social media to protect your job does not count.  Last I checked, Strava does not mail out QOM/KOM checks.

    99% of us are recreational riders.  If you want to go hard, go hard.  If you want to go slow and beer cruise do that.  But if you find yourself stressing out over your bike performance, I would suggest you are doing it wrong.  Currently my hours on the bike are way down.  If I hit 6 hours a week, that is a good week.  I am venturing into yoga and other things.  I have always tried to use cycling as a weight management tool, and to be honest, it has not worked.  I can drop weight if I lock down my lifestyle and give up gluten and practice a 18hr day of fasting 7 days a week.  For me that is not manageable, nor enjoyable.  Hence I turned to the bike.  Figure out why you ride and what motivates you to ride and do that.  Get weird with it, and play bikes with others if that is your thing.  Some of my best rides are with two friends who are above my riding skill.  On the rides we shared, we are little boys in the woods goofing off.  Daring each other to cross a muddle puddle at winters end.  Clearing trails with hatchets and drinking a large can of beer, stashing it and coming back to it to finish it off.  

    We are recreational riders, if stressing out about your performance is what makes you happy, awesome.  If not, then put about and have fun with it.  No one really enjoys a gym class hero on the bike.  In fact, no one really ever enjoys a gym class hero.  Dodgeball is over.