“’It’s a bit of a cliché to say that we learn more from our mistakes than our successes”

There is no such thing as success, failure, happiness, depression, good taste (accounts for euro-trance). Not that people don’t feel these things, they’re convenient labels we tack on things.  Your subjective experience of happiness is quite different from mine.

All these feeling states are subjective , not things, that we do. We don’t happiness, we happiness. The same as failure. There is no such thing as failure, until we slap the label on it.

Research has shown that we learn more about events and associations for which we initially make incorrect predictions than for things for which our initial predictions are correct. The element of surprise in discovering we are wrong is conducive to learning.  Cognitive thinking suggest the same emotions, thought processes and general situation harpoons the brain to capture previous experiences in the past (good or bad).

The greatest thing you can ever do is make mistakes.  Frequently people refer this remark to me all the time; “if only I could erase my past mistakes then I would be free” .  That, is a misunderstanding of epidemic proportions. If you erased your mistakes you would effectively erase a great percentage of what you know at this given point in your life.  Why logic does this serve?  It hurts to bring forth past errors in judgment yet is necessary time and time again.  Especially with events that are emotionally draining to us.

Specifically, emotional romantic attachments is a prime example.   This event can be dictated to us via friends, books and self proclaimed experts in various media outlets etc…  Yet when action is called for this event is best battled with knowledge based upon ones own experiences.  Or better yet, if the situation is new, then simply see where it takes you but take heed of the lesson learnt and pluck forth the good, bad and the ugly truth.  Few situations call upon our emotional reserves than those of failed romantic adventures.

The pain we feel we make drastic mistakes is tragic.  When I failed in business and my athletic endeavors whether minuscule in depth or great it always hurt.  I have spent moment, hours, days even in a complete daze because my whole world and all of my dreams came crashing down abruptly.  To say that I was ruined would be an understatement.

Then after a period of time I began to realize I know a few things about failing in business and life I could teach others. I began to share my stories of failure with people of whom I know whether neath the context of life, cycling or work.  Those of whom I have interacted with gained genuine insight in what NOT to do, and conveniently, what TO DO.  As a result my reputation as fledgling writer/bike dood became to take shape.

When I was sharing with people the mistakes I had made, I realized that one of the most important things for me to do is milk them for all their worth. It would be a tremendous shame to simply allow them to slip through your fingers.  Forgetting them is one tragedy, another is to neglect the sound advice passed down from our elders and those of whom have ‘been around the block’.

Keep an eye and an ear forever open, NEVER ignore new lessons learnt and those from the past.  Invest these turbulent events in your “mind bank” and reap the rewards of caution and wisdom in the future.

-OC

Change is not always growth, but growth is always rooted in change.  A finished person, like a finished house, is a static thing.  Pleasant perhaps, or beautiful or admirable, but not for the long existing.

We all remember the television shows of our youth. The father in a sitcom departs for work, arrives home to his affable spouse.  The ensuing dialogue has the same intent so often that his wife usually finished his sentences for him.  We  recall the shows where the main character was a rebel, lived by his own rules; a doctrine of egocentric. The rebel would ride into the sunset with a different girl on the back of his motorcycle, ‘living the dream’.  Commonly our ‘dreams’ fell somewhere in the middle of these two extremes, yet some of us are now living the stereotypes we most feared.

I am young, yet to reach the epitome, the pinnacle, the realization or every dream a cyclist could fashion.  As the winter months fall upon one another all I desire is change for all that is well in the pursuit of cycling excellence, yet I refuse to phase it that way.  Admittedly my ‘inner doctrine’ seeks only adventure.  Reaching a post, a post occupied for nearly 3 months (my stay in Belleville, ON), I seek to abandon that stagnant post at every turn because inside I must seek more opportunity to grow.

Not all people are possessed of such spirits.  Some desire and cling to the comfort and routine, to the surety that comes with the completion of construction of the construction of a life’s details.  On the smaller scale they become wedded to their daily routines.  They are enamored of the predictability.  They calm their restless souls in the confidence that they have found their place in the multi-verse, that things are the way they are supposed to be, that there are no roads left to explore and no reason to wander.  At least not worth exploring and jeopardizing this ‘harmony’.

This is the line we all straddle, between comfort and adventure. Kudos to those who have this continual desire to improve themselves and the world around them.  Walk upon the road unseen with curves, twists and ‘cul de sacs’ yet always enjoying the challenge.  -OC

Solitude

In recent years I have willingly embraced a lifestyle of solitude – self containment if you will. Feeding my convivial appetite for cycling in an attempt to concoct a stronger, more able athlete has certainly proved to be a challenge.

My training wans, sinking as I become wiled unintentionally to the company of friends and social comforts while home, pleasures of the flesh I call it. Innocent enough to be joyful; sharing a beer with a friend, dancing the night away with a pretty girl, mashing a controller commanding virtual environments on an xbox 360. Yet all hinders athletic growth, absolute focus, the unwavering dedication. Hence I flee the minuscule torpidity of home and seek a training environment devoid of distractions and bountiful in solitude and self containment.

Solitude affords a pleasure of which no one can deprive me of. I anticipate the progression of fitness that each training block unleashes, but I do so aligned with the delicious enjoyment of all those hours of serenity and composure spent ascending precipitous climbs or gazing upon tantalizing oceans of deep blue. How fortunate am I to bask deep in the lustrous delights flowing forth from these successful endeavors abroad! I would not exchange one single hour of such tranquility and content for all those flattering illusions pop culture and 21st century living that my generation are so incessantly intoxicated with. A difficult hill, mountain, ride surmounted, another happy moment seized, a daily routine neatly and elegantly executed on said 16 pound carbon machine accomplished yet again are salutary – self healing to counter the melancholy so many seemingly suffer from. These moments all belong exclusively to wise and well informed time spent in solitude.

Enjoying freedom, the soul feels the extent of it’s energies with greater sensibility and displays powers which it was before unconscious of possessing. Riding without obligation the faculties sharpen, the mind becomes clear, luminous and extensive. Perceptions more distinct, the whole intellectual and physical systems extract more itself in the leisure of solitude than in the bustle of the world. Riding alone; in solitude; the mind explores with unerring clearness all the latent properties of one’s body in a state of attrition.

Solitude not only elevates the mind but adds strength to it’s powers. The individual who has not the courage to conquer prejudices, whose greatest dread is the imputation of singularity, who forms his opinions and regulates his conduct upon the actions and judgments of others will certainly never possess the sufficient strength of mind to devote himself to solitude. Cycling can only strengthen the mental resolve of those willing and able to cast aside “pleasure of the flesh” and accomplish structured training alone, pushing yourself – by yourself and not govern their movements upon speculation from peers and known associates.

However…

Cycling is a team sport, and we all must be armed with a prodigious network of support. Coaching, sponsors, teammates, family and friends all replenish our resources and adaptation to training, voice support and supply fresh ammo during our races. During training I choose self containment – no distractions. However when needed one my burst forth from their solitude bubble and endure the harsh commutes abroad to races, discuss strategies in hopes of victory, seek and discover new contacts in the industry in hopes of securing a new contract – new opportunity.

Solitude now a vestige, the delightful liberty and leisure of training harshly interrupted, we quickly adapt to the change of environment, scenery (the sensual scenic stupor of SE USA) finding new zeal and excitement to reward those times of self containment. Racing after all is why we spend so much time alone, apart from loved ones riding obscure roads lost in the infinite tapestry of asphalt and forest green.

Regardless of failures or successes during racing I return once more to my surreptitious lifestyle and entice yet another training renaissance. The vigor, interest, often officious dedication fuels additional heed to training and nutrition – for a mere days, a week, a month until we race again….

Never back down, never quit.

EuroG

The Subject of Letting Go Part III: Relationships

Letting go. It is extraordinarily difficult for many of us, on so many levels. Yet life calls upon us to take this action , over and over and over again. Letting go is part of our personal growth process as human beings, we cannot move on to the optimistic fortunes of life and spirit whilst clinging to the old.

On the most basic level us fragile humans function in primitive survival mode. When we feel our survival threatened, we respond instinctively; this is a sub-conscious behavior. Unless there is physical abuse, it is very rare one’s survival is actually threatened in a relationship. However, when we push our partners buttons even with the best intent or possibly not, there runs a risk that one may go into survival “relationship” mode and retaliate to protect themselves. This may hurt the other tremendously, yet it can be considered a basic form of human subconscious instinct.

There comes a time in love, romance and in strained friendships or associates, when we must learn to let go. Maybe the relationship was not meant to be, perhaps it was hurtful. Perhaps it hindered the personal or spiritual growth of one or both parties. In some cases even though there were mutual feelings of passion, (attraction, familiarity, the overwhelming disposition of) bad sensations with a heaping tea spoon on animosity need to be addressed with action. Holding onto anger does not serve us in the slightest, and it may even create problems in our physical health and well being.

Letting go is a natural release that follows with the realization that holding on is an energy drain that hurts. Letting go happens effortlessly when there is no other choice or no desire to fix things that are best left broken, Whether we have idealized a past relationship or just read too many Fabio-romance-clichéd-romance-novels, many of us need to let go of the myth of the perfect lover or partner, the fantasy of a relationship between two people that requires no work and just brings us “happily ever after”.

Consequences play a big role in dictating the process of letting go. Accumulation of friends, goods, pets, children all make the decision more challenging. Social shenanigans from having both parties share a group of friends can cause hesitation, fear of malignant discussion and separation from friends.  Houses, vehicles, furniture, pets, business arrangements make it tough! Is your happiness more important than personal materialistic possessions? I applaud those who are faced with these immense obstacles and yet through the thick and thin proceed with their intuition.

In my life as an aspiring cyclist it is difficult to hold onto friends spread across continents or forge new relationships.  Any foundation that is wrought runs the risk of collapse from racing in different countries, or as in my case soon to be racing in Europe.  A relationship that fast blooms in it’s infancy is a beautiful thing indeed.  However unless there are overwhelming feelings of attraction it is best left broken when the consequences are fewer and the connection broken before any partner specific “obligations” hinder the letting go process.

As for me, I say goodbye to the past and hello to the present. I see the beauty and significance of starting over – over and over and over. Every moment is new and new is always right now! The new dies to the ever-new in an endless celebration of life. I have come to the realization that what is possible for me only changes when I am willing to see what is impossible for me to continue being. Letting go entails new beginnings and possibilities in all thing big and small.

Isn’t that what we wanted all along
Freedom like a stone
Maybe we were wrong
But I can say goodbye
Now that the passions died
Still it comes so slow
The letting go.

The Opinionated Cyclist feels twitchy today,. He gazes neath the brim of his LAS hexial helmet upon the road ahead. The scenery is nothing short of spectacular; a surreal environment of majestic mountains densely choked with trees, rivers and accompanied with few motorists or people. Smooth pavement snakes through the thick forage rising unpredictably as the steep gradient ascends above 6000ft. Unseen, this road so far from civilization offers little relief for the elite or recreational pedal enthusiast.

The Opinionated Cyclist knows this road well, many times has he conquered this 24 mile climb, however on this day the battle lacks the same vehemence, pain and suffering. His legs hum a familiar tune, rhythmically those fleshy pistons pump quicker than days past

He glances to a heart rate monitor – 171 – threshold. 171? He frowns, momentum temporarily suspended, as he ponders the reading. How can this be? He feels like the bike has no chain, gravity no longer tugs at his price gouged carbon fibre steed, his heart feels passive – rested.

The road sweeps left as the gradient kicks up another notch, yet he maintains a smooth cadence without changing gears. Dropping 2 cogs on his cassette, he rises out of the saddle attacking the remnants of the first battle of the day, his vision is hindered, blackened from focus, blurred from sweat.

The road is slick, moistened from a lingering cloud. The once jaw dropping scenery quickly becomes obscured from view, sight restricted to a mere 10 yards. Minutes pass by, not a car is seen, not a sound is heard, the mind is numb, the mind reticent.

Flow has been achieved.

One is focused, vision becomes blurred, the road ahead is all that matters, the only thing that matters....

Flow is awesome.

Movement(s) of Flow: When you feel at one with the movements you are making you are experiencing a dimension of flow; the merging of action and awareness. Instead of the mind looking at the body from the outside as it were, the mind and body fuse into one. In cycling the bike becomes and extension of your body and mind. Handlebars become attached to your arms, cranks – your legs, seat post – your spine.

This oneness with movement does not require effort in flow. Indeed the feedback is processed by the mind spontaneously, like breathing, changing gears, pumping the pedals; yet the process(s) all performed so seamlessly, effeciently. And it is this process of the body and mind during flow where we operate nearest to full capacity, all seems so effortless, a totally absorption of action and awareness merged into one.

The absorption of your movements occurs when the athlete is completely focused upon the objective at hand. When you feel that you have the skills to meet the challenge and your focus is absolute – a dimension of flow has commenced. Your focus is part of a holistic experience and is of course dependent of other components (heat, sweat loss, fatigue, glycogen depletion etc..)

The movement of flow can best be defined as a sensation of floating or flowing, a sense of lightness, ease of movement. An athlete will become so focused on the objective that they remember not seeing or hearing anything or anyone. The noises and movements of all in their vision is merely there, not seen, heard or heeded. The totality of the experience is truly spectacular.

The demanding nature of cycling leaves one feeling exhausted, aching, suffering deep within one’s self from one moment to the next. We must draw upon enormous reserves of will and stamina day to day in our training and racing. And yet as in my case I found a happy medium of no pain, anger, happiness, sadness even under the excruciating heat and steep pavement. I ignored the pain so completely, I entered an effortless rhythm that transformed my agony into ecstasy. It is a strange high we crave, this…flow. Yet the more we feel flow the more motivated we become providing a blueprint for returning to this optimal state of mind.

I hope your adventures provide the same state of mind, it all makes life a life more worth living.

So end part I; The movement of flow.  Stay tuned for part II: The objective of flow.

-G

Cycling is so incredibly hard, the suffering intense beyond belief, that it’s absolutely cleansing. The pain is so deep and strong that a curtain descends over your brain. Often during my obligatory re-fuels at World Coffee I am asked what pleasure I take in riding for so long. ’Pleasure?’ I reply. ’I don’t understand the question.’ I don’t train for pleasure, I train to defeat my personal demons, I train to feel more and more and more pain.

The history of bike racing abounds with stories of endurance, will power and sheer courage on an epic scale. The capacity of professional cyclists to drive themselves relentlessly day after day through the pain barrier and way beyond makes them a breed apart. We redefine heroism in sport. The suffering is gratuitous, the mileage we cover Herculean, and both make a crucible in which a unique character is forged; an apparently cheerful indifference to the pain inflicted by bike and road, suffused with the transcendent desire to conquer both.

The greatest battle is not physical but psychological. Demons telling us to give up when we push ourselves to the limit can never be silenced for good. They must always be answered by the quiet, the steady dignity (tempo) that simply refuses to give in until the next race – the next ride. Call no man brave, say the Spanish, say only that on a particular day he showed himself brave at the prospect of self inflicted torture. Such strength of character radiates from every bike rider who has shown the requisite courage not to yield, has won his dignity, day after day.

Yet every rider has a limit they will themselves to push, the recreational rider/racer often become content with their pain threshold level, pain is stagnant; growing neither progressively worse nor easier. Can you raise you threshold higher? As fitness rises expotionally, pain tolerance should rise in sync: longer deeper, harder.

The true test of any rider’s mettle is the road traveled upon. How much punishment can you take on a bike? You will only find out after you hear the voice in your head saying ‘STOP!!’ you’ve had it, any more of this battering and you’re going to weaken fatally, and yet, for some reason best left to God and guesswork, carrying on anyway. This endless battle of surrender, never won, never conquered, transcends the mind. Mountains become fabled monsters to be slain, cast down, conquered lest they pounce on any slippage in your resolve. Mysterious forces cackle failure behind your back which can freeze your nerve with the lonely prospect of failure, not here, not on this horrible mountain gradient I say.

Your thoughts and your breath are your strongest allies when you’re suffering. Turn toward the pain and use it, if you allow it to become your friend you can unleash it’s power.  Like most anything in life, the more you turn toward it, the faster you’ll improve your relationship to it and the faster your growth as a cyclist will be fueled by it.  Never back down, never quit.

Take care eh

-EuroG

The gradient began to rise as the inaugural hill approached. Clicking my shifter to a lower gear, I shoved the bike forward launching a brazen attack.  After a brief moment of hesitation a single rider bridged to my wheel, we exchanged pulls till the summit with the group chasing hard behind. Exchanging pulls we accelerated form the groupetto finishing the ride together.

The group behind were all physically fit, eager to attack or at least make a move.  Why didn’t they?  What held these riders at bay.

Fear…

There comes a point in a race, perhaps many when we are faced with a choice of making the decisive break in a race, sprinting for the finish line or maintaining contact on a steep climb. We can decide to burn our precious store of anaerobic matches, burying our bodies in a world of lactate induced pain, or we can sit up and let our competition rue the day.. These are the times when we can say yes or no. Take a risk – a chance or else restrict yourself to your fears and simply not do anything at all.

Most people self-limit themselves. People do not achieve a fraction of what they are capable of because they are afraid to try. We are all capable of so much in life and sport heedless of exterior perceptions from others or perceptions of one’s self. If we say we can’t do X because of some ill conceived notion of failure or difficulty, logically we will manifest this “fear” of performing a task poorly, if we do try at all.

The Law of Feedback states:

there is no failure; there is only feedback. Successful people look at mistakes as outcomes or results, not as failure.

Unsuccessful people look at mistakes as permanent and personal. Unsuccessful people that will look back at their choices intoxicated by fear with a sense or guilt, regret and resentment. As opposed to dishing out a hearty dose of positive constructive criticism, plucking out the positive aspects of the scenario, whilst taking heart of the lesson learned. Action gives you the power to change the circumstances or the situation. You must overcome the inertia by doing something.

Ask yourself these questions (seriously); What would you do if you knew you could not fail? How would you lead your life differently?

If you deliberate your actions in life and sport; be brave, quit being parsimonious in success. If it doesn’t work out the way you want, then do something else. But DO SOMETHING NOW.

Failure is about behavior, outcomes, and results. Failure is not a personality characteristic. If what you do may not give you the result you wanted, it doesn’t mean you yourself are a failure because you made a mistake. Hey, if nothing else, you know what doesn’t work. Failure is a judgment or evaluation of behavior.

I live(d) in a beautiful country full of opportunity, one can literally do whatever you want if you put your mind to it. Never forget however. A great percentage of the population lives in legitimate fear of finding enough food to feed them-selves or avoiding getting shot at and killed. Fear and hopelessness that is completely out of their grasp to control.

Would you be so fearful of what I deem small insignificant tasks in daily life (or great) if you came full circle with how fortunate we all are? If you fear riding hard during a race, forget not you still have a warm bed to sleep in at night, food on your table. Taking that extra risk, soaring above your pain threshold seems rather trivial in the grand scheme of things…..

I will say we all have fears, we are not emotionless computerized bodies of flesh yet through experience we can all defeat specific fears, beckoning an intellectual revivl in confidence and self esteem.

I fear much but thankfully through trial and error and have great influences like my ever entrepreneurial Mother, friends and adventures I have been blessed with a sense of perspective.

Take care eh

-Euro G

Quite recently this opinionated cyclist was confronted with a query – night or day? A rather simple question asked capriciously caught me off guard, thus I failed to summon a response worthy of said opinionated cyclist. My ability to delineate an opinion was curtailed from too much caffeine and the USA today, an excuse for my dubious reply, or at least this is what I would like to believe in my defense. The following is my opinion of night and why I prefer night than day.

Part I : Night.

Night. In spite of everything we are still, as a species, uncomfortable with it, even fearful. We have from earliest times invested much of our technological effort into artificially dispelling the darkness, to the extent that, those of us who live in cities never really experience it’s full depths anymore. Those shrouded in darkness or not we still seem to fear it, apprehensive till a faithful return of day.

I say sod ill-concieved fears of darkness, enjoy it.

As the sun emerges along the eastern horizon my mind becomes apprehensive, I think only about cycling; the scheduled training, daily nutrition, body self assessment. Until the finale of my training, which commonly occurs shortly before nights eve, my thoughts and actions become dominated from my obsessive passion of cycling offering little room for much else. Whether I like to admit it or not, after time it becomes a stress, a heavy burden to shoulder, a burden associated with day.

Night alleviates the pressure of day, no longer am I focused entirely on cycling. I simply unwind, resting my tired body from it’s rigorous endeavors, casting my efforts to other meaningful tasks.  I associate night with productivity and relaxation after a day of aggressive drivers, rogue turkeys, sweat, suffering and pain.   The life of a cyclist is dictated by training and recovery which in reciprocal fashion can be looked upon as day and night.

• Day can be full of wonderful moments on the bike, yet is associated with suffering
• Night can be limiting for a cyclist to ride in, yet is filled with opportunity to recover/relax

When we finish training we instinctivly seek recovery in the form of hygeine, nutrition and rest.  Our arduos endeavour is now finished, and this is when the beauty of training physiology occurs. Recovery from training is what makes us stronger, faster and more able bodies athletes and I find this immensely exciting as a developing bike dood.

Recovery food post training, "brenner" seen here

I’m quite happy to sit in the cool moonlight and simply look at the world while time loses all meaning. I feel isolated from my surroundings, as seen during day, permiting an opportunity to collect my thoughts without distraction,- allowing increased focus, perspective and commitment to whatever I choose to do.  On the slip side night offers this canuck the excuse to “bust a move” on dance floors near and far and spend obligatory social time with friends and family.

Joyful experiences with night have also taken place on the bike.

During my employment in the horse industry in South Florida I participated in night group riding every Tuesday night. Each rider armed with a brilliant array of mounted lights, warding off civilians and motorists, riding at night can be dangerous, the unseen road less forgiving. The clock strikes 7 and we set off in the black, we ride hard, we attack, we take risks, we feel more alive riding at night than we ever could during the day.

I will always remember this feeling of unbelievable intensity as I ride my blinking steed down a flat road. The darkness clouds my vision, I see little than my fluid legs humming a mechanical tune, I hear little than my labored breath. Using the painted lines on the road as a guideline I focus on little else as the passing scenery remains unseen to my eye, this offers a feeling all cyclists desire – flow.

Take care eh

EuroG

Night-time sharpens,
heightens each sensation
Darkness stirs and wakes imagination
Silently the senses abandon their defences …

Slowly, gently night unfurls its splendour
Grasp it, sense it – tremulous and tender
Turn your face away
from the garish light of day,
turn your thoughts away
from cold, unfeeling light -
and listen to the music of the night …

Excerpt from a man who truly enjoy the night – The Phantom of the Opera

Homoerotic techno playing in my head, shoe covers worn, training food in my pouch(s) I exit our house to my loyal waiting steed.  Exiting the premise I recall the ghastly climate that awaits – @#$% !  The right hemisphere of my brain mind grumbles to return to bed, abandoning the ride till the weather eases.  Yet athletic passion desired the 3 hours of exacerbation at hand….so forth I ride.

How many athletes would turn and run?  How many would grin and surge forward with reckless abandon?

The cyclist that crawls back to bed has been defeated.  The conscious decision was made not to ride in incliment weather, yet cycling as a sport requires a strong mental preparation component.  This entails riding and racing in adverse weather conditions, as elite endurance athletes it is a intergal dynamic of our sport.   One must rehearse for anything mother nature unleashes, racing in wind and rain as well as hot and humid days in training preparation.  Yes it may be dark, windy, cold and dangerous and commonly you will be training alone at the mercy of drivers, rogue turkey militia and slick pavement.  This is why one must remember their goals, purpose and reason for training so diligently, the weak minded athlete who refuses to get dirty must re-evaluate these objectives when needed to.

The grinning cyclist viewing the wet, windy cold weather thinks “I can do this, I can tough it out, this will make me stronger”.  His affirmation of self talk will boost mental confidence allowing him to stayrelaxed through-out the training ride.  Riding so focused, the damp frosty mountain air no longer carries a bite, the piercing rain is just water, the thick fog parts itself allowing a clear view on the road ahead.  Kinetic energy wrought from fluid pedalling warms the core body temperature, a mantra plays in the cyclist head “looking good, feeling strong, nothing can go wrong”.    The morning weather improves during the latter portions of the ride, returning home the cyclist has more time to work, recover and prepare for the next ride.

To be fair, life has its ebbs and flows, and you’re not always going to be able to be as motivated as you’d like. Sometimes you just have to push through. But the more you’re able to sustain a level of motivation that’s sufficient and healthy for you, and the more skill you have at adjusting the direction and intensity of your motivation when one or both are out of whack, the more likely you are to get the most from yourself, enjoy your cycling, and achieve your cycling goals

As cyclists we must prepare ourselves to ride in poor weather, both mentally and physically.   An ability to ride on slick roads, corner, desend, sprint can dictate whether a race is won or lost.  This skill can only be accomplished through aggressive physical training, a similar environment cannot be artificially generated nor duplicated in any manner, you must simply invest your time outdoors.  The mental component compliments the ability to ride in wet conditions, as dirt is flinged in the eyes, fellow racers slip and fall left and right, it falls upon the mind to dictate how far the body can push, how it can overcome fear.  Pre-race training in inclimate weather defeats fear, austerious we ignore any preconceived notion of falling, slipping, breaking bones when we remember previous soaked rides.  This allows us to race harder and faster carrying that extra speed on a decent, around a corner, sprinting to the finish line.

My finest rides and races have been in the rain, becoming so focused and attentive of the road ahead I zone out.  These are the rides where I re-discover flow, where there is no anger, sadness, happiness, pain – just peace.  I ignore my legs screaming for oxygen as they drown in lactate acid, ignore the dirt in my nostril and mouth, ignore the cold wind blasting my thin frame with it’s icy talons.  Layered in garbage bags and lycra with hot tea exchanged for a bottle of water, I rode until my hands went numb, until the -15 Canadian weather became unbearable.  I feel no fear, no dread of ghastly weather, I have ridden through the worst allowing me to tackle anything mother nature may throw my way (to a logical degree).

To the cyclist who ventures forth in incliment weather I applaud your strive, your strength, and your indefatigability

-Take care eh

-EuroG

Coffee makes me happy

The Sun beating down, bathed in salty sweat, my open jersey fluttering in the breeze, my legs rhythmically turning over the pedals.  Speeding along scenic Blue Ridge Parkway I approach the 6700ft summit of Mt.Mitchell. The world is silent save my labored breathing as a soft breeze now cooler at elevation chills my dampened kit. Anxious to set off once more before my muscles stiffen, I take a moment to drink in the scene laid before me.  Beaverdam gap, French Broad River, Craggy Gardens, all wrought in a tapestry of forest green.

I turn, gazing distantly west across the mountains to the city of Asheville where I suddenly remember – it’s coffee time.   Without a second thought I launch my steed down the mountains at a brisk 70km/h enjoying a 1 hour decent and the lustrous rewards of a hards day “work”.

If there is one thing that fits hand-in-hand with cycling culture, it’s coffee and caffeine.  Coffee (and more notably – espresso) has a unique way of calling all cyclists, whether a cup in the morning to kick of the day or a brew to unwind post ride. I’m doubtful whether any conclusive scientific data has been published revealing why we cyclists inherently consume caffeinated beverages so profusely. I just believe caffeine is simply an element we need flowing through out bodies as cyclists. It is truly faux pas of cycling etiquette should a lycra clad rider refuse a coffee, shame on you!

The lifestyle of a diligent amateur cyclist can be difficult, the training hours long, the coin purse never heavy enough, a social life lacking in in depth and sustainability from time spent away from family and friends. Often a simple coffee neath the arches of a small cafe or the notorious Starbucks, can be the only social reprieve for time spent alone training and recovering.   Small talk with nearby locals have revealed many entertaining bouts of conversation and good friendships have bloomed.  Time is also spent relaxing with team mates over a cup discussing upcoming races and training rides without timing our words through abbreviated breathing.

Scientific research had proven a positive relationship with caffeine and endurance sports. Caffeine has a wide range of effects on your body, especially the nervous system and the cardiovascular system. In very general terms, it is a stimulant that prepares your brain and body for “action.” As such, some general effects include an increase in heart rate, dilation of blood vessels to ease blood flow throughout the body, and generalized excitation of the central nervous system and its sensitivity to stimulation. These attributes provide a small,very small increase in Vo2max/power levels while training, although don’t expect to break any records from a few “doses” – train more.

I now find myself arriving at the rides finale, a coffee shop I know not the name of, here in downtown Asheville. Strolling to the entrance I realize my footfalls err in normalcy looking upon people passing by, their walking normal compared to my gauche footsteps, lacking any remote sense of grace. Paying my pecuniary of a meager $1.29 I seat my tired soul comfortably outdoors beneath an awning along the sidewalk. Legs extended, cup in hand, I recapitulate the days journey. The wind, weather, how the engine felt during lactate efforts and of course the ever more occuring attacking evil turkey militia who run across the road mere seconds before I ride by.

Idealistic setting

Feeling relaxed and eager to return home for dinner I venture off once more with slightly heavy legs for the twenty minute ride back home to Arden. Looking forward to the next day of suffering and a new brew that awaits…

Take care eh

-EuroG