Friday, August 1, 2008

Why I suck as a bicycle racer

Ok, the first reason I suck as a bike racer is that I haven't raced this year, or frequently in years prior. In fact, I've never raced much. I really want to, but I don't. So the real question is why don't I? Part of it is that I don't train enough, part of it is that I haven't made time to race. Even with my limited training, I know I am in better shape right now than I have been in for quite some time.

But what is the real reason, I ask? I think it is that there are just things I enjoy doing more than racing or even riding my bike. As much as I long to be on my bike some weekends when I am doing other things, in the end, I do consider some activities more important than just getting up and going riding (as much as I love doing so). If you give me the choice of a nice 3 hour solo ride or 3 hours playing with the boys, even knowing that at least 1 hour of that is going to include crying by one or all of us, I'll normally take the 3 hours with the boys.

I also don't often do evening group rides (though I have & plan to soon). The two main reasons are 1) that I am tired in the evening; and 2) evening group ride means less time with boys, even when they are screaming & crying. It also means more stress for the wife, which I also don't want to cause.

The final reason I haven't even done the training races this year is sort of silly to many -- I don't want to pay for it. I don't want to pay for my license so I can be pack fodder. Which means I need to train harder to justify the expense, which means finding the time to do so. Which means I should get off the damn computer.

2 comments:

Psimet said...

Ahhh...bicycle racing....

1 - you can always go for a 1 day license. (yes then the race doesn't count towards catting up, but why would you want to cat up?)

2- Buying an annual license on Jan. 1 serves as a great motivator. Trust me.

3 - Buying 2 different annual licenses on Jan 1 is an even bigger motivator

4 - Admit it...it's the fear of getting dropped when you feel like you are in the best shape you've ever been in...;)

5 - Masters 4/5 - Working/family man's cat.

6 - I gave up everything else to have a family...I keep bicycles and racing. It's either that or I will think of my family as the Borg.

7 - Racing takes less time on the weekends than centuries or other long distance rides....as long as the races are close.

8 - Chicks love scars.

9 - (Some) Chicks love shaved legs

10 - It's easier to get new gear when you are constantly wrecking you current gear.

11 - At this point in life toeing the line, hearing the "RIDERSREADYSTART" and gun shot followed by the melee to the first corner....is better than sex.

I'm not saying....

Eric Cox said...

Psimet -- all you say is 100% correct.

I've loved every race I've done -- time to make the time & do it.