Promises, Promises

Most of January has slipped past us and if you have not made New Year’s resolutions by now you might want to take a bye. Personally, I am still undecided about the whole concept. Resolutions tend to be made in a fog of champagne bubbles and seldom well thought out. So many are idle promises not do this and that or do better about something we feel amiss.

I would like to resolve to ride my trainer when the weather is bad and not just sulk and eat potato chips. Even better I should ride regardless of the weather. I should throw all caution to the wind and ride for the horizon until every last one of my credit cards are busted. It’s not likely to happen.

I could resolve to train more sensibly and scientifically instead of just riding my ass off until I am so sore I have to ride slow whether I want to or not. Maybe I could promise not to get cranky and ride off by myself. Maybe I could quit shaving my legs, buy some wool shorts and go retro caveman. Don’t bet on it.

One’s physical aspects are often subject to resolutions. Losing a few kilos, cross training, lifting weights, crunches, spin classes, these all wind up on the New Year’s list. So does not drinking beer, eating chicken wings and nachos, and other unhealthy habits. I’ll take two from column A and one from column B and let you guess when I’ve strayed from the path.

So, after much careful thought, here are my resolutions:

I resolve to have fun and ride my bike.
I resolve to help as many others as I can have fun on a bike.
I resolve not to go retro caveman. (much)
I resolve to have six pack abs by the time I turn 50 in October.

2 1/2 out of four ain’t bad.

Heroes and Zeroes

Could there possibly be anyone on the planet who hasn’t heard of a cycling drug scandal? There may be a primitive reclusive culture somewhere in New Guinea or perhaps the oval office, but if you have any access to media it has touched you someway. Riders are condemned quickly, some who’ve been caught are allowed to race again after a hand slap, and anyone who wins a lot is under suspicion. It is a topsy turvy world of heroes and zeroes.

How do you sort it all out? What do you tell your children? Armstrong came back from cancer and won seven TDF and never touched dope? Hamilton and Landis made heroic efforts and then were phenomenally stupid? Millar was dirty but took a time out and is suddenly clean and fresh? Professional cycling has always been under the shadow of doping but the issue here is not what the pros are doing but what do you tell your kids.

You can’t raise your kids in a vacuum, they are going to hear everything you do and possibly more. We draw a certain amount of inspiration from the pros as will our children but who do they look to first? Us. If all a child knows about cycling is what they hear on TV or the internet then we have failed. If watching the pros inspires us to get off our butts and ride, then it is watching us that inspires our children. They will learn more about what is right and wrong in racing by being taught how to race and not by being given a scorecard of who’s clean and who’s dirty.

What if you don’t have kids? I don’t have children myself but I feel a responsibility to teach and nurture the younger generations be they 5 or 35. Nothing will keep you humble so much as the scrutiny of a child. Taking the time to listen to the youngsters will also keep you from getting old so fast.

Don’t coach or preach from the couch. Get out there and ride with the youngsters, share the wealth. If you can inspire someone to enjoy the sport of cycling then you are a hero in my book. Hats off to you!