Cycling – friends and competitors

Maybe its a Col Trickle thing, cyclists don’t like to spend too much time thinking about the injuries that may occur racing a bike. 

Snapping my achilles a lifetime ago (96 days) meant doing something other than cycling. My time on the injury list has blossomed into a garden of alternative activities. Watching and thinking about riding, rather than being in the game. I have grown some ‘mental weeds’. That is, gained some new perspectives on the effort, mental attitude and time consumed by it all. 5 new ‘species’ in my mental window planter are:

1. Mulch rhubarb. There is such a thing as too much spin – for my liking. I think there is a limit to the value of endless twitter promotions, of cyclists as new media stars. Its only about what happens on the bike and real experiences. Everything else is piling on the compost.

2. Pruned tomatoes. Growth needs to be balanced – just like pro teams and the UCI. Can team management achieve the best results for cyclists and the sport? ‘Festina’ says no. Cyclists dropped because of injuries say no. And on the other side, does the UCI sound like a bit of an ass…

3. Rotten dead stuff. How the dope cheats stink! This may be jealousy speaking… but what is with all the returns to racing after suspension (embraced with open arms), all the ongoing issues. It is killing the sport. It just seems never-ending.

4. Big red capsicums. Are like pumping, full ventricles, full capacity hearts. Giving it everything, every ride, without excuses, this is what makes this tough sport. Its all iron and oxygen. Thats the pro arena. Shit I love seeing this. The best medication.

5. Roses. These go to the old gits and not so old cyclists I know who have kept in touch. Some a whole lot faster than me. Some not. Its not a competitive thing.

Not suprising really, that Masters grade riders would have a sense of community. Family men, used to different kinds of wins and a range of friendships.  

Sounds like its not that different at the highest level. Ritchie Porte’s blog on Velonation.com – “I normally go training with the Tasmanians…half the population of Australia is from Tassie, so I do a bit with Gossie [Matt Goss], Gerro [Simon Gerrans] and Wes [Sulzberger], and also some of the other guys in the peloton. It is funny, if you think of it…two years ago, the thought of riding in a bunch with Boonen and Gilbert and some of the biggest names seemed unusual, but we just meet at 9.30, coffee shop…I love it, it is great.”

“Some wonder about the rivalries, and how we put that to one side when we are training together. To put it simply, that is cycling! It is funny to watch the Classics, Stuey [Stuart O’Grady] chasing Boonen, but off the bikes they are such good friends. Everything seems to be put aside when we are out in training.”

On reflection, the main thing growing at my place, is the lawn – it hasn’t been mowed since I first went into a cast, 20 January 2011. I’m now at cast 7. Five more weeks to go and counting.