Originally Posted by
dz_nuzz
Interesting to find myself back on here looking at this thread. Struggling myself with this same question but coming at it from a different perspective. My last few seasons have been objectively great, but subjectively I am struggling with the fact that I am just sitting at the peak of what I can do physically and being mentally stressed from running a team for a number of years. It just feels like something's gotta give. I basically just melted down after getting dropped in a crit I didn't really care about from a goals perspective, didn't even fail physically just tactically made a blunder and I just lashed out unnecessarily at others. I guess for me it is knowing that I am at the limit of what I can do with the genetics I have, the time I have and the age I am. I could maybe accomplish more if I cut out other things, but I have a career, a new relationship and I still love to ride my bike.
I think I worry most about becoming something I hate because I keep pushing myself to be the best I can be. I think there is a point for all of us that will make us question why we race, and it isn't always because you are pack foddering, sometimes you just don't see what else you can aspire to or push yourself to be.
I know you (like @
Ygduf) are a high volume rider; so your 'investment' in the sport is greater than most of us, and from my experience stalking racers locally and online only about 10% that put in that kind of work or so stick it out for more than a few years. Most hit a wall with their improvements no matter what work is put in. Like @
aaronmcd (who put in huge miles as well) your time investment has put you at the wall of your genetic limits (or within a few small percentages) and you know what you are and that's what you'll be. That genetic limit may elite, but its still a limit. Maybe its, '
I'm faster than everyone in the region but Bob and Larry' but its still frustrating, especially if Bob and Larry are in every race you're in (or Justin and Cory here in SCNCA).
I don't know what the answer is, and USA Cycling doesn't know the answer because riders washing out has been an unfixable issue for them. The sport is designed to cater to the top 5% and there are ways to fix it, but with that 5% being the most invested they run USAC, lobby the promoters, etc.
I wish I had an answer for you other than maybe taking a support role, only focusing on 2 races next year, or just a year off racing altogether (and run the team from the sidelines) but I don't think that's the answer.