Why in God's name do we do this?
07-26-09, 05:15 PM
#1
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Why in God's name do we do this?
I race road bikes. I'm a converted track racer, who got on the road to train and began racing sort of because I was forced to. I'm pretty fast as a track sprinter, and pretty fast on the road. I was instantly upgraded from 5 to 4, and will soon be a 3, all in my first season. I joined at the untimely age of 22 (racing age 23), sorry development programs. I ride alone, all week long, before and after I work construction. I train in painful amounts, not overtraining though. I have the genetic gift of having frightening leg muscles, a high Vo2 max, and a resting heart rate of 40. Next year I'm lined up to start training with a regional pro-am team in a very serious fashion, to ideally become pro.
The real reason I posted this is because as I said, I have a painful training regimen, complimented with bi-weekly training crits and the actual races I compete in, solo (well a local bike club picked me up, but they're a tad farther back in the pack). This training and racing puts immense strain on my work and my relationships with my closest friend and fiance.
No one seems to understand the importance of what we do, how we train, what we need to eat, the rest we need, or the days that we're away, not by choice but because we need to be.
The suffering that I put myself through is heavenly in a way, when I'm out there, but when I get back, the entire thing turns into a **** storm of "where were you?!" or "I can't believe you're not coming on sunday". Basically, why the hell do we do this? Is it really worth it? Sure, I made a big name car company team, I'm just an amateur now, though, starting late in the game, too. I can't afford this as it stands, and that's only getting worse.
Best case scenario I'll make my name on the team and become pro/1 and then what? Travel around making little to no money with my expenses covered, while life goes on at home with bitter distain for the kid who ditched them? Or I might just flop, sit on the tail end of the team, stay cat 2 and fade into obscurity.
The question is this, guys: (and I know I'm gonna get some **** for this whole thread, but I can't rightly go to my next-season coach with this kind of drivel.) Should I keep this painful train headed full steam ahead into possible opportunity and the realization of long-held dreams? Or do I keep one of my bikes, sell the rest and do the local crits till I'm too old, while cementing a normal career and making my friends and family happy?.
I'm so lost and can't believe that literally no one in my world understands the reason I grind on every day. Half in spandex, half with a tool belt on, all the God damned time.
The real reason I posted this is because as I said, I have a painful training regimen, complimented with bi-weekly training crits and the actual races I compete in, solo (well a local bike club picked me up, but they're a tad farther back in the pack). This training and racing puts immense strain on my work and my relationships with my closest friend and fiance.
No one seems to understand the importance of what we do, how we train, what we need to eat, the rest we need, or the days that we're away, not by choice but because we need to be.
The suffering that I put myself through is heavenly in a way, when I'm out there, but when I get back, the entire thing turns into a **** storm of "where were you?!" or "I can't believe you're not coming on sunday". Basically, why the hell do we do this? Is it really worth it? Sure, I made a big name car company team, I'm just an amateur now, though, starting late in the game, too. I can't afford this as it stands, and that's only getting worse.
Best case scenario I'll make my name on the team and become pro/1 and then what? Travel around making little to no money with my expenses covered, while life goes on at home with bitter distain for the kid who ditched them? Or I might just flop, sit on the tail end of the team, stay cat 2 and fade into obscurity.
The question is this, guys: (and I know I'm gonna get some **** for this whole thread, but I can't rightly go to my next-season coach with this kind of drivel.) Should I keep this painful train headed full steam ahead into possible opportunity and the realization of long-held dreams? Or do I keep one of my bikes, sell the rest and do the local crits till I'm too old, while cementing a normal career and making my friends and family happy?.
I'm so lost and can't believe that literally no one in my world understands the reason I grind on every day. Half in spandex, half with a tool belt on, all the God damned time.
07-26-09, 05:18 PM
#2
Peloton Shelter Dog
Because it beats being hooked on alcohol, drugs, gambling or NASCAR.
07-26-09, 05:22 PM
#4
Not actually Tmonk
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I race road bikes. I'm a converted track racer, who got on the road to train and began racing sort of because I was forced to. I'm pretty fast as a track sprinter, and pretty fast on the road. I was instantly upgraded from 5 to 4, and will soon be a 3, all in my first season. I joined at the untimely age of 22 (racing age 23), sorry development programs. I ride alone, all week long, before and after I work construction. I train in painful amounts, not overtraining though. I have the genetic gift of having frightening leg muscles, a high Vo2 max, and a resting heart rate of 40. Next year I'm lined up to start training with a regional pro-am team in a very serious fashion, to ideally become pro.
The real reason I posted this is because as I said, I have a painful training regimen, complimented with bi-weekly training crits and the actual races I compete in, solo (well a local bike club picked me up, but they're a tad farther back in the pack). This training and racing puts immense strain on my work and my relationships with my closest friend and fiance.
No one seems to understand the importance of what we do, how we train, what we need to eat, the rest we need, or the days that we're away, not by choice but because we need to be.
The suffering that I put myself through is heavenly in a way, when I'm out there, but when I get back, the entire thing turns into a **** storm of "where were you?!" or "I can't believe you're not coming on sunday". Basically, why the hell do we do this? Is it really worth it? Sure, I made a big name car company team, I'm just an amateur now, though, starting late in the game, too. I can't afford this as it stands, and that's only getting worse.
Best case scenario I'll make my name on the team and become pro/1 and then what? Travel around making little to no money with my expenses covered, while life goes on at home with bitter distain for the kid who ditched them? Or I might just flop, sit on the tail end of the team, stay cat 2 and fade into obscurity.
The question is this, guys: (and I know I'm gonna get some **** for this whole thread, but I can't rightly go to my next-season coach with this kind of drivel.) Should I keep this painful train headed full steam ahead into possible opportunity and the realization of long-held dreams? Or do I keep one of my bikes, sell the rest and do the local crits till I'm too old, while cementing a normal career and making my friends and family happy?.
I'm so lost and can't believe that literally no one in my world understands the reason I grind on every day. Half in spandex, half with a tool belt on, all the God damned time.
The real reason I posted this is because as I said, I have a painful training regimen, complimented with bi-weekly training crits and the actual races I compete in, solo (well a local bike club picked me up, but they're a tad farther back in the pack). This training and racing puts immense strain on my work and my relationships with my closest friend and fiance.
No one seems to understand the importance of what we do, how we train, what we need to eat, the rest we need, or the days that we're away, not by choice but because we need to be.
The suffering that I put myself through is heavenly in a way, when I'm out there, but when I get back, the entire thing turns into a **** storm of "where were you?!" or "I can't believe you're not coming on sunday". Basically, why the hell do we do this? Is it really worth it? Sure, I made a big name car company team, I'm just an amateur now, though, starting late in the game, too. I can't afford this as it stands, and that's only getting worse.
Best case scenario I'll make my name on the team and become pro/1 and then what? Travel around making little to no money with my expenses covered, while life goes on at home with bitter distain for the kid who ditched them? Or I might just flop, sit on the tail end of the team, stay cat 2 and fade into obscurity.
The question is this, guys: (and I know I'm gonna get some **** for this whole thread, but I can't rightly go to my next-season coach with this kind of drivel.) Should I keep this painful train headed full steam ahead into possible opportunity and the realization of long-held dreams? Or do I keep one of my bikes, sell the rest and do the local crits till I'm too old, while cementing a normal career and making my friends and family happy?.
I'm so lost and can't believe that literally no one in my world understands the reason I grind on every day. Half in spandex, half with a tool belt on, all the God damned time.
That don't mean nothin'.
All I have to say is this: "While we're young."
Yes 22 is young. I know this because I am 22.
07-26-09, 05:28 PM
#7
Peloton Shelter Dog
Framebender, you are F'd.
Welcome to the club.
Welcome to the club.
07-26-09, 05:28 PM
#8
rider of small bicycles
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"Next year I'm lined up to start training with a regional pro-am team in a very serious fashion, to ideally become pro."
"Sure, I made a big name car company team, I'm just an amateur now, though, starting late in the game, too."
I'm confused. Are you on this team, or are you training with this team? Regardless, racing against and beating Cat 4's is no litmus for how well you're gonna do as a pro.
The time to ask the questions you're asking is after you establish the fact that you have the skills to pay the bills. Understand too that very very very few people do.
"Sure, I made a big name car company team, I'm just an amateur now, though, starting late in the game, too."
I'm confused. Are you on this team, or are you training with this team? Regardless, racing against and beating Cat 4's is no litmus for how well you're gonna do as a pro.
The time to ask the questions you're asking is after you establish the fact that you have the skills to pay the bills. Understand too that very very very few people do.
07-26-09, 05:28 PM
#9
Peloton Shelter Dog
07-26-09, 05:32 PM
#11
Elite Fred
Join Date: Aug 2005
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Why do we do this? For the soul crushing and its flip-side: self-loathing.
07-26-09, 05:37 PM
#12
Peloton Shelter Dog
The OP sounds like he is well on his way to Self Loathing. It helps that he's getting others to loathe him along the way.
Cycling alone will fry you, adding bicycle racing is like pouring a gallon of gasoline on the BBQ.
Cycling alone will fry you, adding bicycle racing is like pouring a gallon of gasoline on the BBQ.
07-26-09, 05:39 PM
#13
Peloton Shelter Dog
So is any of this helping yet kid?
I'm telling you, this stupid thread has legs. Legs I say.
I'm telling you, this stupid thread has legs. Legs I say.
Last edited by patentcad; 07-26-09 at 06:24 PM.
07-26-09, 05:40 PM
#15
No matches
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I wonder if Cavendish posted on forums (newsgroups I guess) when he was younger. I bet he sounded a lot like this.
07-26-09, 06:20 PM
#16
Announcer
No one seems to understand the importance of what we do, how we train, what we need to eat, the rest we need, or the days that we're away, not by choice but because we need to be.
I'm so lost and can't believe that literally no one in my world understands the reason I grind on every day.
07-26-09, 07:00 PM
#17
Carpe Diem
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"When you are chewing the bars at the business end of a 90 mile road race you really dont care what gear you have hanging from your bike so long as it works."
ΛΧΑ ΔΞ179 - 15% off your first Hammer Nutrition order!
"When you are chewing the bars at the business end of a 90 mile road race you really dont care what gear you have hanging from your bike so long as it works."
ΛΧΑ ΔΞ179 - 15% off your first Hammer Nutrition order!
07-26-09, 08:38 PM
#21
Don't mince words
Do you want to settle for an average life and wish you'd pursued your dreams?
Or do you want to see how far this cycling gig will get you?
What do you want to remember when you're twice your age?
I let someone derail my dreams when I was a teenager. I spent my late teens/early 20s being angry and bitter. That's no way to live.
Do what makes you happy.
Or do you want to see how far this cycling gig will get you?
What do you want to remember when you're twice your age?
I let someone derail my dreams when I was a teenager. I spent my late teens/early 20s being angry and bitter. That's no way to live.
Do what makes you happy.
07-26-09, 08:40 PM
#22
Senior Member
If this isn't a troll.
For the love of god and the sake of all of us that aren't has beens, because we never were, keep going until you actually do flop! You have the opportunity to do something that a lot of people dream about. Dreams can only be realized by taking risks. You'll never know if you, could have, if you don't give it 100% now. You don't want to live the rest of your life wondering "what if"! Trust me on this point.
For the love of god and the sake of all of us that aren't has beens, because we never were, keep going until you actually do flop! You have the opportunity to do something that a lot of people dream about. Dreams can only be realized by taking risks. You'll never know if you, could have, if you don't give it 100% now. You don't want to live the rest of your life wondering "what if"! Trust me on this point.
__________________
Birth Certificate, Passport, Marriage License Driver's License and Residency Permit all say I'm a Fred. I guess there's no denying it.
Birth Certificate, Passport, Marriage License Driver's License and Residency Permit all say I'm a Fred. I guess there's no denying it.
07-26-09, 09:02 PM
#23
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If your friend isn't supporting you, what sort of friend is he?
If your fiance isn't supporting you, do you really want to be married to her? Of course you also have to support her in what she wants in life, it's not a one-way street. And you need make some time together. That requires some compromise and adjustment of training schedule. She may feel that cycling is more important to you than she is, so you have to figure out how to make her feel that she's more important. Give up a training ride to do something romantic or something that she's interested in every once in a while. She doesn't have to know that you needed a rest day.
If you can't figure out how to make her feel ok with it, you shouldn't get married, at least not to her.
If your fiance isn't supporting you, do you really want to be married to her? Of course you also have to support her in what she wants in life, it's not a one-way street. And you need make some time together. That requires some compromise and adjustment of training schedule. She may feel that cycling is more important to you than she is, so you have to figure out how to make her feel that she's more important. Give up a training ride to do something romantic or something that she's interested in every once in a while. She doesn't have to know that you needed a rest day.
If you can't figure out how to make her feel ok with it, you shouldn't get married, at least not to her.
