Quote:
Originally Posted by LEAKYSEALS951
I remember when I was starting out. Some guy named "Rock" would be riding around town and encourage me to hang on his wheel. Then we'd be doing 25mph ave. everywhere. Amazing.
He said "If you want to stay in shape, do 100 a week. If you want to be FAST, do 200"
I always wondered why he was so nice to a newbie like me. Looking back, I think he was so lonely doing 200 a week, he was just happy to see someone.
He was an inspiration! 
For me groups do what they do. I figure "Take it or leave it" The social preaching and drama doesn't do it for me. I get too much of that at my work  |
Yeah, I stay away from most mouthy folks. Usually younger, riders that has been doing it for 4-5 years and they seem to know it all. Funny thing is, some of us that had been doing it for a long time or stay out front all know each other and the words get around so the mouthy ones know of our experiences or history and they stay away or keep their trap shut. Not need for that kind of crap coming from me. IF they are going to stay up front, we only ask that they hold their line so they don't cause a wreck.
We always have a few serious riders even in the dark ages, 80s, here in LA but nothing like today, everyone is in spandex holding up traffic with their deep dish carbon wheels. I remember getting the riot act from a guy name Ron Skarin on my way to a local Wednesday training ride when I was 17. Skarin was in the 72 Olympic. He would smack me in the back of the head, no helmets back then, and say, close that gap even if I was dying, lung hanging out of my mouth gasping for air. So I chased. After the ride, on our way home, he come up and say, ride slow, but put in your miles weekly and your speed and endurance will come. I always remember that. In my early 20s, I was doing 350-400 a week in the summer including riding to and from all the weekly local training rides later, the track. Have no job, going to school part time, building cabinets out of my parent's house. I was fit, fast and no longer afraid to chase breaks. What the hell did I get out if it? Not a fooking thing but finishing local crits, top ten. Bagged only two races in all my years of racing (not one win at the track) and one I was DQ for running another rider into the hay bail. It was pay back only that I was caught. Thinking back, it was too much fun.