commuterDude: Enough whining

September 12, 2007

Enough whining

Well, 24-hours later I've gotten a LOT of feedback, online and off, and it's all helped to solidify my thinking on the matter.
"Opportunity, not failure" -- it's up to me to determine HOW I handle and transform this situation. I can sit back, and say "yep, I'm not ready" - so why even try? OR, I could say "yeah, I'm not as ready as I'd LIKE to be", and give it a good shot, and stop being so afraid to fall. I may have hit bottom in the diet department, but the fitness and mileage base is still in there -- it just didn't materialize at the MS-150. I still had a good time, so what's the big deal?! It's supposed to be fun, and I am REALLY gonna be kicking myself if I show up down there WITHOUT a bicycle. I'd still have fun supporting the other riders, sure, but I'd always have that wonder in the back of my head - and that wondering can kill a person on the inside. Better to try, and see, than to be afraid and not even get out of bed, so to speak. Enough whining. I'll use the information I've learned and received from others, behave off the bike, use more efficient fuels on the bike - stuff that has worked in the past, train with it this weekend - and see what I can get. Massive distance isn't gonna do anything for me in the next 14 days, so I'll just keep the legs warm; intervals were recommended, to prime the engine and get the aerobic limit pushed up a little bit. All excellent advice, and I truly appreciate all the comments I've received in the last 24 hours. Means a lot --

After all, there is always next year... but that doesn't mean I shouldn't try THIS year.

Stick to the plan -- just FINISH. And if I can't finish, just enjoy the ride. At least I will have tried!

No comments:

What is bicycle commuting?

Simply put, bicycle commuting is the act of travelling to a place of work or education by bicycle. In many areas it is common to combine bicycle commuting with public transport. Worldwide, the bicycle remains the most common commuter vehicle, and bicycle riding the second most common form of commuting, second only to walking. While the absolute number of bicycles in existence globally is unknown, it is clear that significantly more bicycles are manufactured than automobiles. In the United States about 40% of automobile trips are two miles or less; using a bicycle for these short trips can reduce your emissions and expenses. If you live within ten miles of work, you could save thousands of dollars in fuel, insurance and automotive maintenance costs each year. This webpage seeks to highlight bicycling as a viable transportation platform and a fun, exciting, healthful way to improve your life! Visit the commuting links below and get started today!

What is Randonneuring?

The French term "randonnée" loosely translates as a long tour or ramble along a defined route, and persons embarking as such are dubbed "randonneurs". In cycling, the term defines a hard-riding enthusiast attempting a long-distance randonnée (called a "brevet", usually 200 kilometers or greater) within a certain time allotment. Non-competitive by design, randonneuring encourages camaraderie: riders test themselves against the clock, the weather, and a challenging route - but not each other. Randonneuring's ethos embodies self-sufficiency and mental toughness; support vehicles are not allowed and brevets are held regardless of weather. Randonneurs USA (RUSA) organizes brevets in the United States under the auspices of the Audax Club Parisien (ACP) and the Randonneurs Mondiaux (RM), and rider's results are recognized world-wide. This website seeks to highlight the excitement and challenge of long-distance bicycle riding by sharing personal ride accounts, with the hope of growing the sport. If this type of bicycle riding interests you and you'd like to find out more, visit the RUSA webpage to find rides in your area!

For ride announcements and discussions on randonneuring in the greater Kansas City area, visit KC Ultra Cycling, and join the KC Ultra-Cycling Email List:

Subscribe to KCUC

Email:

Visit this group

Courtesy Randonneurs USA

What is Ultra-Marathon Cycling?

Just as the 26.2-mile marathon represents a benchmark for runners, bicyclists generally consider the "century", riding 100-miles, a worthy endurance challenge. Ultra-marathon cycling involves exceeding that benchmark, often several times over, offering the long-distance challenge of randonnuering with a more competitive flavor. This is the world of 24-hour races, double-centuries, and beyond. Where randonneuring rewards all finishers equally and emphasizes self-sufficiency, ultra-racers compete for time and placing, maximizing speed by utilizing support crews for hand-ups and fast repairs. Event courses can be long and scenic, but may take the form of many laps of a looped course. Winning ultra-distance events requires the rare combination of endurance and a high average speed. Randonneuring and Ultra-Marathon often complement one another: brevets can offer base-training to prepare for racing, and fast randonneurs often enter ultra events for a new challenge. Visit the World Ultra Cycling Association's website for more information.

Courtesy World Ultra Cycling Association

September 12, 2007

Enough whining

No comments:

What HITS?

Email? Email!