Friday, April 18, 2008

Help!

I have been a bad blogger as they say. But I have been working on a post that I can't seem to complete. I am exploring the idea that rider identity may be connected to speed and performance. Help by answering any or all of these questions:



1--Do you perform significantly better or worse in competitions than you used to? Why?
2--Does poor and/or good race or ride performance affect your personal relationships or job performance ?
3--How do you measure a "great" training ride when you are riding with at least 2 other people?
4--If you had a week to work with a promising junior in a bike camp, what would be the theme(s) of your sessions?


These are not trick questions, no hidden agenda. I seriously want to know some views and your answers will not be exploited. Special something for those who answer! You can also send an email bikevoice[at]cox.net

5 comments:

Unknown said...

1. Worse, because I catted up a few times

2. Performance does not effect my job or relationships. Not sticking to my training gameplan DOES make me a sourpuss

3. Great = I affirmatively go a little bit harder while I am in the middle of contemplating putting a gun to my head because it hurts so much. Another qualifier of being a great ride is that I completed at least the last 20 miles totally cracked/on fumes/bonked.

4. Keeping your life outside of cycling squeaky clean so you can truly focus on cycling when you are on the bike

hfang said...

1- I perform about the same, though probably better this year. The reason is that I actually trained over the off-season. In the past, the off-season was off the bike and on the couch. So the get in shape time is basically very quick... how it will affect my longevity for the racing season is to be determined...time will only tell.

2- Race performance... depends on how I train during the past week (s). The amount of training definitely affects my relationship. Of course, I always have to ask the wifey for permission to race or ride. She does support my riding as it is good for my well being and fitness. Bargaining is big in my house. Of course... the family comes first... so swimming meets, soccer and hockey practices and games come first. Sucks doesn't it? For those guys/gals who don't have someone to report to... good for you!! Job performance doesn't really get affected as I'm not really taking time away from the job. Of course... this year... maybe Nationals??!!
3- Great training ride, well, if I'm sore afterward, it probably was good. If I stay with the group, and take my pulls, and push myself or keep the pace, then it probably was a good training ride. If you agree on a goal and achieve the goal of the ride... then it's a good ride, even if it was easy.
4- Focus on goals and life realities, make sure that you listen to your body, don't over train. It's all about education and making it fun.

Anonymous said...

1--Do you perform significantly better or worse in competitions than you used to? Why?
Last season - better - because of attention to details and the Power Tap. This season - NA

2--Does poor and/or good race or ride performance affect your personal relationships or job performance ?
Neither - riding is just plain fun and my therapy in life.

3--How do you measure a "great" training ride when you are riding with at least 2 other people?
Any ride I can do and be able to share with others is always a "great" ride.

4--If you had a week to work with a promising junior in a bike camp, what would be the theme(s) of your sessions?
Pay attention to the details and above all else just have fun. If it's not fun, why do it?

Anonymous said...

i`d make them jrs do intervals til they drop, !!!!!!!!! just jokin, tell them no matter how good they do one week they may get their a$$ handed to them the next, so don`t get to up or down, just enjoy the priviledge of the ride......but for real INTERVALS......

Anonymous said...

1 - i've had a better result this year, but i'm less consistent, probably because i catted up. i'm faster because i train with faster people. otherwise i have no explanation for my results.

2 - i certainly hope not, riding is my therapy; but i do get frustrated if i do poorly in a race. but a bad day on the bike is still better than being most anywhere else in my opinion

3 - if i pushed myself to either keep up with them or make them keep up with me. but it really doesn't matter, sometimes a nice easy spin is a great training ride.

4 - find someone with real experience to give you advice, but whatever you do have fun.