As racing season slowly approaches, the ritual of losing those Holiday fat cells begins anew. I think once more of riding in a high intensity environment with my legs aching and lungs burning as the lactic acid spews out of my pores.
I think about past races and all the other riders out there who show up, pay there money, and then sit in the pack all day long to finish 25th. I attack and someone sticks with me but won't pull through because "its too early" or they say they are saving for the sprint later. I wonder what they are gaining by being out there. I can see if they are one of the top sprinters and that is their game, but many times its just Joe Packmeat.
Training and racing with this team has given me a certain mindset. I get bored sitting around riding in the field not suffering. Why bother racing when I can sleep late, eat donuts and ride with the wheelmen on Sunday?
Racing with some of our big guns, I am constantly seeing them launch off the front attacking the field over and over. It's contagious. It's the AFD way. Just show up at Lincoln, and 9 times out of 10, you'll see the green and yellow up the road. Even some of us mortals get in the action and become better by doing so.
Bill "I eat pain like candy" and Derek are always saying that when you constantly attack "only good things can happen". This is true. If you get caught it just makes you stronger for the next time. If it works, you just put yourself in position to do well. Its a win win situation. When you line up to race, its about pain. When you attack, you are dealing the pain out, when you sit in, you are showing that you are taking the pain.
I want to point out one rider in particular as an example. ?It's easy to point out our mutant riders like Bill, Jon, or Al. They have been doing it for years and really laying a mark on the peloton. But take Rod as the case study. Rod is a cat 4 rider with thus far, limited success. Yet, every week at Lincoln and on weekends at the races, he is getting involved in attacking. I tell you, he's becoming a stronger rider because of it. I ride with him on Saturdays and he makes me hurt when the pace picks up. Derek has noticed the same thing. At some point, the attacks will be better timed and the fitness is going to be there to make it stick. When it all comes together, it's a beautiful thing.
By attacking in races, he has learned about his weaknesses (recovery) and can focus on those in training (MORE INTERVALS ROD!!!). When he finally gets it, he's going to move through the ranks because he has no fear of being aggressive.
Does Jacky Durand win every race he enters? Nope, but he isn't afraid to go out there and give it a go. I like to look at it in this manner. Attacking results in failure much of the time, but with each I try and fail, I am one attack closer to the next success.