Every year I sign up for some stupid spring gravel race thinking "Oh this will force me to stay active and on the bike all winter," and every spring I curse myself for spending all that money to go suffer thru a gravel race when my legs are absolutely not ready for it. I need this group to slap some sense into me and remind me that races are basically the exact opposite of everything I enjoy about bicycles. Wish my poor little legs and lungs luck…
by cptinjak
3 Comments
What do you do during winter?
If you don’t enjoy racing, you may not even enjoy it if you were to win. Just ride your bike because it’s nice to be in nature, it’s meditative to breathe heavily and spin your legs at a constant pace for two hours, and it’s blissful to feel exhausted and go to sleep afterwards.
But since you already signed up, just finish last. Someone always has to finish last. It could be you this time! And you will be no less a valid cyclist if you do. At least you’ll get to enjoy a bike ride without the pressure then.
I basically only sign up for the fun ones anymore. There’s a donut eating one I do every year, camping/beer fest gatherings, and non-competitive countryside tours. When I do actual races I only do the short/mid length ones instead of trying to go all out. So much more fun without worrying about limits and numbers and carbs.