It Really Is Just a Ride

FOG member Rob Larsen once said this about biking at Growlers: “Remember, it’s a ride, not a race.”

It’s true that we might have bent that rule slightly a few times over the years. But it’s good to keep things in perspective for the 5K. The pre-ride hype is just for fun. Don’t take things too seriously.

The top riders might be competing against each other. But most of us are just competing against ourselves.

We set up the 5K as a way to get in shape for summer riding. The theory was that if we put the event on the calendar, we would be forced to train for it, which would get us to a higher level of fitness earlier in the year.

We’ve been successful in doing that. In fact, it’s obvious that the ante has been upped significantly at Growlers over the past few years. People are pushing the envelope. It’s great to see.

Eric Loney once told me that when you say “1-2-3 go” it changes everything. He’s right. All of us take pride in taking on a challenge and performing to the best of our abilities – even when we understand that we have no chance of winning.

Take a minute to scan the list of 5K participants. We range in age from 22 to 72. Our skill and fitness levels are all over the map. There are people with big-time road, cyclocross, and DH racing experience; and there are people with no racing experience at all. We get together because we love biking and enjoy a challenge.

Last Saturday, Dara Muldoon summed up the attitude that many of us have about the 5K: “I just want to do my best.”

There you go.

We all have different goals. Ryan McMaster wants to see if he can hit 3:30. In my dreams, I think about breaking 4:00. Dave wants to earn that first wheel in his quest for Fist of Five status. Vaughn Martin wants to see how many miles a 72-year-old man with negative body fat can cover. Juntu Oberg wants to finish.

I can’t keep up with the big dogs. I ride my own race. I recommend that you do the same. If it’s wet and you don’t feel comfortable riding the Big Wow hill or other sketchy spots, don’t. You won’t lose more than a few seconds by walking it, and you won’t get extra credit for cleaning it.

Find your zone. Forget about the other riders. And remember that no matter what your time is, there will be a party back at the house when you are finished.