The Daily Grind

By Rob Manning

Race rumblings.

Good epics give you a chance to hit lots of terrain and enjoy your surroundings.

The dog days of summer have begun to lash us with the muggy tendrils of summer heat that we all look forward to. We’re all out on two wheels getting dirty, gritty, muddy and sweaty, and we’re all enjoying the hell out of those experiences. Photographs abound, bizarre tan lines are in full view of the general public (pay no attention to my Livestrong bracelet tan and my pasty white feet and hands) and every cyclist I know is peaking for their summer epic rides. There’s nothing better than those dog days of August that promise some of the best riding of the year (though riding in the crisp fall air is phenomenal too).

I have to break down the 4th wall though. Here at MBT we’re on a one-month lead time which allows our staff writers, photographers, editors and layout designers time to bring you a packed zine. Herein lies the problem. I’m writing this nearly a month before publication, and it’s one week into the ultimate race in the sport of cycling: Le Tour de France.

Yeah, it’s a road race, but it’s captivated the minds of cyclists for years. The grueling 2,200-plus mile race around scenic France has been the testing grounds for the greatest cyclists of all time. Greg LeMond, Lance Armstrong, Jan Ullrich (not there this year due to a little doping scandal), Floyd Landis (who is formerly a mountain biker), Dave Zabrieskie and Michael Rassmussen (formerly a mountain biking champion) have all made a huge name in the Tour. They’ve made a household name for themselves by merely doing what they love. Funny thing about that though, it’s really the same thing we love too.

The Tour embodies the primal spirit of competitive cycling. It’s as much a strategic battle as it is a battle of physiological dominance and toughness. There’s a camaraderie among the members of the Peloton that few people understand; people from different countries and different teams all suffering through the same grueling test, but still remaining friends-for the most part. What we don’t realize, sitting on the couch with a beer (maybe we’re putting that beer into our free Discovery water bottle from that damned Trek scratch-off game) or a Powerbar (also from that damned game) is that these riders embody not only the spirit of competition, but also the soul of cycling.

Epic rides are great and so are short competitive rides among friends, but-as I recently discovered- there’s no substitute for the thrill of racing.

I recently bit the bullet and registered for my first race. Remember, I don’t own a race bike (or even a hardtail at this point), I’d never ridden a race, and I generally don’t ride with friends at a racing pace. Not knowing what to expect was probably the most exciting part of that first race. I pre-rode the racecourse once, I raced on a 5” trail bike, and I certainly didn’t expect a win at all. Needless to say, I didn’t win, but I did enjoy the hell out of myself.

Races are for pushing and testing yourself.

There’s something different about racing, and something about it fills up a missing part of a cyclist. Think about the riding you do on a daily or weekly basis. I know everyone has their own style, but how often do you do the same group ride, same trail, same loop, same distance in the same time, etc etc? I know I have different kinds of rides I enjoy. I love my solitary road rides- personal challenges to increase the distance I can sprint or the amount of climbing I can suffer before I want to fall over. I enjoy riding with one or two other people on the trail, be it leading the pack or spinning contently at the back of the group. I look forward to larger group rides with five or more people, and the sense of community the group builds over the course of a dozen or more miles on the trail. There’s one thing that’s missing in all of those, however, and that’s a raw competitiveness that racing embodies.

The race is you versus the world. You versus your very own body many times and you’ll know that point when you struggle to mash that next pedal stroke or when you howl in triumph as you cross the finish line completely spent. It’s a game of skill, prowess and power that is unmatched in every day riding, and it’s an addictive concoction that can leave you craving more. And more is always a good thing.

If you’ve never entered a race, seek one out. Find some people around you that have ridden them before and talk to them. Get involved by going to watch a few races, or even as a trail marshal. Mingle among the racers after they finish their laps and talk with them, see the grins on their faces and how much they love what they’re doing, whether they win or not. Think how much you’ll appreciate that daylong epic when you can say you ripped a 12 MPH average over a racecourse with no time to rest or enjoy the scenery. I’m pretty sure you’ll appreciate it just a little bit more, and you’ll have a new perspective on this two- wheeled adventure we call cycling.

Now get out there and enjoy the trails. After all, it is August, isn’t it?