Thursday Thoughts: Arrested Development

It takes three years to make a cyclist.

Maybe you’re heard that statement before.  Maybe you’re new to all this.  Maybe you’ve been doing it for a long time.  I wonder what your take is on that.  The “three year” rule is something that I base on a lot of experience and observation. 

Most road cyclists are adults.  Most of them rode bikes as kids.  Most stopped riding around age 16.  Few of them were ever road cyclists as youngsters.  Most are returning to the sport somewhere between age 30 and 45.

Year 1:  Learning the bike.  Learning to shift, brake, and turn.  Learning the basics of road riding, rules, etiquette, essential equipment.

Year 2:  Gradual expansion and exploration.  The rider goes farther and attempts more.  Shifting technique is refined.  Group riding becomes comfortable.  A lot of time is spent trying to catch up to the group.  Equipment choices are explored, including saddle, clothing, pedals, possibly a new and different bike.  The first inkling of training occurs.  New and better equipment choices are made.

Year 3:  Everything begins to integrate into a smooth and complete whole.  The rider is now ready to spend the rest of their life exploring limits and improving skills.  The realization occurs,  “I can spend the rest of my life at this, and I will always have something new to explore and learn.”

That’s the way it should be.  Unfortunately, most road cyclists don’t go through that complete cycle.  Their development is arrested.  They learn a few rudimentary skills, find a “comfort zone,” and never progress beyond that point.

We’re not talking about “speed” here.  Rather, we are talking about skills.  When did you last spend time practicing with your clipless pedals?  Did you drill with both feet?  The same could be asked about performance braking, or track stand, or looking back without a mirror, or the “rock dodge,” or the “instant turn,” or even focus work on smoother shifting.  Have you ever done “bump drills”?

If you haven't practiced this stuff, could you say why?  What would give you the motivation to do this practice?

Why is it that so many new riders seem to arrest at a point just barely beyond the Novice level, and then focus only on speed and distance?  What would it take to change that?