Your Next Three Years

“It takes three years to make a cyclist.”

                                    Road Dragon

I tend to utter that statement a lot.  Usually, it’s aimed at newer riders.  But it applies to any of us.  From time to time, I’ve hinted that I see less than expert behavior exhibited by riders with some years of experience behind them.  The personelle recruitment folks have an old saw about “experience,” as applied to resumes.  A resume write may list “Five years of experience in field X.”  The problem is, that could mean one year, repeated five times!

Sadly, this is often true of cyclists too.  Many of us don’t really respect our sport.  We are a bit terrified of it at the start, and then, after mastering a few rudiments, we tend to just plateau.  We repeat that first year over and over again.  Eventually a kind of frustration sets in, and many of us depart the pastime.

What’s the solution?

Those of you who know me, know I don’t often say things without some backup and rationale behind them.  When I speak of “three years,” I’m not just referring to “time served.”  I have a Program in mind.  What I’m proposing to do is to use this space, and take us on a journey.  For the next three years, we’ll go through that first three years of cycling.

For Beginners and “Experts”

This series will be intended to help the new rider through that crucial “first three years.”  It will also be a guide to those of us with a few more miles on us.  I know that there will be material and subjects here that will benefit the long time rider.  I also intend to bring that new rider to a level of good, sound proficiency.  I expect to learn a thing or two myself.

Will this series make us all “Experts”?

Good heavens!  I sincerely hope not!  “Experts know it all.  An “expert,” almost by definition, can not learn anything new.  No, my intent is to bring us to a condition of solid, sound, safe, and proficient ridership.  From that point on, we can learn more as we go. 

What will follow, in the next three years, will be the distillation of a lifetime spent riding and studying riding, along with the results of a lot of research.  By no means do I claim that this is the only way to go, but it most certainly is one good sound, tried and true way to become a really proficient rider, and to have an enormous amount of fun doing it.

Please refer to the statement at the opening of this post.  It isn’t complete.  There’s always a second clause.  The full quote should read;

“It takes three years to make a cyclist, and a lifetime to refine that making.”

                                    Road Dragon

It really doesn’t matter if you are a brand spanking new rider, about to go for your very first shaky ride, after having been off of the bike since you were a kid, or a seasoned cyclist.  I can guarantee the journey we’ll take, in the next three years, will be worthwhile.

Are you ready to begin?  Good.  Here’s the first assignment.  Do it today.  Before the sun sets.  Go and get your bike.  If you’re new, take your time looking at the thing.  If you’re coming back, wipe the dust off and inflate the tires.  Wheel it out into the driveway.  Look at it.  Think about it.  Just what is this thing?  Grasp its essence.

Now, straddle it and go for a ride!  It doesn’t have to be along ride.  It can be as short as ten minutes.  But ride that thing!  Think about it as you do.  Experience it!  What is right about it?  What feels wrong?  Is this a good thing?  Enjoy it!

“It takes three years to make a cyclist.”  Our next three years of learning and discovery have begun.

Next week:  Beginning ~ The Essentials