Cyclist: Amateurs give pros credit for legitimate reasons, but it's not race that defines a cyclist, says Cyclist columnist Frank Strack.
Again and again we meet contemporaries who ride racing bikes, who argue with great vehemence that anyone who has never ridden a race should not call themselves a cyclist. What are the rules on this topic?
Road cyclists have a reputation for being elite snobs. A reputation that has come from the likes of your club mates, and which they proudly continue to nurture. Let me digress for a moment and elaborate on the fact that actually anyone can drive a race. Your buddy doesn't go so far in his judgment as to limit how well someone has to do in a race to be a cyclist. But ultimately, the point of a contest is to win (Rule #70).
Putting aside the arrogance in his claim, I can see how he comes to this conclusion. Nothing comes close to the intensity, danger and excitement of racing. The tightness in the peloton, driving through tight corners, giving everything on a climb when a mountain specialist tries to break away further up. If you make it to the final sprint, it depends on which driver wants to suffer the most. Artists suffer because they have to. Cyclists suffer because they choose to. In training we push the limit and form groups to simulate the pressure of driving in the field during a race. Early in the morning we torture ourselves out of bed for a day alone on the bike. Only to eventually meet the man with the hammer. But a race is always something different. There is a special kind of pain that you can only experience on a race day. The adrenaline, the speed and the pressure to keep pushing your limits.
But not everyone is the racing type, and cycling is about more than just competing against each other. Cycling is about simply enjoying the ride and feeling free as you roll across the tarmac with the wind in your face. A cyclist appreciates this more than anything else.
Cycling is about camaraderie. It is impossible to suffer next to a stranger. By the time the torment begins, the stranger has already become a blood relative. Cycling is about history and etiquette. Our sport is more than a century old and is surrounded by myths and legends. He reveres tradition and innovation in equal measure, leading to the formation of a culture of contradictions and intricacies.
Cycling is about the love of the bike itself. The road bike is a unique vehicle. Frames, wheels and components are beautiful things that reflect not only the taste of the rider, but also that of their makers. The racing bike is a work of art.
Cycling is about finding yourself and developing yourself. It's a difficult sport and one that requires you to push your limits and beyond on a regular basis. It takes courage to face the pain of a tough climb. You have to be prepared to be swallowed up by the mountain like the dots in Pacman.
This suffering purifies the soul, and those who learn to suffer are better equipped to face life's challenges.
All of this defines a cyclist. People of a competitive nature are drawn to racing, but even if you're not, you can definitely call yourself a cyclist. We are cyclists, everyone else only rides bikes.
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