Risk vs Rewards
In June 2016, I complete a grueling bicycle race from Oceanside California to Durango Colorado, a 928 mile route.
I was part of a team, committed to getting me, the bike racer, across the finish line.
There were 4 people on the team each having a specific role to fulfill.
The race starts on the beach in Oceanside California and heads toward the Sierra Mountains.
In the build up to the event, while researching course I noticed a huge 30K descent into the desert. It is called the Glass Elevator, in the cycling world.
I visualized the descent for 9 months. Crashing on the descent haunted me, could end my race or worse.
If, I crashed, that would mean I let my team mates down. For me that would be a complete failure.
...
My coach pulled up beside me in the support van, looked over and gave me the thumbs up.
As I approached the Glass Elevator descent, I felt the warm dry air from the desert hit me in the face, the view was spectacular.
I felt completely calm, my head was quiet, I was in the moment and ready to execute the decent of my life.
My training ethos is based on the Warrior Creed, there is a line in the creed "I am that Man".
This is the moment I realized, "I am that man".
I thought 30 years of riding here we go.
I took a deep breath and let the bike go.
Within 30 seconds I was flying.
I had to pass another competitor support vehicle first, then their rider.
I laughed as I blasted by him, he was terrified.
Then wow... my first high risk hair pin turn
It was smooth and peaceful even though was approaching max speed 90-100kph
Then, I catch another competitors support van and blow by another terrified rider.
I laughed again.
From that point on, I squeezed every ounce of speed down the rest of the Glass Elevator.
Risk vs. Reward
I wanted to descend the Glass Elevator to my full potential, I took high risk and rode that mountain like I owned it!
In June 2016, I complete a grueling bicycle race from Oceanside California to Durango Colorado, a 928 mile route.
I was part of a team, committed to getting me, the bike racer, across the finish line.
There were 4 people on the team each having a specific role to fulfill.
The race starts on the beach in Oceanside California and heads toward the Sierra Mountains.
In the build up to the event, while researching course I noticed a huge 30K descent into the desert. It is called the Glass Elevator, in the cycling world.
I visualized the descent for 9 months. Crashing on the descent haunted me, could end my race or worse.
If, I crashed, that would mean I let my team mates down. For me that would be a complete failure.
...
My coach pulled up beside me in the support van, looked over and gave me the thumbs up.
As I approached the Glass Elevator descent, I felt the warm dry air from the desert hit me in the face, the view was spectacular.
I felt completely calm, my head was quiet, I was in the moment and ready to execute the decent of my life.
My training ethos is based on the Warrior Creed, there is a line in the creed "I am that Man".
This is the moment I realized, "I am that man".
I thought 30 years of riding here we go.
I took a deep breath and let the bike go.
Within 30 seconds I was flying.
I had to pass another competitor support vehicle first, then their rider.
I laughed as I blasted by him, he was terrified.
Then wow... my first high risk hair pin turn
It was smooth and peaceful even though was approaching max speed 90-100kph
Then, I catch another competitors support van and blow by another terrified rider.
I laughed again.
From that point on, I squeezed every ounce of speed down the rest of the Glass Elevator.
Risk vs. Reward
I wanted to descend the Glass Elevator to my full potential, I took high risk and rode that mountain like I owned it!
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