Keep it Simple

A friend recently decided that his SRM power meter wasn't helping him gain the performance advantages he sought on his daily commute any longer. So he sold it and we discussed the virtues of knowing what gear one is riding in and being aware of cadence. It's amazing how when the chatter is muted, the fundamentals of training are timeless.

Another friend, who is preparing himself for post-apocalyptic survival, called one recent evening for a pick up as he had flatted 3 times and was out of spare tubes and patches while on his training ride. Part of the discussion on the 10-minute drive home was about thinning down the spare tool bag from multi-tools, 3 tubes, patches and a spare tire to just a tube or two. "Back in the day," we decided, we didn't have cell phones so we had to actually be self reliant.

When I was 17 and 18 I was lucky enough to spend most of my training time with a Pro racer who had prior lived in France and Italy. Rob and I crossed paths on rides a few times before he called me and said to be at his house at 9 sharp the next morning. I showed up early. The interaction wasn't formal, but was succinct. He sat me down at the small kitchen table, across from a Graham Watson calender on the wall, made me my first ever doppio espresso, then left the room to get dressed.

Not previously being a coffee drinker, I drank the espresso without milk and despite it's flavorful strength wondered why it was in such a tiny cup. He walked back into the kitchen dressed for training, sat down to put on his shoes and said simply that we'd always leave at 9 and to be prepared for at least 3 hours, sometimes 7 but almost always 5. When I asked about structure, his response was to ride at least 3 hours, almost always 5 and sometimes 7. Pretty simple.

Last weekend I got out to ride with friends both days for my 2nd and 3rd rides in 6 weeks, my first in 3 weeks. We saw both cars below on the same ride. Given all the years of improvements to handling and performance, paying attention seems to remain fundamental.

I wonder if the Asia cassette is still in the tape deck?

Nice parallel parking job by the Miata.