<\/a>Sit back for a moment and ask yourself the following question: “When is racing actually racing?” \u00a0Sure, it's a bit of a strange question, but really take a moment to think about it. \u00a0Is racing all about winning? \u00a0Is it about sitting in the pack until the last 150 meters before contesting a sprint? \u00a0Is it about patrolling the front of the <\/span>peloton\u00a0and covering moves, making breaks and closing down gaps before taking a flyer with a lap to go? \u00a0Is it about having the confidence in your fitness and race reading skills to take a pull or two and recover in time to make a winning move? \u00a0<\/span>Or, on the other hand, is racing about hard work and riding cleanly (not chopping others in corners, for example) while putting up the best results possible? \u00a0Is racing about getting out there and getting your team's colors seen, even if you don't win?<\/span><\/p>\n

Got your answer? \u00a0Good.<\/span><\/p>\n

Keep that answer in your head as you listen to today's podcast where I discuss the concept of racing solely to win, racing to get your team colors out there, and what's inherently wrong with racing (in the beginner categories)\u00a0these days. \u00a0I'll cover the concept of racing just to win (and what is and isn't wrong with that), the idea that each race is a new experience in tactics and skills,\u00a0the concept of the “I'll let someone else do the work” mentality and why you should just stay home if you're willing to race for second place. \u00a0Finally, I'll touch on ways to make you a better bike racer: why you SHOULD take risks and try different things, especially at the beginner levels of the sport. \u00a0You have to spend some time becoming a better bike racer somewhere, and this is the place to try them.<\/span><\/p>\n

Racing is different things to different people, so keeping that in mind, when is racing actually racing? \u00a0And when is racing NOT racing? (Spoiler: I think people are not racing when the sole focus becomes winning, as opposed to everything else that a race encompasses: tactical sense, risk and of course, failure.)<\/p>\n

“Winning is great, sure, but if you are really going to do something in life, the secret is learning how to lose. Nobody goes undefeated all the time. If you can pick up after a crushing defeat, and go on to win again, you are going to be a champion someday.”\u00a0~ Wilma Rudolph<\/p>\n

As always, if you have any questions, feel free to e-mail me<\/a> or post on the Tailwind Coaching Facebook page<\/a>. \u00a0Don't forget to rate the Tailwind Coaching Podcast<\/a> on iTunes!<\/p>\n