#4: Set a Goal
The tendency is to think that you just want to “get in shape.” But in order to really make progress, there has to be some point to what you are doing—some concrete place and time you are working towards; otherwise, your training will inevitably turn stale and you will struggle to find the motivation to continue.
In my case the goal was clear: Don’t puke on those massive hills out West. Over time, my buddies and I plotted out the exact ride when were going to attempt, including not just one massive hill but three—each harder than the one that had nearly taken my life. My goal was merely to survive … to make the entire course without bonking.
One of my college roommates, Dave, added a bit of extra motivation by sending along this email to my second college roommate, Brian, once the course had been determined:
Sounds hard but great. Not much of a warmup before Piuma, but I’m happy to do it as long as I know Tom is suffering. That section of Shueren before the summit at Stunt should be very unpleasant for Tom. Also, Tom’s gonna hate those rollers on Mulholland after the brutal, brutal Rock Store climb. Not to mention the fact that nothing in Massachusetts will prepare him for that final, Bataan-like death slog up Latigo during which, for the first time in his life, he will wish he is 5’6″, 130…
About Tom Matlack
Esta excelente la retórica que se asocia directamente a la catarxis aunque en apariencia pertenece al estereotipo satanizado de macho. Esta muy simpático y crea camaradería. Un abrazo.
I’ve run marathons, been really into yoga for years, and tried my hand at the martial arts. But I finally settled on road bike riding because it’s easy on my old man joints, a bunch of my friends are into it, there’s plenty of gearhead stuff to think about, and it combines tough aerobic activity with a great view. I have friends who swear by tennis, swimming, and even golf.
Regarding the skintight cycling clothing.
It is amazing how men can now only wear such clothing if the clothing has ‘clear utility’, otherwise the clothes now are ‘only for women’ (or men like me who say,’ er, this is originally menswear. im wearing it and the women can scorn away’)
Yet, our glorious masculine male warrior ancestors birthed and nursed these clothes into history, NOT for the female form – but for OUR male form. Note too, how it is the form of the slender male body eg. legs that is used to sell these clothes to women
It is in sportswear we find the last remanents of the clothing of our glorious masculine male warrior ancestors. The pangentry of the vibrant colours, patterns, skintight and/ or revealing clothing (though that too in the last twenty years has been under attack with the horrific reintroduction of victorian kneelength ‘nonsporting’ shorts. how on earth can sportspeople move freely in that crap. will they start wear heavy victorian ankle length hobnail boots too?!? thankfully aussierules football has resisted such nonsense)
I used to find it odd that men would wear replica shirts outside of matchday. But now mine eyes have been opened, and i understand it is currently the only way that most other men (over30) can peaCOCK.
ive noticed too come Halloween in Cardiff, the number of men that dive into ‘women’s clothing’ or wear skintight clothing.
How the peacock yearns for liberation, so it can strut with the masculine swaggerjuiccce, of its ancestors.
Go on Tom, admit it
A big part of you also chose cycling not just because of the low impact on the knees (my knees have gone too), but because it allowed you the freedom to wear skin tight revealing clothing in public.
Cycling allows you to PEACOCK like a lighthouse in the darkest night