I see lots of people everyday at my shop premises, average Joes , average Janes , single boomers, boomers with kids in tow etc etc etc........................................Then once in awhile you will see a true cyclist.

He is self financed, probably not good enough yet to be sponsored and he isn't too poor to pay for his own bike. He knows what he wants on his preferred bike which is Italian by creed not by choice , Campagnolo only for this fellow and that's final. Most of the time he will almost always be seen reading cycling magazines should he be in a local book store by chance if he has a day off from training....but it is rare. Energy to him should not be wasted on idle walking and the wonton waste of time instead should be spent doing miles and intervals on the tarmac. Almost always alone ,this guy is definitely a loner caught in his own cycling mad world ...........eschewing movies with girls or any of the sort, gotta sleep earlier so he can get up to train the next day. All things can come later.....................after cycling that is..............????! Missed new year gatherings, dinner parties, family get-together are normal to this guy. Hey he will even miss his wedding day if he ever decides to get hitched.

Nothing else is more sacred than hopping on that two wheeled piece of contraption that we all know as a bicycle but, to him.....................its dogma! Even his job is planned into his daily schedule and he will most likely find a job that allows him to cycle to work and back , salary's not important here as is his time spent cycling. Everything is planned to the last detail in day, wake up got training and ends up at work  and after work go training again and the nights are spent stretching his tired legs after dinner .......................see what I mean about socializing? Even when he is sick he will ride but he will not work on this day....................an old cyclist adage: "part time employee, full time cyclist".
Work is a not important to him as it is just a means to pay for his passion and it is over-rated by his standards. So when the weekends comes and he is always at your local road bike shop looking at the latest tyres, wheels etc,etc,etc...........................its an endless pursuit of self gratification on the bike be it a tyre or just a simple handle tape.................................................looking good is imperative.

Training rides are very serious for this fellow and he is good too, keeps up the pace with the big boys until they actually look up to see who this guy is that is making bacon sizzle on their thighs! After training he goes home straight, doesn't hangs around the coffee joint to talk or "exchange tips", but heads home for his much awaited hot meal and a good rest as it has been a long week so far?! Alas such is life of a passionate man. Week in week out he goes about "his schedule", treating cycling as the imperative and all else mundane, it take a certain kind of person to be able to do this. I mean lock everything out and just focus on the single one thing that you want or need to do so bad! When was the last time we all actually believe in something this much? Most of us probably has other things to worry about these days more than wanting to go ride a bike like this guy.??! Somehow  we all got lost in this deluge of work and commitments that we ultimately forgot about the things that we enjoy.

I bet after reading this, you'll be thinking who is this guy or maybe you may know someone like him or even want to be like this guy............................right? Tell you all a little secret, if you have the time, sit down have a cup of "whateversuitsyourtaste" and ponder over what you have read. Think about through all the years you have ridden the trusty two wheeler, the endless days of tireless training, the sleepless nights before a big race and you maybe, just maybe...............................you will able to see alittle bit of YOURSELF!

~ the end ~