Young Riders Meet the Racers
I’d say a rider’s success is 90% determined by the riders he learns from.
—Take *that* if you don’t think being a good role model is impt.
I bet if someone didn’t turn out to reach their full potential it was due to who they hung with and their corresponding behavior and attitudes.
Of course, the rider makes himself also. But his background is what puts him over the top or not in this tough sport.
I personally was exposed to great role models while developing and developed what I call a bombproof attitude and approach which is one of basically no attitude and no one’s bad attitude can affect me. I am very appreciative for all those who inspired me early on in the formative years of my riding. I was brought up with ‘yield to no one’ and ‘why not win it’. I had zero mealy-mouth expectations. I expected the best and in my view it happened many times.
I’ve ridden in many places around the country and have noticed much bad behavior, but I can’t say that it ever bothered me personally or affected my riding, except that some people lost because of it. I can say that I suspect due to my upbringing in cycling that I have been treated nicely by the better cyclists and administrators. What goes around comes around.
But if I hadn’t had my good guidance early on it simply would not have happened. No critical mass, no being pushed over the top.
Of course I was never great or famous or anything, but my role models pushed me over the top GIVEN MY SITUATION.
Higher than what I could’ve done alone. MUCH HIGHER.
I noticed over the years that those role models of mine who still rode still treated very young riders very well. With full respect and full expectations…but expectations geared exactly at the right level, designed to push hard but not too far.
So the next time a kid gets dropped, help him back on.
