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MountainBikeReview.com's Forum Archives - - Passion -
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Ordinary excellence, an oxymoron? 6HOP comment, (7 posts)
|  Ordinary excellence, an oxymoron? 6HOP comment, | ol-crank®
Jul 14, 2002 2:18 PM | | yesterdays 6HOP at Holiday Valley in Ellicottville(1 hr south of Buffalo)
The course was a lttle tougher this year (9.6 miles, 1250 climbing, (last year 1000'elevation) and about 3/4 of this is tough, narrow single track. A real heads up, twisty, bumpy single track (read, bicycle saddle on a jackhammer) There is a bit of downhill, switchback stuff that is most welcome on the bruised whatsit.The rest is fire/access road, mostly climbing. Cut through the beautiful Alleghanies.
Although my respect deepens for the best riders each race, there were the others, ordinary people. Like the girl on the green IF ss. I wonder how she climbed the first 1-1/2 miles, 650' with one gear. Or the moose that I passed on my first lap, carrying his bike overhead, front wheel tacoed beyond help, running the 4 or so miles to the start/finish. The same guy was fixing a flat on my third lap when I passed and two minutes later he ripped by with a smile. There was the 40ish lady with the heavy brace/prothesis on her knee, partnered with her 12 year old daughter. After a long six hours, mom finished their last lap welcomed by a hug from the daughter.
Somehow for me the story turned out to be about this uncommon courage, a willingness to squeeze the last drop out of ourselves. Ordinary people, going the limit. I'm sure this is the story for most of saturdays riders. For me there is nothing that I have done in the recent past that matches saturdays race. I'm really lucky to ride and belong to this sport.
Bob (Maybe passion is ordinary excellence)
BTW team geritol did 6 laps, 6:40,(last yr 5 laps 6:30 something) |
| Excellent perspective. Thank you. | AK Ken
Jul 14, 2002 2:47 PM | | And congratulations on being part of which you speak.
Ken |
| Yeah, pity............... | Mike T.
Jul 14, 2002 3:19 PM | | ....there aren't measurements for Balls (or Ovaries), Perseverence and plain old Sticktoitevness eh? The Fast get the rewards while the best effort of the day might have come from the last placed rider. Maybe personal satisfaction has to be their reward.
Nice slant Bob. |
| Let's hear it for "ordinary" people! | Lord Opie
Jul 14, 2002 4:02 PM | | Every race in Winter Park, Colorado, a 50+yo woman wins first place in her category. She's a great racer, beats me easily, but always wins cuz there's no one in her category. So, during the awards, she gets up to accept and says, "Please, bring out your moms!"
=) |
| Doh! | Ken in KC.
Jul 15, 2002 5:03 AM | | As usual, I've screwed up. My babysitter has a standing golf game with his wife on Wednesdays. Can we move the ride in Hamilton back by a day to Thursday?
Sorry about posting here, but I can't get access to my Yahoo account this morning.
I may try to get up to Kitchner tomorrow to ride a lift, since you won't be available. Don't worry, your secret love for golf is safe with me. If I get my Yahoo account back, I may try to hook up with Braids and try to talk him in to heading up with me. It's been a while since I've ripped skin or knocked bones out of sockets. What better place to do that than in another country that isn't set up to handle insurance claims?
BTW: Great post.
Ken |
| Relax, you can borrow my health card, free medical and yes | ol-crank
Jul 15, 2002 6:11 AM | | thursday is fine, I will likely have my buddy Ed meet us and I will let Braids know as well, just in case you don't hook up with him tomorrow.
bob |
| Great view..... | Battman42
Jul 15, 2002 6:16 AM | | There is a lady I see at Boggs... she is at least 60 or more, she just rides the Main fireroad (so far) and gets ignored by the fast crowd getting their fix... I've talked briefly with her and she has the passion....
Some give it their all to be "just an MTBr"
Tim(happy to be considered just an MTBr, especially today) |
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