Homage Manifesto

First post of 2011…where have I been? It seems that for years, this blog has served as a platform for all of my cycling induced ramblings. However, recently I’ve found myself less apt to want to voice my thoughts and rather focus on minimizing outside distraction in an effort to maximize my efforts towards this summer’s task at hand. So I apologize for my lack of posts these days. This year’s task does not only include putting together my race season but also getting married as well as procuring a four legged new addition to my family.

Truth is I haven’t had much to say lately that you all haven’t heard from me already. You can only write so many race reports, submissions on perseverance, and insights into the larger, metaphorical significance of cycling before it all seems to sound like recycled redundancy and you lose interest. I also am not quite sure people even read blogs anymore. I’m beginning to assume that if my thoughts are not limited to 140 characters, than they will not be absorbed by my peers.

I have never used this blog as a venue to vent my emotions about the happenings of my immediate cycling culture and scene. Well, I did write a bit of a manifesto on April 14th, 2008 that even the MI Scene felt compelled to repost but other than that, I’ve kept my outlook and attitude positive. This is all to say until now. It seems that hearsay and grumblings amongst the more virgin layer of the Metro-Detroit race culture has left me with a very bad taste in my mouth that I can’t seem to get out.

What caused this bad taste? I’m speaking about the recent doings of the generation of “the grass is greener on the other side” racers. I’m speaking directly to those riders who don’t ask what they can do to be a part of the team they are on but rather what is the team going to do for me? I’m speaking directly to those who display and air of entitlement and think that just because they’ve finished a few races, maybe even wound up in the money a couple times, that the sport owes them something more than what they are already getting. I’m talking about those who make lateral team leaps to solve their lack of race results rather than putting their heads together with their comrades to develop a cohesive plan of how to improve collectively. And I’m specifically speaking to those who have no hesitation to forget to acknowledge those responsible for first taking them to a race, teaching them how to ride a pace line, how to corner, what interval training is all about, how to have fun with the sport, and sometimes simply how to put your rear wheel on properly. There is no need to name names; if you need to hear this, you will.

Perhaps this disgust may be exacerbated by the fact that I’ve been watching The Soprano’s all season on the trainer, but nonetheless there are principles here. Aside from the immoral behavior, gratuitous murders, and sociopathic tendencies of The Soprano’s, there are some ethical life lessons to be learned. Hierarchy is an idea that helps keep order, respect, and hard work an integral component of a culture. It combats entitlement and helps to create an environment of multidirectional respect amongst its members. Respect is given by what has been shown, and true success comes from goals and aspirations that are reinforced by those around you. In a sense cycling has always been a brotherhood for me. And with that name “brotherhood” accompanies very serious connotations, much like words like love or hate. You better truly mean it if you say it.

Lets all be honest with ourselves, the glory that is received from racing success is indeed a romanticized one. Only about 0.5% of bike racers throughout the world really even make enough money to make an actual career out of it. However, every season thousands of amateur racers line up seeking something they have not yet mentally attained. So we must do it for other motives. Hopefully these motives extend beyond discounted product. While these motives could easily be filibustered upon for pages I think we can narrow them down to two things:
1. To gain respect of your peers and a name for yourself you can be proud of.
2. To experience the personal intrinsic satisfaction that cannot be bought but rather only attained through hard work and dedication.

Now I’m not speaking directly to those who may have made team transitions due to a relocation of residence or specifically those who have moved up in the rankings to a team that can bring them to the next step like bigger and better races and venues. However, I may be speaking about you if you are one who failed to look back at those who helped pave the path to that next step. Frankie Andreu always took the time throughout all the phases of his career to thank Michigan cycling and specifically the Wolverine Sports Club for helping him get to where he was. I’m speaking most directly to the riders who make lateral team moves without first discussing with their current team and with the notion that because their current team may not have to offer exactly what they personally want, they’re bailing rather than trying to play their part in improving the “whole”.

If we are to look at racing as being part of a brotherhood, then perhaps shouldn’t we try and mend problems rather than just leaving them? If you have a problem with a family member, do you simply leave and go join another one? Mutualism is a fundamental aspect of our behavior as mammals.

You may agree with my idea or not, and that’s ok. I value different sets of opinions. I simply feel that this idea boils down to foundational ethics and manners that human beings deserve to give each other.

I may simply just be old school at heart, but I still think cycling is a team sport. However, I see an increase each season in new riders that don’t want to be part of a team but simply want to keep their own personal best interests as first priority. I always wonder why these types of riders don’t just race solo with a jersey that simply says “ME” as the title sponsor.

In a culture that seems to become cheaper and more and more disposable everyday, let’s try and keep our sport honorable and valuable. Appreciate that you belong to something that was here before you, would still be here without you, and WILL be here after you are long gone. Respect your fellow riders no matter what level they may be at. And most importantly, honor your team by displaying basic forms of courtesy and respect.

Thank you, and my closet is now clean. Rebuttals are welcome privately or publically, but do me the favor of not doing it anonymously. See you all at the line.