realized something just now

That strava stuff? Whats the point when you have crossresults.

Worrying about chasing a KOM/QOMs...  climbing more riding more... social competition is a solid motivator for many people.  And if it gets them riding more? Great. That's a good thing.

But once the racing starts, my racing, cyclocross season...  Strava loses all interest. I am totally out of the habit of tracking every ride. Because all that matters is the actual race. The competition. Lap times between races are nice to see but race conditions change sometimes and the 8am race might have different traction than the noon race than the 3pm race. Those you race with also dictate pace.  But. Bottom line.

You get a result. Sometimes a time, but always a place.  You don't get to go back and do it again because you screwed up the start. Or slowed down before the segment ended.

You have one chance for that one race.

Will you have a good day? Will it be one of those magical days that happens so rarely?

Maybe you start off the day feeling like shit, but habit and routine and going through the well rehearsed checklist sets you up unconsciously to erase the feeling and lets you perform at your best.

Sometimes it just isn't there and sometimes you know it going in, sometimes you get a few laps in and that's all there is and it is over.
The results tell you that.

Sure the phenom that is Resultsboy created something cool and new. What did we used to do before it? Checked bikereg, before that some series had their own online results, sometimes you got them in the mail, sometimes you saw them in the back of a magazine.  But usually you just waited for them to be posted and that was enough. A record of you being there. Competing.

Stepping up.

Yes it is a participation award to see your name there. but this is cross, it isn't about having a PR. there's no way to race yourself event after event, year to year. You're racing the people in front and behind you on that sheet. And there is only ever one winner in each race.

No, everyone is not a winner.  Strava is cool to see where my friends are riding who aren't racing. I don't usually look at the times or the trophies just where, the routes, where they went. That is the cool part to me.

why this now? 'cause i'm not racing Eco-Cross today and have a minute to think i suppose and this was a thought that popped in my head to write about.

heddwch
G