Two Wheel Blogs

Great weekend of riding and

Great weekend of riding and racing, and keeping it in perspective.

What is "Fit"?

I've been debating this one a lot lately (mostly during the time when I'm sitting on the couch instead of dragging my butt to the Y to work out). I've concluded that "fit" is a very relative term, subject to a variety of interpretations.

One kind of "fit" is where the goal is to achieve peak performance in an athletic competition. Success is measured by time, place, how many people you finish in front of. A worthy goal, especially if it represents disciplined hard work in pursuit of that goal. A good race shows that you were in good shape, physically and mentally, to compete with others.

Another kind of "fit," I think, has to do with a sense of what is appropriate -- especially in response to circumstances beyond our control. So, you find yourself on a very challenging course on a Sunday afternoon, and you're faced with a choice:

• You can suck it up and try go all out, racing competitively against a field of riders whose training was not knocked back by a congestion that wouldn't go away, or...
• You can still ride, but also take PBR handups and pop wheelies across the Start/Finish line.

I think the second kind of "fit" is a very healthy one.