Has Cycling Lost it's Soul?

Cycling was a sport of the working class. Poor Belgian, French or Italian boys with few options, took the only road that they could out of poverty and obscurity. They used a bike as a tool - it was the only tool they had. The tool of a tough trade for tough men.....

Fast forward to 6.50am Humffray St. this morning. From a distance the pack looks like one entity, a swarming mass of colour and noise. As they get closer we see the truth. One rider leads the pack - he is big and powerful - a mammoth. His pedal stroke and general air of confidence mark him out as a rider from the old school. A keeper of old knowledge, of hard won lessons and truth's. He is bending the bunch to his will - this Willey Mammoth....

As the line approaches and victory seems assured, a look of doubt crosses the big man's face. The doubt turns to terror as his brain registers - the low growl of expensive carbon wheels, the colour co-ordinated immaculate attire, the faint smell of aftershave and the unmistakable aesthetic of a man scaped one day growth. Suddenly old school truth is replaced by the new reality. Trained on a diet of power metered intervals on his ridiculously expensive indoor trainer - new school comes around our old school leader, arms raised in the air, distain etched in his face as he surveys vanquished behind him.

The old mammoth puts on a brave face - you win some you lose some he mumbles. But there is steel in his voice as he jokes that next week is only 7 days away. His alarm will be set early, his food intake will be watched and his mind will be focused - on the next sprint.

The other riders know that this has gotten serious. They have all in the past become a little firm with excitement at the prospect of a new bike, some fast wheels or some flash new knicks, but today they have seen the power of technology pull down the beast that they thought was invincible. Bank accounts are scrutinised and Wiggle orders are contemplated. It seems in the new world of cycling speed costs money - how fast do you want to go?

Not that Leigh "Spreadsheet" Marriott is too stressed. He crunched the numbers long ago. He knows what he has to do and he knows how to look cool doing it - it's time for the others to catch up.

So the music has changed but the dance steps stay the same - we all want to win and no matter how flash your bike is you still have to pedal (except for in rolling competitions in which case expensive Zipp's do seem to go OK). Riders do best when they concentrate on just riding.

They are not working class any more but they maintain some of the old values. You do what you have to do to win. Your brother loosing is almost as sweet as you winning (from now on anyway).

"If you wish to be in front, act as if you were behind" Sun Tzu