The Cyclist Creed

My bike is nothing special. But it is MY bike. I’ve had it for about 3 years now. When I go to a triathlon I see all the other bikes and they look so cool & so fast. Most of the bikes are all carbon tri-bikes that cost 1,000’s of dollars. Whereas mine I might have spent 1,000 bucks total. However there is no greater joy than passing those guys on the fancy tri-bikes with my road bike turned tri-bike.

Now don’t get me wrong if for Father’s Day (hint) I got an all carbon tri-bike I would not complain. But my focus is not on having the best equipment money can buy but instead having the best engine for the bike I already have. The way I see it, the better shape I’m in the fast I’ll be on race day. A new bike can only add so much to my overall speed. At the end of the day it comes down to how hard you trained for the race.

Right now I need to focus most of my training for my upcoming Half Ironman is on the Bike. My Swim & Run are average to above average. It is the bike leg of the race is where I can improve the most. For me it will be trying to get in as much time in the saddle between now and race day.


I don’t know if any of you have seen the movie Full Metal Jacket but here is the part of the movie where they give the Riffle Man’s Creed. Warning The Is Some Offensive Language.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWiz-ja3iY0



The creed is pretty inspirational. But I decided to use the Riffle Man’s Creed to write the Cyclist Creed. Which goes as followed.


This is my bike. There are many like it, but this one is mine. My bike is my best friend. It is my life. I must master it as I master my life. My bike, without me, is useless. Without my bike, I am useless. I must ride my bike true. I must ride faster than any competitor who is trying to pass me. I must beat him before he beats me. I will....

My bike and myself know that what counts in this race is not the RPM’s we turn, the gear in which we ride, nor the watts we make. We know that it is the finish that counts. We will finish...

My bike is human, even as I, because it is my life. Thus, I will learn it as a brother. I will learn its weakness, its strength, its parts, its accessories, its saddle and its aerobars. I will keep my bike clean and ready, even as I am clean and ready. We will become part of each other. We will...

Before God I swear this creed. My bike and myself are the conquers of the course. We are the masters of our competition. We are partners in this race. So be it, until victory is ours and there is no competition, but Glory.