When I first joined VQ I was surprised to learn that there was more to riding a bike then peddling. In fact I was surprised that learning to ride was so complicated. Sure I can ride and at times I can ride fast but am I riding efficiently, am i conserving enough energy to achieve my goals?
I have read that there are 4 levels of consciousness.
Unconscious incompetence: You don't know what you don't know.
Conscious incompetence: You know what you don't know.
Conscious competence: You know what you know.
Unconscious competence: You practice what you know unknowingly.
It is really easy to get from unconscious incompetence to to the next step during a ride. All it takes is any experienced rider yelling at you and telling you what you are doing wrong. For example while riding in a pace line I have often heard, I am too far behind or I need to get closer to the person beside me, or I need to keep my elbows and arms in; unfortunately my faults are extensive and I will spare you reading the laundry list.
I have diligently tried to learn from the other riders by watching them. For example I often watch the riders I consider the best and look at their cadence, position on the bike, or form. Robbie has repeatedly explained the art of cycling. I have often heard him say, spin the legs, it will keep them fresh or it is better to burn a match, work over your limit for a short period of time, to stay with a group because the group will eventually ease the pace and you will be with them.
However what people don't talk about is that hearing, learning and doing are all separate and for me, come slowly. This past week Robbie was amazed that it has taken some people so long to learn a simple lesson. The lesson I had a hard time learning was burning a match. I have heard the talk many times but never really understood how to apply matches to riding hard. Do I ride hard and blow up just to limp home alone? Do I not take anytime at the front, a cycling faux pax in a friendly ride, and what is a match really, how much energy, when do I use it and how do I use the energy? These questions dog me during a ride and in my contemplative off times. (Yes even hyper guy has down time.)
The only answers I have found is time on the bike, and repeatedly hearing more experienced riders comments/suggestions. By riding I have found understanding, not that understanding translates into action, that is why I say time on the bike. Time on the bike is giving me confidence in my abilities. My conscious incompetence/competence comes from time, riding and hearing the message over and over. I guess that is the dirty secret of cycling. It's butt time and experience like everything else. Damn and I thought it was all about peddling.
