FREE SHIPPING ACROSS THE UK FOR ORDERS OVER £50

Don't Blame The Other Guy - Tom Daly

June 02, 2016

Don't Blame The Other Guy - Tom Daly

‘Cycling is more than a test of strength, power and speed – it’s also a game of strategy.’

When it comes to post-mortems after disappointing race results you can divide guys into two broad categories – those who blame themselves and those who blame everyone else.

This is more about the latter and we all know them, with their usual litany of excuses and moans after every race:

  • ‘So-and-so wouldn’t work with me’
  • ‘Such-and-such a team chased me down’
  • ‘They were riding pure stupid’
  • ‘They moved the line’
  • ‘The race was too short’
  • ‘He sat in all day and then jumped’

Everyone can add to the list.

Sure, sometimes such things do happen and, even though you have done everything right, chance runs against you.

Also, chin-wagging after a race is part of the fun: sharing the lows and highs, laughing at the funny bits and venting over the frustrations.

However, analysis is an important part of learning and that doesn’t happen if disappointing performance is always projected externally. So, if I get involved with a developing rider who wants to learn and improve, I sometimes have to interrupt the post-race analysis with: “Don’t blame the other guy – I don’t want to hear about it!”

For some, it takes a little while to adjust their thinking to the alternative form of analysis: ‘what I might have done differently’.

Recognizing The Strategy Game

In addition, some people don’t realize fully that cycling is more than a test of strength, power and speed. It’s also a game of strategy and if you are out-foxed it’s not something to be telling everybody about – or at least ‘blaming’ the smarter guy for.

Take the classic case of the two riders away in a break, with one doing all the work in front and the other sitting in and saying he’s not going to go for the win. And then he jumps from behind at the sprint. It’s a simple and classic case of strategy winning over strength.

Perhaps it’s not ‘sporting’ behaviour and we don’t like it, but there’s nothing in the rules which says that riders have to tell the truth. The biggest prize is for the one first over the line, not for the nicest guy or the most ‘honest’ rider.

It’s a matter of respecting and learning strategy – if the other guy does it better there is no point in blaming him. If that other guy is stronger on the day and simply out-rides you, you normally give him the credit. If he tactically out-manoeuvres you on the day, then give him credit for that also – it’s an equal part of the game.

‘Race-Brain’ Training

Formalizing Post-Race Analysis

Most serious riders will do some form of post-race analysis where they reflect on how the race panned out, how closely performance matched expectations, what were the pivotal decisions, and such like.

Others do it more formally, such as keeping a training and racing diary and writing some thoughts after the race. If working with a coach it can be more formal still, with the strategy feedback provided along with the other ‘data’.

Analysis, of course, begins with the race plan, if there was one: did the plan work or not work, and why? Or, was the plan adjusted well to suit the unfolding dynamics of the race – an essential tactical skill in cycling.

The more significant the race the more detailed the plan the analysis can become – this is where ‘marginal gain’ makes the big difference.

The most important things is to make the post-race analysis introspective and habitual. Whichever way you go about it, here are a few headings to work from:

  • The days before: was the taper right, along with rest and nutrition?
  • Reconnaissance: did I know enough about the event, the route, weather, wind directions, opposition?
  • Warm up and preparation: had I time for a proper warm-up and have the right equipment, kit and nutrition ready?
  • Motivation and planning: did I start in the right frame of mind, with clear goals and strategy?
  • Nutrition: did I eat and drink adequately during the race?
  • Concentration: did I stay ‘awake’, constantly ‘reading’ the race and thinking strategically?
  • The finish: did I know the finish well enough, had I a good plan for it and how did that work out?
  • Strategy: what three things did I do well?
  • Strategy: what three things might I have done differently?
  • Planning: what will I try differently in the next race?

‘Race-Brain’ Training

Some people have a naturally good ‘race-brain’ – it’s an innate talent and they have ‘a knack’ of making the right move at the right time.

However, like physiological ability, the race-brain can also be trained and, when a pattern of objective assessment is developed, significant learning can being to happen.

The first step is to stop blaming the other guy!

---------------

Tom Daly, Masters Cycling Coaching and Elivar Featured Athlete.






Also in News

Elivar's Sustain Go! Energy Gels Fuelling BigFeat Events' Success
Elivar's Sustain Go! Energy Gels Fuelling BigFeat Events' Success

June 15, 2023

BigFeat Events, recognized for orchestrating captivating endurance events, stands out for its dynamic blend of cycling and running sportives. The recent "Beast to the East" cycling sportive, held on May 21st, is a sterling example of their commitment to crafting exhilarating experiences. A cornerstone of the success and popularity of these events has been the provision of Sustain Go! energy gels, generously sponsored by Elivar.

Previous running and events such as the "Bigwayround Trail Run" and "BigSea Trail Run" also benefited from the free distribution of Sustain Go! energy gels, much to the participants' delight. The energy boost and quicker recovery offered by these gels have consistently been instrumental in empowering athletes to perform their best.

Continue Reading →

NMN: Boosting Your Health from the Kitchen to the Medicine Cabinet
NMN: Boosting Your Health from the Kitchen to the Medicine Cabinet

May 29, 2023

Did you know that Nicotinamide Mononucleotide (NMN), the star ingredient in numerous anti-aging supplements, also moonlights in several foods you might already enjoy? It's true! NMN is a vital precursor to NAD+, a molecule crucial to many biological processes, like cell growth, DNA repair, and metabolism. But as we age, NAD+ levels take a hit, and bolstering them through NMN intake can be beneficial. Now the question arises, can we simply count on our daily meals for our NMN fix?

Continue Reading →

Add 5 Years to Your Life: How Endurance and Outdoor Sports Boost Longevity
Add 5 Years to Your Life: How Endurance and Outdoor Sports Boost Longevity

May 03, 2023

In the quest for a longer, healthier life, recent studies have found an encouraging connection between endurance and outdoor sports and longevity. One of these studies, conducted by the International Longevity Centre UK, analysed Commonwealth Games competitor records dating back to 1930. The study revealed that top-level athletes can live up to five years longer than the general population, with men's longevity boosted most by 24% - 29% in case of aquatic, track and indoor sports, which translates to between 4.5 and 5.3 extra years of life. Women experienced a 22% increase in longevity across all sports categories equating to 3.9 extra years of life.

Continue Reading →