After reading tsl's post, it occurs to me...
Perhaps the thing we need is to figure out is what goal motivates us.
You won't likely ever be the fastest cyclist in the world, but if your goal is to ride a century, there are specific steps to take. If your goal is to ride 20 miles in under an hour, there are specific steps to take.
Lance Armstrong could have lamented that some cyclists sprinted better than him, but instead he concentrated on what he wanted. He wanted to win the Tour de France.
Your goal is likely to be different, and what you do to acheive the goal will be different, but it starts with the goal. Your goal isn't that other riders are faster and stronger, so what is it?
By the way, this has me thinking too... Thanks for the encouragement tsl.
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Slow Ride Cyclists of NEPA
People do not seem to realize that their opinion of the world is also a confession of character.
- Ralph Waldo Emerson