Originally Posted by
Dave Kirk
We've all seen the guy who looks so centered and balanced on the bike. Thus guy has little trouble with going fast or with avoiding a pile up in the group and this isn't luck but instead it's a combination of skills that he has learned - bike handling, timing, reading of the way the group moves down the road, reading the way traffic moves..........etc.
The other day I was climbing a hill that I find a bit scary to descend. I was on a straight section a couple hundred yards or so in length when a rider came around the corner in front of me. As he came out of his turn he almost instantly sat up in the saddle while grabbing his water bottle in one smooth motion. He rode no hands while calmly sipping a drink. Just as I thought he was going to fly off the road no handed, as smooth as ever he leaned forward and slid the water bottle in as he leaned into the next turn. He had to be going well over 30 mph during all of this.
Maybe you all could do that in your sleep, but I was impressed. I learned then just how much confidence and skill I have to gain, and that I want to go see a professional road race in person, watching it on TV just isn't the same (and I'm guessing this guy wasn't even close to professional).