Well Done, Young Grasshopper...

...the student becomes the teacher...

I've been riding my bike as long as I can remember.  I still get that feeling of freedom that I experienced when I was a child on a bike riding amuck in the neighborhood.  Though 5AM training rides have become a self-imposed "obligation", I feel free when I'm aboard my bike.  No worries.  No cares.  No responsibilities.  Maybe my mind wanders, creates and "writes" when I'm on my bike, but I try not to let anything bother me beyond the cold wind in my face and the lactic acid burning in my thighs.

I love bicycles.  My bicycles are treated better than my car, and certainly are cleaned much more carefully.  I'm one of those guys who'd be happy to hang out in the shop all day looking at shiny bike pieces.  I love bicycle culture and lore.  I've been following professional cycling for as long as I can remember.  I was a Lance Armstrong fan long before most people knew his name.  I remember first hearing about his cancer diagnosis and being heartbroken for the rising star.  

I've been racing my bike, on and off, for about 23 years, as best as I can guess.  Once upon a time a training ride meant hopping on my bike and riding however I felt like riding.  If I wanted to push myself, I did.  If I wanted to ride casually and comfortably, I did.  Back in those days, I dreamed of the Olympics and the Tour de France.  As I grew older, my goals and expectations became more realistic and my training more sophisticated.  Over the years I've created my own training plans, I've followed canned training plans from books and magazines and website, and I've engaged coaches to keep me on track and motivated.  Not surprisingly, I've met the greatest success under the tutelage of good coaches.

At this point I know a thing or two about training and racing.  I could probably train myself for another season of bike racing, but I still find tremendous value in the guidance of those who know better.  That said, the Ironman (any triathlon, for that matter) is a whole new beast to me.  I'm certain my training wouldn't be optimized without the ongoing support and guidance of Coach Dan.  Sure, I could get myself into good enough shape to ride 112 miles and I imagine I could get myself to transition 2, but after a long swim and before a marathon..........God help me!

I've ridden my bike with all sorts of people- seasoned competitors, avid recreational riders, cyclotourists, novices, and most proudly, my daughter.  I'm a relatively quiet guy.  People sometimes refer to me as a public speaker because, well, as a congregational rabbi, I'm often speaking publicly.  I've never seen myself that way.  Instead, I have always considered myself a writer.  I express myself far better in writing than I do off the cuff.  But whenever I'm on my bike, I always seem to have a lot to say, whether its a spirited discussion about politics, arguing about the latest controversy in professional cycling or offering a newer rider suggestions on how to pedal more efficiently.

Last Thursday night this grasshopper finally became the teacher.  I had my first indoor cycling class as instructor at Cycledelic Indoor Cycling Studio.  Here's what I've learned about anxiety.  I find I'm nervous about things until they begin.  When I first started public speaking, I was nervous up until the moment  I opened my mouth and the first word came out.  When I warm up for a race, I'm nervous until the starter pistol fires and I go.  Once set into motion, I tend to be so focused on the task ahead, my nerves disintegrate.  So was that the case on Thursday evening.  Once I set my iPhone playlist into motion, I was ready to go.

For my first session, I drew upon my years of experience racing on the road and I guided the class through a simulated race on the road.  Understanding that not everyone has competitive aspirations and recognizing that everyone rides and his own pace, I offered a solid workout with a lot of cycling imagery and explanation.  I encouraged everyone to push himself at his own level, reminding the class that, in bicycle racing, there always exists the opportunity to draft, to duck behind other riders, hiding from the wind and reducing the effort by as much as 25% or so.  So too indoors, can a rider feel free to simulate that draft at any time.  The good news is, when the "race" ended, everyone was a winner.  Each participant managed to hold off the hard charging virtual competitors, and I believe that everyone had fun doing it.  All the while, it was snowing outside.  So there under the shelter of Cycledelic's awesome and cutting edge studio, we all pedalled our hearts out, safe from the cold winds and the slick roads.

I may have years of cycling experience.  I may have something to offer.  I may always have something to say.  I may have advice and guidance and passion to share.  And maybe this grasshopper has finally become a teacher.  But like with life, I'll always be student, as well..  There will always be more to learn and more to grow, and, in turn, even more to teach.  So, to Cycledelic, thank you for the opportuntiy to be an instructor at your fantastic facility.  And to my first students, thank you for allowing me to continue to be a student.  I have a feeling I'll learn more about cycling and more about myself as an instructor than I ever anticipated.

Always share what you have to offer, but remain grasshoppers, people.  As the Sages of my people once taught: Who is wise?  The one who learns from all people.

...the student becomes the teacher...and the teacher remains a student...

I hope to see you at my next class the week after Thanksgiving, and I will continue to be both!