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pride and responsibility
i'm not sure if there is a specific time of season for quiet reflection on what has gone before, and what may be coming in the future, but now is likely as good a time as any. i mean this not for you or i, but for those involved in professional, or even semi-professional cycle teams by way of riding, management or sponsorship. you and i can watch interestedly, disinterestedly, apprehensively, excitedly and doubtless in the presence of several other emotions relevant to the situation, but at the end of the day, weekend, week, or three weeks, we can switch off and decide whether we want to read further by the day, week or month. or walk away. i think the sentiments for those more closely involved may take on a different hue.
when embarking upon my career as a drummer (snigger), it was pointed out by a fellow musician that i would never listen to music in the same way ever again. how right they were. and similarly, in my current position as self-appointed reviewer of bicycles, components and clothing, bike rides are rarely as simple as a bike ride; there's always some aspect of something or other that needs to be looked at in a more analytical fashion. (this is not a moan: i'm very well aware of just how incredibly fortunate i am.) i doubt that the professionals in any of the aforementioned capacities will ever regard cycling in the same way either, always assuming they had a view of cycling in the first place.
what has brought this on? well, two things really: one was receipt of an e-mail from richard sachs sent to the members of his cross racing team. if ever anyone had doubted for a moment richard's involvement in the sport, involvement in running a team, and the esteem in which he holds every one of his sponsors and riders, this would dispel the lot. and it's an attitude that i fervently hope pervades every corner of every cycle racing team in the entire world. but realistically, it probably doesn't.
the second reason for my diatribe was another co-incidental e-mail from the owner of one of the teams involved in last week's tour of britain. this team didn't win, nor ever looked like dominating our premier road race, but he said that watching them race had made him 'very proud'. somehow, when commerce is involved, and superficially appears to be the prime reason for being involved in bike racing in the first place, emotion and sensibility are two factors that we of the spectator variety tend to expect to be missing anyway. and it's very refreshing to find out that this isn't always the case.
let's not kid ourselves, the majority of sponsors invest in cycling in order to advertise their product(s), and it's a darned sight cheaper than putting the same logo on the side of a formula one car. granted, there's usually one well placed member of management with a penchant for two wheels, but few are the marketeers who hold altruism as their watchword. many teams rise, have their moments of glory, then disappear when the sponsor has gained as much mileage (pardon the pun) from lycra as they feel is justified. admittedly there are one or two long-lived sponsors, but how many jerseys have you seen lance wear since last century?
so it generates a warm glow of sincerity to find evidence that there are those at the top who have the greatest respect for their teams and have their, and our, best interests at heart.
hope springs eternal.
posted sunday 20 september 2009
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