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Straight Outta PROvo...

Blogging is so '06. Blog-quitting is this years' blogging.
I Suck...

If you don't know why I suck, read the thread below this one and then come back to this.  I could delete it if I wanted to, but I am going to keep it up as an embarassment to myself, to remind me to think (at least a little) before I type.

Since I moved here almost 3 years back now, there've been a couple times where I didn't see eye-to-eye with Todd on something.  In fact, there have been times where he really pissed me off.  This is not one of those times.  Here, I think his reaction is a little strong, but in principal, he is absolutely right.

I started racing bikes a long, long time ago and it has always been my desire to praise officials, promoters, volunteers and anyone else who lets us build and bust our egos on a weekly basis.  This isn't always easy for me as it's not really my personality to just run up and talk to people I don't know, I'm no Gardie, after all.  Anyway, there have been a few times where I've lost it momentarily and spoken in haste and said something I'd later regret.  I think this is probably the worst example, however.  It's like I have embodied the one thing I don't want to be, a stereotypical "what're you gonna do for me?" attitude biker.  It really makes me sick.

As I said, I don't always agree with Todd, but I gotta say this year he has done more for Utah Cycling than anyone in the Pro-1-2 ranks, at least to my knowledge.  At the opposite end of the spectrum is me, who, as Todd so eloquently pointed out, posts a pointless blog and does some races. 

I know some people are reading this like "he's just trying to make up for doing something dumb", but honestly I have thought a lot about this.  I mean, this is the- I should be working, but I can't take my mind off it, probably lose sleep kinda feeling.

So, in this public forum, I am apologizing to Todd and anyone else associated with the event.  I thank you Todd, for pointing out how dumb I can be and for not just holding a grudge, but speaking out.  I have said it before and I say it again, thanks to everyone involved in Utah Cycling (and I mean everyone!!), we have a great scene here and I am sorry if I have taken it for granted.

Thanks and goodnight,

RB

Posted: Monday, October 09, 2006 10:01 PM by Ryan Barrett

Comments

sandros said:

Hey Turbo, I've been trying to tell you all along about this conspiracy....

Okay, that was a joke. Pretty funny I thought. As for blogs and cyclists that are no longer in full time train/race mode: it is a DANGEROUS mix. We no longer have bike dork stories to tell. No more "I attacked, then he attacked..." which is fine by me. When all is said and done, it is only a blog. It's like a big public email. Nothing but typed words - in either direction.

And I don't think you suck too badly.

# October 10, 2006 8:51 AM

pzskiba said:

Ryan, I'm looking for a locoal coach. Can you emailme so we can make arrangments. I'm a SLC master 45+ racer. Thanks.

pzskiba@gmail.com

# October 10, 2006 12:56 PM

sleevie said:

Yeah, that came out wrong and I can see why Todd took offense.  I'm happy to see you own up to it.  No matter what is going on, I can't see you intentionally haranging someone, or trying to put them down.  Look at your blog about the Ogden race... you can't even name names when you're pissed...in the end, you respect your fellow cyclists whether you agree with them or not.  I hope Todd can see that, as he has done an incredible thing with Utah Cycling, the website is amazing and the fact that we have someone keeping score for us still blows my mind.  I'd hate for him to dissapear off the scene because he's fun to race with and we'd never do as good of a job on the website as he does.

If you are out to describe the truth, leave elegance to the tailor...

We race our bikes for our passion and love of the sport.  We race for eachother.  We race to gain respect, to give respect, and to respect ourselves.  What we put into the sport can't possibly be returned.  Nothing anyone could give me would take the place of the amazing season I have had racing and training in Utah with you and the team.

Problems can not be solved by the same level of thinking that created them...  Perhaps there is more that can be done apart from our words on computer screens to show our community how much it means to us...

# October 11, 2006 8:07 AM

Ryan Barrett said:

Sleever, you are quite a wordsmith, and I appreciate your comments.  As to your last sentence, yeah, I totally agree.  As Todd so eloquently alluded too, it is hard when you have a family and a job, and I know I still want to be a decent local racer too, to try and add anything on top of that, but it is important and it's probably time (moreso for me than a newbie like yourself) to give something back.  That was a run-on and a half, but you probably get the idea.  Anyway, that's yet another reason I want to take over the AB Crit.

Thanks,

RB

# October 11, 2006 8:48 AM
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