Picture this. You’re out riding one day and a little way up the road you see another cyclist, pedaling considerably slower than yourself and wearing kit that looks like it’s well beyond it’s best before date. As you approach, without a second thought you edge out to the right and zoom on by, perhaps with a little “g’day” or a wave of your hand. At that point, your thoughts turn to the road ahead. That guy behind you doesn’t even get a second thought.

On the odd occasion, that guy you just passed will have achieved more than you ever have on your two wheeled steed. Someday, should you cruise past and strike up a conversation, you may find that that old guy has raced in the past. And not just raced, but experienced races tougher than those that exist today. His ride today isn’t because he’s training for something, it’s because he just loves riding his bike.

I’ve been fortunate enough to have such conversations and hear stories of races like the Sun Tour and Melbourne to Warrnambool, long before there was anything fluro or carbon in the peloton. On the odd occasion, there have been former top level riders at family dinner parties or BBQ’s. They look the same as every other older gentleman, complete with cardigan and handkerchief, except they probably have a passion for watching SBS in July just as you do! The stories have covered everything from cyclocross racing in Belgium, to leading the Sun Tour, right through to riding from Melbourne to Frankston to Dandenong and back each night after work, in the dark, on dirt roads, in the hope of making the national team. That’s passion.

My passion on this topic probably stems from the knowledge that one of my ancestors ran a bike shop at the bottom of Fitzroy St in St.Kilda, helped kick off the first Austral Wheelrace and mapped out cycling routes across the whole of Victoria. Taking part in some of the historic open races around Australia is definitely on my list.

If you’re wondering where this post stemmed from, take a look at this awesome video over at CyclingTips.

Next time you pass that old guy…