What a wild and fun past few weeks it has been for cycling at every level. 

We've had the Tour of California, the Giro d' Italia, the Landis bombshell, the TBRA calendar heating up, TN State Road Race, but more importantly the NashvilleCyclist.com Criterium Race Series has kicked off!

I believe in the adage "all politics is local" and how what's truly important and deserving attention is right here in our own backyard.  At the same time my attitude and perception about bicycling is of the same mindset, "all cycling is local." 

Over the last few years my frame of reference has steadily narrowed with my attention focused on what affects us directly.  What's going on internationally or domestically can be entertaining of course, but it simply doesn't strike the same cord with an individual at the local level.  In my view what matters most is what's happening to our left, right and just ahead of us within the confines of those things impacting our own desires.  Because of this feeling I have paid less attention to professional cycling and more to the scene that affects us both.  I'm not saying I don't have opinions or loosely follow the grand tours, the personalities or the sadness of doping, I do, but my passion and energy is directed towards things I can impact.  If I've got a dog in the hunt so to speak then I'm going to get engaged.

How do I live this out? 

1 - I focus on my primary job as head cycling coach of Cumberland University.
2 - I focus on all the athletes I coach at all levels of ability, recreational and competitive.
3 - I focus on our NashvilleCyclist.com racing team and its development.
4 - I focus on promoting events for local and regional racers to enjoy.
5 - I focus on what USA Cycling, TBRA and other associations are doing to improve racing.
6 - I focus on building and maintaining this website for people to enjoy.
7 - I focus on continuing my education in the coaching profession of cycling.
8 - I focus on what I can do, not on what I cannot do.
9 - I focus on every single relationship intertwined with the above and do my best to strengthen them with the time I am allowed.
10 - I focus on becoming the man I am supposed to become.

Number 10 is by far my hardest objective with number 9 a close second.  Even though I am 40 years into this life I am still developing into the man I feel God is intending me to be.  I was not making an attempt to test God's path previously, but my selfish pursuits left out a critical component - properly thinking of others.  The most difficult thing for me has always been to open myself to others, communicate freely, allow someone to get close, really know me and vice versa.  In the past others thought I seemed aloof and disengaged in what's happening around me, but I assure them I saw, listened and paid attention to all.  It really is the quiet ones you should watch out for.

Most have only known the version of me through cycling, but I promise you version 1.0 was a hard person to get to know.  While version 2.0 is far from perfect I am greatly enjoying pursuing the top 10 above, which does not even include my personal life outside the parameters of cycling.  It excites me to know I have a tremendous amount of work to do personally while also realizing these pursuits may be fleeting since God is preparing me for version 3.0 and beyond.  Thank God we are made of clay.

How can you live this out for yourself?

I encourage you to find those things close to you that you're passionate about and pour your energy into them.  My top 10 is an example of the priorities in my life, which is unique because my occupation is centered on the sport.  For you I would expect your occupational career and your family to be high on the list, but somewhere within that top 10 I do hope your bicycling pursuits are made a priority beyond simply riding.  Maybe you have the unique ability to teach and encourage beginner riders; maybe you are an excellent organizer for weekly rides or even a racing event; or maybe you have the desire to start a team or club entirely from scratch.  Remember, where you are today in your evolution as a bicyclist is likely different from where you will be in two to five years.  I am in my 12th year of bicycling evolution and barely resemble the guy I was in 1998.  In other words, as you evolve be prepared to adapt and shift your energy investments.

Regardless of what you decide I encourage you to put all your chips on the table and go for it!  If you hold back and hedge your bets then you'll be short changing yourself and others, and in the end likely not be as satisfied as you could have been.  Throughout this journey I highly encourage you to pay attention to number 8 above - focus on what you can do!

Lastly, what I did not realize back in 1998 but am becoming acutely aware of in 2010 is I am in this for the countless rewarding relationships with people I meet because of cycling. 

Racing results are fleeting - friendships are forever.