{"id":117,"date":"2013-10-15T02:26:00","date_gmt":"2013-10-15T02:26:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ssgc.co\/2013\/10\/in-praise-of-complexity\/"},"modified":"2013-10-15T02:26:00","modified_gmt":"2013-10-15T02:26:00","slug":"in-praise-of-complexity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/singlespeedgoldcoast.com\/2013\/10\/15\/in-praise-of-complexity\/","title":{"rendered":"In Praise of Complexity"},"content":{"rendered":"
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I was thinking about what it takes to be good at cycling. Not the turning pedals bit. That takes training and dedication, stuff I’m not terribly interested in. I was thinking about freestyling, mountain biking and generally just styling.<\/p>\n

What got me thinking was I heard the other day that all sport is essentially about striving for consistency. While that’s probably true for golf, for instance, I don’t think it applies to cycling. See with golf, just about any decent golfer can hit a golf ball just right, once in a while. But…do it 99 times out of 100 you’re a pro golfer with appropriate endorsements from Nike and your own range of brightly coloured polo shirts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
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(While I appreciate they don’t wear plus fours<\/a> any more golfers still need to do something about their wardrobe.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Football, I was told last night, is about absorbing pressure. When two teams are similarly matched neither team will dominate an entire game. Absorbing pressure when you’re on the defensive, keeping composure and being ready to turn defense into offense is what marks a good team. Again, what applies to  football doesn’t necessarily apply to cycling.<\/p>\n

What I find is, when I’m riding really well, I’m adding levels of complexity.<\/p>\n

Here’s an example. I’m approaching an obstacle, I straighten up, get the bike level, get my braking done, and manoeuvre over the object. That’s me keeping it basic. Everything is done in order, one at a time.<\/p>\n

Take it up a notch and you hit the same obstacle with a bit more speed, happy to wash it off as you go over. Then add another layer, go over with the bike cantered over so it’s setting up for the next turn. Up another notch, you’re on a rocky path and the suspension is going up and down, the bike is moving let and right and up and down, you lean the bike to set up for the corner and you hit the obstacle without braking, using it to wash off speed. Up another notch and you pre-jump or bunny hop the object. Or something. You get the idea.<\/p>\n

You can keep adding layers of complexity to this scenario. If you’re riding really well you find your body doing things your brain can’t really comprehend, using lines that didn’t seem to exist, using braking to set-up angles that aren’t naturally apparent, or picking up the bike and floating over objects that normally have to be negotiated in other ways. I find at these moments making a metal note about how you did it doesn’t help. Next time I approach that object I’ll either make it look good or go back into gumby land, and there’s no telling in advance which it will be. One of the worst thing about having a ninja day (you know, where everything just flows and feels so natural) is knowing the next ride will be disappointing, stilted and slow in comparison.<\/p>\n

I am of course talking about mountain biking. The same applies to styling on a fixie though.We all start with track stands. Then a one handed track stand. Then riding backwards. Then…well to be honest I stopped at track stands.<\/p>\n

Trials riding has a similar background. You start with a track stand, then track stand next to an object. Then track stand, lifting back wheel onto object. Then suddenly you’re this guy:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n