One of my favorite personal coaches, Brian McCulloch, is the featured Pro Cyclist in the April issue of Road Bike Action Magazine. Brian is a professional cyclist and coach, a Pro who is respected for his energy, his team-building, his wall full of trophies, and his practical counsel. Brian races for Elevate-KHS Pro Cycling and shares coaching duties with his wife Joy at Big Wheel Coaching.
Brian’s best-remembered 2018 win was in the annual Belgian Waffle Ride. On this 140-mile course riders rough their way through 13,000+ feet of climbing, multiple water crossings, and 17 dirt sections that range from “long” to“ugly.” Brian finished this “bucket-list goal” in 6 hours, 34 minutes, and 29seconds, a course record.
When Road Bike Action asked Brian about that victory, his answer works with the daily challenges of a Christian life as well as with the dust and dirt of Southern California’s Belgian Waffle Ride.Here’s the quote from the magazine. I’ll let you make the Christian Life comparisons.
“To conquer the Belgian Waffle Ride requires the following:
1. Develop a robust hydration and nutrition strategy. There is nothing easy about 140 miles of dirt and grit, so every competitor must stay well-fueled for the day’s battle.
2. Embrace the ups and downs of the event. Everyone will have good and bad moments. Remember, the tough times don’t last, but tough cyclists do! Keep a cool head when adversity strikes.
3. Make alliances on the road. I don’t care how strong you are, you can move so much quicker by working with other riders, so don’t kick your buddies down, lift them up, take an extra pull and help them so that they will repay the favor when your bad moment arrives. When cyclists work together, the reward is faster speeds, more fun, and a common bond forged through sweat and toil. It’s glorious.”
Here’s one additional “gem” from coach Brian. Something worth using on your daily ride:
“You’ve got to be mentally tough, and hang on to hope,” Brian says. “When the mind is willing, the body will follow, but when the mind sees no hope, the body cannot and will not perform.”
Ride On!
Photo Credits
Cover Photo: Danny Munson
Below Photo: Wild Glass Photo
