Andy - having "been there", I think this is REALLY appropriate for a racing club.
These types of outcomes are why coaches / sports-pscychologists / etc focus so much on the process these days rather than the result.
Setting & achieving process goals (which are under your control) during an event should lead to satisfaction, even if the final result/placing (which is subject to external factors, not the least being other competitors [including that dark horse who appeared out of nowhere on the day
]) is not as hoped for.
eg. Achieving a PB is pretty good even if it "only" puts you into 2nd place on the day.
It's a shame this mindset isn't transferred more readily to younger/newer competitors.
Unfortunately they are usually the ones who don't listen...
Didn't really consider the post in that light but take your point. The way I took the article was there is so much more to riding a bike than purely racing.
At the moment, I enjoy all aspects of riding but would certainly miss the racing side of things. I do envisage a time though when riding for ridings sake will be my primary focus but not for a while yet - a product of finding the sport at the age I did.
In regard to your comments - couldn't agree more with the 'journey' being just as important as the 'destination' and that racing in all the grades and at all the levels that we compete at as a club would be so much more exciting with this in mind. Forget all the 'team' rubbish at club racing level and ride for an individual win - no matter the result.
As for the younger riders and their mindset; not sure where that comes from? The kids themselves, parents, peers, coaches or dreams. The trouble with the 'mindset' you talk of is it usually takes some age and experience before it starts to sink in and make sense.
