12 June, 2008: Find Your Inner Dork
On yesterday's ride with road racers Evan and Elliot, Elliot came up (actually, it's more likely that he drifted back) beside me and asked: "Are you going to keep those aerobars on the bike?"
"Yeah. I like having an extra position."
"You're not worried about the dorkiness factor?"
It was then that I realized the difference between myself and most road racers (maybe most people)--I'm fairly certain that "cool" is overrated. Although when I was a kid Rick seemed to me to be the epitome of cool, he also taught me (through much ribbing) to embrace my skinny legs, my socks pulled way above my ankles, my gangly jumpshot. If the ball goes in the basket, it doesn't matter much if anyone cheers.
I replied to Elliot, "I've been a geek so long, nothing really bothers me."
"Well at least get yourself a new helmet," he reached over and gave the top of my current one--which I will be wearing in France--a pat. "You look like a mushroom."
