Start stalking
December 27, 2015 § 16 Comments
People are funny. If you give them a good tip they ignore the hell out of it, like the weird black mole that’s been blossoming on my shin and now looks like a rotten cauliflower that is oozing goo and has probably metastasized to my liver.
I went to the doctor a while back. “How long has that been there?” he asked.
“I dunno.”
“Long time? Short time?”
“Short time I guess. It was a gash and how it’s just some dried blood under the skin I think.”
“If it changes at all or doesn’t go away in a couple of weeks come back and we’ll take a look at it. Don’t ignore it.”
That was a looooong time ago and I ignored the shit out of it even as I noted its terrifying growth profile. So now that it is about the size of a child’s bowling ball and has learned to read and write and can even say its name, I finally made an appointment to go back to the skin doc.
I know what he’s going to say. “Well, Mr. Davidson, you’re dead now.”
And I know what I’ll say. “Who cares? My leg’s still jacked and I can’t ride for beans.”
But you? You won’t ignore some sage advice, will you? Because I’m going to give you some. Here it is: Go stalk Daniel Holloway’s ride schedule and follow him like a bad case of Neisseria gonorrhoeae.
Here’s the deal.
Daniel is the best bike racer in America. That’s not hyperbole or exaggeration. He won 345 races this year, half of them only pedaling with one leg. He races against the fastest lead-out trains on the continent and smokes them like a brat left overnight in the BBQ cooker.
But, whatever. This isn’t nearly as important as the fact that he’s in LA through the end of January, and what’s more important, shows up on most of the dork rides–NPR, Donut, etc. In other words, you have a chance to ride with the country’s winningest pro. And in other other words, five minutes spent riding with Daniel is worth 500 hours of Internet coach time and bike forum chat room palaver and Strava auto-titillation.
Unlike lots of supermen, Daniel has time for DLU, Dorks Like Us. Have a question you’ve always wanted answered? Daniel will answer it. He may be wrong, but at least you’ll be getting it from a pro.
Plus, he’s friendly. He intends to get in his workout, which often means all you’ll see is a tiny dot vanishing in the distance, but other times he’s pedaling around at DS, dork speed, trying to burn off the same cheesecake and lard-covered-butter cookies that you are.
Best of all, and most mystifying is when Daniel shows up on the NPR. Best because NOW IS YOUR CHANCE. Mystifying because when he hits the jets hardly anyone even tries to follow.
Dude! Pedal harder, please. This is your free coaching lesson. Even if you hang on for .0001 seconds, you will have gotten a better workout and will have seen what kind of acceleration it takes to escape the gravitational pull of 75 hackers pounding with a tailwind.
Better, if you’re like Smasher and manage to grab his wheel when he goes, he will absolutely beat your face in. All you have to do is hang onto his back wheel while he gins out 450 watts for four laps. You can do this, really, you can’t.
I know that you have a carefully planned workout regimen that is going to allow you to place mid-pack next year, but at least while Daniel’s in town you need to toss that plan out the window and follow this guy around, bothering the snot out of him with stupid questions. In addition to being a complete wizard with regard to tactics, he’s knowledgeable beyond belief when it comes to aero equipment and riding position, and has an ability to read a field that you won’t believe.
Of course I fully expect you to ignore this, because good, free advice is just that way.
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Cycling in the South Bay 
Seth,
get it checked out!
I know. I know …
I’ve heard of that dude….
W*nk*r.
I’m confused, does this me you get a cut in the melanomas winnings and why did you name it Daniel?
It’s a nice name and no.
Winningest? Steady on old chap, that’s the Queen’s English you’re mangling there…
Sorry. I meant whingingest.
You should get that looked at. Now, give me back my $2.99 so you’ll listen to me.
The refund button only charges your CC twice.
I can attest to this Seth. Daniel “Hollywood” Hollway is one approachable pro. I met him on a coffee recovery ride with you and a few others a while back. He was really friendly and willing to answer all my eager amateur questions on power meters and aero stuff.
He used to ride with a mate of mine (and coach) from NZ who is from a similar ilk in always being around to chat with anyone from newbies to pros.
A top guy as well as top rider.
Well said.
Very interesting talk by Daniel Holloway for those who have not seen it.
Nice–
Great insight. Going with Dan would be like a free motorpacing session.
Short but free.