The Tri Town Times: 8/19/24

• Posted on 19 August 2024
• By Antonio Gonzalez
• Posted in the tri town times
• 0

Race highlights and Federer on mastering hard moments.

Hi all,

Here is your weekly Tri Town Times newsletter:

Last week's highlights:

- The Boise Brave mountain bike team barely edged out McCall on McCall's home turf at Brundage in the first NICA race of the season.

- Kristian Blummenfelt wins Ironman European Championships in Frankfurt and closes with a 2:32 marathon split despite a bathroom break.

- Polish cyclist Katarzyna Niewiadoma wins the Tour de France Femmes by just 4 seconds over defending champion Demi Vollering.

- American Brandon McNulty won the opening time trial at the Vuelta a España, but Wout van Aert took the leader jersey after stage 2.

- New rules coming to the popular Boise Greenbelt (but not speed limits)

A quote that struck a chord:

“Perfection is impossible. In the 1526 singles matches I played in my career, I won almost 80% of those matches. Now, I have a question for you.

What percentage of points do you think I won in those matches? Only 54%.

In other words, even top-ranked tennis players win barely more than half of the points they play. When you lose every second point on average, you learn not to dwell on every shot.

You teach yourself to think, okay, I double-faulted ... it's only a point. Okay, I came to the net, then I got passed again; it's only a point. Even a great shot, an overhead backhand smash that ends up on ESPN's top 10 playlist. That, too, is just a point.

And here's why I'm telling you this. When you're playing a point, it has to be the most important thing in the world, and it is. But when it's behind you, It's behind you. This mindset is really crucial because it frees you to fully commit to the next point and the next point after that, with intensity, clarity, and focus.

You want to become a master at overcoming hard moments. That is, to me, the sign of a champion. The best in the world are not the best because they win every point. It's because they lose again and again and have learned how to deal with it. You accept it. Cry it out if you need to and force a smile.”

— Roger Federer's 2024 Dartmouth commencement speech.

If you have a moment to spare:

- Researchers at UC San Diego and Northwestern University reveal a technique that could allow someone to hack the radio signal used in wireless shifting (Shimano Di2 or SRAM AXS systems).

Have a great week!

Antonio Gonzalez

Tri Town Bicycles

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