The Value of Simplicity

It's easy to forget the value in breaking things down and making things more simple.

“Any intelligent fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent. It takes a touch of genius—and a lot of courage—to move in the opposite direction.” 

E.F. Schumacher

Often, our focus is on building, constructing, and adding complexity.

It's easy to forget the value in breaking things down and making things more simple.

One of the first things we teach new mechanics is to tear a bike down to its most basic parts. It's easier to understand how things work when you can see something in its component parts.

Leonardo da Vinci improved his understanding of the human body by dissecting human cadavers. His anatomical drawings from this experience are works of art in their own right. 

As athletes, a key question we must ask is, "What are the most basic demands of my event?" It is common and easy to fall into the trap of focusing too much on the 'sexy' aspects of training, while losing sight of most fundamental things.

An athlete training for a century ride may say that riding 100 miles is the most basic component of their event. I would argue that simply being able to stay active for 5+ hours is more basic. 

By identifying and focusing on the most basic components of your fitness, you guarantee that you're getting the foundation of your pyramid right. 

I'll conclude with one of my favorite quotes from Antoine de Saint-Exupéry: 

“Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.” 

- Antonio Gonzalez

9/12/2022