BY ALLAN JAGGARD for MXP Magazine
IN MY LAST BICYCLE PAGE MXP ARTICLE, I WROTE ABOUT THE
STATE OF THE POWER SPORTS AND BICYCLE INDUSTRY IN THESE
CRAZY AND UNCERTAIN TIMES WE’RE ALL LIVING THROUGH.
WITH WINTER WINDING DOWN AND SPRING FAST APPROACHING,
THE SITUATION IN 2021 IS AS UNPREDICTABLE AS I PREVIOUSLY
PREDICTED. I DON’T WANT TO APPEAR NEGATIVE IN ANY WAY
AS THAT WOULD BE CONTRARY TO THE MOTIVE BEHIND THIS
ARTICLE. STILL, IF ANYTHING IS APPARENT TO THE CLOSE
OBSERVER, IT MAY BE THAT CURRENT CIRCUMSTANCES
ARE WORSE THAN I THOUGHT.
Watching the mainstream news media, which previously during
pre-pandemic times I followed religiously, is now something I
personally avoid. I just can’t take it anymore! Fear to me is the tool
of the devil, so to speak, and fear means being controlled. I emphasize the word controlled because fear is a natural built-in human
mechanism within each and every one of us. This mechanism is
an attribute that protects us from the many potential actions or
situations that could lead to severe injury or even death. Now, I’m
no conspiracy theorist, but the constant barrage of negativity in the
news is something we have to watch out for. You may fall into the
trap that these negative thoughts can produce. The result of living
in constant fear will be lethargy and the inability to keep moving
ahead, regardless of the obstacles we face. We’re living in this type
of environment at the moment. It’s hard to make plans for anything,
whether it’s working, running a business or preparing events whom
so many reading this article would be interested in attending.
For example, as a promoter, you can announce your plans if you’re
so daring, and kudos from yours truly to those who have done so.
Based on discussions I’ve had with many promoters and various
business owners in multiple industries, you have to accept that no
current plans are written in stone. There’s just too much uncertainty
– everything is subject to change. This reality brings me to the
driving force behind this article. I believe that we all must move
forward in a spirit of positivity and plan our year ahead with the
mindset of being prepared. If you’re a bicycle enthusiast who loves
to ride mountain bikes off-road or even a road, gravel, or e-bike
rider, then move ahead and prepare as if all will be happening as
expected in 2021. Planning on racing motocross, cross country,
MTB racing or just trail riding this year? Then prepare as if you will
be! If you’re a reader of MXP because you have a family member
or a friend who competes or participate in all the possibilities our
wonderful sport provides, then you should be doing the same thing
regardless of the goals you’ve set. Prepare in advance for the
spring, summer and fall you want to have.
Be certain of what you want to achieve in these uncertain times, and
then have the mental attitude to change and adapt if plans have to
be altered. Every competitor wants to get the holeshot at the start
of a motocross race, but it rarely occurs and only for one rider. The
rest of the pack goes into immediate “change and adapt” mode.
My advice, based on this certainty, is that you must be prepared to
change and adapt immediately. Think it through, then act on your
revised plans and watch how your circumstances, going forward,
will tend to change in your favour. If you’re able to have this type of
attitude throughout your daily life, it will work just the same, regardless of your goals. This will only hold true for as long as you’ve done
the necessary preparation. Have you ordered the bike you want to
ride this year? If not, you’ll probably be disappointed when you can’t
find what you’re looking for. Have you prepared yourself physically
and mentally for the year ahead? If not, I’ll guarantee you’ll be
saying you wish you had by June. Are you trying to control the fear
surrounding us all? If not, you’re probably going to be spending your
spring and summer hiding instead of riding!
As martial arts legend Bruce Lee, one of my personal heroes,
once said
“Be Water, My Friend.
Empty your mind.
Be formless, shapeless, like water.
You put water into a cup, it becomes the cup.
You put water into a bottle, it becomes the bottle.
You put it in a teapot, it becomes the teapot.
Now water can flow, or it can crash.
Be like water, my friend”.
In other words, Bruce Lee is saying we need to teach ourselves to
change and adapt to our environment. This is a philosophy that
every man, woman and child should adopt as this is the attribute of
not only champions of sport, but champions of life’s many challenges. So, let’s take the uncertainty the pandemic has thrown at us and
commit ourselves to the following: I will not allow fear to control
my life and will continually strive to change and adapt to whatever
challenges I face. By the time you’re reading this article, we should
all have a clearer idea of which events we can participate in during
these crazy and uncertain times of 2021.
One thing I’m sure of in these uncertain times is that those of us
who are prepared will be riding, racing, or participating in 2021.
Of this, I am absolutely certain.
BY ALLAN JAGGARD Bicycling has been around since the 1800s, but there’s no comparison between the past and today’s bicycles. To quote Loretta Lynn’s song,
BY ALLAN JAGGARD The Spring & Summer of 2020 will, without a doubt, go down in history as one of the most exceptional Sales Seasons