Cuattro

1. Go fast, be healthy, think, feel, eat, drink, sleep, and smile like a bike racer... for the rest of your life...

2. To be careful to not become "that" guy who thinks he's faster than he is, cooler than others, or compensating for poor self-esteem in irritating ways.

3. To be serious and intentional in practice, training and racing... but to not take yourself too seriously.

4. To remember that there is a difference between practice, training, and racing... and riding for the joy of riding. To allow time to just ride your bike for the joy of it... because it's fun and freedom is at its heart.

5. To remember that your results are yours, and that they are the results you earned; win or lose or crash... whether you "deserve" the result or not, "that's why we have the race!". Respect your performance as the result of training, preparation, talent, and chance. Respect the results of others, win, lose, or crash... Always lift up the results of others (and do not lift up your own).

6. To dream of glory... of being Merckx, Cancellara, LeMond, Contador, or Penseyres... but remember that you could change your mind and your desire (or just find out that you are not that fast when you are 20 years old... but who cares, because you remember #4 above).

7. To never half-wheel guys over 40. Ever. It's ok to "chat" while they huff and puff and wheez... but remember... God willing, you will be over 40 some day, you will be slower, a bit heavier, and have a bit more money in your pocket because of these things... someday... and God willing, you will be riding with your kid and his/her friends who will be... chatting while YOU huff and puff and wheez.