This past weekend our local Rotary Club of Highlands County and the local Highlands Pedalers bicycle club hosted the Bike Sebring 12 Hour & Ultra cycling RAAM Qualifier (as they do every February) at the Sebring International Raceway. Around here the event was somehow worked into every recent conversation between local cyclists. Are you doing it? Century only? Going for more miles or hours? How many? 6 hours? 8 hours? 12 hours?
And it's not just one age group. There are middle-aged folks and retirees among local participants. It says a lot about what acts as a carrot-on-a-stick motivator for different people. For some it is total miles. For others it's hours on the bike. Others have a lock on their average speed for their chosen distance or time.
Al and I were not among the participants. We can and do bike long miles and hours. But distance, time, or speed by themselves aren't big motivators for us. The carrots that work the best for us are ambiance and fun.
Life is easy once you learn what carrot-on-a-stick works for you.
