hard work and determination or natural ability

[Andrew Steer]

And where does that theory leave us "only childs"

Would never have guessed

[jcza]

If you're interested in the obsession, science and luck behind the worlds fastest cyclists read Faster by Michael Hutchinson.

 

The rise of British Cycling, how far cycling lagged behind other sports in training methods and how they took a rower and made her into a track cycling gold medallist in 4 years. Absolutely fascinating how every single aspect of a race is analysed and the exact requirements are determined that is needed to succeed. For example Wiggo training to survive attacks in the mountains which means he had to "recover" at 420W.

[Vetseun]

Hard work beats Talent when Talent doesnt work hard

Cute

[forkie]

And where does that theory leave us "only childs"

and it all starts to make sense...

[Pants Boy]

Here’s the thing that makes life so interesting: The theory of evolution claims only the strong shall survive. Maybe so, maybe so.

But the theory of competition says, just because they are the strong doesn’t mean they can’t get their asses kicked. That’s right.

See, what every long shot come from behind underdog will tell you, is this: The other guy may in fact be the favorite, the odds may be stacked against you, fair enough. But what the odds don’t know is this isn’t a math test. This is a completely different kind of test – one where passion has a funny way of trumping logic.

So before you step up to the starting line, before the whistle blows and the clock starts ticking, just remember: Out here, the results don’t always add up, no matter what the stats may say.

And the experts may think and the commentators may have predicted. When the race is on, all bets are off. Don’t be surprised if somebody decides to flip the script, take a pass on yelling uncle.

And then suddenly, as the old saying goes, We’ve Got Ourselves a Game.

 

It's not one or the other. You cannot have a winner-winner-chicken-dinner if you didn't put in the hard yards. So, it's genetics, and hard work, and determination. How much you have of one determines how much you need of the others.

[Nicko]

My opinion on the subject...

 

I don't think you can ever be world champ in a sport like downhill without some natural talent, however I think if you're willing to work extremely hard you can get right up there with the top guys. Other disciplines of cycling, I think it's much more about hard work and less about raw talent, but genetics will always play a part.

[Andrew Steer]

Don't BRAKE me down.

Stick to your riding, running, martial arts, photography etc etc

Talentless lazy sod!

[NickGM]

 

Your first para supports my sentiments 100%, bicycles and swimming (just to list my 2 examples) have been around since forever and hardly new to east and west Africans or Jamaicans....There have been and are Africans and Jamicans competing in endurance sports other than running, BUT because of missing variables (other than genes) they don't win.

 

Its not JUST dna, your first para proves that

 

Hmm, too bad tone of voice doesn't come across in print. Try reading the "It's just DNA" the same way you would say "It's just a scratch..." If that helps. I wasn't saying it was it was the only factor. However, I did say it's the biggest factor (IMO, of course).

[Hackster]

Got to say, I think that having an obsessive nature trumps talent.

 

I've known a couple of gifted chaps who've never succeeded in their fields simply because they didn't apply themselves.

 

And have known some ordinary joes who've punched far above their weight simply because they were too stupid/stubborn to give up.

 

How does that phrase go, it's not the size of the dog in the fight...

[igknot]

There is an interesting book. Fooled by Randomness. It is about luck in the markets but the reasoning holds true. We over estimate our own achievements. If we succeeds at something we will find the patterns that match our preferred explanation, wheter it be god or our own hard work.

[igknot]

Got to say, I think that having an obsessive nature trumps talent.

 

I've known a couple of gifted chaps who've never succeeded in their fields simply because they didn't apply themselves.

 

And have known some ordinary joes who've punched far above their weight simply because they were too stupid/stubborn to give up.

 

How does that phrase go, it's not the size of the dog in the fight...

An obsessive nature is a talent.

[DIPSLICK]

And surely the parents learn from the mistakes they made on the first child?

The positive effect of this learning curve though wains the moment the child parent ratio increases beyond one

I'm the 4th sibling

its all starting to make sense now

[Frosty]

With regards to talent vs hard work, it can be (sort of) summed up at the Czech XCO WC race, where Nino Schuter had literally ridden away from the field. There's a shortish section of rocks where he free-wheeled over this section compared to the others behind him had 1-2 pedal strokes to get over the first and last section. Might not seem like much, but his speed over this section is much more than the others.

 

I'll see if I can get it uploaded somehow - still on the PVR.

[Andrew Steer]

There is an interesting book. Fooled by Randomness. It is about luck in the markets but the reasoning holds true. We over estimate our own achievements. If we succeeds at something we will find the patterns that match our preferred explanation, wheter it be god or our own hard work.

Sounds real interesting, will look it up

[Andrew Steer]

its all starting to make sense now

Single parent too :blush:

[Joe Low]

And surely the parents learn from the mistakes they made on the first child?

The positive effect of this learning curve though wains the moment the child parent ratio increases beyond one

I'm the 4th sibling

 

Hahaha keep telling yourself. By no.3, sperm quality is shot and we really couldnt be arsed, so he was raised by the maid and the cat.