X Factor : Partners in Crime

Words: Anna Beck
Photo: Dave Acree

“Partners for sport…or…?” Yep, some bloke asked your beloved AMB editor that back when he and his now wife were purely partners for sport. It’s funny how that happens. That a male/female pairing are often assumed to be together when they may just be partners in training, and not in life (I understand this is quite heteronormative, but I can’t deny that’s frequently what people assume). 

Sometimes, like with the example above, it can turn into a relationship – but more often than not a good riding relationship requires a solid foundation of heckling and spurring each other on, which can become more complicated when there’s more of a vested emotional interest. 

I have been thinking about this a lot recently, how the people one rides with tend to shape you as a rider. Social rides are fantastic, but if all you do is ride socially then you’ll get really good at riding at a social pace without pushing the limits. 
The tricky part about finding a riding partner is carefully selecting someone who: 

ONE. 
Can put up with you and who you can put up with. 

TWO. 
Can push you hard enough that you have to try a bit harder.

THREE. 
That you can push so that they can be better. 

FOUR. 
Can handle and deliver appropriate trash talking. As you can see, it can be quite difficult to find someone who fits all the criteria. If they can’t put up with you or vice versa then riding time is going to be a fraught affair. If they’re pushing you too hard or they’re too fast to the point that you only see them at the start and end of the trail, then you may as well be riding on your own. It’s difficult to improve skill and speed when the carrot you’re chasing has left you in a cloud of dust. 

FIVE.
Likewise, if you’re the person who’s too fast then you’ll have limited progression from the sessions – it’s all about finding the right balance. 

SIX.
But it’s not just about training. Progression as a rider is one thing to look for in a training partner, but the conversation has to be good too. Not necessarily always flowing (introverts can sigh in relief!) but meaningful when it happens. That doesn’t mean to say every ride has to be a philosophy lecture, just that there are conversations of mutual benefit and pleasant interactions on the trail. 

SEVEN.
There needs to be the right mixture of banter and kindness to make an optimal cycling relationship – after all, if you can’t have a lighthearted poke at someone’s poor choice in socks (ankle socks? What are you, a triathlete? I don’t think we can ride together anymore!) then what can you do?! Likewise, a good training partner will have enough insight to know when buttons shouldn’t be pushed and offer some support when your trail riding (or life) is going to custard. 

EIGHT.
The great thing about cycling is that it’s a great leveller. Tradies and students roll around our river alongside barristers and surgeons. Cycling enables us to play alongside people we wouldn’t ordinarily come to experience in our general day-to-day life. In lycra (or baggies!) we are all somewhat equalised as we leave behind our job titles and stress of our working lives in order to pedal around and get smelly. Yep, just as the old saying goes: ‘Everyone s**ts’. Everyone who pedals around in the sweltering Australian summer sweats and gets their odorous funk on. The key is finding a rider or group of people who tolerate your own special odour!