Hi Chuck,

Chuck wrote:
>
> > and seat stays won't make the difference.  Fitness and guts is the
> > primary factor, not the equipment.  Same for diving, as listed above.
> > Although new and cool equipment IS fun, it won't make up for lack of
> > experience, training, and preparation!  :-)
> >
> Guts?  Surely not.

Yes, in CYCLING, guts as in fortitude, determination, tenacity, special
effort, etc...the 'old' meaning of guts... as opposed to 'hold my beer,
and watch this' foolhardy kind of guts.

> Guts has little to do with diving in the long term.  In
> the long term, guts will get you dead. If by guts you mean the ability to
> keep your head while all around you are losing theirs, then I agree but that
> isn't usually what I think of when I think of guts.
>
> CH

I agree completely!  :-)  By the -"Same for diving, as listed above"-
statement, I was referring back to Strike's list -""mental preparedness;
ability; proper and appropriate training; teamwork; and personal
fitness"- in the passage I quoted, was referring to, and was commenting
on.  The convoluted point I was trying to make, apparently
unsuccessfully, is that  'good equipment' as opposed to 'great
equipment' will not make as big a difference as personal factors...
Sorry that that was unclear in my post.

Soyong is already here in Dallas and Bjorn will be here soon (no exact
date from him yet) before the CAIV2002NEDfest perhaps we can get
together with you and Jeannie for dinner to 'fill our guts' and 'spill
our guts' reminiscing and catching up.  I can't wait to see 'little'
Alexander again.  From a picture I saw quite a while ago he must be a
real moose by now!  :-)

Best regards,
Russ