Incremental- a day at Elk Neck

"Josh Waitzkin, a chess prodigy, wrote a book called the art of learning, and in it he describes the different types of chess kids he was teaching. He discusses at length the "entity" versus the "incremental" forms of learning, as classified by developmental psychologists. "Entity" kids think their chess skill is born and natural and innate ability, a pure talent, while "incremental" kids think they have learned chess incrementally, step-by-step, and that hard work pays off.

been Chasing Dennis around for 20+ years...

Josh would give his students impossible problems-well beyond their level, that no one in the class could solve. So all the kids would fail that problem. But then, when he gave them other manageable problems afterwards, the "entity" kids would struggle, they had broken mentally, and were unsure of themselves. The "incremental" kids would just go back to work, slogging away. the "incremental kids, who believed in the power of labor, would keep digging in the trenches, even if faced with insurmountable problems."

-Sam Sheridan

I'd say that these guys were cracking the whip, but actually I think everyone took their turn at the whip today...

Started reading Sheridan's a Fighter's Mind this week. Pretty interesting, kinda had me hooked when the first chapter was about Dan Gable. I liked that passage and figured I'd share. I'd add that I don't think everyone is all "entity" or all "incremental" but most a combination. I'm sure I could draw some analogy with racers who sandbag, being "entity" kids and when they can't rely on only talent they quit the game, unable to figure out the next level... but I'd rather think about how I'm probably 98% an "incremental" kid, and frankly that's what's kept me riding and racing bikes. I feel like each year (with the exception of two years) I have gotten better, and learned more about this game, kept it fun, kept learning and doing something new- that's why I think for 20+ years now, I'm bombing in the woods, or around town dressing in lycra... 

There was another passage about ego in Sheridan's book but we'll save that for another day...

Slimm and Joe B

This morning I met a group of guys that were killer mix of talent and hard work. It was an honor to be riding with them. I was a little under the weather Saturday, so I expected it would take everything in my suitcase of courage to stay in on this day. I'm not sure that on my best day I could have done anything differently. 

Jason T flying on his new rig today...

There were two particular climbs, two climbs where I knew I was at the limit, and I had to just back off a little... But with this group, any time you took the foot off the gas the group was all over you. It was a hard, but very fun day...  As Waitzkin would say, I was facing impossible problems, but I also know that while today I wasn't my best the efforts are in the bank, it was good work, and that will pay off in the future. Just keep moving forward. It felt good to be out and to be trail riding...Elk Neck is a magical place in the winter, and while I think conditions today were the best all year winter, my hope is that the weather will allow for trail riding more locally...

thanks for reading...

respect
FMVB