Having just returned from an (amazing) ski vacation in Chamonix, I believe now would be a good time to admit that the last time I skied (prior to this vacation, of course) was 18 years ago.
I mentioned this fact to quite a few people these past few weeks, and the most common reaction was “Well, it’s like riding a bicycle…”. I bet that many of you had the same thought.
This recurring reaction got me thinking. Has anybody really experimented whether one’s bike-riding capability remains reasonably intact even after 20 or so years of inexperience? Wouldn’t it deteriorate, or even vanish?
I, for one, believe that a skill, any skill, derives from combination of knowledge and confidence. I doubt one’s confidence remains intact after such a long time. Hence, I don’t subscribe to the view that one’s bike-riding capability would remain intact after 20 or so years.
Oh well, the purpose of the trip was to enjoy some skiing (a divine sport), but I did have a chance of conducting a somewhat empiric experiment on maintaining one’s skiing level after 18 years.
The result: SUCCESS;
Confidence level: slightly deteriorated;
Overall skill level: imporved.
Just like riding a bike….
A conclusion note: “Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance you must keep moving”… (Albert Einstein)
0 Responses to “Just Like Riding a Bike…”