This is one of my eccentricities. My personal philosophy is based on the teachings of the Spartans.
For those of you who don't know what the Spartans were about, here goes....
Basically the Spartan philosophy has to do with demanding, physical training and denial of luxury and hedonism. Laziness and sloth are to be avoided. Obesity was eliminated by exercising naked in the gymnasiums so people would feel humiliated unless they looked fit and dynamic (I'm not suggesting anyone goes quite that far)
The women also stripped off and exercised naked and no Spartan female dared to be seen to be fat. These women could use weapons, box and wrestle.
Now, here's my point:
This is a damned good cycling philosophy. Try and avoid too much alcohol. Go out cycling when it's windy and rainy so it toughens you up. Eat a simple diet without too much rich food and luxuries and keep to a strict, disciplined regime of training. Another Spartan saying is that your training should be so hard to endure that the actual competition you enter seems like a holiday.
Finally, Fred's constant harping on about Greek homosexuality..............
Seems likes he's fixated on this single aspect of ancient Greece