Cycling: Racing into the Headwind

[A recommendation for mountain bike techniques has been detected. The Host must learn the basic Car Control Technique [Lifting the Front Wheel] to improve your car control ability. Reward: 2 Basic Optimization Value points, +2 Specialized Car Control Techniques Optimization Value, and 1x Rapid Healing Ointment.]

[Rapid Healing Ointment: When applied, this ointment rapidly heals external injuries caused by crashes. It has an analgesic effect and prevents scars from forming.]

...

’Hmm? Specialized Car Control Techniques Optimization Value?’

Seeing the new quest reward, Huang Chong’s first reaction wasn’t to focus on the newly appeared healing ointment. Instead, his attention locked onto the specialized value that also gave him two points.

’Does this mean the system has separate Optimization Values for each of my other weaknesses? And not, as I first thought, that I had to use Basic Optimization Value points to gradually improve all of them?’

He was, without a doubt, thrilled by this revelation.

After all, while the system could constantly generate new quests by detecting different situations, the number of Basic Optimization Value points it awarded was just too small.

Each quest only started at two points.

The only reason he’d managed to improve his FTP Power so quickly was by repeatedly exceeding quest requirements to get double rewards, and then dumping every single Basic Optimization Value point into his power stat. That was how he’d achieved his current level of strength.

But if he had to rely on Basic Optimization Value to improve all his weaknesses, how long would it take to accumulate enough points to bring them all up to the level of a Professional Cyclist?

According to his own estimates, it definitely wasn’t something he could do anytime soon.

But now, seeing the appearance of a specialized Optimization Value, his confidence soared.

It was like his slow, gradual improvement process had suddenly been put on 2x speed.

And so, Huang Chong swallowed the polite refusal that was on the tip of his tongue. He quickly rephrased his thoughts and said to Li Zifan with a smile:

"Young Master Li, you’re right. Although I usually spend most of my time on a road bike, I’m also very interested in mountain biking.

It’s just that, as you know, the road infrastructure in the country is so good these days that it actually limits the opportunities for mountain biking.

You might find a rough, unpaved road in the countryside, but if you go back a week or two later, it’s already been turned into concrete or asphalt.

On top of that, mountain biking is hard to get into, and it’s rare to meet any real experts. Even if you want to learn the skills, there’s nowhere to go.

I was wondering if Young Master Li could teach me some basic, introductory moves, like Lifting the Front Wheel or something? That way, I can test whether I have any talent for mountain biking."

Li Zifan’s parents had sent him to the United States for school, starting from middle school.

Over there, mountain biking is extremely popular.

Events hosted by companies like Red Bull—cross-country, trail downhill, alpine downhill—were a dime a dozen.

It was in middle school, influenced by classmates who were into mountain biking, that he fell in love with the highly spectacular outdoor sport.

After years of training, he’d even made it onto the podium in some smaller overseas mountain bike competitions, proving he had considerable skill.

So now, hearing that Huang Chong wanted to get into mountain biking, Li Zifan, who had always been a frank and generous person, certainly wasn’t going to act all high and mighty.

In fact, it was quite the opposite. He’d been trying to get his friends in the country into mountain biking for a while, but most of them found the techniques too difficult to master and ended up switching to road bikes, much to his frustration.

Now that someone was finally taking the initiative to learn, he couldn’t have been happier. He agreed on the spot and said decisively:

"No problem. You’re interested in getting into mountain biking, which means you’ve got great taste.

Of course I’ll teach you some introductory skills to help you get started. It’s the least I can do.

Let’s head outside now. I’ll teach you a complete set of basic introductory moves, and you can practice them on your own when you have time.

Once you get skilled enough, I’ll take you to do some proper mountain downhill, or we can go to the ’Mountain City’ and do some urban downhill on the stairs there.

The elevation changes in that city are insane, and there are tons of long staircases. It’s perfect for mountain biking!"

Of course, Huang Chong didn’t take that last part seriously.

The risks of mountain downhill were extremely high; he’d seen competitions online.

He was only learning Car Control Techniques to give himself an extra margin of safety in road races.

The idea of riding a mountain bike just for thrills, treating it like an extreme sport... yeah, he’d pass.

"Alright, then I’d better record this on my phone.

Young Master Li, when you’re doing the moves, remember to explain the key points. It’ll help me learn more efficiently.

I’m not the quickest learner, so if I just watch, I’m afraid it’ll take me forever!"

"No problem, bro!"

Li Zifan habitually gave him an OK sign.

He and Huang Chong then went to an open area outside the shop. After hopping on his own ride, Li Zifan first performed the very move Huang Chong had requested, a [Lifting the Front Wheel], and then began his explanation.

"See that? The key to Lifting the Front Wheel isn’t pulling up on the handlebars with your arms. It’s about your center of gravity. As you pull on the bars, you have to rapidly shift your weight back.

Your butt needs to move from the saddle to a position over the top of the rear wheel. That’s the only way to get the whole front end up.

If your center of gravity stays on the saddle, you’ll only be able to lift the front wheel a little bit!

Of course, to practice this move, you first have to get over your fear of crashing.

That’s why I suggested you start practicing on a street trials bike. They’re small, almost like a kid’s bike, so even if you fall, you won’t get hurt."

Professional instruction really was direct and to the point.

Back when Huang Chong was just learning to ride, if he came across a curb and was too lazy to dismount, he’d use a quick burst of power to yank his front wheel up onto it, then use his pedaling force to grind the rear wheel over as well.

Without a doubt, his method of lifting the front wheel was just as Li Zifan had described: he could only get it up a little bit, a dozen centimeters at the absolute most.

Now, after the explanation, he finally understood. Lifting the front wheel was about shifting your center of gravity backward, not yanking on the handlebars.

A highly skilled rider could even keep the front wheel up indefinitely, riding only on the rear wheel—a move commonly known as a wheelie.

He had to admit, having an expert personally demonstrate the moves and explain the key points made even the most difficult mountain bike skills seem simple.

At least, in his head, Huang Chong felt like he’d had an epiphany. He’d completely mastered it.

Afterward, Li Zifan also taught him how to do a trackstand, a Lifting the Rear Wheel, a Double Wheel Jump, a Dolphin Jump, and how to do jumps.

Li Zifan ended up teaching him for over an hour right there at the shop entrance, and by the time they finished, he was drenched in sweat.

However, after Li Zifan left, Huang Chong started practicing Lifting the Front Wheel using the video he’d recorded. Despite thinking he’d already mastered the essentials, it took hundreds of failed, grueling attempts before he finally managed to lift the front wheel of the small bike.

[Congratulations! You have successfully learned the mountain bike Car Control Technique [Lifting the Front Wheel].]

[Reward granted: 2 Basic Optimization Value points, +2 Specialized Car Control Techniques Optimization Value, and 1x Rapid Healing Ointment.]

[Note: The first time you successfully perform a [Lifting the Front Wheel] on a road bike, you will be awarded an additional 5 points of Specialized Car Control Techniques Optimization Value.]

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