Sometimes confidence is imagining you look like Team RadioShack-Nissan practicing their team time trial in brand new kits and on $8,000 bikes. Sometimes confidence is ignoring your ten extra pounds (it’s winter weight, after all), your creaky old beater-bike and your hairy legs because your wife says shaving is girly.

Have no fear. Those fleshy white ham hocks? Oh, you’ll shave them soon. That beater? The best rider could win a bike race on a Schwinn Sting Ray. Those ten extra pounds? Fabian Cancellara is no stick. It’s the frickin’ race season. So mount up. Ride till your legs scream and your lungs bust. This could be the year. Hope springs eternal. That is confidence.