Voices and Echoes
Doubt. It speaks in whispered tones but echoes in our actions and lingers heavy on the mind. It is a thing that weaves itself into the seeds of our dreams and erodes vision into whim. Doubt leads to uncertainty; uncertainty to fear; fear prevents us from reaching as high as we might.
Doubt is a clingy thing. Like a snowball dropped down a mountainside in a cartoon, it starts small but grows upon its own weight. It continues to collect more doubt until finally it crushes any positive thought. Doubt is the fundamental element of the Anti-V.
As Cyclists, our morale rests on a knife’s edge where the slightest drop of grace can send us into the waiting arms of La Volupté while even the smallest grain of doubt can draw us to the cold anvil of her husband, the Man with the Hammer. Little things such as a freshly wrapped set of bars or a recently cleaned and silenced drivetrain can send morale skyrocketing, even in otherwise atrocious conditions. An elusive click or creak, on the other hand, can coax squares from even the most magnificent of strokes.
Clicks, creaks, or a misfiring drivetrain are guaranteed to send me into a tailspin of frustration and doubt; if my machine disobeys the Principle of Silence or malfunctions, I am sure to face a dismal day on the bike. Clean kit and freshly shaven guns, particularly when the guns are glistening with sweat or rain, is for me one of the greatest sources of form and good morale. To see the muscles moving under the smooth, tanned skin as they strain with effort instantly sends away any lingering doubt and leaves only optimism and drive, my conditioning and training cease to hold sway over my desire and willingness to suffer. And when we are willing to suffer, we can do anything.
Eddy H. Merckx on a waffle….THIS. I can’t fucking stand a violation of the Principle of Silence. Kills the ride.
That last sentence – brilliant.
Luckily there is no rule against correcting the grammar and spelling of the Keepers. Else I would find myself doing hill repeats in penance.
It’s “echoes.”
@Mikel Pearce
I couldn’t agree more.
Seriously? Now that’s good stuff!
Looking impecable truly is one of the key factors in having good legs; heading out with a miss-matched kit is demoralizing from the start. If it doesn’t match, then it’s a day to sit in the pack, to avoid being seen (and get dropped) by those who wear proper kits.
However, as great as clean clothes and pristine legs are, there is great satisfaction to be had in acquiring the Flanders Facial and being slathered with sweat, rain, and grime from any number of impromptu circumstances. If I look like the creature from the black lagoon, my legs feel as monstrous as my face appears.
Excellent stuff frank!
After spending many a year doubting my ability to race (or keep up with the big boys as I would say to myself) I finally joined a local club last year. Ironically enough I would sometimes train with the club rides and comfortably hold my own, even when they would unleash a surge of speed. It was the doubt in the back of my mind that I would be 1. too slow; 2. crash; 3. do my own version of a rainbow turd, albeit a white, green, yellow and black (club colours).
After my first couple of races, none of the above occurred and most importantly, any doubt that I wasn’t a capable cyclist quickly disappeared! Some days I’m not as strong as I want to be, but mostly I am. I’m finishing in the top ten and have move up a grade with the summer crit season. Doubt can suck my milk chocolate salty balls.
@Enoch
No its a much more complex construct according to the Hitchikers Guide “Echos (Greek: ἦχος, [ˈixos]; pl. Echoi ἦχοι [ˈiçi]) is the name in Byzantine music theory for a mode within the eight mode system (oktoechos), each of them ruling several melody types, and it is used in the melodic and rhythmic composition of Byzantine chant (“thesis of the melos”), differentiated according to the chant genre and according to the performance style (“method of the thesis”). It is akin to a Western medieval tonus, an Andalusian tab’, an Arab naÄ¡am (since 1400 “maqam“), or a Persian parde (since 18th century dastgâh).”
Blessed indeed are the cheese-makers…
“Doubt leads to uncertainty; uncertainty to fear; fear prevents us from reaching as high as we might.”
and from fear, Yoda, taught us that…”Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.”
Well done, Frank. Some beautiful phrasings. As much as I like the writing here on pro cycling or gear or history its always these pieces on the spirit or nature of our passion and obsession that I find to ring the truest, deepest, and clearest. True inspiration indeed.
@the Engine
Exactly what I was going to say! (well no, not really.)
I found this quote a while ago and I liked it; plus, it somehow seems appropriate:
“To be a cyclist is to be a student of pain….at cycling’s core lies pain, hard and bitter as the pit inside a juicy peach. It doesn’t matter if you’re sprinting for an Olympic medal, a town sign, a trailhead, or the rest stop with the homemade brownies. If you never confront pain, you’re missing the essence of the sport. Without pain, there’s no adversity. Without adversity, no challenge. Without challenge, no improvement. No improvement, no sense of accomplishment and no deep””down joy. Might as well be playing Tiddly””Winks.” “” Scott Martin
I don’t know who Scott Martin is, but I like the quote.
@Jay
Wonderful quote, to me that sums it up brilliantly.
@eightzero
Absolutely.
Frank,
“And when we are willing to suffer, we can do anything.” Words more people should live by. I doubt every day. I fear every day. But it is what we do with that doubt or fear that is important.
Another one of many great posts Frank. I hope some of these are going to make the book, they are gold.
@crashin in jpn And punctures … give me the shits
Rule number ??? – the bike shall not creak, groan or make unnecessary noise… the rider should be capable of laying down the V in splendid silence.
@frahnk, you’re a poet… Mao had the Little Red Book, Morrison had the Lords and New Creatures: you should print the Book of Strack; Voices In My Head
Indeed this evokes much! After 10.5 weeks of surgeon imposed imprisonment he finally succumbed to my campaign today of bribery, extortion and blackmail and has relented. 10 days early I am allowed out on my bike in the real world!
A ceremonial burning of the turbo trainer will take place and the N1 is coming out in to the cold and sunshine for her first true spin.
VLVV!
@thomas
Referred in the Lexicon as the principle of silence
Superb, Frank! I’ve let doubt creep in to a project I’m at work on off the bikes & it has turned into fear & paralyzed me sometimes. I’m going to read that first paragraph when I feel it setting in & brush it off.
Great words. I only started doing group rides/races a few years back & I realized how doubt could ruin an otherwise good performance. If you can simply make that one move, or follow it, you can stick with the main group. Even a moment of doubt, even if en form, can have you tailed out the back. It’s amazing.
None of my steel bikes ever makes a peep. #1 carbon, occasionally. It has been making them lately, but just for around the first minute of the ride. I guess carbon needs to be warmed up, like an engine in winter? I’m letting it go & hoping it goes away.
@Deakus
Take it easy!
I had the most amazing ride in months on Saturday, probably because it was warm enough to go sans kneewarmers.
Speaking of silence, any off-road savvy Velomati know how to silence disc brake squeal (XT Hydraulic if that makes a difference) on a MTB? I had success using car disc brake anti squeal spray, but this made the pads very hard to remove (and I suspect it is probably not really appropriate to use on bicycle parts).
Brake squeal has got to be the most anti-V sound a machine can emit…
@CanuckChuck
Others with more experience will contribute, but this has worked for me (and was recommended by an experienced wrench): remove the pads and rotors, clean them with isopropyl alcohol, resurface them on some sandpaper, clean them again, and reinstall. Once they’re on the bike again, burn the pads in by making a dozen or so hard but controlled stops from speed.
But if your pads have been contaminated (with cleaning agents, lubricants, or even skin oil), you’ll have to replace them.
@CanuckChuck
Here you go: http://www.pinkbike.com/news/Tech-Tuesday-Silence-That-Squeaky-Disc-Brake-2011.html
@Enoch
Grr. I hate when I forget to proof read the title. Had it right in the article, at least. 50%, then. That’s an “A” in some school districts.
@AirlessWing
Preachin’ to the choir, brother! Its impossible for me not to kill it in the rain with knee warmers on and wool booties. Every time I look at my legs, I just get physched!
On our Cogal last week on Maui, we had a significant section of dirt roads in the pouring rain. We all were covered in mud – it was fantastic!
Case in point:
@LA Dave
Very little of what we’ve written here will be in the book – its all new material, for the most part – although its hard to say some of these things without repeating yourself a bit. We genuinely hope you like the book, but at this point, its coming out of our ears, so its hard judge from where we’re sitting.
@Dan_R
Whenever I get doubtful, I work extra hard to squash it out. Other people bluff, some try to trick people, but nothing beats good old fashioned hard work!
@Jay
Great quote!
@thomas
Covered under Rule #65, I’m afraid.
@zalamanda
What a terrifying thought!
@Ron
I’ve had those too, but have no idea what they are – happens in the cold, as well. If the bike is properly lubed, though (seat pins etc) then it shouldn’t do that, however…
@DerHoggz
98% of my form on Maui came from riding in summer kit. After possibly the wettest Fall In History – and not riding in dry shoes for several months – it was absolutely fantastic!
@CanuckChuck
Yes, ride a CX bike with cantis.
@PeakInTwoYears
Or this.
@the Engine
I’m sure you meant any manufactures of dairy products.
@PeakInTwoYears
Contaminated pads is probably the issue. I would have thought that the simple act of apply the brakes would eventually clean everything up, but I guess not. Thanks for the advice.
@CanuckChuck
I just got back into the mtb world and had to get educated about this the expensive way. Nobody told me up front, but it looks to me like the only substances that should ever touch pads or rotors are water, dirt, water mixed with dirt, or isopropyl alcohol. Or your surgical-gloved hands.
If you really don’t feel like buying new pads, and the current ones have some thickness left to them, I’d definitely give the resurfacing a try. It takes a bit of time, but it might work. It worked on one set that came on my used bike.
@PeakInTwoYears
This is a very good reason why disc brakes have no place on road bikes in the future. Was reading in Cyclist this week about hydraulic versions of normal rim brakes…this is still heresy in the same way as electronic shifting is, but if it must be done then at least leave the brakes on the rims and avoid those dinner plates on the hubs!
@the Engine
Oh yes take it very easy, 10 days is a nice gift.
@itburns
Yes – it was just a metaphor
@Jay
Really? Maybe Scott Martin stole it, but I’ve always seen it credited to Gary Klein.
@Deakus
Hydraulic disc brakes are awesomely awesome on mtb’s. Well worth the time and expense.
No reason to want them on a road bike. Tits on a boar.
@frahnk, can you give me the skinny on your superleggere w/set. I’ve checked the CR site which doesn’t say much apart from their weight; 900g. Do they use their Richter hubs or a custom version? Are your Veloflex the Extreme or Carbon’s and what are they like on normal roads?
@PeakInTwoYears
Totally awesomely awesome indeed!
I’m going to disagree on this one. Granted, wheel changes are trickier with disc wheels and until they (you know, those guys) figure out a way to make wheel changes as quick as with rim brakes, discs will not gain acceptance in the peloton. But I’ll take the all weather braking power and not needing to swap brake pads for running carbon and alu rims. Not that I own any carbon wheels…
As they used to say in the olden days of the interwebs, flame suit on.
Put discs on my road bike and I’ll be wanting ABS too.
A propos of nothing: so, yesterday, I’m on the mtb on a trail system across the highway from our compound, and it’s Rule #9, and I’m ice-breaking through deep puddles and contemplating the question of squealing brakes (they always squeal for a while after I take the bike swimming), and I see a cotton hanky half buried in the half frozen mud. It’s a little thing with cool colors and the logo “Mystère de Rochas.” Which I have to Google to learn is a perfume that goes for $220 per 1.7oz. Score! I was duty-bound to broadcast the find to the local mtb mob, but I’m hoping no one claims it. One stylish fucking lens rag.
@CanuckChuck
Then why not this…if “you” (the generic You) must be “dirty” and start powering your machines with things other than pure V then this at least looks better and keeps the fact that you are a secret tech whore hidden whilst in motion….only in the bedroom will anyone know you have a “dark side”…
http://www.magura.com/en/roadbike/home.html
@Deakus
Admittedly I don’t any first hand knowledge regarding disc brakes since I don’t ride MTB, but I found this discussion enlightening think its worth a listen. In summary for those who don’t – the conclusion is that they’re foolish for road bike use because they overpower current lightweight road bike frame/fork designs. To use them safely, you need to beef up areas of the bike, which means not only will the brakes be heavier than calipers, the frame and fork will need be as well.
@CanuckChuck rub down the rotors with alcohol.
@zalamanda
Great questions – I’m using the Richter hubs, which are super lightweight and awesome. They have small sealed bearings, so I’m curious how long they’ll last and when it comes time to replace them, I’m curious how hard they will be to replace. I’ve been spoiled by how easy Zipps are to service, but I have to admit, both sets of CR’s I have ride better than my Zipps.
The Veloflex’s are the carbons, and they rode great everywhere. They are very supple and light and seem durable enough (knock on wood) for their weight. No comparison to my FMB’s in terms of supple and comfortable, but they are way better than my vredesteins.
@VeloVita
This doesn’t surprise me. I don’t know from frame stress, but look at the differences in applications. My mtb weighs 4.5kg more than my road bike. And I’m wearing a gosh darned fucking Camelback, with wine and cheese and apples and a flask of scotch in it (our group likes to party). And I’m trying to stay upright on real estate that is way steeper than anything one would put a road bike on. And I’ve got a 2.2″ wide tire/tyre in front that sports great beefy knobs, with a 2.1 in back.
That’s why I joked about ABS on the road bike. Hydraulic calipers are powerful. More powerful than I would want with little bitty rubber contact patches on pavement. Yes, it’s said the power is more easily modulated. But under enough sudden stress anybody can grab too much brake. I’ve nearly dumped my motorcycle (no ABS) from doing that, narrowly avoiding a douchebag driver.
I dunno, maybe that makes no sense. Maybe it’s just better to have more braking power available. But I’ve never felt the need on my road bike. Somebody else wants discs, who am I to criticize? It’s not like those rear-view video monitors…
@PeakInTwoYears
One problem specifically with wet discs on the road is that a long sustained descent at high speed can boil the fluid rendering the brakes useless. Wires (disc or rim) don’t have this problem. Typical mtb descents are at lower speed, and more modulated.
@CanuckChuck
I have had more trouble with disc brakes than any other kind of brake; there is not nearly enough tolerance to adjust them and keep them from rubbing unless the rotor is perfectly true. They squeal, and they are ugly. Most people I know who were foolish enough to put them on their CX rig have gone back to cantis – or, more specifically, Mini-V’s which actually work fantastically.
Fuck disc brakes on anything other than a MTB.
Hey, those Magura calipers look like New Age Deltas! Kind of cool. One day soon I’m going to build up the nerve to pop the face plate off my Deltas and investigate adjusting them. I think the looks of ’em have startled me into fearing them, though some say they really aren’t that complicated.
@Nate
Boil the fluid? Um, no.