Yesterday, Seattle was dark for 15 hours 34 minutes and 37 seconds. Let us not count how much it was light– it is of no use to us. I rode to work in the black, and in the black I rode home.
The darkness is good to me. It shields my filthy chain from those who would judge it. It casts anonymity over the creaking of my bottom bracket. It erases your matching kit to shear black, pretty socks and all. It calls you to simply pedal. And, on the best of days, it gives me the jump on a fellow commuter just asking to be dropped like a pedal wrench in a two-year-old’s hands.
Today will only be one second less dark. Come feel the power of the darkside.
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@Mikel Pearce
Think about your country! Rick mccosker centenary test. Jaw busted by bob Willis in the first innings. Goes out to bat in second innings with no protection other than a bandage. Makes 25 (or so). I would say that facing 150kmh projectiles with no helmet is tough enough. Doing it with a busted jaw to boot? Well I think I would prefer to ride with a busted c/b.
And what about the Australian "no rub" rule against w
@frank
That stem is freakishly long.
The Seattle weather has been great - cold and clear. I've barely been riding in it however - shame on me - thanks to a crazy workload lately. I'll be out soon, really soon...
Frank - cool pics on the post.
Our first day of "winter" in central NC was 67*F and sunny. Coming from upstate NY, not what I'm used to at all. Oh well, I guess it's silly to complain about it being too nice out for cycling. I love winter riding though. With good lights and nice clothes, I don't even notice a hiccup in my riding.
On another note, I'm visiting the future in-laws for the holidays. I joined the local shop ride. My Merckx, I've never seen so many Rules violations in one pack than I saw yesterday. It's as if living in the country makes these folks feel as if they are perpetually riding in the dark. Steel Colnago with a mile of spacers plus a flipped up stem. Arm warmer-jersey gaps all over the place. Dirty kits. Baggy kits. Some dude with two bottles on the bike plus two behind his saddle. Who needs four bottles in the winter?
As if all the Rules violations weren't bad enough, the "casual" Christmas Eve ride was a constant series of attacks and sprints. Huh? Half the group got dropped. I'd be pissed if the LBS owner invited everyone out, billed the ride as "casual" and then allowed that to happen. He was at the front most of the ride so could have controlled things.
The ride was capped with a crash/tip over as we returned to town when the group tried to roll a red light. Goodness. I split off and headed home.
Did anyone here do the Rapha 500? - I had to look to this article for inspiration to twice get out of bed at 6.30 and start a 90kms ride in the dark. I also had to meditate on Rule 5 many times and take solace in my serious compliance with Rule 9 (6 degrees, serious rain and 20+mph headwinds at times) but was pretty chuffed to complete the 500kms in six rides yesterday
@Ali McKee
Welcome. Oooof, the Rapha 500, I'm glad I didn't know about it as I've never tried consecutive rides of that kind. Good on ya for doing it.
That is uncool. Getting up in the dark, cramming down oatmeal, I do not like that. I do like actually riding when the sun is rising but I'm on Maui so when the sun comes up it's magic anyway.
@Gianni
Thanks for the welcome.
I kind of wish I hadn't read about the Rapha Festive 500 but once I did, and combined with fine articles such as this one and Frank's 'Love The Work', I knew it had to be done.
This website and the Rapha one are the best motivation in the winter months.
@Ali McKee
I've been reading about it on a few different blogs and I've thought "meh... 500 in 8 days; big deal". But your last comment reminded me that most on here are in the northern hemisphere and it's somewhat cold and wet. 500 in 8 days is a piece of pie down here, not so much up in the bizaro hemisphere. Respect.
@Ali McKee
Well done- I joined in, but think I only got about 350k down. Should have banished the mountain bike for the duration. I spent about 4 or 5 hours on it that week going 11kmh... Should have been on the Cervelo goin 30! Congrats!
I thought i was doing well to get it done riding solo in the wet and windy weather but then I started reading about guys doing it on singlespeeds, off road and on ice and snow in Scandanavia - hardness is relative! The winner, Kristian House no less, clocked 1,200+kms!?
@Anjin-san
Hard work on a MTB! fair play for getting 350 done