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Every Day is Leg Day

At work or at rest, it’s leg day. Photo: Tom Boonen

The proclamation is heard in the office, on social media, at the bar with friends; “It’s leg day.” When someone utters “it’s leg day” the accompanying tone of resentment and even dread is usually followed by an audible “ugh”. This exasperation belies one fact, the person making the utterance is not a cyclist. It’s likely they are a part of the Crossfit cult or on a fitness regimen to tone up and look good in a swimsuit. My immediate thought is, no shit it’s leg day, isn’t every day leg day?

As Cyclists, we cultivate our legs ritualistically. They provide the power that propels us deep into the pain cave, to freedom and to exaltation. Sure, we can talk about building the engine that is our heart and lungs. We do intervals, hill repeats, and sprints to increase aerobic capacity but the act of pushing on our pedals is what makes us move. It is our guns and our guns only that provide the visual evidence of our deposits into the V-Bank. The following is a simple list of acts the Velominati partake in that demonstrate that Every Day is Leg Day:

Shaving ( Rule #33 )
Crisp and clean tan line cultivation ( Rule #7 )
Not taking the stairs when the elevator goes to the 2nd floor
Recovery Days
Getting a Happy DeVlaeminck
Not lifting weights, grocery bags, or small children if it can be avoided
Gun-oriented narcissism
Riding bikes at the exclusion of any other form of exercise except sex (in which case you’ve gone Post-race Kelly and it’s a recovery day and therefore, Leg Day)

The Pros go to great lengths in not using their legs to power anything but their bicycles. Coppi used to have his soigneur carry him up flights of stairs to the hotel room. Hincapie would make sure his phone, remote, and other personal needs were at arms’ length on Recovery Days so he wouldn’t have to get off the couch. I wonder if he looked for apartments in Gerona with the toilet in the living room.

Of course most of us are endomorphs who look to be prepubescent boys with bald legs, baby smooth faces, and farmer’s tans. But our legs, our legs are bronzed and chiseled works of effort that would inspire Michelangelo and be worthy of any swimsuit edition (as long as it focuses on the waist down). So regardless of our buggy-whip arms and pencil-necks, let’s celebrate. The next time you hear someone bemoan their own personal leg day hell, remember that for you as well it is leg day. Take pride in the fact that you are a Velominatus and that for you, Every Day is Leg Day. Because on that day, regardless of the day of the week or where on your training calendar it lands, you have done something to honor your pins.

Marko

Marko lives and rides in the upper midwest of the States, Minnesota specifically. "Cycling territory" and "the midwest" don't usually end up in the same sentence unless the conversation turns to the roots of LeMond, Hampsten, Heiden and Ochowitz. While the pavé and bergs of Flanders are his preferred places to ride, you can usually find him harvesting gravel along forest and farm roads. He owes a lot to Cycling and his greatest contribution to cycling may forever be coining the term Rainbow Turd.

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Nate says:

Mar 6 2014 at 9:55 pm

@Ron

My problem is that on days I take off to work on other things, I spend time dwelling on that negative space. Just like chasing a break you don't need to, this is wasted energy.

When you have to take some days off the bike, how do you just let it go? Focus on the next ride? Realize your passion for cycling ain't goin' nowhere?

Or, is this about the Hunger. Just put that fire into the task at hand, whether it is training in the saddle or churning out a project?

The Hunger and Every Day is Leg Day are two sides of the same coin, no?

@ all the Rule 33 curious

The missus, and/or the teenage daughter, is going to bust your chops about something. So:

(1) make it worthwhile. What could be more worthwhile than complying with The Rules?

(2) For the more Machiavellian among you, maybe she'll be so busy busting you about shaving your legs, you'll be able to slip something else by -- for the sake of fantasy, let's call it a new bike -- and she won't even notice.
Deakus says:

Mar 6 2014 at 11:55 pm

@dancing up the hills

Greetings Velominati, I'm new in these parts. a short intro, I've been on the bike a few years now. I've been lurking, laughing and learning from this site for a while recently, gradually ticking off compliance of rules.

@KW

I decided yesterday to commit properly to cycling with Rule #33. Many hours in the saddle today and the appearance of tan lines already - March in the uk. My joy of cycling has gone up significantly.

See it only takes one day of sunshine in the UK for girls to start wearing mini skirts and the Velominati to start on the tan lines. I guess that is why we have the highest proportion of soft top cars per head of population in Europe!

Which day was that again...you know where the sun came out the rain and wind stopped and you were able to slip in to shorts? I must have missed that one!

Welcome to the site.
Deakus says:

Mar 6 2014 at 11:57 pm

@marko

It's no wonder this convo turned largely into to shaving. Fair enough, discussions take on their own life around here and shaving is certainly part and parcel for Velominati. That said, it's also about the negative space between training and living our lives. The thought we put into our guns when we're not riding. Also reveling in the pain we put our legs through that everybody else who exercises seems to loathe. Maybe the sequel will be "No Day is Arm Day."

Actually it started with waxing but all the bloody shavers hijacked my question! Despite that it was a great article...
The Grande Fondue says:

Mar 7 2014 at 3:38 am

@Ron

@frank

@Ron

Crossfit. I went off my meds a few weeks back & I'll try to remain calm. But, paying good money to go throw a tire around downtown city blocks? Good lord, exercise scams never cease.

I totally see your point, but given the obesity situation around here, I'm just happy to see people working out. There is one around the corner from where I live and some people just have to sign up for something in order to find the motivation to get a workout.

Not my cup of tea, but if it gets some people active, then I don't have an issue with it.

Very excellent point. There are just plenty of things I enjoy doing that involve exercise, so it's hard for me to understand doing something you dread and paying for it.

That sounds awfully close to a violation of Rule #10 and/or Rule #25..

Don't we all spend too much on our bikes? And if you don't have a bit of dread then you aren't climbing enough or hard enough.
antihero says:

Mar 7 2014 at 3:59 am

I would like to take a moment to unhijack this thread, which has degenerated into utter nonsense. We sound like a bunch of pre-pubescent girls. Just shave the fucking things and get on with it.
Harminator says:

Mar 7 2014 at 6:02 am

@antihero

I would like to take a moment to unhijack this thread, which has degenerated into utter nonsense. We sound like a bunch of pre-pubescent girls. Just shave the fucking things and get on with it.

Agreed. There should be a "fight club" adjunct to Rule #33.

i.e. Don't talk about shaving your guns.
The Oracle says:

Mar 7 2014 at 6:36 am

@Kyle

@KW Given the current state of Wisconsin weather, you could be wearing tights/leg warmers until the blessed event. Shave them once the nipper arrives. She'll be too tired/busy to notice.

On the topic or riding in Wisconsin, I've committed to the Cheesehead Roubaix. Who else is in?

I've got a "soft commitment." I think @wiscot is planning on attending as well.
The Oracle says:

Mar 7 2014 at 6:38 am

@KW
The Oracle says:

Mar 7 2014 at 6:40 am

@KW

I am also "genetically pre-disposed to Rule 33 compliance." My wife didn't notice I had shaved for a full two weeks.
VeloSix says:

Mar 7 2014 at 6:49 am

@frank

@Ron

Crossfit. I went off my meds a few weeks back & I'll try to remain calm. But, paying good money to go throw a tire around downtown city blocks? Good lord, exercise scams never cease.

I totally see your point, but given the obesity situation around here, I'm just happy to see people working out. There is one around the corner from where I live and some people just have to sign up for something in order to find the motivation to get a workout.

Not my cup of tea, but if it gets some people active, then I don't have an issue with it.

Quite the case where I live as well. The land of fried everything.....

A silently cheer the grossly overweight "runners" I occasionally see while out for a ride. In a way, I supposed they're suffering quite a bit in the brief moment I pass them by, but cheers to them for getting out doing something about it!