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:
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.
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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?
This--the site, the articles, and many of the comments--is about metacognition. In my opinion.
Yes, "it's all about the bike." That is said in the same way a meditation practitioner is told that it's all about the breath. It is. And it isn't.
http://youtu.be/W6_m0J8kPvA
Cross fit, doesn't look all that bad to me
@VeloSix
My laughed the first day as I just did it ! No questions asked. Now we share the same beautician !
Its what we do, part of the sport and the ritual.
She either supports you or she doesnt.
@Ron
Strava can record running, skiiing, walking, hiking & whatever else the weird ones who don't ride do.
@Rom Wouldn't it have been better to go as Rocky and just source some gold bibs and golden slippers?
@Darren H
Well, awesome if you're going to carry over into 'cross if just for the sake of being Rule #33 compliant. But I'll say this, once you start, you'll keep them smooth regardless of the time of year for a couple reasons. One: it's rad. Two: there's a point, somewhere around day 4-5 (depending, and relative to how fast your facial hair grows) where you have to shave. You must shave. Because that shit growing back itches like a million skeeter bites.
Many moons ago, I got smacked on a ride by a inattentive motorist, and it resulted in me having a lacerated Achilles tendon. I got some sutures and a walking cast. 1 week into it, my orthopedist caught me in a ER room (where I was working) with a cast saw, hacking off the cast. I couldn't take the itching anymore. Had to get the afflicted gun smooth again.
@Deakus
You think your missus will give you shit for shaving ? Try two teenage daughters....
@Mikael Liddy
Walking is not exercise, it's just how this bi-pedal animal gets from place to place.
@Lukas
Well there is an ongoing joke within our cycling group that I was going to get some gold Lycra shorts like Kylie Minogue after the report that the British track cycling team were using hot pants to keep their muscles warm between races