Convergence of the Two Fives
Physics tells us that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. The conservation law extend beyond the physical world and into mystical where the V and Anti-V are also in a constant fight for balance. The Ancients on Mount Velomis understood this well, and taught that the Anti-V expresses itself within the universe as two principle kinds of weakness and that in response there are two fundamental Fives to counter them.
The first is weakness of the mind; this sort of weakness is expressed through pain as it the weakness is converted into muscular and mental strength through Training Properly and quieting the signals that tell you to stop as you learn to use your mind to drive your body beyond its perceived limits. This is the First Five, and the most commonly recognized form of The V.
The second weakness requires introspection and discipline: it is recognition of the flaws in our technical skills. To be a complete rider, we must be skilled in all aspects of Cycling, we must find areas where we need to improve our skills and work hard at them until they become a strength. These weaknesses can be difficult to recognize and usually requires a Sensei for guidance. It takes humility, practice, and a willingness to fail time and again until finally we break through and conquer them. The willingness to shed our pride and fail in pursuit of perfection is the Second Five; it is never ending – as we improve in one area, we must find another weakness and work to raise our skill in that area. It is only through total commitment to always recognize our flaws that we will continue to improve to become a better Velominatus.
May 5th approaches, V.V. The Ancients called it Die Congnoscentus, or the Day of the Five. It is the Velominati New Year and a chance for reflection, a chance to celebrate the convergence of the Two Fives. We must always remember that we are all Pedalwans, that we all have much more to learn, and that improvement is a journey with no end. It is a day to renew our resolve to work at our weaknesses until they become strengths.
Go with Merckx fellow Pedalwans; Vive la Vie Velominatus.
Feel as though I would have heard this message (solemn voice) from the mesh window of a confessional.
@unversio or from someone holding a light saber.
Is it bad that on seeing the picture, and reading the Second V, I thought of the off road antics of COTOH?
@unversio
From the mesh window of a confessional or the rolled down window of a team car?
Frank, good Merckx would the world be a better place if everyone read and acted on this. Unfortunately the typical American would view their weaknesses as making too much of a mess when eating Doritos.
@Ccos
Exactly! “If you sprint me down, I’ll only become more powerful…”
@Haldy
If folding onto team car, officials would be watching and a rider would catch only a confusing preface “Physics tells us that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. (Yeah) This conservation of energy extends beyond the physical world and into mystical where The V and Anti-V are also in a constant fight for balance. (Fuck) The Ancients on Mount Velomis understood this well, and taught that The Anti-V expresses itself within the universe…” (time up)
I’m thinking when I see that picture: Hinault setting the bar for style. Shoes, socks, shorts, polka dot skinsuit, crochet-back gloves, yellow cap on backwards because it’s a TT and it’s more aero = perfection.
I’m thinking it’s stage 14 in the 1978 tour. Hence # 131. Hinault’s first tour. He’d start as #1 in 1979. It was a 52 kms mountain TT which Zoetemelk won with Hinault 1:40 back. He had to change bikes after apparently hitting a spectator. Stage 20 was a 72 kms TT which Hinault won by 4 minutes, thus gaining revenge, the yellow jersey and the race.
I’m thinking we can look at the greats and learn. Always.
@unversio
Well…maybe it would take a trip( or two) back to collect bottles to get the whole message through via the team car. It also occurred to me that it could be uttered by the wizened old ex racer/shop owner in the dark corner back near the tubulars in said bike shop…
Such late notice?! I only have one week to prepare!
Huh, that is the Badger? He looks really skinny there, maybe early in his career before the Guns reached full bloom.
@wiscot For all the bollocks of regular clothes, the 70’s and 80’s set a high water mark for cycling fashion.
And agreed, even over cooking a corner (no doubt because he always rode balls to the walls) le Blaireau is in fine form in that photo.
@wiscot
Ah…now this would explain why he looks so slim! He’s just a yungsta.
@Haldy
Who’s name is Quint.
@unversio
“Hrmmmm…There is no Try…Do or Do Not…there is only the V”
@Al__S
No, that was pretty hard core. Dope didn’t make him do that shit. That was some class bike handling right there and proof that despite what a twat he is, he was a well-rounded Cyclist with excellent bike-handling skills. I mean, the fucker didn’t ever crash during any of the Tours he won. Including this incident.
@unversio
@Ccos
I’m never quite sure if the tone of my message is coming through. Thank you both for communicating in the most perfect way that it did. Both of you deserve the +1 badge for that, but @Ccos gets it on account of the explicit mention of light sabers. Everything is better with a lightsaber.
Which, now that I think of it, makes it remarkably similar to bacon.
@frank
Actually he did crash….Stage 15, 2003 tour..he was taken out by a spectator.
@Haldy
Merckx. I was even there that day. Fook me.
@frank –
It’s okay…you are forgiven missing a small detail here or there…the amount of badass of his off-road adventure makes us kinda forget he did crash the one time. What was it someone said yesterday about crashing…i think it rhymes with “Clucking Bell”…
@frank Thanks for this. I am looking forward to May 5. This is also the 125th day of the year. V.V.V. The convergence of a third V? Along with weakness of mind and lack of skill, I humbly submit that we reflect on our spiritual weakness on this day as well. Strength of mind and abundant skill are not enough to carry us through the suffering we must endure to become a better Velominatus. Let us also renew and celebrate our strength of spirit on May 5. This will lead us to victory and true glory on Mount Velomis.
How auspicious. I’ll be racing that day – third and final stage of Surrey League 3 Day.
Let’s hope the V is with me.
Re: weakness: Intervals. It’s always intervals. They hurt so good that maybe I’ll go out for some on the Vth.
@freddy , Frank …..125th day = V^3
Surely a must-ride day for sheer awesomeness!
My daughter turned V on V.V.199V.
I still don’t understand why she turned out to be a dancer and not a cyclist.
The V
Born 194V
Turned Pro 196V
TDF – V times
Giro – V times
L-B-L’s, V times
Rainbow Jersey, V horizontal bands
V + cogs on cluster
I need more vitamin V!
Frank, A timely article. The weather here in Melbourne (Aust) is crap this evening and with the bucketing rain I ran foul of those lovely white lines at the side of the road. Hit the deck and laid the bike on the pavement! The damage all seems pretty slight as I must have instinctively thrown myself under the bike to keep it away from the bight of the bitumen. Your post is helping while I nurse my sore elbow and gravel-rash thigh and bruised pride.
This is the article of recent articles. It sums up why most of us are here.
Gonna be interesting to see how the mood and membership goes once The Book is on sale across the US. I’m praying to Merckx that all those people who see it as no more than a good entertaining read don’t just show up to take the piss and criticise each other’s achievements, bikes, style etc. Oh…wait a minute..! (winking emoticon deliberately omitted).
The double VV of course has direct links to the Italian connection i.e. Viva Coppi was always shown as W Coppi (2 vs combined).
@Robert Freese
@rfreese888
V.V. 2014 falls on Recovery Monday ’round these here parts. I will work on smoothing the pedal stroke in honor of this day though as I strive towards peaking in two months.
@Mirko Dancers can V in their own way
@frank
Not only did he crash, he won that stage. Just went and re-watched the incident, and the commentating by Paul is SO disgusting given what we all now know. Hard to ignore the determination though.
Fab post Frank. The First V is a constant struggle. Not so much while on the bike, but the actual act of kitting up to get on the bike. I’m fine after 15-20min, but the weakness of mind is strong sometimes.
fan-fuckingtastic
@frank
Now there’ a thought, lightsabre sliced bacon, comes off ready cooked and no added fats.
@Haldy
The true class act that day was Jan Ullrich
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZaKR5iOCTts#t=51
@HMBSteve
Agreed, I was just reveling in the fact that I got to point out that a Keeper made a slight slip in the facts. :-)
@freddy
I had not realized that it was the VVVth day of the year. It was preordained. Amazing.
@asyax
Every day is Ride Day, but yeah, I take your point!
@ChrisO
The V will be with you if you meditate on it properly. It is not something to hope for, it is something to make happen.
@piers.fraser
Crashing hurts in a way you only ever remember after it happens again. Good luck.
@rfreese888
@wiscot
@wiscot – You are onto something there but this photo of Fausto makes a strong case as well. Although it should be noted that Hinalts guns made any length of shorts look right.
@Floridian
I have been noticing a small kink in my stroke due to extensive big-ring climbing I’ve been practicing to build some strength – a consequence of riding low cadence exposed as I start to spin more again. I will work on this as well.
That and my fucking cornering which has become atrocious.
@HMBSteve
Yes. And then Hamilton comes up and waves his arms around telling people to stop. Hey, genius! You with the broken collarbone who got dropped during the attacking! Did the fact that your busted-up ass caught back up not alert you to the notion that they had already slowed down?
@frank
We need to ride together some time good Keeper…I can think of several great descents that will help with that cornering! :-) ( Not that you can’t…but..we still need to ride together sometime)
Here’s a healthy dose of Double V-
http://bigringriding.com/image/58906383624
@Haldy
@frank? slip? That is worth pointing out!
Its getting kinda spiritual up in here! Although, I guess the religious aspect of this site is pretty hard to miss…
That “for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction” is the law of conservation of momentum, not energy.
@sthilzy
Careful mate. Vitamin V is slang for Viagra.
@RedRanger
Could all still be true. 5 is a recurring number in cycling if you can get past the whole “it goes up to eleven” direction shifting had taken.
As an aside, I wonder how much fear/awe the photog had with all that V roaring after him?