My buddy Chris wants to buy a road bike. His primary reason for this is to improve his fitness after splitting his patella in half on a rock while skiing a couple weeks ago. He believes that riding a bicycle, after his arduous healing process is complete, will be easy on his knees and provide him with a fun way to stay fit. To that I say, of course it will.
It started benignly enough the other day when I stopped by Chris’ house for a visit. Upon arrival he showed me an ad he had been contemplating on Craigslist. The ad was for a Specialized Transition Pro Tri-bike. Now, keep in mind that Chris has never owned a road bike so when he saw the Specialized being offered for a good price, in our area, he thought it was worth a closer look and some research. I have to admit the bike looked dandy and would certainly catch one’s eye. Especially someone who knew he wanted a nice bike but wasn’t sure yet what he wanted, let alone needed. Knowing of my passion for cycling (as the guy who gave me my V-cog tattoo) he asked what I thought about the bike in the ad. Immediately, the first thoughts that came to my mind were:
It was this final thought that gave me a serious feeling of responsibility. At a minimum, the responsibility of advising my friend on his first road bike so he ends up with something that works for him and is fun. But moreover, the responsibility of conveying La Vie Velominatus to someone who doesn’t yet know it exists. Whether or not Chris ever really embraces La Vie is not the issue. I hope he does. But my role in this is to introduce him to it so that he has the potential to at least glimpse what La Vie has to offer. Of course all he thought he was doing was getting my opinion on a bicycle.
One does not just go out, buy a bike, and declare oneself a Velominatus, or even a cyclist. It’s a process. None of us here just got on a bike one day and instantly had it all figured out. We can all take ownership for various Rule violations made over the years, money mis-spent on shitty pieces of equipment, flubs in etiquette in races and group rides, and missed opportunities to lay down some V. Some of what we know to be La Vie Velominatus has come from trial and error and reflection. And much of it has come to us through mentors or a cycling sensei, if you will.
Who among us did not have at least one mentor in her or his journey toward becoming a Velominatus? For Merckx-sake, we wouldn’t even have the Rules if Johnny Klink had not had Col for inspiration and thus commanded Brett to “blog that shit”. One of my own mentors is Frank who looked to his father and a wheel builder in The Netherlands for guidance. These are people who’s sphere of influence we are granted access to when we ask. Not necessarily the pros we look to for inspiration but the everyday Velominati who give us tips, insights, and advice on how and what cycling is, not how it ought to be.
So partially because Chris asked me and partially because I feel an obligation to my mentors, to our traditions, and to the Velominati (which means you) I find myself in the duty-bound position of being a cycling sensei. The simple act of being asked by a friend what I think of a bike places me in this position. I’m excited my friend has taken an interest in cycling and am chomping at the bit with the opportunity to help show him the way. I’m eager to shepherd Chris into the rich traditions and joy that cycling can provide but I’m hesitant to come on too strong. Hopefully Chris will discover what cycling is and ride the roads of the Velominatus. But like it did for you and I, this can only happen when he is ready.
Who were your cycling sensei and how have you approached the responsibility of ushering someone into La Vie Velominatus?
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Of course we all have had a mentor of sorts, but it is indeed a tall order. I mean, looking back at my own sense of style, it has changed over time more often than a sixteen y/o girl changes dress's getting ready for the homecoming dance. Settling in however w/a sense of what is right, the bike, the goods, shoes, glass's, socks...when sorted out for oneself, is nearly a zen moment.
A good friend told me never lead someone else like a 'good friend' into cycling. It will only be a disappointment. Either, they will be wrong about everything or they will take off and kick your arse. So, just let them find it for themselves, afterall, being a cyclist and an example is ample enough for them to see.
so, thats been my approach. Approachable, reasonable, helpful but never pushing someone to ride.
@Rob
WELL WRITTEN.
The guys who took me out and showed me bits of the whole will always be present on my rides. It was the little things: the tucking of my shorts under my saddle as we rode by a cafe (hey! now I ride bibs), the slapped shifters as they'd pass on a hill (now I guard my bars and my line), the various bumps and elbows...I love those guys.
Nice article! (On an unrelated note, I think Karate Kid may have one of the best movie soundtracks ever. Just saying.)
After thinking about this for a bit, I am somewhat sad to say I've never really had any real cycling mentors. I have had people who have influenced me, but never anyone who has steadily been a mentor and helped me grow.
At the top of my list of cycling influences would be my late father, who cycled a lot with me as a kid, and was with me for every mile of the boy scout cycling merit badge, where I received my first taste of The V as a kid (to this day I remember how much those damn hills hurt as a struggled up them on my shitty old kid bike).
His old Schwinn was my first road bike, and I still own it and ride it occasionally. It's heavy as all get-out so I don't take it on "pleasure" rides often.
I like this idea a lot. I have one good friend who got into cycling independently of me, so we push each other hard on rides and it's all good. However, for my non cycling friends (or friends who will bike to a bar but that's about it), I have found that they don't really understand or appreciate the sport side of cycling, or why someone would get up at 6 am on a perfectly good Saturday or Sunday and be out the door for a 40 mile ride before most people in my age group are even up for the day.
Nestor Gernay, DS of the now defunct Ten Speed Drive Team in the northeast was my mentor. I rolled into his shop, frosh year of art school with my 1st Colnago with Campy friction downtube levers, my V1 pro and my best Atlantic Bicycle Club gawdy kit. I asked him how to get faster, in typical Flem-triteness he pointed to the nearby "Hunter Loop," and told me to ride there and in the wind.
Meh, I thought. So much for intervals, ladders and other go fast rituals... I thought he was clueless and old for that matter... until he dropped me like a fat kid running stairs at the local group ride.
He was spot on. Manners and etiquette. And laying down the V before I even knew (until recently) what V even meant, besides HTFU. A lot of people in this area"”and several national champions"”owe a lot to this seer of Savannah, chapeua Mr. Gernay!
If you're ever in the area, check out his namesake series The Nestor Cup.
Ohhhh, great post. I always seem to overwhelm anyone I speak to about cycling and they run away screaming. It is soooo hard to hold in the enthusiasm and all the amazing subtleties of slowly entering and accepting the pain and amazing rebirth of becoming a cyclist.
I was in tenth grade (1987) in high school and a new kid moved to my Vermont high school (Oxbow High School in Bradford, VT) who was a pretty good cyclist. He became my best friend and I started to hear more about cycling through him, who was the only person within 40 miles who had a bike worth more than $50 bucks and competed in racing. His name was Bill McDonnell and he became a US Pro over the years and a super XC skier as well. I have now lost contact with him but he totally introduced me to the world of cycling and I have never been the same since!
My Senpai rode a Velo Cycle touring bike, which took him around Europe during his misguided youth. I got a custom Cyclops road bike (this one's not mine, but you get the point) and thought that made me shit-hot.
I was wrong. Me on my brand new shiny bike with Sidi shoes and Time pedals, he on his old beast with - likely - running shoes and toe straps. Sufferfest for me; learning experience for sure.
I've since transitioned to a DeKerf Prodigy (Steel is still real), and to the aged side of "old age and treachery will overcome youth and skill any day". One day I'll introduce my own Kohai to the world of the Velominati.
Marko, you really are a genius! This has turned into one great post - the stories are for the archives. Even Mcsqueak's (second best avitar after Gianni) no mentor story brings a tear. Nestor Gernay, where would we hear of him or Bill McDonnell but right here?
@reverend dick
Ah - Rev - Do I know you? There is something about your little vignetts that just seem so familiar??
Cereal, how could you not suck by learning from this guy (Nestor Gerny?) So much badassness in this pik my head exploded:
@reverend dick
Ah, the shorts over the saddle! Ok, you've broken open a rusty, closed footlocker in my memory. Here are some of my favorite bullshit stunts I learned from my senseis:
How to pick up a cap (or anything really) at near speed without dismounting. This is the result of a teammate taking off someone else's cap and hurling it up in the air and no one near the back catching it. The victim rolls off, turns around, grabs the cap at speed, turns around, and has to bridge back. Just a little extra interval pain for everyone else's pleasure.
At the start of a roller climb, imperceptably holding on to a teammate's saddle and soft pedaling.
As you mentioned, the slap of shifters as you go by. Related--putting a teammate's bike in his 53x12 while he's inside the store getting something to drink/eat.
During a lull on a training ride, slide to the very back of the peloton, yell out like your about to crash, and drag a Coke can on the ground. The whole peloton scatters.
While behind someone, make the sound of a flat tire so they look down and stop pedaling for a split second. Then lay down the V, hard!
Merckx, I loved my senseis for all of this crap.
Warning: Never do any of this in a group where you don't know the skills of everyone there. Also, never do any of this until it's been done to you so you know what it's like to receive this shit.
This is what I meant by recent, although to be fair it's been happening for about a decade now. I've been in the trade for over thirty years.