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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That's me on the left pre-race in early '82. The dude in the middle is one of my sensei, Bruce-san.
Dammit, the dude on the right I meant!
@Oli Brooke-White
those jerseys are the nutters.
@RideFit
Man, I didn't know that Uncle Rico used to ride as well as play football!
To gregb, who seeing me commute to work on my high school Huffy offered to lend me the steel-framed Pinarello he raced when he quit his job to do nothing but. He told me that once I rode that bike I would not be able to look back. He was dead on. He also said that there's only one way to ride a bike -- as fast as possible. Fashion aside, this embodies the tradition of Rule 5. In the roughly 15 years since, he's offering me tons of advice and has been a great sounding board. Gregb, thanks!
Great post - nicely done.
I never really had any one mentor into all things cycling. As a kid, I always rode bikes - Sting Rays and a few department store "10 Speeds". At that time, I knew nothing about road racing and it was the beginning of BMX. So when it comes down to it, I was just copying real motocross on my BMX converted Sting Rays waiting for the day I could actually afford an actual dirt motorcycle. That came a few years later with a succession of motocross motorcycles, loads of trail riding, and some racing as well. During that time, I still goofed around with bicycles however - always dug both - pedal and moto powered.
A few more years later, dirt motorcycle days waning, college in progress - got a job at a bicycle shop - this was the early '80s. Most employees rode just for fun, but a few actual road racers worked there for a short time. I was fascinated by the prospect of racing and peppered both dudes with many questions. Previously, I talked about racing with some of the older bike shop pals - who've been on training rides, etc. They said forget it - way too tough - with stories of getting dropped on training rides with racers. I figured no way and blew off the idea.
Later, when I expressed interest to one of the actual racers at the shop. He said buy that bike - a Fuji Team hanging off the ceiling - and let's go. Start training, let's give it a go. Unfortunately, I didn't follow his advice and blew the small sum of money I've saved on a ratty used Fiat X 1/9 instead. That's another (stupid) story, but the encouragement he instantly gave me stuck with me. I also remember watching him race the Tour of Nutley (old race in New Jersey) and talking with him afterward - thinking the whole scene was super cool. We're talking 1982 or so - old school stuff. He also didn't own a car and rode everywhere, which I thought was amazing. I'm embarrassed to admit I don't even remember the guy's name, I knew him all of a few weeks - but he made an impression on me for sure.
I didn't really start riding seriously until after my bike shop days were over - wacky enough - after I scored my first "professional" job with a real pay check. A new Miyata mountain bike and used Raleigh road bike followed shortly. This was 1984 and I've been obsessed with it all ever since. I never road raced, but did wind up racing mountain bikes. I've always been a magazine fanatic and have been reading bicycle magazines since 1981 (still have 'em saved now) - so learned plenty from reading and always semi-appeared to know what I was doing - even if just an illusion at times.
Over the years now, I'll take some credit for turning other people onto riding as well. I've always been the "bike guy" at work, organized rides, fixed bikes for people, gave advice on what to buy, etc. The latest was a co-worker from a previous job. She was having trouble fitting bikes being barely 5 feet tall. She stopped over one day to show me her ill fitting hybrid bike, I showed her some info via websites, gave her shop names and bikes to test ride. She wound up with a custom fitted, budget priced, sweet steel bike from a shop in Seattle. She's planning to ride the STP this summer on it. Great story.
I repeat these stories not to say "Hey, look at me - Mr. Know it All" - but because it actually gives me great joy to get people riding. It's a cool club to be a part of - commuters, racers, road, dirt - who cares man, just do it. As most people reading this blog know - it's awesome stuff and we're gonna try to sell it to anyone interested. True?
Ride on.
Hello, I've been reading your articles for a while and it feels like this is the best article on which to introduce myself.
My grandad should have been my sensei, i have memories of watching the tour back in the 90's and specifically Eric Zabel. He used to build me mountain bikes to riding round town, but despite the fact i used to race against the other kids round his house, he never gave me a racing bike. Made all the more surprising by the fact that he helped set up Otley Cycle Race, which has a good reputation and attracts good names, Cav came a few years ago and Ben Swift rode last June.
My life on a road bike began in thrid year of Uni, in Aberystwyth, UK when sick of not being able to afford the wished for road bike i bought a 70's Raleigh Equipe, steel frame and all, no Reynolds 531 tubing, toe clips and all for £50 and i joined the local cycling club.
There are some serious riders in this neck of the woods and i spent alot of the 1st year of riding getting dropped, increasingly less so as my legs solidified and i grew wiser in using my drop gears shifters. In these riders were some men who pointed out things like a Eurosport deal is £4 online and i should watch the pro's race and so on, and there was Tim. Proper weather beaten cyclist who can just lay the power down at 55+ helped me over hills and dropped off the back with me on several occasions telling me he was struggling too, never believed him. Helped with little things like cleat positioning and tricks with bike maintenance.
I then tackled the local TT, the club has a few routes and Tim was running the time keeping that day, i recorded my fastest time of 28:49, at which point he said "that on that steel frame of yours, it's bloody genius" despite being well down the order, and that is why i got on with him, continual encouragement through and welcoming the pain, which is essential in any cyclists outlook as you have stated here.
I have a Cannondale CAAD8 now and i can bury myself on climbs and chaingangs and live in the pain and actually get results. Unfortunately last semesters work and a vicious bout of Glandular Fever has reduced my fitness significantly (as well as my weight which is a little win out of it) but i'll be back on soon.
@Sam
Welcome. And get well soon.
@Dan O
As usual, great reply. I too had the experience of riding BMX and dirt bikes coming up. Found my dream high school moto in the paper a couple years back and bought it an 85 XR350 in great condition. Rode it down the freeway across state lines to get it home which was quite fun. With a few tweaks and rebuilt top end it's pretty sweet and so much fun. I've been thinking about making it street legal.
@Sam
Nice entrance. "proper weather beaten cyclist", well put.
@Sam
Welcome! Aberystwyth, eh? I'm a dirty Yank but I've got family from that part of the world. Met a few of them at various family reunions. I need to make it over there at some point...