There’s no doubt I live La Vie Velominatus. Sometimes I think I live it maybe a little too much, as I’ve been told by independent observers that bicycles and all associated with them dominates my very existence. And it’s true; I work in the industry, dividing my time between editing Spoke magazine, writing (not nearly enough lately) here, and a couple of days a week in the shop. Whenever there’s a spare moment, it’s usually spent surfing the web, and nine out of ten sites I’ll view are in some way bike related. To end the day I’ll settle down with a book or a magazine in bed. No need to tell you the subject matter. (It’s not porn… really.)
Is this healthy? Cycling is by definition a healthy activity, but when one becomes all-consumed by a solitary pursuit, it can be seen as unhealthy in itself. An addiction. Addictions are usually construed as being bad things, but surely an addiction to something so pure can’t be harmful?
Well, not if you aren’t actually riding. If the only link to cycling is from sitting in front of a computer, writing about riding, reading other’s articles about riding, and making a magazine about riding, all to the detriment of actually getting on a bike and doing it, that takes its toll, both mentally and physically.
It’s a Catch 22 situation. You don’t ride, and you lose fitness. And when you lose fitness, riding becomes harder. So you shy away from hard rides. Consequently, you lose even more fitness. Then you get to the point when you say fuck it, and just get your ass on the bike. You ride with your usual crew, you lag on the hills, but you feel stronger the farther you go, drawing on the energy from the simple act of being out, turning the legs and breathing fresh air into the lungs. You get caught up in the little sprints and KOMs, and find you still have something in the tank. Deep, buried reserves forged from la vie. You finish the ride feeling rejuvenated, tired but refreshed. You vow to ride again tomorrow. But there’s a deadline to meet, proofing to be done, a last mintute article to write. Life gets in the way. And so it goes.
I know. I have ridden my bikes probably on average twice a week for the last six weeks. I was supposed to be doing a race this weekend. I’m glad I’m not. The principle reason for not doing it was money, the very coin I’d spent on getting a bike to race on conspired against actually racing. That, coupled with a grand in dentist fees, a visit from an Aussie friend which helped drain the bank account, then an ensuing illness and my race fitness, which was well on track those six weeks ago, has now all but disappeared in a cloud of debt and lethargy.
Yep, life gets in the way of having a life. A life of riding. But I still have a life of cycling, it’s just being lived through other means right now. And that’s better than not having a life at all. I will be back. Vive la vie Velominatus.
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WTF are you stalking me ,,,, its sounds like it from reading your article,,,,, Great Job well writtin exactly whats going on in me life except different distractions !!!
Good sentiments all round. So, I got out for a ride today, finally. And it will be my last probably for about a week. At least on the road bike... Big ringing it up the last hill to home, instead of shifting to the 39 I thought I'd grunt it up and jammed the rear shifter across looking for that one extra cog. Snap. One broken Chorus shifter. There's a conspiracy, myself against myself.
@brett
I love the photo and the message. Eddy looks like a bad ass just sitting.
And as for riding, my commute into work on bike was the best part of every day. It was all downhill once I walked in the building. And then a ride home to clear out the day's nonsense. And if easily justified buying cold weather cycling bits too. I dreamed of moving further from work just to get in more forced miles.
@brett
heh heh heh. Excellent. One day soon, I swear, one day you'll be fatter than me.
Have some ice cream.
@frank
Thank you @frank for your comments and your welcome its good to be here.
@frank
Lovely doggy woggy Fronk - are we getting a page to post pictures of our pets? I have some nice shots to post of my corals - not as cuddly as that dog I'd say, but less likely to knock over plants, TVs and table lamps - that said, the floor is fecked where the tank overflowed one day, but I digress....
I often, through my serial sporting obsessions (phases, everyone else calls them, which I find somewhat insulting for some reason) wished I was a pro and working in the business of whatever sport it was - that said, I am no longer jealous, as it is clear that not working in that business actually seems to allow more time for the sport you love, and I think the contrast between the job and the sport enhances the experience, but chapeau to those of you who keep us pedalling - keep up the good work
Actually, I am rather concerned about how much time I am thinking about riding my bike though - it seems to be permeating my every thought these days - like when I am reading to my kids, and they say "Dad, why have you stopped reading and are staring into space" - need some therapy
This bloomin site isn't helping mind!! Now, back to work
@frank
@RedRanger
Any more pictures of pets appearing, and I'll be reposting my 'Circle of Life' parent's portrait.
Just sayin'.
Eh, instead I'll just give you this awesome Video of the Years racing:
@jen
Truth be told there was a little tri in my background as well as running ultras, but Merckx be praised, I saw the light with Fronk's help.
No going back now for me!
@frank
Very interesting, Frank. Lots of good points here.
Lately I've been contemplating why I've been dragging my feet & not finishing graduate school. I've always been very driven and focused, both in sporting & school, but lately I've stalled in the academic realm. I try not to look back too much, since there is so much ahead today, but I think I've realized one reason why I've hit a wall. My sporting pursuits have always been the way I've defined myself. School was important & I worked hard and did well, but I was always more athlete than scholar.
I've now reached the point where I need to transition from graduate student to working professional. And I can't seem to do it. Why not, I keep wondering? I've never been lazy, never lacked motivation.
Yet at the same time I've stalled in finishing up school, I've become a passionate Velominatus. I took up road cycling when I was working full-time and then once I returned to school I really got stuck in, riding tons of kms, learning about bike mechanics & fit, studying up on my historical knowledge, and generally trying to cram a lifetime of passion many of you have into a few short years. I've become a pretty solid cyclist, but I have yet to finish my darn degree.
I think deep inside I'm a bit reluctant to define myself as scholar & not athlete. I've always been both. I've spent far more time in saddle than at desk the past few years because I think I'm a bit subconsciously scared of becoming just the scholar, of finishing my degree and getting a real job beyond a teaching assistantship or a fellowship. I'm at a point of transition.
For most of my life and throughout college I played one sport constantly & this was how I defined myself. Or simply lived. School was secondary and pretty easy. I was adrift for a few years after college & then I found cycling. For the past few years Pedale, not scholarship, has been my focus.
This article though & many of the thoughts folks have shared were a real spark for me. I already lived my sporting dream, which was to play at a high collegiate level. Now I love cycling & want to push myself, while still having fun. But, I must find some better balance. I need to finish my degree so I can burnish the cyclofunds. And cycling can still be my passion, but I must accept that I'm no longer the college jock & that I ain't goin' PRO.
The good part is that I can still look PRO on my LOOK! Pedale.Forchetta is really an approach to life that makes sense & is apropos for me as I make the final push to finish my degree and move onto a new life beyond scholar-athlete; now I'm just going to be another working stiff...with a serious cycling passion!