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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Long time lurker, first time poster. time is tight for everyone, for myself when i had to commute an hour each way to work riding time was limited. No that i work for myself and work from home, i get up early work for a few hours send the kids off to school then go ride for a few hours. I limit my ride time to roughly two hours (i could go all day on my bike) but i limit what i do so to make that balance between the bike and life. However isn't the bike life??
I can relate to this article, at least in the sense of getting back on the bike after a hiatus. I recently got over a flu that kept me off the bike for about 2 weeks, the most I haven't ridden in probably 3 years. Although, it was only two weeks, and thus, I didn't lost a whole lot of fitness, I was still pretty weak once I got back in the saddle. This forced me to do some easy rides and to be honest it gave me some perspective. I was reminded that I used to ride my bike just to ride my bike. For the last 3 years all I have done is ride to suffer and sometimes being forced to take it easy can remind you how much fun it is to just ride and not always being training.
Good point! Slowing down for a few rides can easily remind you of how much fun it is simply to be on a bicycle. I always feel the need to get strong, faster, better. But sometimes I think of how far I've come in a short time, when just a few years ago 15 miles seemed far. Now it seems like a warm-up.
The key is balance, when on the bike or when incorporating cycling into daily life where there are many demands on one's time.
NIce article. I agree with Frank in one of the easiest solutions to trying to maintain fitness, and get some bike love with all of life's other obligations (none of us are really rule 11 compliant, really), is commuting. I ride straight in, then after work, take the long way home. It also helps that we have showers at work, so it doesn't matter if I get all lathered up on the ride in. If I have the rare treat of getting off work early, all the better.
Having a compressed work week, and a very understanding VMH helps immensely too.
@MrBigCog
What you're describing here is what I call the Paradox of Maturity...we fall in love with the sport for a reason, and then get so into riding and training that we forget those reasons. For me, though, each Fall gives me the chance to settle back into the basics. Thank goodness for having seasons.
@TravisD
Welcome - working at home has the significant downside of meaning you lose the easy delineation between work and home, but it does give the freedom to ride instead of commuting. Good on ya!
I'm not sure I'd have the focus to work from home full-time. When I was in school and had serious projects to get done, I'd always hoof it to the nearest coffeeshop with the laptop and hunker down with some coffee. For whatever reason I'd always get more done there with less slacking off than at home. Or I'd just hang around the university before/after class and work there.
I like having defined areas. To me, home is for relaxing and for personal pursuits. Work is for work. If I owned my own company I could run from home, I think I'd still like to have some sort of office away from home.
Regarding cycling/life balance, since I'm not pro and don't race I just try to follow the simple rule of not forcing myself to ride more than I'd like as "training". Training for what? I just hope to keep getting faster and being able to ride further if I keep riding, I'm not going to be making money from it.
If I don't feel like riding on a day I thought I was going to ride, I don't. I figure the best way to make yourself dislike an activity that is fun is to force yourself to do it even when you don't feel like it. I just try and remember that and not beat myself up for forgoing a ride that could be making me a "stronger" cyclist.
@frank
You mean like this Coppi?: http://www.milanofixed.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/stretch_before_riding_by_nigellus9-d422y07-Copia.jpg
WARNING: probably barely safe for work, and I mean no offense to our lady friends around here!
@Cyclops
Mrs./Dr. Eightzero on Mt. Baker 2011:
http://www.photoreflect.com/pr3/photocard.aspx?pc=0174673D9CFA572368A6C0DADD09E555
@scaler911
I wonder if Frank noticed more than the bike in that picture.
@scaler911
Interesting. You don't often see crank bros. pedals on a fixie. And, unless I'm very much mistaken her footwear isn't compatible.