La Vie Velominatus, Part IV: The Great Escape

The Col du Tourmalet

One of the most magnificent things about Cycling is that not only does it represent different things to different people, it represents different things on different days. Some days, it’s training – a means to an end. Other days, it’s the culmination of a body of work; rather than a means to an end, it represents that end itself, whether that end is exhilarating or devastating. But these two facets represent Cycling only as Sport, the complex simplicity of the balance between dedication and results.

Cycling stands apart, however, in its many dimensions beyond Sport. For me, Cycling is meditation, a time to clear my mind of ancillary concerns and contemplate on those that require my focus. It is thoughtlessness, a time to eliminate everything through the simplicity of pain. It is simultaneously medication and therapy; even a short ride can shake a heavy lethargy from my bones and rejuvenate aching muscles and joints. It is simultaneously tension and release; Cycling can fill my being with effort, an effort that overflows my legs and lungs and spills over to fill every fiber of my being, flushing from me all those things I wish not to keep.

Cycling is penance for my mistakes; a few hours at the mercy of the Man with the Hammer can help me understand the error of my ways. It is cleansing of other’s mistakes – here the Man with the Hammer helps pound out the ripples in the surface of Life they cause me.

I am by no means a great man and never will be. But I am a better man for my bike, and for that I am eternally grateful to it.

Vive la Vie Velominatus.

frank

The founder of Velominati and curator of The Rules, Frank was born in the Dutch colonies of Minnesota. His boundless physical talents are carefully canceled out by his equally boundless enthusiasm for drinking. Coffee, beer, wine, if it’s in a container, he will enjoy it, a lot of it. He currently lives in Seattle. He loves riding in the rain and scheduling visits with the Man with the Hammer just to be reminded of the privilege it is to feel completely depleted. He holds down a technology job the description of which no-one really understands and his interests outside of Cycling and drinking are Cycling and drinking. As devoted aesthete, the only thing more important to him than riding a bike well is looking good doing it. Frank is co-author along with the other Keepers of the Cog of the popular book, The Rules, The Way of the Cycling Disciple and also writes a monthly column for the magazine, Cyclist. He is also currently working on the first follow-up to The Rules, tentatively entitled The Hardmen. Email him directly at rouleur@velominati.com.

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View Comments

Buck Rogers says:

Sep 20 2011 at 7:00 pm

@Dr C
Doc, that sounds unbelievably awesome! Maybe I'll see you on one of the climbs somewhere. I will probably only be able toget one real, all day ride in while I am in France. we're going to visit friends and we'll have all the kids with us. But I need to remember your trip as it seems like a great deal!!! SOOOO ENVIOUS!!!
scaler911 says:

Sep 20 2011 at 7:35 pm

Another great place to go uphill:

While not my photos, it was fantastic!
minion says:

Sep 20 2011 at 7:37 pm

@RedRanger
The sadist in me loves the expanse of rumble strip.
redranger says:

Sep 20 2011 at 7:51 pm

@minion

@RedRanger
The sadist in me loves the expanse of rumble strip.

every time I cross that stuff I am utterly surprised how rough it is. Now that I live in the south side of town I get to explore even rougher roads.
scaler911 says:

Sep 20 2011 at 8:26 pm

I'm just going to throw this out there, but what do y'all think it would take to have a Velominati 'gathering'? How cool would it be to spend a long weekend cycling, and hanging out in person? I'm thinking a nice centrally located place like Seattle or Portland. Ha! I realize that's it's not really practical for everyone from all over the 3rd rock from the sun to all meet at the same time somewhere, but regional folk could do it. And hell, I might even come down to a nice summer December if it worked right.
sgt says:

Sep 20 2011 at 9:06 pm

@scaler911
I'm officially inviting everyone to Solvang, CA this Sunday to celebrate the Worlds and do 100km. Who's in?
itburns says:

Sep 20 2011 at 11:15 pm

@scaler911
Give at least a month's notice and I'll be there.
drsoul says:

Sep 21 2011 at 1:13 am

@mcsqueak

I both hear you and am with you on all counts. And love the pic.
drsoul says:

Sep 21 2011 at 1:18 am

@RedRanger

Is it me or does Tucson look better "in the '70s"?
Chris says:

Sep 21 2011 at 1:53 am

@frank

Great words and thanks for the wall papers which are now adorning my two screens at work and I'm just waiting for someone to ask me "why?"

@Dr C

Have Tourmalet on your wall
Click on this to set the Col du Tourmalet on the wall of your bedroom rather than just your laptop!
I think I'll get that picture of Jens on the wall of my surgery - that'll get the message across!

This could cost me a fortune! I' never going to get approval to wall paper the house (although I might not actually get turned down as Mrs. Chris won't believe that I'll ever do it!) but it would be great to do the garage. Problem is that like most garages the walls are unpainted block - I'd have to get the whole thing plaster boarded properly first. I'd also have to refurb the shed so that I could use it to store all the crap that currently takes up wall space in the garage. It'll certainly put a dent in the shiny bike bits fund!

@all

It's great to see that there are people who haven't surrendered themselves to the mind numbing oblivion of reality television, fast food and outlet shopping!