La Vie Velominatus: Romanticization

A sculpture pays tribute to the Tour de France and its rich history in these mountains.

I’m often told I romanticize Cycling’s past, that the days gone by weren’t quite as rosy as I make them out to be. There is some truth to this, certainly, but the assertion isn’t entirely accurate in the sense that I romanticize everything about Cycling.

Because events are seasoned by our thoughts and individual experience, we necessarily cannot see them for what they truly were. The thoughts that pass through our mind when looking at an old or new photograph, a race, or when we go for a ride influences the way it is remembered and the significance it holds.

Our minds are very good at forgetting pain and remembering pleasure; it isn’t very long after an experience that negative associations begin to fade and positive ones to amplify. This psychological mechanism is the gateway to romanticization. Certainly, I remember that climbing Haleakala last January was a horrible experience, but I’ve managed to forget what that means precisely. On the other hand, the memory of accomplishing a task that turned out to be much harder than I had anticipated lingers strongly; I find myself drawn back to the mountain for the chance to experience once more the purity that touches us briefly when we persevere despite total exhaustion.

Romanticizing encourages us to study the past, to appreciate how things were, and provides the opportunity to learn from the mistakes others have made. It reminds us that things were not always as they are today and that those things we wish were different may be so tomorrow. It helps us forget that many long hours of suffering are balanced only by brief moments of exhilaration. It helps us to dream, to imagine what could be.

Do the great races of the past seem more glorious than they were? Perhaps. Does the sunlight’s glint off a chromed chainstay blind me to the weight of the bicycle and the extra burden it places on its rider? Certainly. Does the memory of reaching down to flick a downtube shifter eclipse the inconvenience of sitting down to shift, and removing a hand from the bars? Absolutely. But they also form the fabric of what keeps me returning to the bicycle.

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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frank says:

Jan 4 2012 at 8:32 pm

@Souleur
You just nailed it on both of your most recent posts. There is a case for radios in terms of safety, and even other sensible information. But the racing that makes us suggest things such as this:

They must....(handfist) MUST, sit back in the car, hit 'www.figure-out-time-gap-breakaway.com' and go to it and hit in the distances, gaps and KNOW with surety the effort necessary to catch the breakaway, and then know EXACTLY when to go. That is artificial as Pamela Andersons beautiful set of knockers, but artificial none the less.

is precisely why I liken the radios as they are used today to doping.

And I can't believe Pamela Anderson was mentioned on this site.
DerHoggz says:

Jan 4 2012 at 9:01 pm

@Souleur
About the trains, didn't the breakaway somehow not know? Shouldn't radios have let them know?
Nate says:

Jan 4 2012 at 9:13 pm

@frank
The Keepers must never be tempted to add a "breakaway catch" calculator to the calculators already posted on this site.
itburns says:

Jan 5 2012 at 1:22 am

@Nate
breakaway catch calculator = (pedal harder) x (now)

while looking at the V meter, of course.
Chris says:

Jan 5 2012 at 3:13 am

@itburns

@Nate
breakaway catch calculator = (pedal harder) x (now)
while looking at The V meter, of course.

Should it not be be V+1 whilst looking at the V-Mantra on your right thigh?
sthilzy says:

Jan 5 2012 at 3:23 am

@frank
Thanks Frank!
Souleur says:

Jan 5 2012 at 7:51 am

@sthilzy

@sgt This is about as close 'race-radio' should get - EVER!

Thanks BIG RING RIDING!

wow...that is freakin wild

how can you NOT romanticize about what the conversation is
what is he feeding him?? Granola? Bolongna??
what is he saying?? admonishment? encouragement? ridicule?

I simply choose Granola and encouragement
because the poor bastard is taking it all so well
Souleur says:

Jan 5 2012 at 7:55 am

@frank

@SouleurYou just nailed it on both of your most recent posts. There is a case for radios in terms of safety, and even other sensible information. But the racing that makes us suggest things such as this:

They must....(handfist) MUST, sit back in the car, hit 'www.figure-out-time-gap-breakaway.com' and go to it and hit in the distances, gaps and KNOW with surety the effort necessary to catch the breakaway, and then know EXACTLY when to go. That is artificial as Pamela Andersons beautiful set of knockers, but artificial none the less.

is precisely why I liken the radios as they are used today to doping.
And I can't believe Pamela Anderson was mentioned on this site.

@frank:

did you catch something by my mere mention of her name?
sorry bro, blame it on me. I will never mention such ever again.
paolo says:

Jan 5 2012 at 8:19 am

ohhhh Pamela Anderson. I raced against her on the PCH. She was in a white 911 Turbo so in the end she won. Actually I don't think she knew we were racing...still it was jolly exciting for about two sets of traffic lights.
Chris says:

Jan 5 2012 at 8:23 am

@Souleur

@sthilzy

@sgt This is about as close 'race-radio' should get - EVER!

Thanks BIG RING RIDING!

wow...that is freakin wild
how can you NOT romanticize about what the conversation is
what is he feeding him?? Granola? Bolongna??
what is he saying?? admonishment? encouragement? ridicule?
I simply choose Granola and encouragement
because the poor bastard is taking it all so well

"Dai, bastardo, Ã¨ scalare questa montagna, anche se devo tirare tue labbro"

BTW @frank, that is what you call a gilet!