The only people I would care to be with now are artists and people who have suffered: those who know what beauty is, and those who know what sorrow is: nobody else interests me.
– Oscar Wilde
I have a theory that every living being is designed to cope with a certain level of stress in their lives, that if our lives are somehow free of stress, we will invent new ways to meet our mind’s infinite capacity to worry about things it can’t control; I call this phenomenon the Suck Equilibrium.
The ability to cope with stress is what makes a person great; in Einstein’s case it was the stress caused by a desire to discover the Unified Theory, in other cases it might be to balance the checkbook. The driver isn’t important; that it pushes us to do more in life is what matters.
The Suck Equilibrium dictates that we adapt to the amount of stress we carry; no one is free of this burden – the hungry seek a meal, the homeless a home, the bike-less a bike, and the millionaire more millions. There is no cure, there is no remedy; no matter the level we reach, our natural inclination is to seek more from ourselves. In the end, there is only Rule #5.
The Cyclist is a unique character among the others. While the artist suffers because they must; the Cyclist suffers because they choose. To me, the greatest artist is that who choses to suffer, and who discovers the beauty in that choice. I am proud to call myself a Cyclist.
Vive la Vie Velominatus.
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I think a may shed a tear. well done @frank
The Cyclist chooses to suffer, simply to help achieve that great Rule 6 state...by burning the legs..we free the mind of it's other mundane focuses..so we may then..free our legs!
Lovely.
The Suck Equilibrium then, is embodied by Rule #10
I read only the Wilde quote and you had me. Chapeau.
Very well said Frank! Always inspirational...
Thanks for the company on the HOTN Frank. The day turned out to be quite an enjoyable sufferfest. My bonking friend that day is also encouraged to know that he is still a badass for completing the ride. He's scheduled an appointment for a tattoo of Rule #5.
Dude. Exactly.
My wife, who "rides" in that she sometime pedals a bike from one place to another place, asked me why I "get" to go out and have fun on my bike all the time. "FUN? do you think I'm out having fun?" "Every mile is suffering" I said, "If I wanted 'fun' I'd stay home. I ride because I must."
Amen brother.