Categories: La Vie VelominatusMusings from the V-Bunker

The Power of Sport

We will always find unity through Cycling. VLVV.

Whenever I see an adult on a bicycle, I do not despair for the human race.

HG Wells

The world is a strange place. Our planet is more globally connected than ever before where our differences are measured by increasingly smaller margins, yet they represent apparently unbridgeable chasms. The horrific events in Paris and elsewhere around the world emphasize this point, and the resulting political responses make us seem as though we were magnets held at opposing poles: the closer we are held together, the more fiercely we are pushed apart.

In this world of increasing violence, the world of sport appears to be a uniquely unifying force. This first struck me at the Whistler Olympics in 2010. People of every religion, ethnicity, and political view came together harmoniously in the spirit of international competition; there was no question of politics or religion, only a shared excitement for the events taking place around us. Having spent loads of time in Whistler before the Olympics, it was striking to feel the contrast between how the village normally felt, and the radiating energy and spirit of goodwill that permeated everywhere. This alone was inspiring well beyond the the performances of the athletes themselves; it is this global spirit of community that is unique to sport.

Terrorism takes place all over the world, with a frequency so staggeringly high that we tend to become shamefully numb to it so long as it doesn’t affect an area we have a personal connection to. At that point, the bubble of isolation and abstraction we built around ourselves comes crashing down and we’re left with the tangible reality that we are at the mercy of chance.

As many of you know, I attended the Rouleur Classic this past week in London. I must confess that the size of London, its proximity to France, it’s own history of attacks, and the recent airline bombing gave me a certain degree of consternation at my impending trip. But once I arrived, I was once again overwhelmed by the incredible atmosphere that these sorts of events can bring; within the walls of the Rouleur event, people from all over the world were united – brought together by a common and unshakable passion for Cycling. Personal differences that might otherwise represent tangible obstacles to friendship were instantly swept aside by an unshakable sense of community.

The world today is an intimidating place, but I am buoyed by my faith in sport and Cycling in particular to find a way to bring us together. For me, Cycling will always bring unity. VLVV.

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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Chipomarc says:

Nov 24 2015 at 6:07 pm

@DavyMuur

I definitely consider cycling as – among other things – a form of meditation. Not too long ago, my doctor asked me “what do you think about when you’re on the bike?”. I took a moment or two to ponder on the question. “Nothing”, I replied.

Some call it Zen, some call it mindfulness, I call it cycling. Without it I would be an angrier, lesser man.

VLVV

On long rides I like to have well done cycling music running through my head
frank says:

Nov 24 2015 at 6:19 pm

@nowave7

Terrorism takes place all over the world, with a frequency so staggeringly high that we tend to become shamefully numb to it so long as it doesn’t affect an area we have a personal connection to. At that point, the bubble of isolation and abstraction we built around ourselves comes crashing down and we’re left with the tangible reality that we are at the mercy of chance.

This here, sad but true.

Sports unite. In most cases.

Until the fans become, … well a rioting mob, as seen so many times here in Europe, and that even crosses national, religious, or any other boundaries.

Cycling, on the other hand (and some other sports, of course), is different. Camaraderie on the road, and willingness to help a fellow cyclist stranded on the side of the road, really brings hope for the human kind. If but for a moment.

You bring up a great point; I'm not sure true "team" sports do much uniting across team boundaries as your remark illustrates. That makes Cycling, Skiing, and other Winter Olympic sports unique that way.
frank says:

Nov 24 2015 at 6:31 pm

@edster99

Sport mirrors the rest of life in one important aspect – you get to accept which things you can and which you cannot control. In sport you are forced to do that. Choosing to do that in the rest of life makes it a whole lot easier.

Spot the fuck on. A great example of how sport puts in place the framework from which we live out our lives; it is such a simple world that allows us to build the context we need to understand the rest of this complicated world.

@rhods

Shouldn’t all feelings of consternation be immediately squashed by a healthy dose of Rule #5?

Yes, that and Rule #43.
frank says:

Nov 24 2015 at 6:33 pm

@Oli

News coming in of a hostage drama and gunfire in Roubaix. These swine are fucking with our heritage. Hope no one is killed…

I hear tell it was a robbery gone wrong, which is not unbelievable given what I know of the state of Roubaix. But to the larger point, Robbery or terrorists, it is still awful beyond comprehension. Fuck.
frank says:

Nov 24 2015 at 6:42 pm

@Oli

I just heard today that a young man named Max who I met on the Seattle Book Signing Ride last year decided to dedicate his life to helping under-developed countries gain access to affordable food and aide. He travelled to Tanzania with his girlfriend and on the first night there, he was murdered by a group of guys who first mugged him (he gave them all he had) and then attacked his girlfriend at which point he intervened and was stabbed to death.

The world can be an impossibly cruel place.
frank says:

Nov 24 2015 at 6:46 pm

@Oli

@chris

Me and Donald Trump both love food, but I have to admit I find it hard not to hate him.

There are plenty of cyclists I can’t stand, also. Commonality is one thing, liking a dick because he happens to ride a bike too is quite another. There’s nothing more bullshit than the idea of forced fellowship.

I agree to a certain extent; at the same time, if I've suffered alongside someone for a few hours, there is some common ground.

But, of course...
frank says:

Nov 24 2015 at 6:48 pm

@Chipomarc

@chuckp

So many newbies with all these fondos and charity rides not to mention all those other sport types jumping on the road cycling bandwagon over the last 15 years.

It was much better back in the 90s than it is today. Back when everyone was dropping the road bike for the new mountain bike scene roadies were much more of a real brethren thing, that is gone now.

That is the fundamental responsibility we have as Velominati: We have an obligation to guide the uninitiated. Sure, the sport is more popular now and more people are getting into it, but I would never want to deny these people the incredible experience that Cycling can bring. Them being uninitiated is not their fault.
frank says:

Nov 24 2015 at 6:53 pm

@gilly

I read a great article about Ivan Basso in this months Cyclist. I can’t quote verbatim but he was basically saying that Cycling has made him a better man. I feel the same, Mrs G knows instinctively when I need to hit the bike and will forcefully order me out on a ride on occasion, knowing that I’ll come back settled, knackered and with sense of perspective back in check; a better man than the one who left a couple of hours earlier. It’s healthy to remind ourselves just how grateful we should be to Cycling.

This.

@Chipomarc

@DavyMuur

I definitely consider cycling as – among other things – a form of meditation. Not too long ago, my doctor asked me “what do you think about when you’re on the bike?”. I took a moment or two to ponder on the question. “Nothing”, I replied.

Some call it Zen, some call it mindfulness, I call it cycling. Without it I would be an angrier, lesser man.

VLVV

On long rides I like to have well done cycling music running through my head

In your head, but not listening to headphones, right?
Chipomarc says:

Nov 24 2015 at 7:20 pm

@frank

Correct, all my Tesh TdF music is safely in my head, no headphones or earbuds.
Oli says:

Nov 24 2015 at 8:35 pm

@Ccos

Say what, blood!? Dang, Rufus!