The Prophet gets pumped to ride. Hopefully that thing isn't going to find its way onto his bike.
As Cyclists, we are uniquely subjected to the changing of seasons. The green canopy of forest that we ride through in Summer gives way in Fall to one of orange and yellow that mimics the fire of sunset. Just as those hues give notice to the changing from day to night, so do they now signal the change from Summer to Winter.
It is also a time of transition in our riding. The rides are first wetter, then cooler. Soon, we’ll be rooting about the kit bin for gloves and a wooly hat. Shorts become three-quarters and three-quarters become fulls. There might be a shadow of trepidation in bidding the warm months adieu, but there lurks some excitement, too. Wearing long sleeve jerseys and leg warmers signals to us that the fight for peak form is behind us and our rides now have a sense of insouciance about them; it is freeing to embrace the lack of structure to our rides. We ride, once again, simply for the pleasure of riding.
There is something else. The longer days of Summer almost afford us too much liberty in our training. The sun rises early and sets late; the possibilities to train are endless; the morning ride is skipped for the likelihood of riding in the afternoon. The afternoon schedule fills up and the ride is missed and the training takes on a more frenetic nature. The shorter days of the winter offer less choices, so the rides are fought for more vigorously. Choice can lead to indecision while restriction often feeds discipline.
I embrace the coming Winter and its accompanying discipline. Besides, after the Winter come the Spring Classics, and we loves ourselves some cobbles. Vive la Vie Velominatus.
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@Teocalli
That's one I put together over lunchtime. It could do with a bit of tweeking to avoid hi puncture risk areas in Ghent and you could probably take a more direct route but it's be on main roads but the riverside route looks pretty good for a easy build up before the main event. And even a gentle ride back...
@chris
Certainly a stiff penalty if you overdo the Recovery Ale.........
I found it by drilling down in here
@Shemsuddin Millard
Best time of day!
@universo
Hopefully not a strobe light! Hate a bunch ride with the dude with the 98k of lumens on the rear light!
@chris
@Teocalli
It's exactly 30km along the Schelde from Ghent to Oudenaarde. The route is free from traffic and very beautiful. By train it will take you just under an hour (the 30 min train only runs on weekdays).
@Teocalli
@chris
(sorry, the previous message was gone too quickly)
I can only recommend you to take the route along the Schelde. Het jaagpad itself, which is very beautiful, flat and completely free of cars, is 22km, then it's another five on a decent cycling path into Oudenaarde. Taking a more direct route will take longer because you have to stop at traffic lights, there are cars, etc.
The Schelde is the playing ground of a lot of cyclists (including me) and that will be even more so on the RVV Saturday. There will be a lot of cyclists there, but in my opinion that makes it fun.
I live in Ghent, so if you want some help or advice, I'm here.
@chris
And now I'm officially spamming, but I only saw the route just now. You should take the other bank of the river, the path is much better.
@bea
Thanks, good to know.
@bea @Teocalli
It's official then, we're riding to and from Oudenaarde along the Schelde. That make it up to a V-worthy 200 km or there abouts.
@chris
Enthusiasm (from a distance) and peer pressure are dangerous bedmates.........