Categories: ExportLa Vie VelominatusMusings from the V-Bunker

Winter

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.

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

the Engine says:

Oct 25 2016 at 8:31 am

@Ccos

@paolo

They’re expensive but 100% worth it. It was a 9 ride this past weekend and I had the ion 700 front light on flash. It was the first ride that I didn’t have to wave to get the attention of drivers pulling out (of course it may have blinded them). I may use it all the time as a result.

On a side note, even though we meet at sunrise, one friend always asks “wait are we meeting at 9 now?” When I note that it will be a 9 ride…

I've been using the USB chargeable tail ones since they came out.Excellent lights but had three destroyed due to water ingress. Their weakness is the charger port seal. The slightest bit of dirt and it doesn't seat properly aftyer charging (or at all) and you end up with a tail light full of water that won't recharge because the connector corrodes.

A partial cure is to cover your tail light in cling-film but that's likely not compliant with a Rule I haven't even thought of yet.
KogaLover says:

Oct 25 2016 at 8:55 am

@erik

I should note that my first “real” ride was a Lotus Elite 600 — a 12! speed Shimano 600 Gruppo. Steel is oh so real, baby! And now it is fixed.

Rode my steel Nr 9 Koga yesterday, 12 gears Shimano 600 Arabesque. Still pristine.

Is your fixed "fixed" as in "1 gear only but freewheel" or "really fixed & no brakes"? In the latter case I wish you all the best, in winter, out on the open road. May the road then only rise up against you (and not down)!
Erik says:

Oct 25 2016 at 9:05 am

@KogaLover

It technically has a flip flop hub on the back, but I don't have a ring on the freewheel. It is pure fixed. I'm so out of shape right now I figure the only way to get back to it will be rides along the river trail here, low pressure tires, and keep the legs moving.
Ron says:

Oct 25 2016 at 11:14 am

@Buck Rogers

@paolo

So worth it. I only started to ride with one a few months ago but now I do not like to be out without one. I use the Lezyne 600 Macro XL for my front light and it is just amazing.

Buck - I'm exactly the same way! I now can't imagine riding on open roads without a front/rear light at all times, whether morning, afternoon, or evening. I've had to actually drive a car lately (the newborn is too young to be in a bike trailer and needs to get to daycare) and cyclists with lights or bright clothing definitely grab my eyes much, much faster than no lights/dark clothes riders. Being a husband and father these days I'm definitely more in the mindset of "it can only help me stay alive" than I was in my 20s.

I've been very, very happy with Planet Bike Superflashes Minis & Turbos on the rear. One on the bike, one on my helmet with a small Velcro strap. I'll even add a Serfas Thunderbolt in rainy conditions. All are USB rechargeable and I've had 'em for years. Serfas USB-5 up front for a be-seen, assorted Lezyne lights for commuting. Lately been using one on the bars and one on the fork...game changer for commuting in darkness with two levels of lights on the road.

Also, and at the sake of being blasted for encroaching on YJA territory, I finally found some race-cut, slim roadie body jerseys in hi viz colors. Giordana makes some awesome ones that balance brightness and style. Kinda like a Tinkoff jersey sans sponsors. Very, very happy with them. Aside from catching the eye, I really feel like at least some Inbredicus rednecki subspecies dumbassae see me and think, "Wow, that guy fills potholes all day!" or "He must work for the city" instead of thinking, "Goddamnit, I hate skinny fuckers on shiny bicycles. I'm gonna buzz that guy, fuggemm!!!" Besides, I think a neon jersey, plain black bibs, and white socks looks pretty damn slick.
universo says:

Oct 25 2016 at 1:24 pm

+ exposure lights cycle-lights road
Teocalli says:

Oct 25 2016 at 1:32 pm

@universo

+ exposure lights cycle-lights road

I use a Diablo and Strada for full on MTB rides on trails in the dark. If you don't dim them when on the road cars are so blinded they stop.
Teocalli says:

Oct 25 2016 at 1:34 pm

Though I did have an interesting moment or two on a high speed descent a couple of years back when my main light switched from constant beam to pulse. Somewhat less than ideal to say the least!
universo says:

Oct 25 2016 at 1:54 pm

@Teocalli

@universo

+ exposure lights cycle-lights road

I use a Diablo and Strada for full on MTB rides on trails in the dark. If you don’t dim them when on the road cars are so blinded they stop.

SIRIUS 550 lumen output
Teocalli says:

Oct 25 2016 at 2:04 pm

@universo

I think the Diablo is 1200 Lumen on max or something silly. It melts cars with a single glance.
Barracuda says:

Oct 25 2016 at 6:53 pm

@Graeme Armstrong

Down here in Australia we prepare for the onslaught of summer now instead. We cherish the precious couple of months between rain and blistering heat. Each ride now is bathed in glorious sunshine yet still cool enough to warrant arm warmers. Soon the bitumen will liquefy and tyres will make an odd sucking sound when Max V is applied.

The south coast of South Australia obviously did not get your memo !

I'm still in the full Gabba / Nanoflex combo atm.