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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@Buck Rogers
Definitely worth investigating the option.
@Teocalli
Ivor is @the_engine or something like that.
I'll be heading over on the Friday and staying in staying in Ghent, not sure where yet but one of the hotels.
I'll be with the guys from my club but would love to catch up for a beer with anyone in the vicinity or on the course on Sunday. I'm also hoping to get over early on Friday so if anyone fancies a muy tranquilo coffee ride that would be good.
@chris
Will do some looking at the geography/logistics this evening........
@sthilzy
Strapped + zipped a DeWalt 12V work light { articulating } below bar ends -- until Exposure light set come in
@Hank
Hank, I'm no fan of Trek but the Bontrager Flare R light is the most visible I've come across. It's designed as a day running light to make me visible to the dumb drivers around these parts. Trek say it's visible from 2 km away in the day and I'll say that's about right. 270 degree visibility is useful for those merging without looking.
Uncommonly useful is that it will fit aero as well as round seatposts so I can use it on my steel steed or the Pinarello if I am working.
@sthilzy
I like to ride early in the morning before any traffic to speak of. I just got a Cygolite TridenX 1300 and a Light and Motion Vis 180 that pulses, and an older Cateye 50 tail light to blink. I can be seen from a number of parsecs down the road. The Cygolite is really, really effing bright. I wonder if I am blinding folks. It mounts in front of the bars, so no protuberance above and below. Built like a rock. I mean it, it is like a river stone, expensive but so worth it to be able to see so well and so far on descents. Big buttons for glove use. I ordered a black Specialized Airnet helmet and they sent me ion black, fucking dayglo yellow. I felt like my mom bought it for me. I didn't wait to go without a helmet (my sweetie rides, she is learning the rules so will soon be a VMH - she would withhold who knows what if I tried to ride without a helmet. That is NOT a double entendre!) so I kept it. Glad I did for night riding, I got a dayglo yellow riding coat so I am pretty visible. I notice that for the most part vehicles give me a wider berth in the dark than they do during the day.
Slowly reacquiring cold weather gear. I got coats and insulated tights for when it gets very cold. I am ordering a couple of merino base layers and long sleeve jerseys when it's warmer. Winters here in Asheville, NC aren't too bad as far as how long they last. For a couple of months, though, it does require having some good layers to deal ride comfortably.
@chris
I'm hoping to be there for lunch on Friday so an easy 40 k roll with some espresso afterwards to loosen the guns and check out the bike sounds amazing!
I will be in contact with William and/or Alex hopefully within the week and I will price the weekend for myself with the caveat that a few more might want to join in but as of now it sounds like most folks have their own plans already set for lodging/meals.
Anyone that might want to do a bit of a "package deal" with me for Friday night/Saturday/Sunday through the race let me know as soon as you can.
But we should all link up while we are there if only for espresso and/or short Friday ride and beer! As we get closer we can establish head counts, phone numbers, times, etc.
So FUCKING psyched!
@Buck Rogers
Jesus wept, no wonder you lot are trying to choose between Hilary and Donald. Should really insert a don Logan clip here.
Espresso first, beer after.
Tsss… Was I asleep when these 128 messages happened?
I think we have the light-discussion every year… From my experience of driving, riding and commuting I’ve boiled it down to this: you need to be seen and you want to see, so you need two types of lights, a very decent but not blinding light to get you out of town and a super-bright blinding light for unlit country roads. Don’t use the superbright light in town, direct it a bit downward and shield it when someone is driving/cycling towards you. Furthermore, lights should be visible from an angle, are preferably not blinking (although exceptions can be made for a rear light when not riding in group) and should be mounted at bike-height (but a second or third light can be mounted on the helmet).
Oh, and whoever wanted to sleep in his car before RVV, you’re welcome to contact me, I might be able to help you out.
@bea
Ha! That would be me but I seriously doubt it will come to sleeping in my car. I just need to touch base with the Pave' Boys and I think I will be alright. My budget is not so tight that I cannot spring for a room and some decent food. It was more of a logistics thing.
But, if hell does break out, I might be sending you a message!
Thanks!