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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@Rob
Yep, same guy. Still running the rear wheel spoke covers too.
He's a tough smart racer and we'd give him shite about that mirror back in the day.
Back to the post - rear view radar! Whoa I may not have the mobility for many more years but last time I rode (this morning) it was pretty easy to hear and or turn my head to see.... Just sayin? Also I have to side there with @ChrisO -we all know there are cars there. Having said that the critical time is when said car is now 2 meters behind you and it is too close for comfort that's when my internal radar starts beeping. I've had close, but never hit my elbow close. When it's close I'm more than happy to give a healthy whack to the offenders rear panel. That sure gets their attention. So perhaps my end will not be under some Cadillac Escalade but fleeing from the bullets?
@Rob
Finally built up enough evidence against The Man in charge of me in the Army that he had to send me here!
So psyched to be here. Only 2.5 hours from the Belgium border and 30 minutes from France. Hoped across the border last weekend for some foie gras and Escargot just b/c I fucking could!
And YES, I will be riding the pave' this Spring! Might even do the full RVV route, either with a Keeprs Tour, the cyclo or ask the Cycling Pave' boys to set me up independently, if needed. You'll have to swing over this spring for it!!!
@Rob
Fuck Mate! I was run over by a FUCKING HUGE Black Escalade in Texas in 2012. Just managed to avoid getting caught up under the rear wheels but the tiny little lady driving it did mange to run over my rear wheel completely while turning across me after a red light.
As for dying by fleeing from bullets ... I always found it better to go at the bullets and kill the fucker that was firing at me!
@Buck Rogers
RVV entries are opening this week apparently and I've been told they're liable to sell out relatively quickly. I think we're doing the medium route.
@chris
Good to know!
As for the "we", is that "We" as the Keepers Tour or "We" as in the royal we???
For me it is an easy drive to get there that morning, ride, and then drive home so either way it works for me
@Buck Rogers
The "we" is a bunch from the local cycling club. The rest of the group are old hands; I'm a bit of an interloper.
I wasn't aware of a Keeper's Tour next year. Have your colleagues in US Military Intelligence been monitoring the mutterings from the V-Bunker?
@chris
Nope. I've not heard anything either and when I went to check the Pave Cycling Classics website, it is now defunct. Not sure?
I will try to sign up for the full fucking cyclo tomorrow. If you're going to do it, might as well do it all the way, eh?
What about you @xyxax??? Are you and Cecile in? Cannot be much worse than either of the 200-on-100 rides that we have done, right?
(insert smiley, painful emoticon here!)
@Buck Rogers
I think the Pave lads are operating off their facebook page although you might be best to email them directly if you've got their addresses.
I did quite fancy the full distance but the rest of the group aren't so keen and I'm the slowest in the bunch and relying on them for logistics.
So want to do this! To be blunt, it won't happen unless I sell my house! It's on the market but winter is not a great time to sell to the NYC weekend crowd... if luck shines I'm in!
Hey @Xyxax come to think of it YOU need a weekend house, No? Remember how great the 200on100 training was?? Time to leave Central Park and get serious!!
(insert smiley, painful emoticon here!)
@chris
Yeah, I also checked their facebook page earlier today but it has not had ANY activity since last May. Not sure they are around anymore?
I totally want to go with them, if at all possible. They are fucking super and helped me a ton when I did my full Paris-Roubaix cyclo in 2012.
Anyways, I just called Frahnk and left him a message so hopefully we'll have an update soon!