Shifting is perhaps the most pure expression of our art as Velominati. It is the conduit through which we control our cadence; it effects our power, our breathing, our heart rate. When those essential things come together with the rhythm of the road, we are cast in the spell of La Volupte. The more in-tune with our bodies we become, the more we rely on our shifting to keep our legs in perfect harmony with our bodies. Our shifts must be smooth, crisp, and precise, for any disruption to the rhythm may cause the spell to be broken.
The advent of index-shifting and contoured cogs have simplified the mechanics of the perfect shift, but they have not eliminated the artform. A finely-tuned drivetrain is essential, but is only one piece of the whole. Timing is critical: the shift must be delivered at the precise moment in the stroke when the chain is perfectly loaded to jump silently from one cog to the next. Shifting under too much pressure or at the wrong point can result in delayed, noisy, or rough shifts, disrupting our rhythm and ripping us from La Volupte.
We do not mediate on the shift and we do not look down at our gears; the shift is something we must feel. We must not be overly cerebral – instead, we read the signals from our body and the machine and sense the time to shift and react. Over time, we also learn to sense when we are approaching the limits of the block and execute the double-shift to avoid crossing the chain. We do not look down.
These subtleties cannot be taught; they are artifacts of experience – evidence that the disciple has become one with the machine.
Disclaimer: The “Don’t Look Down” principle does not apply to Lando situations where we repeatedly push the right shifter while pedaling squares up some unholy gradient in the stubborn refusal to accept that we are indeed already in the lowest gear. Under these circumstances, it doesn’t hurt to give the gears a stern look in an effort to intimidate them into spawning a few more teeth on those biggest cogs.
I know as well as any of you that I've been checked out lately, kind…
Peter Sagan has undergone quite the transformation over the years; starting as a brash and…
The Women's road race has to be my favorite one-day road race after Paris-Roubaix and…
Holy fuckballs. I've never been this late ever on a VSP. I mean, I've missed…
This week we are currently in is the most boring week of the year. After…
I have memories of my life before Cycling, but as the years wear slowly on…
View Comments
@MAS4T0
Hehe, cool I should have mentioned I'm psychic. Wilkommen!
The rules are a strict taskmaster and in a lot of ways breaking one or two reminds you of your imperfect status amongst the Velominati. To paraphrase Monty Python, hes not a velominatus he's a very naughty boy.
@MAS4T0
Figures, once you get your degree, you'll stop saying things like this:
...and just get on with the job of being smarter than everyone.
I was raised by an engineer, and my beloved dad would make the same comment. I was studying to become one when I realized that computers are mo' bettah than rocks and metal. Engineering is too damn social.
@minion
+1
@MAS4T0
@minion
@frank
Crap. Another smart fucking engineer who rides bikes. I'm surrounded by them, even on the interwebbietubes.
@MAS4TO--don't get into oil/gas/energy. You will be sucked into the black hole of the PetroMetro. Then you might gain 80kg and play golf. Just say no.
I have really got to start logging in on a MUCH more regular basis. All of the attempts at wit that I have were used by other posts already. Shit stick.
Jehovah Jehovah Jehovah... Funny shit!
@Steampunk
I was studying to be a historian when economics intervened... Now I sell stuff for a living and read history for fun. (BTW, early review of TourMen is quite positive)
The article mentions Grewal crashed (on the new frame?) but it doesn't really say what happened, beyond the frame took it worse than he did. And that's awesome of a dentist to fix up his teeth. Good man!
@ Steampunk. It ain't so bad though. I've already picked up all my bikes just as a grad student. Hey, my clothes might be a few years old, but my kit and bikes are in fine shape! I know being a historian isn't going to put me in the category of my brother, a banker, but I should be okay. I mean, I only need a bike with S&S couplers, a Ti bike, a cross bike, and a mtn. bike. Then I'm set.
@ packfiller - Oh yeah, you can't sleep on these guys. They're sharp and quick. Gotta stay on top of things. They'll deal you the short end of the shit stick if you ain't careful.
@ Jeff - Ha ha ha. I like golf as a sport, I hate it as a lifestyle sport. You know, the guy who is 80 kgs overweight, wears his swing jacket to mow the lawn and drive to the grocery, where he lets his wife do all the shopping. I get it, bud, you play golf.
@Ron
Then you'll decide the 26" wheels you have a pretty good, but 29ers sound cool, too. You'll have to get one of those. Yeah, and you have too much/little travel on the suspension, so you'll have to get one with less/more. And your full sus is nice, but doesn't climb so great, so you should really have a hardtail, too. But then lets not forget about carbon vs. alu. And, of course, it would be great to have an old-school chromo frame just for kicks.
As for 'cross, that bar-end shifter steel you've got is great for commuting, but now that you're into racing 'cross, you should upgrade to Alu with STI or Ergo. But that alu is a bit flexy, so add use that for training and get a carbon for racing.
Don't get me started on road bikes because whatever excuse you can think of to get another bike, you'll need a similar version in dry/inclimate/wet conditions, so triple it at least.
Yeah, right.
@frank
How about getting the exact same frame in BOTH available paint styles. And then there's getting stuff for your significant other...
@Jeff in PetroMetro
I think Grewal is definitely in the running for V-Riider of the Year but this guy might take it.
@Cyclops
I read somewhere he might be ready in time for Worlds. I have a deep respect for keirin racers, but I would never, ever, ever even try it.