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.
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Excellent. I notice you don't refute the accusation of being an engineer...(if you're not unreserved apologies. Not something I'd accuse anyone of being without cause)
Ah, quality banter.
@ Marko - Great video, thanks for the link! Liked the music, loved the training ride in a full track suit, enjoyed the Kevin Kline look-alike coach, and am always pleased to see the older fleur de lis style adidas symbol. (though, has it been brought back? They were using that modern triangle deal for awhile).
@minion
You got me, you are correct...
Actually you're mostly right, I am not an engineer, yet. I will be when I finish my degree...
@frank + @G'phant
Thank you for that. Now that's cleared up I am going to order some V team kit!
I checked the rules for compliance, and only failed on rule, namely number 54. Is it acceptable to breach this one when in training for a mountain time trial?
@ Steampunk - So you're a historian, eh? Cool. I am as well, but I've kept it a big secret since so damn many of the Velominati know way, way more about the history of cycling than I have crammed into my head. Then again, I have to save space for the history I need to know to earn money to actual buy all the bicycles I have;)
Cycling tales and history are put on my backup hard drive.
I wonder if Grewal will be able to use his STI shifters without looking. Have you guys seen the article about his comeback on Velo News today? I hope he does well.
Yep, been following the Grewal comeback. He's an interesting fella for sure. Nice to have an athlete who goes beyond talking solely in cliches. His blog has some good reads, though I have to admit I don't always follow him.
Either way I wish him the best and will have an eye out for his results.
His Trek 2100...it would be hard not to underestimate a guy showing up on that. He'd surely remind you mid-ride to not judge a cyclist by their steed. Especially if he had on his hiking boots!
@Ron
Sadly, historianing is not the best way to procure lots of funds for bikes. Or so I have discovered. But we're not alone. There's also an historian among the Keepers' ranks.
@Cyclops
Yes. I've been following Grewal's push to ride in the Tour of Colorado's Toasted Sandwiches (Quizno's Challenge?). I hope he makes it.
More importantly, it's great to see his local community and the cycling community come together for him. The dentist who's fixing his teeth is a huge blessing. And he shaved. That picture of him with the Leopard frame shows he's already got "the look". Because of his age and his recent history off the bike, he's definitely in the running for V-rider of the Year in my book.