Categories: Defining MomentsExportLa Vie VelominatusNostalgia

La Vie Velominatus: Optimism

Optimism carries us to the most rewarding tasks of our lives.

If I were a pessimist, or a realist for that matter, I wonder if I might have started any of the various activities which have brought me the most pleasure and satisfaction. Though I have Cycling in my mind when I make that statement, this principle expands beyond the vast and il-defined borders of La Vie Velominatus: everything worth doing takes time, work, and commitment in equal measure, and that fact can be daunting and intimidating.

Invariably, it is my poor estimation of effort combined with my vague memory of pain and discomfort which affords me the greatest character trait I possess: optimism. In the face of all reasonable likelihood of failure, in spite of the hopeless amount of work something might prove to be, I invariably believe that success is not only possible, but inevitable. (This trait might also be classified as arrogance or stupidity, but I don’t like the sounds of those as much because they would require more introspection, and that sounds like work.)

It is with this frame of mind that I cheerfully tackle most any activity, in my life and on the bicycle. While I haven’t conducted a poll of any kind, I have informally received sufficient unsolicited and often shouted feedback to allow me to surmise that this approach is not always as liberating for those participating in the activity as it is for me. Be that as it may, and as has oft been observed in these archives, our chosen sport is one rife with suffering afforded by long days in the saddle which allow us to suffer more intensely and for longer days in the saddle in the future. Every element of this sport revolves about axes of sacrifice, dedication, and patience. Training, certainly. Diet and weight loss as well. Even learning the subtleties of maintaining our equipment properly takes years in the tutelage of a Cycling Sensei. These are long journeys that build on small gains over time; there is no magic potion that one can imbibe to be transformed from portly oaf into elite cyclist – much less so a Velominatus.

If, on a winter morning, I had the slightest appreciation of the intensity of the cold I would feel eight or ten hours into the ride, I might never set out on it; it is my optimism that I will enjoy the ride that allows me to experience the insular nothingness of The Tunnel.

If, as I point my bicycle towards the hills instead of the plains, I had a clear memory of the suffering it caused me previously, I might never become a better climber; it is my optimism that I can overcome my size and weight to master the terrain I love the most and am comprehensively il-suited to travel.

If, at eight years old, I’d had the slightest idea that I would be almost 30 years into my journey and only just beginning to develop some of the most rudimentary elements of experience, strength, knowledge and passion that Cycling delivers to us, I would perhaps never had started. Yet it was my optimism that these things would come that has allowed me to experience this wonderful journey.

Optimism is what allows the mortal to start down the path laid by the immortal. 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.

Next Velominati Super Prestige: Men's Olympic Road Race 2012 »

Previous « Guest Article: Velo Love

View Comments

frank says:

Jul 23 2012 at 7:31 pm

@meursault

It's worth taking a look at the Buddhist way of things.

http://www.thebigview.com/buddhism/fourtruths.html

Life means suffering.

I love buddhism. They are onto it. To me its more of a philosophy than a religion, though I'm sure I'm wrong in that assessment. Cheers.

@Yvonne, @wistoon33, @stickyjumper

Cheers, and welcome to all three of you!
frank says:

Jul 23 2012 at 7:39 pm

@Ron

Frank - your pieces are always great, but this one is truly perfect for me & apropos. Optimism. Time. Work. Commitment. Intimidating. I've pulled off some pretty big things in my life to date, all of them taking some serious time, work, and commitment. I've recently hit the first wall I've ever hit in my life - I can't seem to accomplish the main goal that sits right in front of me. There are a lot of reasons, but none of them really matter. I know I have it in me. I know with maybe twelve weeks of hard work I'll put myself right there. Three months from peaking. I've started, stopped, stalled, stopped, started.

But, I simply need to go Sur La Plaque and commit to it. I know I can do it. Optimism. I've pulled off much bigger accomplishments that required far more work in the past. I know I can make this one happen.

One reason I've so quickly developed as a cyclist is because I've gone all in on it at the sake of not dedicating myself to this other task. Now is the time to ease off the pedals for just a bit. I know, I know. But in a few months would I rather be a bit faster, or finally pull this monkey off my back? (And in truth, if I just commit & stay focused, I'll have plenty of time to ride and make this other goal happen.)

Thanks Frank! This was a GREAT one for me to read right now.

Cheers, glad to help. As @graham d.m. is alluding to, Cycling is a great template for proving to yourself that you can do things. Its very simple: ride more, get better. Nothing else in life is that simple.

You can do this, just stop being such a pussy and show that monkey what Rule 5 means!
frank says:

Jul 23 2012 at 7:44 pm

@Marcus

@frank

I'm very fortunate to just be a generally optimistic, cheerful person, though the shine does wear off, of course, from time to time.

This means that you are just plain stupid. You have so much in your life that you should be depressed about.

You are really off your game, you're calling me stupid after I already did so myself. This is at least three levels below your best; the Return of Bad Cadel must really have thrown you off your center. Think about this a second longer, go over to the Zoo Hill article and read the bit about the land rover, and come back here with something real.
Marcus says:

Jul 23 2012 at 7:51 pm

@frank

It's not just Bad Cadel. It's also the unfettered superiority of The GoodMod which is messing with me (although i do confess to always liking him - even when he upset Bradley McGee).

Combine that with the failure of Adam Scott at The Open which brought back terrible repressed memories of Greg Norman - and my world is falling apart.

I am just striking out wherever I can - I have nothing.
mcsqueak says:

Jul 23 2012 at 7:52 pm

@Cyclops

I have sort of the opposite. Especially when it comes to crits. I always have a feeling of impending doom that sets in as the start time approaches and I see the grizzled masters with decades of base in their legs and the look in their eyes that tell this novitiate that this is gonna hurt real bad. I dread the surge of the first four or five laps as the "selection" is made. But then after I have held on and finished in the top 5 and my heart rate returns to double digits I thing to myself "That was fucking awesome!"

I have the same problem, which I was telling Frank about before the Seattle Cogal. I get very anxious before any big event, no matter how inconsequential. I worry about how much it's going to hurt, and I know I'll be suffering especially in the climbs. I go through the same mental steps on solo rides - before the climbs I mentally freak out a little bit until I get the first one under my belt for the day.

I'm trying to get better about it, but learning how to ride "within yourself" takes a long time, especially when you're still early on the path and finding your legs, so to speak.

My personal goal is to man up enough to pin on a number before the summer is out, but I've been putting it off... need to put an end to that soon.
frank says:

Jul 23 2012 at 8:00 pm

@Marcus

You'll always have your optimism.
Cyclops says:

Jul 23 2012 at 8:05 pm

@mcsqueak As I was warming up for the Allan Butler Crit a couple of weeks ago I knew there would be some super fast guys there and I started getting really anxious and having self-doubts. I was telling myself "I'm not going to be able to hang on." Except for the Cat 1 that went off the front I was able to stay with the fast guys and sprint around a guy I was fretting about before the race. After the dismal season I'd been having being able to hang at the front basically salvaged my it. I think "manning up" and getting an addadicktome is the only cure for the condition.
Oli says:

Jul 23 2012 at 8:53 pm

Fuck all this talk about feelings! What's the matter with you all, you goddam bunch of lavatory bowls?
minion says:

Jul 23 2012 at 9:20 pm

@mcsqueak

@Cyclops

I have sort of the opposite. Especially when it comes to crits. I always have a feeling of impending doom that sets in as the start time approaches and I see the grizzled masters with decades of base in their legs and the look in their eyes that tell this novitiate that this is gonna hurt real bad. I dread the surge of the first four or five laps as the "selection" is made. But then after I have held on and finished in the top 5 and my heart rate returns to double digits I thing to myself "That was fucking awesome!"

I have the same problem, which I was telling Frank about before the Seattle Cogal. I get very anxious before any big event, no matter how inconsequential. I worry about how much it's going to hurt, and I know I'll be suffering especially in the climbs. I go through the same mental steps on solo rides - before the climbs I mentally freak out a little bit until I get the first one under my belt for the day.

I'm trying to get better about it, but learning how to ride "within yourself" takes a long time, especially when you're still early on the path and finding your legs, so to speak.

My personal goal is to man up enough to pin on a number before the summer is out, but I've been putting it off... need to put an end to that soon.

My only redeeming feature on a bike is much like my sex life - I can batter myself, rest and repeat ad nauseum. Knowing it's going to hurt and accepting the fact makes rides much easier to deal with; and to extend the smut filled analogy, you don't really know what you're capable of until you do it against other people. Racing brings along your development in leaps and bounds, so do it sooner rather than later I reckon. (Just don't crash and blame me).

I'm off for a shower.
Jeff in PetroMetro says:

Jul 23 2012 at 9:29 pm

@Oli

Fuck all this talk about feelings! What's the matter with you all, you goddam bunch of lavatory bowls?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lf3BNRF9ICc