I wasn’t anywhere near old enough to hold a driver’s license but my dad had already bought me a motorcycle. It was a late seventies BMW R100 RS, dark blue. I loved that bike; I polished it fortnightly even though it never left the garage. I spent hours sitting on it, twisting the throttle and squeezing the clutch, diving in and out of turns on a twisty road somewhere in my imagination. My dad sold the bike not long after I got serious about Cycling, making the shrewd observation that if I was able to land myself in the emergency room as often as I did under my own power, then from a Darwinian standpoint my chances of survival would be dramatically decreased by the introduction of a 1000cc engine.
To this day, I love speed. I feel it in that layer between skin and muscle that science will tell you doesn’t exist but that anyone who has ever taken a risk will tell you does. On a bicycle, it doesn’t even have to be high speed; descending, cruising along a valley road, or climbing – any speed that comes as a result of that familiar pressure in my legs and lungs is a thrill.
Cornering at speed will amplify the feeling of speed as your muscles press against the change in tangental velocity. But even the slower speeds of climbing can produce the exciting effects of speed; diving into a tight switchback on a fast climb can provide the distinctive exhilaration that comes with needing to brake and lean while climbing. There is no sensation in Cycling that will make one feel more Pro than needing to control your speed while going uphill.
Cobblestones and gravel also provide their unique doorway into the feeling of speed. The bouncing of the machine under you as you push a big gear along the road will amplify the sensation of going fast with the transitions from tarmac to rough roads and back again playing their own part to demonstrate speed through the power of contrast.
Riding along a road that has a lot of shrubbery or tall grass that hugs the roadside, my peripheral vision will quietly inform me that the blurred motion at my side is the direct result of my own burning engine and the effort I’m putting into the pedals. To experience under our own strength that which others require a motor to accomplish is what makes us stand apart. We are active participants in speed. We are Cyclists.
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
You've done it again @frank. Beautiful.
Your uphill thought reminded me of the wonderful sensation of reaching a mountain hairpin as I climb, taking the outside line and being able to spin that much faster, almost a feeling of flight after the grinding that my climbing style resembles.
1000cc beemer is a lot of bike - my first was a 500 suzi thrashing machine. Speed is exhilarating, a celebration of being alive. Speed is fun. Speed + cornering is scary fun. But I also like Power, the parent of speed. When you can rise out of the saddle and the power comes on smoothly. Just brilliant. Great article.
@Mike_P
This. Maintaining the magnificent stroke while on a longer line climbing much quicker than the shorter inside line is a definite thrill...
Hey, how did Pedale managed to make Pozzovivo look non-mini?
raz - It's fun to work on and thrilling when you hold a line you've been too nervous to just roll through. I lack an off-road riding background, which I think can really, really help in cornering of all types on a bicycle. Especially if you start at a young age when crashing isn't so scary or life-interfering. Heading to 4th grade on crutches or in a wheel chair is cool, heading to work...not as cool.
Great article Frank. I must admit to having never felt the need to brake for terrain whilst rounding a switchback on a climb, though I have had brake to for other cyclists crossing my line, and that feels anything but fast.
Last night's hilly ride ended around at 8:30, so there was plenty of descending in the dark. Fifty Km/h with only the light of your headlight and that of your mates to illuminate the road ahead definitely makes one feel an active participant.
Is it just me or does this sensation of speed amplify on the track?
Speed in itself is one thing, but it's thrill is greatly enchanced when cornering. The thrill is high, but the speed comparitivly low, hence where I prefer to get my jollies. 100km/hr plus on a straight is great, but I shudder to think what would happen if I came off at that speed. I wised up and sold my motorbikes, using the cash for a new #1. I'm not 100% convinced but fairly sure an accident at speed (in a corner) on a cycle is going to be less life threatening than on said sports bikes. Bit more gravel rash though. Actually, my first attempts at decending were hampered with my motorcyclists brain screaming "you can't go this fast without a full covering of leather!" I have managed to kill that voice off.
My club crits are my favourite because they are run on a very tight and technical course on the local uni's private roads. As they are private, they are closed, as they are tight and technical I get to leave those who cannot corner well eating my dust (thank you motocycles for teaching me how to corner at speed). I love dusting guys in a Crit that on a road race I would have no chance of getting away from. Last race they had to make a new rule: Anyone seen to be trying to hit the witches hat in the apex of corners with their knee will be disqualified. Party poopers.
Roundabouts...a new feature in our community. Traffic-permitting I will give trailing motorists pause as I accelerate through the apices as if chased by the television helicopters at the TDF.
Speed is is the ultimate intoxicant.
@Gio
Hecks yeah, yo! When drop down from the stayer's line accelerating fast around the bends enough where you start to black out a little, only to recover your wits again on the straights - that is speed.