The Thin Boundary Between Casual and Deliberate
Cycling and crashing are the kinds of things that come together whenever you liberally combine Newtonian Physics, skill, and overconfidence. In other words, I’ve been falling off my bike for nearly as long as I’ve been climbing on it.
One of the more memorable crashes of my youth involved the commute home from my high school and a lady driving into the parking lot of the local grocery store. Her car and my bicycle momentarily occupied the same space, a physical impossibility whose only opportunity for resolution lay in the boot of her car, and that’s precisely where I went looking for it. Another time, the right-front braking on my first real race bike helped me disprove the theory that I might be able to achieve sustained human flight. The resolution of this particular question also led me to learn how to re-cable the brakes on my bike and embark on my quest to perfect the wrapping of handlebar tape.
Some of these early lessons and their subsequent visits to emergency rooms and time spent nursing wounds led me to better understand where the limits lie that convert harmony between rider and machine into chaos. More importantly, it gave me an appreciation that descending and cornering at speed, while thrilling, provide limited reward with respect to the risk. Some might call this wisdom or maturity, but I like to think of it as something marginally more productive than refusing to learn from one’s mistakes.
It is the human condition, however, to become accustomed to current levels of risk and that we continue to push boundaries. We refer to this phenomenon as “progress”, and with progress comes an inherent sense of overconfidence; it is in our nature to assume that since we successfully pushed past the previous boundary, that the one that lies before us will be passed with similar ease.
It was with this confidence that I entered the first of three ninety-degree corners on lap four of yesterday’s Magnuson Park Cross race. During recon and the previous three race laps, I had recognized the risks of this first corner; leaving a fast section of tarmac, the course re-entered the mud and grass as we circumvented a tennis court. It would be easy to carry too much speed into the corner and loose traction on the flimsy, low-pressure cyclocross tires.
With each lap, the speeds increased, and with each lap, I successfully navigated the course. The riders around me were tiring, I was moving up in the field, and gaining confidence with each lap. On the section just prior to the first of the turns, I took an opportunity to pass a pack of slower riders from another category, set up for the corner, relaxed, and readied for the challenge presented by the upcoming muddy sections.
I felt it long before anything happened. It was one of those notions that enters your body somewhere between your senses and your brain and lingers there before turning sideways to make sure it’s noticed as it passes through your system. The tire in the front wheel depressed as I leaned on it – then folded over. I spent an eternity in limbo between the rider I had only just been and the rider whom I was about to become.
I aimed for the dirt, it seemed softer than the tarmac. I don’t know if I hit it or not, and I’m not sure what caused the rather deep gash under me knee, or the double-loop in my chain for which I could find no remedy at the trailside. What I do know is I was in a heap and the riders who had been enjoying my ample draft suddenly found themselves similarly on the ground, though for different reasons. Several cursed at me, one postulated that my mother had been unmarried at the time of my birth. While he may have been wrong about the specifics, he was certainly right in his sentiment: I was a fool who didn’t understand his own limitations.
It seems fitting, then, that I was the only rider I took down who failed to finish the race. Next time, I’ll aim to go just fast enough not to crash out.
Some of these photos aren’t making me miss racing cross so far this year…
@czmiel
absolutely precious Frank
Awesome and funny write up.
At first, I was thinking, no..not necessarily so, as I am the inherent skeptic at heart, but your right, there are times we are treading a thin line between total awesomeness and absolute idiocy. In fact, I have absolutely seen it as everyone else has…someone get by with something (a corner too fast, bunny hop and not hit a huge pothole etc) and look totally with it and skirt the line. But, when you do cross it and not get by, you really eat humble pie.
Overall, however, that is the art of cycling in this regard that you write of. As we seek total PRO-ness, as we grow and mature as cyclists, we do attain a skillset that DOES NOT take chances yet pulls off some seemingly PRO-found prowess & serious skill. Again, though, whether its a descent at killer speeds, or cornering, on wet pave’, or whatever, for the PRO its natural, and not necessarily a risk…they have it. Sometimes, we prove we do not.
@frank
No truck drafting. Mostly dump trucks on that road.
@scaler911
+1 to beer (and bacon) handups – For those of us who suck at CX but do it anyway, they are essential to the sport.
@G’rilla
Right you are. And infinitely better than this.
@Ali McKee
Depends on how much you ride your MTB, but you should have both. Its such a different sport, you can’t compare the two and they are both awesome.
Depending on where you live, though, a CX bike can afford lots of backroad gravé riding, which is equally awesome.
@Buck Rogers
Aside from getting off on the wrong side, knowing what I know now, he’s using great form for this. As J-Pow says, stretch out all the movements; he comes in fast, waits for the dismount, gets running and the just makes a slight but spectacular error in judging the height of the barriers.
Solid gold. Still makes me laugh every time.
@Ron
Pish posh. Crashing is part of the fun in CX, like it is in MTBing and alpine skiing. And usually the landings are softish. I’ll advise you again: don’t be afraid of crashing. Just commit to the ride, try to avoid it obviously, but just let it happen.
The best way to find your limitations is by moving past them.
@scaler911
We’ll have to see if we can’t make that happen, but timing is rough for me this Fall; I’m not even getting to the races in Seattle if they’re more than a half hour away…that will have to change for next year.
@Souleur
Precious? Precious? You mean “totally badass” right?
@frank
Thanks for posting. Jo-way’s ok . . . I thiink.
@frank
Great collections of V here, but I want to see the next one: the close-up of Frank realizing he’s still a lap shy of finishing. I’ll hold off on comments regarding Dutch ‘rithmetic. Because no one should be required to do three laps…
Speaking of CX, did y’all know that the World’s will be in Louisville KY next year: http://www.louisville2013.com/site/index.php.
@frank
Nice Foookin’ V Juice flowing from the kneecap!
@CanuckChuck Indeed. I just booked my room yesterday just in case I decide to go. General Admission Tickets are $40 for the weekend which includes the races on Sat and Sun (the Elite Men and Women will race Sunday). I inquired a month or so ago if any Velominati were planning on going but didn’t get any responses. I’ll definitely head down there if there will be some kind of meetup. Anybody interested?
@Steampunk
A good friend of me and @gaswepass’ (who lurks here) had some form of Shleckanical or another, and ran all 3 or 4 laps of a ‘cross race. Insanity.
@VeloVita Obviously I missed your initial inquiry… I will be there: hotel reserved (Galt House) and airfare booked. I can’t say I’m a huge CX fan (aside from being a fan of Behind the Barriers) but I am looking forward to some great racing and what I hope will be an awesome party.
An alternate to carrying your bike over the barriers.
@frank I was hoping you wouldn’t say that, but knew you would. Damnit. I’ll persuade myself CX isn’t ‘GNAR’ enough for me this year while I start saving for a CX bike for next year.
I live in Ireland – limited grave options I believe save for forest fire roads but seems there is a well organised CX championship which kind of looks like good craic! As much craic as the photos above suggest actually!
the hubris of the weekend professional – great stuff Frank.
My CX racing is locally know for an abundance of three things – vomit, crashes, and des lanternes rouge. I have an inability to drop out of a race that I have paid to do. So, it is common, after an abundance of crashes, that I find myself “catching up.”
And what is it with tarmack to grass that sets one up for, in my case, the inevitable high speed wipe out?
Dust yer self off and keep going! oh, and careful where you hurl if you’ve hydrated with purple, especially on white handlebar tape.
@frank like a boss! why leave the saddle?
@Ali McKee
limited grave options? What the hell type of racing are you doing there?
@frank
well, since you mention his (crash&felds) provoking statement about your mom and her prodigy, i thought precious was better than totally badass, but she may be a dutch badass, and i mean that in the nicest of ways
@frank
thus the PRO-ness
Belgian stripes see no need to dismount on such rubbish…pussies
Plus, thats a front wheeled wheelie he is pulling off temporarily for the foto’s benefit
@Buck Rogers probably gravé
Rule #9 being my favorite, I’d have to say that ‘Cross might just be, as the Dutch say, written upon my very body.
@frank I watched that World Cup Cross at the Citadel last winter Totally Epic. The best cross race I ever seen.
@CanuckChuck I’ll be at Galt House as well.
@frank
Along with Rule #9, I find CX also lends itself particularly well to Rule #10 and Rule #21. As far as cycling aesthetics go, I’m a Rule #21 evangelist. Don’t get me wrong, riding during the summer with the long days is wonderful, but for me the Autumn leaves and the opportunity to don a cap, knickers/warmers (or better yet, embrocation), eyewear with clear lenses and go play in the mud is about as good as it gets.
I also tend to think cross bikes are some of the best looking bikes out there – there’s just something about the tires with their tan sidewalls and that strip of tread that really does it for me. With the breeding and blimping I’ve done this year, unfortunately I haven’t been able to race this season, but here are several photos I shot from a local race a few weeks ago – Rule #9 indeed:
there is a solution to every problem…
@VeloVita
Is that Tommy V?
@Buck Rogers the racing scene here is dead and buried….
I’ll get my coat….
@VeloVita nice pics!
@frank
Hah!, I hadn’t noticed the resemblance! Yes, he must have decided to jump start his off season-training by racing the B Open category in the Northeastern Ohio CX Series. Who needs Alicante when you can train in Cleveland.
@VeloVita
Beautiful shots!
@JC Belgium
holy snot rockets Robin, that bunny hop is on steroids dude
@VeloVita
You nailed something critical here: the toys change, but we’re still the same people we were when we were kids. It used to drive my dad nuts; the family would be walking down the road and if there was a puddle to be found, I’d go right through it.
In the race Sunday, I had a shit start, but made up lots of ground just because everyone else was trying to avoid the puddles. I went right through them. Partly to make up ground, and partly because it was fun.
@VeloVita
So you’ll be heading down to the World Cup this year then, yeah? Ken-tuck-eh ain’t but a car drive away.
@Souleur
No kidding. That just reminds me how much I still suck. I would be doing the inverse of that, with my head buried ostrich-style in the other side of that ditch.
@frank
There is something inherently wrong with racing cross and trying to avoid getting muddy,wet and cold. Lars Boom would agree:
@frank
Yes, I’m planning on it – hotel is already booked, I just need to purchase tickets for event. Still trying to find someone willing to drive 5 hours with me to go stand outside all weekend in February though – the VMH isn’t having any of it – she’s a freezebaby.
It would appear that if you are the kind of man who Anquetil was, you don’t need no stinkin’ ‘cross bike to ride ‘cross. Unless I’m mistaken, that’s his standard road bike, with possibly slightly wider tires. And his socks look perfect. What sort of witchcraft is this?
Respect.
@VeloVita
I remember I showed my son, who was 4 at the time, this photo and said, “What do you think of that?!??!” in reverant tones and awe and he said, “Daddy, I, I, I don’t like to be covered in mud” and left.
Got to double check that mailman’s DNA.
@Ali McKee
Ha! Well played! Just having fun with typos here.
@frank
Since I’m still catching up on my cycling history, did they primarily ride long reach centerpulls on the road in Anquetil’s day? If so, I would think that yes, his standard road bike would work fine (and therefore that could very well be it) provided it had the clearance for larger tires. He’d be SOL in the mud, though. And yes, those socks do indeed adhere perfuckedly to the Goldilocks principle.
sorry, that was intended to be ‘perfuckly’ (i.e. really fucking perfect!) as opposed to ‘perfuckedly’ (i.e. really perfectly fucked! – which is what he’d be in the mud with those tires and brakes)
@frank
I have watched that Joey video a 100x. If you slow it way down, you’ll see his top tube arm has let go of the bike before getting to the barrier. That was an insane wipeout. Which is why he now gives hand ups to g’rilla.
@frank
One word of caution about puddles in a race: in mud not as big a deal. re-creating a smaller scale version of joey’s wipeout complete with a ruined tire/wheel in a pavement puddle entirely possible. Every year at cross crusade there is a race (except this year, they put several inches of gravel over the pavement) which had a long stretch of potholed pavement that would be filled with water n leaves. Underneath was some jagged spikes to the broken pavement, waiting to destroy equipment. I go around the puddles on pavement now too.
@the Engine He could also ski without mussing his hair – quite a guy…
? Have you seen the footage of him skiing…? He was a swan on a bike but even though he is one of my favourite riders he was definitely and ugly duckling on skis..there is a biopic on him narrated/translated by Phil Ligget and you can find it on youtube in 6 sections..some skiing footage in there..
First one here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3sOezcnHoU
Not the best way to deal with barriers…
@Leroy
Hmm… embedding fail. Let’s try that again.
http://youtu.be/rNjWeATyylc
http://youtu.be/rNjWeATyylc
@frank
Just got my older Pedalwan a new bike helmet. He’s stoked on it. Also, it just rained, and he wants to hit the gravel this weekend to search for the epic puddle he spent an hour riding through last winter. He’s now on a 40 cm bike so he’ll be able to shred even more.
@Leroy
What’s that hitting the barrier after the main impact? Even on the slo-mo around 18″ in I can’t see what it is – it’s not part of his bike.
@the Engine Not sure which impact you mean, another rider tanks the barrier right behind him but I think the second impact sound is just the boards shaking in their mounts from the first impact.
Still can’t get over how far he launches!!