It is dark now when I rise. It is dark when I return home from the office. Leaves crunch under the soles of my shoes as I walk in the city. The rides that once occupied a devoted period of each day have now become stolen indulgences of either serendipity or careful planning.
The rain falls more regularly now; the Rain Bike is in top circulation. Bikes #1 and #2 hang from the wall, sparkling still from their last cleaning, now several weeks ago. The Rain Bike is covered in grime more often than it is clean. Cornering is a practice undertaken with great care as the leaves and their rotting remnants provide an abject reminder of Rule #64.
It is easy for the mind to forget it is a cyclist when the days are short and cold. Ritual becomes an increasingly important factor to keeping the cyclist’s rhythm in the body. This is why I continue to shave my legs throughout the winter even though they are covered when I ride. This is why I walk down to the basement to visit my bikes every day, even though I may not ride them. Such things remind us to keep living La Vie Velominatus.
A few months ago, Gianni mailed me his old Super Record front downtube shifter. It mesmerized me. It is a tool from an era long past, but echos in every piece of modern kit we use today. Designed firstly to serve a purpose and secondly to be gorgeous, it represents the duality of uncompromising function and unyielding beauty that fills every recess of cycling.
I carefully polished it and slipped it onto my keychain. Its gleaming form reminds me every day of the grace an elegance that punctuates our amazing sport.
Grazie, Gianni.
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
@caviarboy
An example of how your bike should look:
My CX ride after one of the winter races last July.
@Steampunk
That's no ordinary rabbit...
Nice...I should have known better than to post a pic of a virgin cross bike, unsoiled and pristine, lest I incur the wrath of my fellow velominatus. Am heading out of town today so will post a few more appropriate pics of it after my return.
@Kiwicyclist
Too sunny. Sorry: try again. The grass looks pristine and the bike's color is still discernible.
@Brett
Rabbit stew, coming right up!
@xyxax
I've been following those guys since about '89, I think, or there abouts. Marko is a big fan, too. Music tastes change, but BHTM is always still there. They just had their 20th Anniversary of Midnight Radio, and they recorded it love at Red Rocks last year. Check it out.
http://bigheadtodd.com/music/discography/midnight-radio-20th-anniversary
@Kiwicyclist, @Steampunk
I'm with Steampunk. Try again. Also, please correct the Rule 44 violation. Even at that angle, the violation is clear. Highest marks on the steel frame and 3-cross pattern on the wheels.
@frank
I dunno, Frank. I thought it was in compliance with Rule 44; I think it's the angle of the shot. But I'll defer to the expert in these things.
Can this qualify for hardness? It's attached to an EMX5 Eddy Merckx w/ Campy Record 11 and Euros wheels w/ Gommatalia rubber.
@poppapro
It qualifies as something, though I'm not sure what. What is that saddle? I've never seen one. Overall, it sounds like a sweet rig which begs the point, we need more photos.
Brilliantly written piece! Thanks! Reminds me of how much I long to be back in 619-land with my friends and out the hell of New England.
Now, frank, go take that bottle cage off that cross bike before someone thinks your a newbie!