Categories: Defining MomentsLa Vie VelominatusMusings from the V-BunkerThe Hardmen

À Bloc

Laurel Rathbun makes an adequate effort at Jingle Cross.

The V surrounds us, it penetrates and binds us together. Through disciplined practice we are able to draw from it to push harder and go farther on the bike; what we do on the bike then informs how we face our lives. The masters, such as the Prophet Merckx and the Apostle de Vlaeminck, could channel this strength to overcome the greatest challenges both on and off the bike.

The question we must always ask ourselves is, how hard is hard enough? The answer is, you go until the lights go out, and then you go some more. Today’s lesson is that if you can still stand after the effort, you didn’t go hard enough. Nice one, Laurel.

Merckxspeed, my fellow Velominati.

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.

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frank says:

Dec 12 2015 at 10:21 am

@Haldy

Does that make this, the greatest example of going hard enough, ever?

Yes. Class dismissed.
frank says:

Dec 12 2015 at 11:32 am

@sthilzy

I recall and effort a little while back, Frank vs. The Volcano, Part Trois;

Drag to 7:44

Today’s lesson is that if you can still stand after the effort, you didn’t go hard enough.

Have a race tomorrow, I’ll see if I can vomit after crossing the line.

Gianni saying that watching me is "the best part" and "gold" always puts a big ol' smile on my face.

I've never puked from an effort but I passed out once after a sloppy ski race.
kixsand says:

Dec 12 2015 at 12:00 pm

@frank

You're looking a little heavy here Frank. I can say that because I am in the same boat...10-12 pounds away from where I'm sure I could climb the fuck out of anything.

Love the video though! Excellent example of suffering here.
cognition says:

Dec 12 2015 at 1:06 pm

@frank

It can be a fine line, though, can't it?
cognition says:

Dec 12 2015 at 1:14 pm

@frank

@Haldy

Does that make this, the greatest example of going hard enough, ever?

Yes. Class dismissed.

1987 was the year that I started cycling (relatively) seriously. Over the summer, between eighth grade and freshman year in high school, I had ridden Bianchi's cheapest model over the hills of the Hudson Valley, and hung in with the b-group and c-group rides. I was almost always the youngest rider in the group, and I tried to listen to and learn from the older and veteran riders. In September, when I mistakenly thought that I'd started to learn something about cycling, I picked up a copy of Bicycling Magazine in our local library and read their story on Roche's victory in the Tour de France. I remember not quite comprehending what would push someone to ride so hard that they collapsed at the finish line, and realizing then that I didn't even know how much I didn't know.
Shane Courtney says:

Dec 12 2015 at 2:20 pm

Paul Kimmage was telling Sean Kelly about the time he pushed so hard (Olympics ,84 I think) he nearly passed out. He asked Kelly if this had ever happened him ....... Kelly replied ..... often....
SamV says:

Dec 12 2015 at 4:24 pm

@DavyMuur

@Haldy

Does that make this, the greatest example of going hard enough, ever?

Probably. Few athletes have pushed themselves that close to the edge and lived to tell the tale. What the world witnessed that day was nothing short of a superhuman effort. But was it genius – knowing thyself to perfection? Or was it sheer recklessness?

On a personal level, I once vomited while assaulting a local climb. While I took pride in the fact that I had pushed myself to that extent, the VMH failed to be impressed.

Done that once myself - the puking thing. I've never had a team run to my aid with an oxygen mask...I've gotten better at bringing myself just to the edge of nausea, dial it back a fraction and live in hurt. On the other hand, I was riding today and cut it 20 miles short cause my legs just felt like absolute garbage. And yet I arrived home to discover I PR'd half the segments...

@sthilzy

I recall and effort a little while back, Frank vs. The Volcano, Part Trois;

Jesus. Look at those shoulders. No wonder it was such a struggle.
Barry Malone says:

Dec 12 2015 at 6:06 pm

@cognition

@frank

@Haldy

Does that make this, the greatest example of going hard enough, ever?

Yes. Class dismissed.

1987 was the year that I started cycling (relatively) seriously. Over the summer, between eighth grade and freshman year in high school, I had ridden Bianchi’s cheapest model over the hills of the Hudson Valley, and hung in with the b-group and c-group rides. I was almost always the youngest rider in the group, and I tried to listen to and learn from the older and veteran riders. In September, when I mistakenly thought that I’d started to learn something about cycling, I picked up a copy of Bicycling Magazine in our local library and read their story on Roche’s victory in the Tour de France. I remember not quite comprehending what would push someone to ride so hard that they collapsed at the finish line, and realizing then that I didn’t even know how much I didn’t know.

I remember watching that on channel 4.

I thought it was over and Delgado had won, the disappointment was intense and then Phil Ligget says there is someone coming. It's Roche it's Roche I don't believe it. It's Roche

I will never forget it and Roche appeared the next morning lookin fresh as a daisy
frank says:

Dec 12 2015 at 7:14 pm

@kixsand

@frank

You’re looking a little heavy here Frank. I can say that because I am in the same boat…10-12 pounds away from where I’m sure I could climb the fuck out of anything.

Love the video though! Excellent example of suffering here.

I was thinking the same thing, glad I'm about 6 kg lighter now than I was then. This is me a few years earlier when I was having those enormous lunches.
frank says:

Dec 12 2015 at 7:17 pm

@cognition

I'm not suggesting you take double the amphetamines to enhance the effect.

Simpson's death was tragic, but let's not get carried away.