To me, there is nothing cooler than riding in awful weather. It automatically associates you with the Spring Classics, held in wet, wind, and rain, over the the worst roads you can imagine. There is no image of cycling that I love more than of a tough Belgian Pro dressed in knickers, arm warmers, cycling cap perched beneath their helmet, grimace upon the face, and rain pouring from the skies.
The only good thing about winter and spring training is the fact that simply climbing on the machine that day means you are an automatic badass. Hell, you don't even have to ride hard, just being out means you're awesome. But I'll be honest: I never ride harder than in the pouring rain, the drops of water dripping off my cycling cap tapping out my rhythm like a metronome, looking down at my knee warmers and shoe covers and imagining I'm cutting my teeth as a Pro on some godforsaken road somewhere in Belgium or Northern France.
Today was actually a beautiful day, but it was cold, so I dressed in my warmest gear and headed out on the road, Badass by Association. It's one of the Rules.
I even took some shots of myself, Dan O Style. How did we satisfy our narcissistic self-portrait needs before cell phones?
[dmalbum path=”/velominati.com/content/Photo Galleries/frank@velominati.com/Winter Riding/”/]
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@david, @Rob
That is classic. Nice work.
But back to the point: a recovery ride serves a very important purpose: rest after a hard day to allow your muscles to heal and become stronger so you avoid specter of overtraining. You don't need a race to go hard the day before and need a recovery ride; all you need the day before is Rule 5.
Rob hits the nail on the head. Training for the sake of training - to be healthy, fit, strong - for nothing more than the love of doing it is what it's all about. Sure, racing gives you an excuse to go work hard - an easy motivation - and the results of training are palpable, but hopefully you love cycling for cycling's sake, not just because you love to compete. Because there are other ways to compete, and I would be afraid the bike might fade out of your life at some point - and that would be sad.
If you ask me, to stick to a regimen, work hard, see your results improve, push yourself harder on your big days just because it's what you love to do is the purest form of being a Velominatus there is.
The Velominati's training for sake of training doctrine. Heh. There are endless surprises at the site.
@Rob
Thanks mon, that's it. You don't have to race to enjoy professional/amateur racing. As many pros have said; when they didn't want to get up and put in the training miles it was time to retire. Training is great.
I've always been a life long perpetual trainer because I like to ride well and was too slow to race. You have to train to do anything well. The Pain Bank, you have to make your deposits and you better enjoy it or you're in the wrong sport.
@david
This site is enjoyed by cyclists; people who like to ride, not just racers. I'm proud to be amongst 'em.
As Rob said, "I hope to see you out there in 20 years...?"
@david
You have much to learn, Padawan.
@john
+1
Stage 7 of 2010 Giro D'Italia:
http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/galleries/photos/27597/2/1/giro-d-italia-2010-stage-7.html
Winter? WINTER? You call that winter, ya bloody pussy? Come 'ere and get some REAL season under your wheels!
@Glenruben
Sweet girls' bike.
@Glenruben
Judging that I can still see your tire and that your face is not covered, that's not winter. See Rule 5.
Love this. I do most of my road cycling that I don't consider to be commuting during our Winter. Nice rule.