Daylight Savings always represents a turning point for my cycling season. In Fall, it represents leaving my season’s goals behind as I find once again the simple pleasure of riding my bike for the sake of riding my bike; the sensation of the rhythm, the hypnosis of rain dripping from my cycling cap’s brim, the cool air in my lungs, the indulgence in Rule #9. In Spring, like the bits of green beginning to appear on the tree branches and shrubs along the street, the ambition to start increasing the intensity of my training is beginning to bud. When I set my clock forward on Sunday, I knew the time had come.
The pleasure I found in riding with my objectives just at my back and a long winter stretching before me has been replaced by a desire to rediscover that strength in my legs that gives me the feeling that I can somehow control the pain of an intense effort. The sensation of Control Over Pain rests in my mind like the shadow of a dream which only becomes more vague the more I try to remember how it felt. Riding tempo on the climb up Interlaken Boulevard on Sunday did little to reassure me that such control has ever been within my grasp.
With Daylight Savings, my attitude turns from being glad that I got out on the bike to being disappointed if I didn’t. Objectives for the season are mapped out – whatever they may be – and a plan is formed around meeting them. At the start, the fitness I had the previous season seems unattainable. I have been working hard to get thin and fit, but the pain in my legs and burning in my lungs tells me otherwise when the road points upward.
Then, slowly, the sensations return. Almost without warning, I’ll find myself at the tight switchback before the steep section on one of my favorite climbs, and instead down-shifting as I exit the turn and hit the first of the ramps, I’ll find myself rising out of the saddle and pushing onward. Then, weeks later still, I’ll hit that same turn while still in the big ring. The power in my legs will feel good despite the pain flooding my senses.
The progression of fitness is something to look forward to. It takes work and sacrifice, but the rewards are palpable; the progression is along a scale of relative improvements, with each improvement a tangible gain over the last. And that is why I do it. That is why I start, for the objective is too far away and too abstract. I am spurred on by the momentum gained through incremental improvement much more than that of the goal itself. The goal is fleeting; once obtained, there is either the next or nothing. The progression towards the goal, however, represents the continuous evolution of the cyclist.
Today I struggle to translate these things I know to be true into how I feel when I struggle up a climb. But over time, by continuing to step out into the rain and climb aboard my bike, I will start to claw my way forward. And each year, the progression starts when I set my clocks for Daylight Savings Time.
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
Frank, perfect timing with this. I'm glad I'm not the only one looking forward to the daylight savings time. Those with weak wills talk about "losing an hour of sleep". Much like Cyclops, I have been eagerly awaiting DTS and was recently looking up time tables to calculate the increasing amount of daylight for riding after work.
Gaining back fitness lost is interesting. You remember how you performed the previous summer, so not only does your favorite climb now hurt more physically, it tortures you mentally as you recall zipping up it just four months prior.
As hard as it is, it's also rewarding to feel old strength come back as well.
I was riding the other weekend, with most of my rides recently feeling like slogs as I force myself to build time and miles. But on this particular ride my legs just started going. All sensations of fatigue disappeared while they pulled my fat arse along at a nice speed. And I was reminded why I did anything last year to sneak away for a ride, even if just for an hour - and now that DST is here, I can't wait for that again.
So true. Light until 7:30 now can get out after work. Since the snow was the best in 22 years I was x-country skiing until 2 weeks ago and got out for my first 50k ride on Sunday so the fitness has a chance of not seeing a big drop like usual - I like this early change!
The goal is fleeting; once obtained, there is either the next or nothing. The progression towards the goal, however, represents the continuous evolution of the cyclist.
Awesomeness, Frank!
This perfectly sums up my love affair with road cycling. I keep on getting better and better at it, putting in more miles each year, but I still find myself on my back porch after a hard effort and wonder how I'm doing, if I'll ever get stronger. I'm still so busy chasing the Big Ring Legs out there on the horizon that I have little time to reflect on where I've come from, the days when twenty miles seemed epic.
This article is really special for me at the moment as well. I've been out of the U.S. and off the bike for six weeks. Having a great time, but definitely feel a bit out of rhythm in my daily life without the constant of the daily crank turning. Two more weeks until I return. I'm already buzzing over returning. Spring, more day light, Ronde my first weekend home, then P-R. Talk about an incredible time to swing my leg over the TT!
This article has me even more excited for spring and summer '11 cycling. Thanks, Frank! And yeah, sweet as photograph.
You can all fuck off! It's the reverse down here, only a week or two of DST left, the chill is starting to creep into the air, the mornings darker and the evenings shortening, and the imminent loathing of Rule 9 underway.
Nice, nice post. It mirrors my thoughts, but I am just an old man trying to turn the cranks in an effort to feel young. Still, I will join you on interlaken when you say the word to don the Sacred Garments.
@brett
A-Mercxk!
@ brett - Nice fury! I appreciate that unequivocal declaration of telling us in the North to go fuck it. Made me laugh. Though I am sorry you are heading into Rule 9 season. Hey, just gives you a reason to pick out a Velominatus up here who rides the same size bike and come for a visit. I'm on a 53cm...
@ Frank - kind of an aside, but I do love the look of black kit. You look sharp in the black V kit, even for such a tall lad;) I wear black bibs, arm/knee warmers, a navy blue vest, but try to keep my jerseys kind of white or bright. Any worries drivers see you less in a black jersey? I don't even know if you run a tail light or not. In that fog, I hope so, but maybe that's a deserted road.
I'd love to sport an all black kit, but I wonder if it might make me more obscure to drivers.
Curious. My primary riding time is in the morning, and DST has been a handicap this week. Harder to get out earlier, which shortens the riding window...
First time poster, long time lurker, great topic, love the show....etc., etc.
@wiscot
As a fellow Sconnie, DST is also a signal to me that it is time to get out of the trainer dungeon and back outside. Plus, it was almost 60 degrees today! Riding fever has hit! Is it allowable within "the rules" to spend my lunch breaks cruising the LBS's?
@frank
Frank, great observation. I knew my mood had improved this week. Now I know why!
Been thinking about this for a while now Frank, and with due and proper respect for Rule 4, what I really need is not more bike stuff, but more time to ride my bike.