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The pleasure I found in riding with my objectives just at my back and a long winter stretching before me has been replaced by a desire to rediscover that strength in my legs that gives me the feeling that I can somehow control the pain of an intense effort.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.
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I'm the opposite of Bretto, I'm looking forward to riding in some cooler weather, though not looking forward to spending evenings on the rollers out back of the house trying not to get blown off by wind gusts. I've had enough of this sun and shit - arm warmers, riding caps, shoe covers here I come. Summer time numpties, fair weather riders, fuck off and go to the movies or something. Sit on the couch. Come back out of your hibernation in four, five six months, fat pasty and puffing away. I'll be lighter, my bikes will work like they should and my bike handling will be on point. So rack off and leave me (us) to it.
@frank
Isn't it a little hypocritical for you to start waxing lyrical about the onset of Spring? Doesn't that make the riding "easier"? Therefore to your Fucked Rule 5 Worshipping Brain, not as much "fun"?
In fact shouldn't better weather make things worse for a true Rule 5 (or Rule 9?) Man as it is harder to truly be hard in better weather? But then again, by the weather making it harder to be truly hard, does that make you even harder for embodying Rule 5 in better weather? And how is this "being harder in better weather" achieved? So many questions. With more knowledge only comes the thirst for more knowledge.
Anyway, I third Brett and G'Phant's sentiments. Y'all in the Northern Hemisphere can take your GFC (that we didn't have) and go fuck yourselves as we are now in Autumn. Then again, we still have racing every weekend day throughout the year here so winter only means a few more clothes. AND IN 2011, MORE AUSTRALIAN VICTORIES OVERSEAS!
I get the feeling you're not embracing the inner Velominatus with comments along those lines. Mind you, when I think of your inner velominatus, I can't help but think of an Ewok trapped inside a Wookie.
@minion
I like arm warmers and knee warmers as well. If I could pick a perfect condition for riding, in my opinion it would be 45 degrees and sunny.
@minion An "Ewok trapped inside a Wookie" masquerading as C3PO. (Wait for it, wait for it ... duck!)
@mcsqueak
Yep, and embrocation - probably because I haven't ridden much over Summer, my last servious block of riding was last spring, which means I used sports rub on my legs a bit to keep warm, or keep warm between races at the track. But I've started using it again, and the smell of liniament gets me into the right riding frame of mind. Love that stuff.
A-Merckx brother...
@marcus
Just as a side note, how do you apply rule V in summer. Ride when it is 45 Degrees C out. Ride when the humidity is soooo bad that even your bidons are sweating, and the sweat drips into your eyes causing temporary blindness. Ahhh Western Australia, wouldn't live anywhere else.
@Steampunk
Agreed. This whole "after work" thing doesn't mesh with me. Morning rides are way mo bettah! Then if anything comes up and you end up in lab until midnight, at least you got your miles in for the day.
I forgot to mention the iconic group ride The Shoot Out. a 60 mile ride that even see's pros show up. it a ride for those with heaps of V to dish out.
having lived through 3 MN winters I do no such thing. but yes my tan is in good form, wish I could say that about the rest of me.