Gravity is the most unavoidable force on Earth, with the possible exception of Stupidity. And like with Stupidity, you can take measures to reduce its influence on you, but you won’t get rid of it completely, assuming you’re staying on this planet. From the very moment we’re born, Gravity takes its unrelenting hold on us – which isn’t altogether bad because I learned from watching Despicable Me that as soon as someone is smart enough to invent anti-gravity serum, someone will be stupid enough to leave a skylight open.
We Cyclists protect a secret from the rest of the world: we can defy gravity. Riding allows us to float a few meters above the ground, suspended in a cloak of V. Add a little speed to the mix and a maybe few sweeping switchbacks and we are as close to achieving human flight as we will ever get.
Once we trade flat roads for the hills, Gravity reveals its true secret to us: the mind can overcome physical limits when we form the cohesive unit of bicycle and rider. There is a symbiotic bond that forms; Gravity pulls us down toward the bottom of the hill, and we require our strength to counter its force and scale the heights. The strength required to achieve this takes a heavy toll on our body, and it is only through focus and determination that we keep the legs turning over smoothy. Riding back down the other side, we learn to fool Gravity and explore the intersection of centripetal force, friction, and our old friend Stupidity.
With practice, we learn that our mind can drive us to overcome the the physical limits of not just our bodies, but Gravity itself. Its hold on us remains, but the effects are greatly diminished. In defiance of Gravity, we rise to touch the heavens and ride where angels fly.
Vive la Vie Velominatus.
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Great piece as always, nicely poetic. Little known fact: the higher above sea level you climb the lighter you get (yes, ok it's negligible but still lighter). Go high enough and the O2 gets thin, allowing stupidity to take hold.
@Ccos
^This
And a bit of this -> http://www.velominati.com/racing/the-perfect-amount-of-dumb/
Is this "Vive la Vie Velominatus" on the V kit -- a meaningful design element ??
Can I buy a stupidity meter that will complement my bartape?
I envy your brain Frank, you never cease to amaze with your analogies, gravity and stoopid - Genius!
Since I have left the land of hills and now do not wrestle with the man with the G's I am really curious as to how it will be when I head north and am thrown into 80km rides with 1200m of climbing? Last weekend on an imperial century I think there was 20m of elevation. Since we were on the S. FL grid system of roads the wicked head wind for 60km seemed to be a good substitute for hills but I'm not sure?
Gravity. My everlasting nemesis. It binds us all, yet we fight it with all the stupidity that can be mustered.
@UnfilteredDregs
Give the newb a prize!
@Dan_R Don't fight gravity, embrace the suck. I like talking to the hill as I'm riding up it. The people I'm riding with don't tend to like that part, though.
Very nice! True also, but especially nice, because original.
A little shot of the valley. Total of 104kms completed, 1500m of total climbing, sunburnt and torn hamstring after the second ride of the year here...... After the snow disappears you understand....