The machine that cuts a path through the darkness.
Reality is always an unpleasant surprise; no one wants to see ourselves the way others see us, and that’s for good reason, too: depression would be much more widespread problem if each of us realized what a pain in the ass we are. Speaking of unpleasant realities, after recently reviewing videos of myself speaking, I have deduced that I have the face for radio, the hand gesticulations for both Mime and Cheerleading (neither for which I have an ambition), and the voice for print. That leaves me with the Internet.
A long commute to work in darkness is a surreal experience. The early hour leaves the road vacant, and the rider is confined to the small cone of light beyond which exists only blackness. The mind settles into the vampire state of wandering a being alert all at once. Thoughts of the day’s work will lay somewhere on the periphery; not front of mind, yet inexorably nearer with every stroke of the pedals. The rain and cold amplify the effect.
Strange thoughts are thought in this state, not unlike those you might have just as you catch yourself falling asleep. The first paragraph of this article is a fine example of such a thought. For this, I ask your forgiveness.
The commute presents its own challenge, new obstacles to overcome. The wet winter commute sandwiches the workday like two soggy slices of bread. One finds very quickly that it is not the cold, the dark or the wet that is unpleasant; it is the sodden kit hanging in a locker all day not getting fresher that is unpleasant.
This morning looked dry from the bedroom window, a terrible place from which to judge the weather. Rain was in the forecast (this is Seattle and January, after all), so I slipped into my Gabba jersey as easily as James Bond slips into a dinner jacket. I stepped outside and noted that it would be nice if the weather stayed dry for the ride in so the kit might be more pleasant when dressing for the evening’s ride home.
I should know better than to think such thoughts; the rain was summoned immediately by the Nine Gods to remind me that the Glory of Rule #9 is not chosen at the rider’s convenience or whim. Fool.
Riding with a backpack is a nuisance. As Velominati, we have refined our position and learned to control the bike through micro-movements and immeasurable shifts of body weight. The gear-loaded backpack is a sledgehammer to our china cup of balance. Our position feels off, the bike handles differently, and we are heavier by two kilos at least. This, along with every other reason you can think of why backpacks suck, is more than enough to encourage one to avoid the climbs, especially the steep ones.
But there is a beauty behind the nuisance: climbing with a heavy load is like training in a fat suit. Seek out the hardest climbs and the next time you ride without a pack, you will feel as though you were given wings. Instant morale.
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@frank
Agreed. I've figured out that I can do any journey (over a couple of Km) in London at any time of day quicker by bike than by car & that included a 30km journey @ 5am on a Sunday morning. BTW, if my work expect me to start work at such a stupid time then they can damm well put up with me wearing my cycling kit to dry it out. PCs are also good for drying out wet overshoes & if you're really lucky you can get it to short out so you can go home early. (CRTs were the best for drying out kit, but these new-fangled flat screens are crap)
@Teocalli
@Teocalli
I ride 30k to work and back throughout the year, which means my 6.45am ride is in darkness for a good portion of the winter. For me the dark commute has an extra element to it which is not present in the carefree commutes of June, but I can't put my finger on it. It's a niggle, a question, a doubt that just isn't there in the summer; and although I don't know exactly what it is I do know that it makes the winter commute more difficult, and therefore more noble.
I saw some electric shoe driers online somewhere. That seems a good idea. Also, computer fans make excellent clothes dryers.
WRT the backpack weight thing: I recently discovered research into transcranial magnetic stimulation (work ends up going in strange directions sometimes and yeah, this sounds like voodoo). It turns out you can improve cognitive performance by using magnets is very specific places, but also you can impede cognition with magnets in other places. However, there is some evidence that if you force yourself to do mentally hard tasks while your cognition is impeded then it improves performance after you remove the magnets. Basically they are backpacks for your brain!
@frank
Frank's +1 badge skills are questionable at best, he might award one but handing it over is a different matter.
@frank
@Dave
We've all had a crack at Frank about his set-up at some point or other. Obviously we were all wrong because it seems to work pretty well for him.
@Oli
Along with "anybody who follows the rules" and variations thereof, it's a pretty common first/early post. And just as pointless.
Having said that, @Dave, it doesn't make Frank any less of a freak.
@Chris
I think it's a myth, a bit like the Golden Fleece.
@Owen
A bit of digging on velominati.com will reveal that @Frank has an around-town bike with mustache bars. Mustache bars. Meditate on that for a moment.
So far as I can divine, the rules apply to your road machine in a recreational/competitive context. As such, I've not the slightest compunction about gross rule violations when I'm using my bike as pure transport/utility. My commute is 39km one-way, and a pure road machine is the wrong tool for the job save on the nicest of days. Carradice EPMS? Check. YJA? Check. Walkable shoes with SPD cleats? Check. Sit-up-and-beg geometry? Uh, no, fuck that. Fenders? Check. (Fenders, despite common misconception to the contrary, are not in violation of the rules).
On the chaingang, this would all be unthinkable, of course.
@antihero @Dave
It's all about what you allow yourself.
@Ccos
Those x-ray glasses were a fresh disappointment every time, weren't they? I ordered a pair, then a mate in the hopes that the newer model worked, and so on.
Your weight idea is better than my idea to develop Force skills by tying a string to objects and trying to snap them into my hands.