Fitness. The rhythm, the feeling of precision in our movement, the sensations of The Ride. The temptation of knowing we might in some way control our suffering even as we push harder in spite of the searing pain in our legs and lungs. The notion that through suffering, we might learn something rudimentary about ourselves – that we might find a kind of salvation.
Cycling, like Art, is based on the elementary notion that through focussed study, we might better understand ourselves. But to describe Cycling as a an Art does it an injustice. An artist, they say, suffers because they must. A Cyclist, I suggest, suffers because we choose to.
This element of choice, what psychologists refer to as the locus of control, is part of what allows us to feel pleasure through suffering. Through this choice unfolds an avenue of personal discovery by which we uncover the very nature of ourselves. Like Michelangelo wielding his hammer to chip away fragments of stone that obscure a great sculpture, we turn our pedals to chip away at our form, eventually revealing our true selves as a manifestation of hard work, determination, and dedication to our craft.
Having chosen this path, we quickly find that riding a bicycle on warm, dry roads through sunny boulevards is the realm of the recreational cyclist. As winter approaches, the days get shorter and the weather worse. Form tempts us to greater things, but leaves us quickly despite our best intentions. Its taste lingers long upon the tongue and urges us to gain more. Even as life gets in the way, we cannot afford many days away from our craft before we find ourselves struggling to reclaim lost fitness.
To find form in the first place, and to maintain it in the second, is a simple matter of riding your bicycle a lot. This simple task asks of us, however, a year-round commitment to throwing our leg over a toptube in heat, cold, wind, rain, or sleet, lest we spend months fighting to reclaim last year’s lost condition.
But with riding in bad weather is revealed a hidden secret. It is in the rain and the cold, when all the seductive elements of riding a bicycle have vanished, that we are truly able to ensconce ourselves in the elemental qualities of riding a bicycle. Good weather and beautiful scenery, after all, are distractions from the work. Without them, we have only those elements that we ourselves bring to The Ride: the rhythm, harmony between rider and machine, our suffering, and our thoughts. As the rain pours down and all but the most devoted stay indoors, we pull on extra clothing and submit into the deluge.
We are the Few, we are the Committed. We are those who understand that riding in bad weather means you’re a badass, period.
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@frank
I see the rose pedals that you rightly toss at the feet of the faithful steed in appreciation of another successful ride. Where are these leaves you speak of?
I never conceived that there was that much seat post available. It's like a magician pulling handkerchiefs out of his sleeve.
There is something magical about riding your bike during a snow fall, is it the very essence of #rule 9, is the serenity of the moment before the chaos sets in or is the ease at which to justify the extra tins of beer? Whatever it is, I highly recommend it.
@itburns
Ha!
One of my favorite days to ride is coming up: American Thanksgiving. Despite it being known as a "traveling holiday", traffic is much lighter, plus it's a holiday so it feels like a bonus day of sorts. Last year was below freezing if I remember right, and I cut my ride short because I didn't have the right gear and I was soooooo cold, but this year should be more mild with just some rain.
Do a ride, then go drink and fry a turkey. Insert Team America theme song here.
@Dr C
How're the lobster claw gloves going? What's the padding to the palms like?
Short of opting for ski gloves that would have left little feel for the bike at all, I ended going out yesterday in a pair of downhill mtb gloves because they were the only full finger gloves I could find. Hideous mistake, not only were my fingers freezing cold before I was 10 minutes down the road but by 3/4 of the way round my hands were so numb I could barely hold on, they've got no padding in the palms at all. Time for an upgrade and the Cyclestore Direct price is a no brainer.
Snow for tomorrow, so one last ride. 30k in wind, rain, 48 degrees. Bare legs and WHITE socks covered with mud and smelly farm stuff (this is Wisconsin). One of the best rides of the year.
@Marko
Beardcicles
@itburns
Sweet! Never had them while biking.
@Kyle
Good man! I'm in WI too and got a nice little 80kms in to reach my annual goal on Thanksgiving. I can't say it was a fab ride as there was a sense of obligation to it and my back gave me some bother. I was happy to finish.
Friday was much nicer and I skipped out of work a bit early to do my standard 50kms loop in nice sunshine and (relative) warmth.
Saturday was kinda pissy but warm (50 degrees) so I headed out again rather than pace around my place looking out the window. Broke a bit of a rule and wore a OJA but I have an excuse, I ride in areas much populated by deer and there were beaucoup guys in blaze orange out for their last chance to shoot bambi. I heard lots of gunfire but arrived home unscathed. Alas, the rain really started in at the 32kms point and I was soaked through at the end - even though bike #4 has the race blades permanently on it. (1989 Trek 1200 with 36 spoke wheels, 40 tooth single chainring, 7-speed bock and SIS shifters. Just the job when the weather's crap and Bikes #1,2,3 all cower in the corner at the thought of going out - a true winter bike). Despite the shitty weather, there was a strong "pride in perversity" factor in play as I slogged through the rain. I'm sure more than one driver thought I was mad.
While all rides have their merits, from here on, all rides between now and March are gravy.
@wiscot
I've been riding a road bike for just over a year and never considered riding in the rain and cold. Was surprised how much I enjoyed it. Did get some looks from passing cars.