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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@Buck Rogers
I'm still not convinced that's a training pic. If it was cold enough to set out wearing a jacket and overshoes, I'm sure LF would have worn tights and some kind of warm hat. Even today, a lot of pros don't wear helmets when they don't have to and when training they're usually bundled up with tights, jackets etc. Back in the 80s when helmets were a lot less common and only compulsory in Belgium and the UK (I'm willing to be corrected on this) I'm sure most pros would not train with one on. My guess is that Le Prof is riding a spare bike sans number in a race somewhere. Hence the helmet and racing gear. The jacket has been added because of the adverse conditions. Whatever . . . it's still an awesome pic.
@Buck Rogers
Yeah I have mid-level bibs from PI and LG, and the logo crap always comes off eventually. As someone who drives often and sees plenty of other cyclists, I think the little logo bits do help catch peoples attention as they bob around with the cyclist's movement.
@frank
Well, you do bring up an important concept - that of relative risk. Suffice it to say this is a science all unto itself. Your comments are well taken, particularly about the leaves. However, visibility is only one small variable in the calculus. Bike brakes are *way* less effective in the rain and cold (cold hands are less responsive) as are the brakes on the Huge Vehicles Of Death that we are forced to share space with. The tyre pressure adjustment is fine, but the extra amount of contact area is miniscule at best. Visibility by the rider drops in the rain too. About the only thing I share with Le Professor is our need for prescription lenses on the bike. Once these get wet and fog up, I can't see very well at all.
Cycling is dangerous, period. I agree. But since I am not a pro or a racer (except when there is someone riding in front of me or when there is a clock running on my bars) I have to allocate time in my life (see previous post.) I mitigate my risk by not racing, not riding 'cross (although my VMH did race 'cross, and her helmet saved her life), not riding in shit conditions. But, as a risk manager might point out, this means I am less fit that a pro, racer, or 'crosser, and thus more susecptible to the scourges of weight gain. A non-linear equation, for sure. Less fit means I am constantly 2 months from peaking, meaning when I push myself next, my risk of heart attack is higher. La Vie Velominatus.
Want to eliminate risk of being injured on a bike? Easy. Never get on one. But then, if you never want to end up unhappy in romance, never fall in love. Easy. I have to learn to split the baby somehow. Meaning I don't drink shit beer, can't ride when I fear a horrible death, and married the love of my life early in life. Doesn't mean I don't wonder about that new micro, bemoan my lack of hardness, or occassionaly look at a redhead and wonder.
Pedale - very nice write-up! I love the feeling of knowing that despite it only being a training ride, everyone notices where everyone else finishes, and being near the front at the line! Ha, you've seen The Warriors? I LOVE that movie. Used to come on WPIX, an NYC station, every few months. I've been watching it since I was a kid. It's awesome.
Cyrus
@scaler911
I actually think Portland drivers are the second-worst on the planet. Seattle's are a close third. At least all the badness has to do with being overly cautious and not willing to make a decision at an intersection. At least they're not aggressive drivers. For the most part.
@Oli
Depends on where you are; in the South, they drive like you describe; slow and careful in the dry, and then in the rain and ice, they speed up. Here, the drivers are generally more careful.
I guess by saying they're more alert, I mean they're less likely to be looking around at scenery or texting their friends. So, to put that in context for New Zealand, in the rain, drivers here would be less likely to fondle a sheep.
@frank
Ugh - I can't even begin to describe how often I come to a stop sign, unclip and a put my damn foot down, and then have the dope behind the wheel of the car THAT HAS THE LEGAL RIGHT-OF-WAY try and wave me through. I've already gone through the effort of stopping, but thanks! /sarcasm
I guess it's better than being called a faggot and then run off the road, but is still annoying. Like "first word problems" for cyclists.
It really awesome here when we get a few 100k snow birds for the winter. Love that shit. You will never see more old people driving on the wrong side of the road as you will in Tucson between November and April.
@ChrisO
Absolutely agree - was just saying that mist can help you focus more on the sensations of the ride and not get distracted, making it easier to be paid a visit by her. Not to say it can't be done otherwise - as you say, we find her whenever we're ready, whatever the conditions.
@Buck Rogers, @wiscot
I'll try to find the book I scanned it from and maybe it will tell us.
@RedRanger
Gold!
@Ron
Very impressed by that film, the first time I went in NYC some times ago I never took the metro because of 'Warrior'. I was very young though.
@mcsqueak
Merckx, but that drives me nuts. I go to some great pains to avoid the Machines Of Death I share the road with, and this includes Obeying the Rules(!) of the road. OK, when there is no traffic, I do treat stop signs as yield, as Bob Mionske has so eloquently detailed in his columns, but when MoDs are around, I stop. Holy Merckx on a waffle, I am so sick of being waived at. And they are oblivious to the fact therte is some guy coming from the other direction I have to yield to, or the asshole behind him that is now passing, and has no intention of being nice at all. It has gotten so bad, that once stopped and unclipped, I generally *look the other way* so they can see that I am not paying any attention to them. I grab my water bottle. I grab a snack. I've even had one start honking at me to get my attention so they can get me to go through my stop sign because they are parked in the middle of the road waiting for me.
For some, insanity is a long drive. When it comes to this shit though, its a short putt.