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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@Cyclops
Word.
It beseech the Keepers, I beg forgiveness. I freely admit my sin of Rule V disobeyance. Indeed, my fear of Sudden Death should not detract from the need to HTFU.
But I most certainly did not mean to turn the discussion of Frank's eloquently phrased observations on the Path of the Velominatus into the usual bitching one finds on every bike club/advocacy/magazine web site. Blahblaahblah drivers suck, cyclists riteous etcetcetc. The Ancients vision for us all was much more altruistic, much more "casually determined" than this rabble rousing found elsewhere on the interwebs.
I humbly beg forgiveness....and vow to conquor my fear.
That is all.
@RedRanger
I come to a complete stop. I just don't unclip. I also rarely ride in cities. This is foolishness, though. Do drivers need to open their door and put their foot down in order to demonstrate they have stopped? Come to think of it: that's not a bad idea...
Good words Frank. I like the (to?) work too. In fact I enjoy feeling that I work as part of my enjoyment of cycling. Vive la regle 9.
@Dr C
Japan.
Since it is a form of betting the equipment is very limited to stuff approved by the Japanese Bicycle Association. Basically they ride steel frames with 36 spoke wheels. Supposed to make it depend on rider for betting. Its like horse racing in a way.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keirin
@Dr C
As the learned @DerHoggz stated it's a Keirin School. From what I can gather from extensive research (Wikipedia is fairly infallible isn't it?) it's big in Japan where they bet heavily on it and as a result heavily regulated. The riders have to qualify in Keirin school where they not only go through their paces but also learn the history and etiquette of the sport. Equipment also has to be approved and tends only to be Japanese. Not sure why they don't completely dominate track cycling with a set up like that.
I'm off to my travel agent in the morning to see if I can get booked in for a couple of weeks for my holidays next summer. Or should I say V-acation?
@DerHoggz
You utter sod for getting that post in while was typing mine!
Apropos of nothing, here is a photo from today's Melbourne newspapers which might amuse. Cuddles and an Aussie WNBA player.
We might have pinched Le Tour, but the Cheese Eating Surrender Monkeys have stolen our Melbourne Cup (a horse race for which we have a public holiday - "The Race That Stops the Nation") for two years running.
@Chris
Is it against the rules to like track? Because I certainly do. I think Campy is the only non-Japanese manufacturer to be approved for Japanese keirin. Keirin is also done outside of Japan, without the goofy helmets and old tech.
Keirin Worlds 2006
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMsotvad5nA
Theo Bos is a boss.
I'm pretty sure the rules are cool with track, I certainly am. It all starts to go wrong when track bikes escape onto the street and hook up with tattooed fucktards with questionable facial hair and girls trousers.
I do not know if it's the rain dripping from the brim of my cotton Castelli hat, or if it's the looks I get from motorists at red light as mother nature pisses on me, or if it the way it feels to put on multiple layers of matching winter gear as you brace yourself for the chill that will war against your blood in an epic battle to keep the legs warm. Whatever it is, there truly is something epic and pro-esque about riding in bad weather!
-B. Cog