Despite the proclivity towards being all-knowing that comes as a consequence of my being Dutch, the most beautiful things in life are discoveries that come as a result of not knowing. We are quick to answer but slow to think; the easy solution lies at our fingertips while the true mystery lurks just beyond, ready to reveal her secrets if only we are willing to venture into the unknown. Beauty is found in the journey, not the destination.
As Cyclists, we start our journey with the simple joy of pedalling a bicycle and escaping the clumsy limitations of bipedal locomotion – walking quickly loses its luster when you can pedal a bike instead. First we pedal to explore the limits of our range, then the limits of our speed. Finally, we pedal to explore the limits within ourselves as speed and range are tested together.
When we free ourselves from the confines of our local and familiar roads and point the bicycle towards parts unknown, we rediscover the childish beauty of exploration that came when we first started riding a bike. Not knowing what lies around the next bend is a mysterious sort of riding completely different from the regimented training we have become accustomed to. The familiar pressure will be there in our heart, lungs, and legs, but with it will come an element of nervous excitement at the anticipating the unknown. Whether we encounter a dead end or a gravel road; none of it matters in the scope of discovery.
One of the amazing things about a competent rider aboard a bicycle is how much distance can be covered in a day. After 8, 10, or 12 hours away, we can look at a globe and see the stretch of land we covered. The mind will be tired from the effort from having pushed the body and wondering about what will be coming next. The body will be empty, the lungs will have that familiar tension from supplying oxygen-starved muscles with fuel. The look in the rider’s eye will be one of the exhilaration that only comes as a result of total exhaustion.
We need this sort of emptiness in order to feel fulfilled. There is something beautiful to be discovered when we push into the unknown.
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@frank Good one.
@frank - correct, Im Australian, not smart. I cant do both.
BTW, great clip, also brings back great memories.
These days Im constantly Raging Against The Machine.
This article has compelled me to meditate deeply. Doing so brought me back to rule #6, and how there is part of personal discovery to it as well. We discover our own limitations, as well as entertain those of our emotions.
Arr I just long for the time when life was sufficiently unencumbered I could do an 8hr ride. That time has been, but will come again.
@strathlubnaig
and depending on the upcoming vote we may have to dig out the canal and push it off again.
This is my first post. I've been following you all for the last year almost as obsessively as I ride. I have learned so much from all of you. I am only a mere pedalwan, even if I've been riding my whole life. This article compelled me to post. It is exactly how I feel and why I love to ride . Hammer meets nail right on the fucking head. THANK YOU VELOMINATI!!
@Coyotetree
Welcome, hope it won't be your last post. Good to see you've got the obsessive part.
I get a kick out of the Long Solo Ride Voice Frog. Rather self explanatory, but this has happened to me when I'm out for a good number of hours riding, doing nothing but letting the mind wander as the legs spin, and then when you open your mouth to speak...all that comes out is a funny screech.
Gotta just laugh at yourself when that happens.
@frank
Ah, I've never heard it attributed to Lincoln before. Mark Twain several times, and others. Apparently it wasn't really any of them although the concept was expressed by numerous people, even someone French - who'd have thought.
Benjamin Franklin came close but IIRC the context was a scientific paper submitted to the Royal Society or something like that where he apologised for the length of the paper and not having been able to edit the length.
I also quite like the quote, which is why I looked it up. Twain was a great writer but the number of things wrongly but plausibly attributed to him always makes me check.
On the subject of Lincoln though....
Apparently in the publishing world it was once considered, perhaps with an element of sarcasm, that books about Lincoln, doctors or dogs would be surefire hits. That gave the title of a satirical book about publishing entitled Lincoln's Doctor's Dog and the concept of cynically hashing together whatever is popular.
Try that one out at the next swell publishing shindig you famous authors attend. There'll be gin and tonic snorted over bow ties I promise.
@Ron
Yeah, no kidding. I should just quit and run away and become a Dharma Bike Bum! (I do not think that Karma would, or should, treat me kindly if I do that!)