Although we find our way to the bicycle by different path, we all share the fact that at some point, this simple and elegant machine captured our imaginations. It became something more than simply a means to travel about, get exercise, or compete – it became something central to our lives.
Somehow and by different means, La Volupte seduced each of us. We became hypnotized by the rhythm of the cyclist’s life, by the movement of the machine. There might have been a moment where the machine which once hardly obeyed our commands suddenly surrendered to our every desire; we only needed to push upon the pedals a bit harder in order to coax more speed from the machine.
Then we made a fundamental discovery: the pleasure to be found from pushing ourselves beyond our limits. The simplicity found in the singular focus when all ancillary thought is shut down as we steel our mind against the strain of the effort. In truth, the pleasure comes less from the suffering but from the knowledge that we overcame the impulse to relent. We join a minority who, in a small way, triumph over our very nature.
With this discovery comes a kind of Stockholm Syndrome as we fall in love with everything bicycle-related – from the beauty of the machine itself to every bit of history and culture that surrounds it. We have transformed into a Velominatus.
As we mature as cyclists, we turn our focus towards improvement of the Craft: we crave a more Magnificent Stroke, to become stronger, to go Steady Up with More Speed. As the hardships of our sport become a constant companion, their novelty is diminished. The novelty of pushing ourselves fades; it becomes a routine component of our Work to become better cyclists.
Throughout, the cycle gains momentum. Every year, we become faster, stronger, harder. We might even forget why we love the sport as we lose ourselves in our quest for improvement. Thresholds, speeds, distances, wattage, elevation; these metrics replace the beautiful simplicity of La Vie Velominatus, which is fundamentally about the love of the bike and cycling at large.
But every cycle has its peaks and valleys and with each Summer spent narrowing the two-month gap to finding peak form, those of us who know how to train properly will fill our Winters building our base condition with longer, low intensity rides which throw us back to those basic sensations that drew us into the sport originally: the smell of the air, the sound of our tires as they flirt with the pavement or earth, the rhythmic breathing, the freedom of riding a bicycle.
Each Fall, as the skies grey and the rain begins to fall, I’m struck by my sudden rediscovery of the original reasons I love cycling. With my season’s goals many months away, the micromanagement of my condition and performance gives way once more to the pleasure of the ride. If I feel strong (which rarely happens during this time of year) and the desire to push myself shows itself, I may do it. If not, I don’t. It doesn’t matter at that time of year – just spending time on the machine is more than enough to pay dividends when the days grow longer and the sun returns to the sky. Rain, shine, cold, warm – I hardly notice the difference as I am once more reminded of the reasons why I love to ride my bike.
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@G'phant
Thanks for tidying this. You were "that" kid in school, weren't you?
The bit of info that might help here is Gianni's time from '07 because we need to compare apples to apples (Gianni - Frank) not apples to hardmen (Frank - Ryder). I imagine Gianni and the VMH's sipping MaiTai's in the "team car" while frank unveils is haulie white guns that haven't seen the sun in 4 months. More power to ya bra', I wish I could join you.
4:06.46
Franks Time Up the Big One
1) Rob - 3:51.25
2) Jeff in PetroMetro-3:35:35
3) Steampunk - 4:27.18
4) G'phant - 4:14.9
5) Marko - 4:06.46
@G'phant
Thanks - they will get it soon!
To all - I am not sure when the effort is being made so get your times in soon. I think some token prize should be awarded so I will accept suggestions and will dig through my potential awards box to see if I can come up with something that could ship world wide.
@Marko
I think that no info is fair as we all will have the same handicap. I do know how Gianni climbs now, I did at least 20 years ago and having just met Frank (off the bike) my guess is he is hyper compared to Gianni on hills - (sorry old friend, the truth can hurt) - there is a bit of age difference. Having said that its winter for Frank and the heat will slay him. My guess if I have to be honest was a bit of a suck up, I really think it will take half the day if he makes it at all.
OK, based on Frank's Tour de Blast time, he can climb 16.4 meters/minute at what was likely a max power effort over 14 minutes. He has 3048 meters to climb, and given distance and altitude I am assuming a sustained 80% of max effort.
3048/16.4/0.80 = 232.3 minutes or 3:52:12.
xyxax: 3:52:12
Franks Time Up the Big One
1) Rob - 3:51.25
2) Jeff in PetroMetro-3:35:35
3) Steampunk - 4:27.18
4) G'phant - 4:14.9
5) Marko - 4:06.46
6) xyxax - 3:52.12
@Rob
Nice going on the ride. The wind must have made it a bit brutal. My back had me walking around like a human question mark all weekend.
It was -14 C on the commute into Manhattan today. I think I froze an alveolus.
@Rob
I'm beginning to think that the reader who picks frank's time in any event he does gets to wear a V-kit jersey here on the board similar to the other VSP jerseys.
Amen.
I had to share this snap of our Saturday WBL in South Carolina. Only snowfall on the coast SC could be overshadowed by this guy, in jeans and winter ski jacket, giving it stick. This guy is Rule 5.
A lot of the guesswork also stems from not knowing how much research Frank has been doing.
@RideFit
A local shop held their "Worst Day of the Year" ride yesterday. It was cold (13F), but sunny, so hardly worse than today @ (14F and icy slush, but whatever). Anyhow, there was a guy dressed similarly on the ride. He held on until the front group decided to throw down a paceline that picked up to 34-36kph. I was off the back having fiddled with my bidon that had been frozen for too long. Thus it was a rough effort to latch back on. Laying down The V in really cold weather makes the lungs fill with strange mucous. Does anyone else get the same feeling?
Also, I had one of the better interactions with an angry driver. At a stoplight, fat old man (FOM) started yelling at us out the window. The best line was certainly "You guys are fucking nothings!" Amazing how angry people get when you take a whole 30 seconds from their life.
It just managed to reinforce my "Douchebag Theory of Truck Owners": A) If you own a large white truck, you're probably a douche. B) If you own a modded truck, you're probably a douche. C) If you own a combination of A+B, you're definitely a douche.