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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@frank
Excellent, glad to hear the preparations are going well and on target. It is going to be a nail biting morning (evening) for us. If Gianni is slow on the live video can we get on the road updates?
Nate has a good point that bike of yours is way better than a lousy ring that could rule them all.
Lastly we are still looking for Gianni's prediction and any one else - ?
@frank
May The V be with you Frank. You're living a dream of mine right now.
Often, people say, "Oh I'm going to Hawaii" and I respond, "I'm not in good enough shape to go to Hawaii." Which always draws a quizzical response, as to a typical (read: lazy) American, I appear fit. But on Hawaii loom the three monsters: Mauna Kea, Mauna Loa, and Haleakala. The three sisters that represent three of the longest paved climbs in the world (if not THE three longest). A dream vacation would include climbing all three in a glorious week of suffering. Someday.
@Collin
That is a very cool idea but I will wait to see if Frank can do one!
Best wishes, Frank. Fire those guns long and hard, Big Guy.
@Collin
The climbs on the Big Island are different in that they are not just one climb. The Saddle road between them rolls up and down (mostly up). Haleakala is almost completely - except for maybe 200m - uphill with no respite. Also, neither Mauna Kea nor Mauna Loa are paved all the way to the top and the pavement on both stops well short of the 10,023 foot mark.
@Frank
When you get to the parking lot at the top, roll straight through and pedal up the walking path to the observation hut at the top. That's an extra 20-30 vertical feet that I know you wouldn't want to cheat yourself out of...
3:29 I have faith.
@Cyclops
Brave call!
"Frank Vs. The Volcano"
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
7) Chris - 4:12.37
8) Nate - 3:59:45
9) Geoffrey "” 5:01:01
10) sgt - 4:42:36
11) Collin - 4:17.29
12) mcsqueak - 4:45:01
13) JFT - 3:58:30
14) Buck Rogers - 4:25.36
15) 3cross - 3:57:13
16) Cyclops - 3:29.0
@Rob OK, I finally putting in my guess. The weather should be OK, light and variable winds usually means no 60 kph trade winds but it also means it could be hotter for the pasty white hairless Dutch Monkey.
I will be the DS behind the wheel and Michelle will be typing in the tweeted updates from the co-pilot seat. I'm installing the cheap megaphone on the car roof so I can yell "venga, venga, venga" for hours on end. We will shoot video from my lame little flip video camera and it will require a day or two to edit it down to something slightly cool. But there should be a lot of footage of him chewing on his aluminum handlebars as he climbs for hour after hour after hour.
I hope he easily breaks four hours. I hoped I could break five hours so at least I'm giving him credit for beating me by more than an hour. He may climb well for his weight but damn it's a lot of up and there is no place to hide. Better him than me.
"Frank Vs. The Volcano"
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
7) Chris - 4:12.37
8) Nate - 3:59:45
9) Geoffrey "” 5:01:01
10) sgt - 4:42:36
11) Collin - 4:17.29
12) mcsqueak - 4:45:01
13) JFT - 3:58:30
14) Buck Rogers - 4:25.36
15) 3cross - 3:57:13
16) Cyclops - 3:29.0
17) Gianni - 3:36:00
@all
My wonderfully amazing VMH (who just demonstrated how to open a beer bottle with a Leatherman and have it hold onto the cap) has agreed to provide live updates via our Twitter feed @velominati.
Cheers.