Categories: Defining MomentsLa Vie VelominatusTradition

Through the Eyes of a Canine

The Directeur takes his dog for a walk.

I envy my dog. There is nothing in her life that can not be immediately obtained that she bothers herself with; she is a perfect example of the happiness to be found through living in the moment, unclouded by dreams or goals. This is the embodiment of one aspect of what I seek from Cycling: freedom from external pressures via total inward focus on the now.

While I envy her, I pity her for this same reason; she will never know the beauty of cultivating a dream, nor the satisfaction to be found in achieving a goal, which is something else I seek from Cycling.

Her combination of focus and absent-mindedness inspires me. She has no limit to her desire to show me her favorite orange ball, or her insistence on helping me notice that she’s laid it in my lap. I can get up and move to another chair, and she will helpfully carry the ball over for me, noting that I neglected to bring it myself. Should something more important demand on her attention – say, the mailman arriving at the door (who requires a session of being barked at), or the appearance of food in her dish – the ball will be forgotten in totality. Later in the day, she will serendipitously reencounter the ball and delight afresh in its limitless bounties.

The changing of the seasons gives me this same gift; with each season I rediscover the beauty of our sport in new ways; riding through a fiery tunnel of changing leaves, the damp earthy smell of a winter’s training ride, the freedom of riding without arm, knee, and shoe covers on a warm spring day, or the glory of riding in the baking summer sun. Each arrives with the welcome of a long-lost friend.

I imagine that everything I need to know in order to become a Directeur Sportif, should the need arise, I have learned from raising dogs. For instance, loyalty is earned, not deserved. Further, loyalty and intelligence are more important than size, strength or talent. Managing a rider in a breakaway, assuming it is a US or Aussie team, the same principles apply as walking a dog on a lead; you prevent them pulling by any means necessary.

As for tolerating doping or other shenanigans within the team, even a dog instinctively knows never to shit where it sleeps.

frank

The founder of Velominati and curator of The Rules, Frank was born in the Dutch colonies of Minnesota. His boundless physical talents are carefully canceled out by his equally boundless enthusiasm for drinking. Coffee, beer, wine, if it’s in a container, he will enjoy it, a lot of it. He currently lives in Seattle. He loves riding in the rain and scheduling visits with the Man with the Hammer just to be reminded of the privilege it is to feel completely depleted. He holds down a technology job the description of which no-one really understands and his interests outside of Cycling and drinking are Cycling and drinking. As devoted aesthete, the only thing more important to him than riding a bike well is looking good doing it. Frank is co-author along with the other Keepers of the Cog of the popular book, The Rules, The Way of the Cycling Disciple and also writes a monthly column for the magazine, Cyclist. He is also currently working on the first follow-up to The Rules, tentatively entitled The Hardmen. Email him directly at rouleur@velominati.com.

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Marcus says:

Oct 14 2013 at 4:55 pm

@frank I just get a kick out of remembering our winners. I love sneaky winners possibly even more than the meritorious - when brains beat braun.

I envy your ability to enjoy losers. The only time I enjoy losing is when I am fighting temptation (I stole this from somewhere).
Beers says:

Oct 14 2013 at 6:11 pm

@paolo

Good joke about the Aussie and American teams Frank. How well we remember wheel sucker Gerrans at MSR and JVS at PR on the radio " no riding no riding if it's a race for third then it's a race for third, no riding". Yuck.

Is that what JVS's DS was saying in the 2011 PR?
paolo says:

Oct 14 2013 at 6:27 pm

@Beers

yes that's what I meant JV. JVS was the rider. And just for you aussie types my favorite Aussie solo moment was Heinrich Haussler stage 13 TDF 2009, crying in the rain, beautiful, made up for missing out on MSR that year by a hairs breadth.

sorry about jacking the thread Frank, these chaps are easy to bite
Barracuda says:

Oct 14 2013 at 6:34 pm

@harminator

@paolo

I don't remember a wheel sucker. I remember a bike racer who was well placed and alert enough to spot a decisive attack on the Poggio and punchy enough to go with it. 40 other guys didn't. I remember a very ballsy descent then Cance pulling 95% and losing the finale (his signature move in 2012?) Nibbles pulling nought and losing and Gerrans pulling 5% and winning. In the green & gold bands too. Its called winning a bike race, mate. Show me a break with someone, anyone, swapping turns with Faboo when he's driving the pace and I'll show you someone about to get beaten.

Correct
paolo says:

Oct 14 2013 at 6:40 pm

@Beers

nothing to do with JVS of course . He was the happy recipient of Garmins somewhat cynical game of "follow Fabian"
paolo says:

Oct 14 2013 at 6:42 pm

@Barracuda

funny how its only Australians agreeing with Australians.
Barracuda says:

Oct 14 2013 at 6:52 pm

@paolo

@Barracuda

funny how its only Australians agreeing with Australians.

Thats how we roll, even if we are wrong, we are right!
Beers says:

Oct 14 2013 at 7:05 pm

@paolo

@Beers

nothing to do with JVS of course . He was the happy recipient of Garmins somewhat cynical game of "follow Fabian"

It is one of my fav races, even then I agree. Even if Faboo has missed the defining break, no one helps him, too dangerous, or at least you could get a lift back up to the break by sucking his wheel.
Marcus says:

Oct 14 2013 at 7:22 pm

@paolo

@Barracuda

funny how its only Australians agreeing with Australians.

Pray tell about what we Australians are agreeing on? All I did was respond to your request to be pointed to an Australian winning off the front.

As for chaps being easy to bite, I am not sure you are on the right website for that.
Puffy says:

Oct 14 2013 at 9:31 pm

@Frank "As for tolerating doping or other shenanigans within the team, even a dog instinctively knows never to shit where it sleeps"

So is the doping the shitting... or the busting of the team members & not turning a blind eye..... ;-)