Merckx famously professed that after a night of sinning, the body must be cleansed. He obviously meant this figuratively, not literally, because those mud guards on his bike aren’t going to take a big bite out of whatever that lorry has to offer him by way of a Flandrian facial.
Winter is a tough time for those of us pawing about in search of our climbing weight. With the shortening of days, the nesting instinct awakens. Darkness falls in late afternoon and when we wake, we are greeted by the same darkness that wrapped us all through the evening. Nature urges us to combat the darkness with food and drink; summer’s dinner salads are replaced by slow-cooked meat and potatoes served with a side of pasta and bacon and washed down with a few bottles of red.
Weight defies the conservation of mass; it is more easily gained than lost. Fitness occupies the opposite realm; it is more easily lost than gained. Riders like Kelly, Merckx, and De Vlaeminck were famous for their discipline throughout winter; training long and hard to lay the groundwork for their Spring and Summer campaigns. With a sea of months between us and next season’s goals, there is little urgency to train properly. But keeping our weight down and putting in the long base kilometers will reward us throughout the season. Besides, it hardens the character to train in the cold, wet winds that characterize the winter months. The training we do in summer feels a luxury by comparison.
I cherish the winter months when my training is peaceful and free of pressure. I look forward to the sun warming my muscles, but for now I am content to stock up on fresh Flandrian Best, prepare the bike for the winter roads, and submit to the solitude of the cold training hours that lie before me.
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@xyxax
Four Horsemen of Isuckalypse.
Fuck'in Golden right there! Great stuff!
Glad I live in a place where there is only 20mins of daylight and 1 deg C temperature difference between Summer and winter and dont have worry about seasons......
@frank
The "Stunt Double" in the movie was Gary Rybar; at the time a Cat 1 racer out of Indianapolis. We were told through the grapevine Gary was clocked at 85.3 KPH while drafting the Cinzano truck. The scene was filmed on a flat section of Indiana highway 37 between Indianapolis and Bloomington. To note, also, one of the Cinzano riders was John Vande Velde, father of Garmin rider, Christian Vande Velde. John, in his own right, was a 1968 and 1972 Olympian.
@teleguy57
Hey, if you're in the area, a bit of company on such rides would be welcome. I generally ride solo but having a riding buddy would be nice. I know most of he roads in the area pretty well and can tailor a ride to whatever distance might be desired.
@fixedgear66
We get some super truck drafts here - big 5,000 gallon water trucks that you know aren't stopping in a hurry - and I've been up to mid 70s on a compact before I spun out.
With a cooperative driver, good roads and a standard 53-11 it wouldn't be too difficult to hit mid 80s I reckon. Edgy, but possible.
@teleguy57
That was exactly my response--a mere 5 miles east of my present location (up over the Escarpment, or the Ledge" as the locals refer to it) is "Seven Hills Road." There are seven hills. And they each have their own level of suck. My first time riding up 15% gradients (albeit only for very brief periods). 10 miles further east gets you into the Kettles and their uppy-downy-foresty goodness.
Unfortunately, rides to take advantage of my newfound enhave been few and far between of late, new kid, new house, new job, new town, etc., and all that. Hoping to have a good off-season and hit it pretty hard-core come next spring.
This article really made me waiting for the start of base training. Time to build my winter training bike!
@fixedgear66
Coolest thing I've read all day.
@dissolved
You know what the true solution is? Keepers' Tour 14
@frank
I sincerely hope you never will.
@frank
This is all part of the plan but I'm still not putting it on my back.