There are many paths to learning lessons, many of which have their merits. Reading a book, for instance, is a popular way of learning something. Or having a teacher or mentor describe to you why things are the way they are or aren’t the way they aren’t. Then there is my favorite method, that of kicking your own head in and discovering the reasons first-hand.
I actually love being taught things by others, and value the process greatly; it allows one to move past all those lessons learned by your instructor and get to the business of making mistakes in uncharted territory. That’s where the interesting stuff – the stuff that captures my imagination – lies: learning in a very direct maner why one method might be superior to another.
Take, for example, doing a long climb on gravel. More resistance, more varied gradients, more exposed terrain – yeah, yeah I get it. Lets go. I’ve spent this week on vacation in the mountains north of Winthrop, Washington, doing reconnaissance for a future Gravel Cogal. It has been a handy study in what constitutes the gap between theory and experience. For example; yes, there is more drag doing a 15km climb on loose gravel. This manifests itself in rapid onset of fatigue. There is also a remarkable difference in the way a steep pitch feels when riding it in said loose gravel and over a wildly uneven surface.
Ironically, all that extra drag seems to convert into a sensation of riding on a combination of marbles, ball-bearings, and quicksand when descending. On the plus side, riding the road machine should seem rather easy upon my return home.
I know as well as any of you that I've been checked out lately, kind…
Peter Sagan has undergone quite the transformation over the years; starting as a brash and…
The Women's road race has to be my favorite one-day road race after Paris-Roubaix and…
Holy fuckballs. I've never been this late ever on a VSP. I mean, I've missed…
This week we are currently in is the most boring week of the year. After…
I have memories of my life before Cycling, but as the years wear slowly on…
View Comments
Gravel be damned: we need more Bobet on this site!
Winthrop, though: that's beautiful country!! And, I'm guessing, a ride I'd love to be a part of...
Might be worth a trip north to join the fun!
surely with gravel it isn't just "drag" as such, it's that the damn road moves every time you lay down the power, as if you're riding on a very slow, bumpy, long, treadmill?
As an aside, have we all seen the news that Spartacus is going to have a crack at The Hour? Who else from the current peloton might be capable?
@Al__S
Jens Voigt but it won't be pretty.
I would like to see both Jens and Spatacus have a crack at it. How about this? Get both of them to do it on a tandem...
@Jay I think they'd probably destroy that bicycle with the amount of V they'd curse it with.
But seriously, who would be the captain and who the stoker? I can't imagine either one of them being to willing to finish behind the other.
@JACD214
which perhaps calls for a tandem like this?
I immediately thought to myself, "Is his front wheel off the ground?"
Huh.
Good on ya, Frank! Out doing recon rides, always at work for the Followers. Nice job.
@freddy
Now that would be something....Jensy and Spartacus on a side by side.....I cannot help but fear for humanity though as they try to attack each other, there is a risk that they tear a hole in the space time continuum!
Super photo Frank - Tomorrow we Ride is one of my favourite books of the Works. Enjoy the gravel.