@Nathan @actor1 – great, thanks for the suggestions, I’ll check them out!

I do think the Castelli aero race glove looks good, but I wish they made one that didn’t go so high up on the wrist.

I have a set of the Castelli aero race gloves, the Garmin Cervelo version, and they are fantastic, I even ride them on cool mornings because they are just so comfortable. I highly recommend them and the only time I have ever wanted to take them off was when I was doing hill repeats on an insufferably hot day, and in saying that, I didn’t end up taking them off. I used to suffer from what I call “claustrophobic hands’  and normal gloves just weren’t cutting it. So if you suffer from the same ailment, these are the only way to go I think.

@freddy

Yes, the solitude of the long solo ride. Strangely, a different kind of solitude can be experienced with a faithful riding partner. My brother and I are almost equally matched in form. On long rides, we share the wind, silently trading places when it feels right. A day of hard riding-few word are spoken. Solitude.

With the right training partner, for sure. Also, when you’re deep in the cave, you can find solitude even in a group – like several of us experienced on the Seattle Summer Cogal.

That said, though, there is something about truly being solo that sets those rides apart. Sharing the wind, trading places, those are all impossibilities when solo. The work needs to be done just by you and no one else.

Thanks for the inpiration. My riding partner wasn’t around this weekend so I set out (a little late) to Belfountain for a 125 km solo ride. The sun set about half way back to Guelph so I was dependent on a tunnel of light from my Leyzne to see the road. Solitude.

@smithers

could you not get cleats for that fine cycling aircast boot?

I wish!  3 more weeks to go…but got on the turbo again today so just happy to be doing some riding!

or maybe @ Deakus, who was actually wearing it – doh!!!

could you not get cleats for that fine cycling aircast boot?

If I compare it to the rides across the Pairofknees in June, with all their grandeur and history and HCness, I have to say, my memories of that long ponderous climb, now confirmed by Strava as being shit slow, still remains my happiest day on a bike – the first day I ever felt La Volupte too

I was alone that day, unlike all the big rides since, but I remember thinking, the V-people are with me

Thanks everyone

Have been unable to make my usual 6am hit out with mates due to finally accepting I have three children and a wife … so have found myself riding solo, later in the day. And I love it.

Aside from anything, I enjoy the confused, envious from some, bemused looks from others thinking ” lucky fucker I wish I was riding my bike ” or ” why the fuck is that loser not at work ” or ” fuck he’s hot ” ….. Its a rare chance to dream, isn’t it, and exist without interuption for a moment outside the humdrum, the pedestrian, the miserable

Cannot wait to set off alone today.Rare, privileged vibes.

First time on the bike since the ankle op (I am not allowed in to the real world till Feb) with flat pedals and wearing this!

I got dressed in my V jersey just for the joy of it and trying to remember what it was like!

This

not this.

How about this:

@Pedale.Forchetta

I do really like solo ride, especially when I’m on holiday, when you don’t know the route very well and because of that I feel a slight sense of uneasiness.

Sounds like every time I ride a mountain bike.

While I assume you’re referring to the slight sense of uneasiness, I’m confused as to how that relates specifically to the mountain bike? But maybe we’re getting into potato-potahtoe territory here.

I do really like solo ride, especially when I’m on holiday, when you don’t know the route very well and because of that I feel a slight sense of uneasiness.

Sounds like every time I ride a mountain bike.

not this.

@Souleur, @VeloVita

Nothing against the group ride for sure; those can have such a great dynamic, whether its a Casually Deliberate ride with friends or a lung-busting hammerfest (also possibly with friends), there can be deep enjoyment from them.

But the solo day-long slog is another animal altogether.

Speaking of which, one of my major grievances with group rides is the fact that no one seems to be able to keep a lid on The V and just ride as planned and agreed beforehand. Rides are always billed as easy, or no-drop etc, and then sure enough, as soon as the road goes uphill someone will go to the front and put the hammer down. For people who ride in groups enough, we all know this happens and we all adjust our expectations accordingly, and we learn to love it.

But I think its very discouraging for people how are trying to get into the sport, or who for whatever reason expect the ride to be as agreed. I think as good Cycling Ambassadors, we could do well to get better about sticking to the agreement on a ride. But it takes all of us, and we all need to hold each other accountable to stick with it.

This shits me like you wouldn’t believe, we have a Wednesday morning group ride that meets at 6 at the bottom of one of the more popular climbs just outside Adelaide & then is supposed to be a 20-25 minute spin (most of our pr’s are in the mid to low teens) up the hill that’s designed to welcome newer riders to riding within groups.

Unfortunately, without fail in the last few weeks, there’s a bunch of riders who’ll join up with us & then attack from the gun…which just means they need to wait around longer at the top. Stoopid 

Erik – for my birthday this year I treated myself to a 120K, 2000m solo – best present ever!

Funny you should mention that, tomorrow’s the birthday & as luck would have it Strava have put a challenge together with BMC to cover at least 128km (79mi) in a single ride over the weekend. Looks like Saturday morning will involve a solo recon of the Adelaide Cogal route as a birthday present to myself.

For me it really depends on how I’m feeling that day, and how I feel about forcing myself into the inevitable “death march” home depending on how hard/long the ride was. The really *good* routes here that take me a ways from home all seem to involve at least 4-5 hours on the bike, so you need to have the time free during the day to put that much time into the ride.

On days where I’m not feeling 100%, I’m more likely to string together a route from my shorter rides, that way I’m never more than 20-30 mins away from home when I feel “done”. This is especially true in winter when I’m wet or cold and just want to strip off the soaked kit and warm up.

I also get into the rut of riding the same routes often because living in a city, they just happen to be the best routes I’ve found for cycling in the immediate area, and they fit in well if I’m strapped for time and don’t have 5 hours for a ride that day.

My usual long training route consists of chaining together my daily training loops.

This method of crafting a long route is foreign to me. I know many people simply do long rides by linking their shorter routes, but don’t you ride those routes enough? Part of my love of the long ride is the exploration. If I’m going out for 200k, that means I can ride a loop that goes 100k from home. Isn’t that part of the beauty of cycling? The level of commitment is admittedly higher, in that you have to get home, and the only way home is to crank out that 100k, or whatever distance it may be.

Being in the flatlands of southeast Michigan, wherever I ride is essentially the same. Some areas are a bit lumpier, but otherwise it’s trees and farms. Thus, I make every route a loop and try to get out onto new roads on occasion. When I head back to mountainous country, then the routes change because the long climbs place more constraints on where you ride.

A vast number of people out here ride the exact same three or four routes over and over again. I always find that baffling. How do all of you go about deciding your routes? Geography plays a huge role obviously, perhaps that’s why you do a meta-route for your long rides Frank?

@frank Try going cold a little longer and you might not get a little too warm so soon. Either way we each choose our own comfort level. I have the sense that you aim to dress very precisely* and I choose to dress very basically*. Under dressed.

Fair enough, but you’re still a nutter, as defined by me – another nutter. So after you carry the one and divide be V, it all winds up being about neutral.

@frank

@Souleur, @VeloVita

Nothing against the group ride for sure; those can have such a great dynamic, whether its a Casually Deliberate ride with friends or a lung-busting hammerfest (also possibly with friends), there can be deep enjoyment from them.

But the solo day-long slog is another animal altogether.

Speaking of which, one of my major grievances with group rides is the fact that no one seems to be able to keep a lid on The V and just ride as planned and agreed beforehand. Rides are always billed as easy, or no-drop etc, and then sure enough, as soon as the road goes uphill someone will go to the front and put the hammer down. For people who ride in groups enough, we all know this happens and we all adjust our expectations accordingly, and we learn to love it.

But I think its very discouraging for people how are trying to get into the sport, or who for whatever reason expect the ride to be as agreed. I think as good Cycling Ambassadors, we could do well to get better about sticking to the agreement on a ride. But it takes all of us, and we all need to hold each other accountable to stick with it.

yeah, i agree. When buddy calls up for a ride/or texts, i will ask what the pace is and he sometimes will reply ‘spirited’

that translates nicely into your ‘repeated hammerfest’, racing for signs, or mailbox’s, & smashing hills flat

Don’t get me wrong, I loves me some town line sprints, but the Cash Del group ride-turned-race is just a challenge to Training Properly and welcoming in noobs.

Yep 404 and a 404 in the Faema photo as well

@Souleur, @VeloVita

Nothing against the group ride for sure; those can have such a great dynamic, whether its a Casually Deliberate ride with friends or a lung-busting hammerfest (also possibly with friends), there can be deep enjoyment from them.

But the solo day-long slog is another animal altogether.

Speaking of which, one of my major grievances with group rides is the fact that no one seems to be able to keep a lid on The V and just ride as planned and agreed beforehand. Rides are always billed as easy, or no-drop etc, and then sure enough, as soon as the road goes uphill someone will go to the front and put the hammer down. For people who ride in groups enough, we all know this happens and we all adjust our expectations accordingly, and we learn to love it.

But I think its very discouraging for people how are trying to get into the sport, or who for whatever reason expect the ride to be as agreed. I think as good Cycling Ambassadors, we could do well to get better about sticking to the agreement on a ride. But it takes all of us, and we all need to hold each other accountable to stick with it.

yeah, i agree.  When buddy calls up for a ride/or texts, i will ask what the pace is and he sometimes will reply ‘spirited’

that translates nicely into your ‘repeated hammerfest’, racing for signs, or mailbox’s, & smashing hills flat

@Souleur

First post here guys – be gentle!

Solitude for me is quite comfortable though, I like it. Its soul time for me, medicine for my soul healing the ailements of my day dealing with all the crap that I do, the bike is my daily dose of prozac, and when I take it I am happier and sleep soundly. Its another dividend we yeild as cyclists.

+1 – Agree entirely – my commute home is where I chill out, sort out the crap from the day, and plan what to have for dinner. The longer rides on weekends mean you don’t have to wait for slower riders, can dig in without having to worry about dropping them and the Strava upload at the end of the day keeps you honest.

Erik – for my birthday this year I treated myself to a 120K, 2000m solo – best present ever!

welcome on board, the pace is smooth, and there is a tailwind lately

@frank

Can anyone tell me what make and model that support car is along side Merckx?

Clearly a Peugot based on the grill emblem.  Probably a 404:

Source:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Peugeot_404_1966.jpg

Can anyone tell me what make and model that support car is along side Merckx?

I do think the Castelli aero race glove looks good, but I wish they made one that didn’t go so high up on the wrist.

@Souleur

First post here guys – be gentle!

Solitude for me is quite comfortable though, I like it. Its soul time for me, medicine for my soul healing the ailements of my day dealing with all the crap that I do, the bike is my daily dose of prozac, and when I take it I am happier and sleep soundly. Its another dividend we yeild as cyclists.

+1 – Agree entirely – my commute home is where I chill out, sort out the crap from the day, and plan what to have for dinner. The longer rides on weekends mean you don’t have to wait for slower riders, can dig in without having to worry about dropping them and the Strava upload at the end of the day keeps you honest.

Erik – for my birthday this year I treated myself to a 120K, 2000m solo – best present ever!

Welcome, mate. I just took a job with a 45km commute each way; good for the legs, better for the soul’s wind-down after work. In the dark, in the rain, doesn’t matter. Just heals.

I can highly recommend Spesh XC Light gloves as they have no padding whatsoever. Problem is for the rule holists, that they’re full fingered.

Padding sucks ass. Pick where you put it, and it sucks. In saddles, in chamois, in gloves. I use Castelli’s Aero Race Gloves and they have almost no padding and just super light lycra over the hands. You don’t even know they’re there. In colder weather I wear a variety of gloves (wool, neoprene, etc) but none of them have actual padding in the palms.

@ChrisO

I had a lovely pair of Castelli S Tre gloves which had no padding but a sort of ribbed palm for grip that also dampened the vibration. They seem to have been discontinued though. If I found a store that had them I would order five pairs to last me for a while.

The Castelli race gloves which come up over the wrist have very little padding too, but I think wearing those for training is a bit OTT.

Those are the ones I used to use, and indeed the Aero Race Gloves are over the wrist and I use them for training and OTT is kind of my style, so I’m good with it!

@Yannersan

For pure aesthetics nothing beats the look of the power rider on a steel frame laying down The V.

As demonstrated by the Prophet, complete with V Face.

Nice article Frank, but I don’t think some of the comments about clothing are sensible. On long (several hours) winter rides it’s VERY important to keep warm. Your body uses a lot of energy just to maintain core temperature in these conditions (I speak from experience, living in the north of Scotland), and it’s easy to underestimate this. Better to be too warm than too cold – you can always take a layer off but you can’t put another one on if you haven’t got it with you in the first place! An extra cafe stop is a great way to replenish that extra energy!

I agree that its easier to take layer off and stow them, and I think whomever suggested you dress for forty-five minutes or an hour in is a nutter.

But the point is you shouldn’t dress to be comfortable when you step out of the house, because after 10 or 15 minutes your core will be warmed up and you’ll be roasting. I like to feel just a bit of a chill when I step out – just enough to make me wonder if I should have a gillet on or if I should have worn a long sleeve jersey instead of a short sleeve with arm warmers. Usually by the time I hit the first climb, I’m perfect or even a little too warm already.

@Erik

Wonderful. When asked what I want to do for vacation, my answer is always, “Take a very long ride alone.” No one believes me. The schedule dominates. My soul suffers a little bit even though it is uplifted by the family I surround myself with. But it is true. I want to take a long ride alone more than anything. I will probably have to put it on the calendar. Schedule it. Oy.

I particularly like, “…. but by their courage to begin.” Truth.

Shifting from Cycling, I think we often assume that people had a holistic plan in place when they set out to do something awesome. But in reality, they just started and figured it out as they went. Edison famously said that he didn’t fail to make a lightbulb a trillion times (number may be exaggerated) but discovered a trillion ways to not make one before he found one way to do it right. He just had the courage to get started on it. And, of course, the vision of making one, but he was a long way off from knowing how he was actually going to do it.

Nothing against the group ride for sure; those can have such a great dynamic, whether its a Casually Deliberate ride with friends or a lung-busting hammerfest (also possibly with friends), there can be deep enjoyment from them.

But the solo day-long slog is another animal altogether.

Speaking of which, one of my major grievances with group rides is the fact that no one seems to be able to keep a lid on the V and just ride as planned and agreed beforehand. Rides are always billed as easy, or no-drop etc, and then sure enough, as soon as the road goes uphill someone will go to the front and put the hammer down. For people who ride in groups enough, we all know this happens and we all adjust our expectations accordingly, and we learn to love it.

But I think its very discouraging for people how are trying to get into the sport, or who for whatever reason expect the ride to be as agreed. I think as good Cycling Ambassadors, we could do well to get better about sticking to the agreement on a ride. But it takes all of us, and we all need to hold each other accountable to stick with it.

@frank when is a solo win done with company? When you have a chimera!

HA!

@cognition

@frank Respectfully, and not to diminish Le professeur – one of my favorite photos of a solitary rider in the midst of a race has to come from the other French hardman, Le Blaireau, in his 100km breakaway to win the 1980 Liege-Bastogne-Liege.

As an American teenager who came into cycling rooting for LeMond, it was easy to hate on Hinault. In retrospect… he’s one of the Giants of the Road.

There are so many awesome photos from that race…and those legs of his always give me gunbone!

First post here guys – be gentle!

Solitude for me is quite comfortable though, I like it. Its soul time for me, medicine for my soul healing the ailements of my day dealing with all the crap that I do, the bike is my daily dose of prozac, and when I take it I am happier and sleep soundly. Its another dividend we yeild as cyclists.

+1 – Agree entirely – my commute home is where I chill out, sort out the crap from the day, and plan what to have for dinner. The longer rides on weekends mean you don’t have to wait for slower riders, can dig in without having to worry about dropping them and the Strava upload at the end of the day keeps you honest.

Erik – for my birthday this year I treated myself to a 120K, 2000m solo – best present ever!

@freddy

Yes, the solitude of the long solo ride. Strangely, a different kind of solitude can be experienced with a faithful riding partner. My brother and I are almost equally matched in form. On long rides, we share the wind, silently trading places when it feels right. A day of hard riding-few word are spoken. Solitude.

yea man, it is great to do some epic rides with a well matched friend, a brother or clone. Just keep fucking taking turns: time on the front, time on a wheel, repeat.

The Castelli race gloves which come up over the wrist have very little padding too, but I think wearing those for training is a bit OTT.

@Buck Rogers

I can highly recommend Spesh XC Light gloves as they have no padding whatsoever.  Problem is for the rule holists, that they’re full fingered.

@Buck Rogers

@Chris He is also riding sans gloves there. What a great pic. LOVE these Hardmen photos!

On a mostly unrelated note, I rode yesterday for the first time ever in my life without gloves. It was getting near sunset and I was all set to go when I realized that I had left my gloves in the basement. I did not want to waste the time running back to the basement so I said screw it and rode. It was actually really great. Felt super. Might be riding without gloves again soon.

If you want to ride sans gloves more often, this stuff is great, it is light enough and has a really luxurious feel, also very grippy in the wet. I think fi’zi:k microtex in white will probably clean up better but this stuff is great if you want bomber hand grip and great vibro dampening…some pro teams are using it now. http://www.wiggle.co.uk/lizard-skins-dsp-bar-tape/

Yeah, feels great but unfortunately I can’t recommend it. I put the lairy pink on my CX bike and found that in the span of one (admittedly very muddy 68km gravel race) the top surface of the tape had worn through on the drops from the combination of vibration and grit.

…each loop carries me by my home – each time I find myself tempted to escape..

Great piece. There is something deeply satisfying about cycling on as pass close to home or reach one of those point beyond which there is no easy ride home, where to turn round is no easier than to continue.

Still looking for a decent pair of gloves though.

Fucking iPads, how do people put up with them?

Frank, you have, as usual given the master class in distilling your subject. Good work!

@mcsqueak @Buck Rogers, no gloves are great til you go down, the only reason I wear gloves is so I can work on Monday if the worst happened.

Yeah that’s why I continue to wear them, road-rash insurance basically. I actually don’t mind wearing them in general, as it’s part of the ‘kit’. I’ve had good luck with Giro gloves in the past, but when I tried some castelli gloves the summer the padding just annoyed me a great deal. I’ve had some ulnar nerve numbness which @Buck Rogers mentioned as well.

@Buck Rogers

I’ve forgotten my gloves occasionally, and it does feel quite nice to ride without them (until your hands get sweaty, or it’s raining and your bars get slick).

I find that the padding in gloves is what bothers me about them – my hands usually have problems going numb because of the padding, and on long rides I wind up having to switch up my hand positions constantly. I notice this isn’t as much of an issue in the fall/winter/spring when I wear long-fingered wool gloves that don’t have any padding. I need to try harder to locate some good mitts for next summer without padding.

Yeah, I was/am having issues with ulnar nerve numbness on long rides with my pinky fingers going numb.  I did not notice it at all yesterday on after after the ride.  I am thinking that I need some new, less padded gloves for riding or no gloves at all. 

@Chris He is also riding sans gloves there. What a great pic. LOVE these Hardmen photos!

On a mostly unrelated note, I rode yesterday for the first time ever in my life without gloves. It was getting near sunset and I was all set to go when I realized that I had left my gloves in the basement. I did not want to waste the time running back to the basement so I said screw it and rode. It was actually really great. Felt super. Might be riding without gloves again soon.

In your line of work, think about whether you (or your patients) want (you) to have roadrash on your hands before you make a habit of this.

@mcsqueak @Buck Rogers, no gloves are great til you go down, the only reason I wear gloves is so I can work on Monday if the worst happened.

My all time favorite summer gloves were paper thin Italian leather. Now in the interest of budgetatus minimus I cruise the weight/workout section of the big sport store and have found some great thin cycling like fingerless gloves that are perfect and cheap – why pay for padding when you donts wants padding?

@Souleur

While I perhaps derive the most pleasure from the dynamic a group ride provides, unfortunately, due to time and logistical constraints, like you most of my rides are done on my own – beginning and ending at my garage door. Admittedly I’ve never put in a 200km solo effort, let alone one in the Winter months as Frank describes, but I have certainly emptied myself on the road on rides punctuated by lifeless arms draped over the bars on the gentle decline that leads back home. I feel the same as you regarding the solitude – its comfortable. reassuring. Its the time I take from the day for myself and the journey that leads me from my doorstep and then back again brings me full-circle, ready to start the next day, always a little better than the day before.

my first 200k winter ride will be later this year, so there are two of us in the hunt for this, and yes…frank is the man

I’ve forgotten my gloves occasionally, and it does feel quite nice to ride without them (until your hands get sweaty, or it’s raining and your bars get slick).

I find that the padding in gloves is what bothers me about them – my hands usually have problems going numb because of the padding, and on long rides I wind up having to switch up my hand positions constantly. I notice this isn’t as much of an issue in the fall/winter/spring when I wear long-fingered wool gloves that don’t have any padding. I need to try harder to locate some good mitts for next summer without padding.

I particularly like, “…. but by their courage to begin.”  Truth.

@Chris He is also riding sans gloves there. What a great pic. LOVE these Hardmen photos!

On a mostly unrelated note, I rode yesterday for the first time ever in my life without gloves. It was getting near sunset and I was all set to go when I realized that I had left my gloves in the basement. I did not want to waste the time running back to the basement so I said screw it and rode. It was actually really great. Felt super. Might be riding without gloves again soon.

If you want to ride sans gloves more often, this stuff is great, it is light enough and has a really luxurious feel, also very grippy in the wet.  I think fizik microtex in white will probably clean up better but this stuff is great if you want bomber hand grip and great vibro dampening…some pro teams are using it now.

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/lizard-skins-dsp-bar-tape/

On a mostly unrelated note, I rode yesterday for the first time ever in my life without gloves.  It was getting near sunset and I was all set to go when I realized that I had left my gloves in the basement.  I did not want to waste the time running back to the basement so I said screw it and rode.  It was actually really great.  Felt super.  Might be riding without gloves again soon.

While I perhaps derive the most pleasure from the dynamic a group ride provides, unfortunately, due to time and logistical constraints, like you most of my rides are done on my own – beginning and ending at my garage door.  Admittedly I’ve never put in a 200km solo effort, let alone one in the Winter months as Frank describes, but I have certainly emptied myself on the road on rides punctuated by lifeless arms draped over the bars on the gentle decline that leads back home.  I feel the same as you regarding the solitude – its comfortable. reassuring.  Its the time I take from the day for myself and the journey that leads me from my doorstep and then back again brings me full-circle, ready to start the next day, always a little better than the day before.

this one is one of your top ten works

Solitude here where I ride is the expectation.  You rely on yourself, your steed, because your entirely on your own.  Its quite rural here as many of the towns here only have a few hundred people, and the larger ones are only ~10k people. There are miles of sanctury land where there is zero population, where google maps cannot find where your at since there is NO cell service, where dogs look at your and wonder…what da hell?  This area of the country I live in is loaded with mostly fat ass’s who would rather watch tv and feel the socialization with the flatscreen than move, moreless ride or run or whatever.  I literally have 2 friends who ride regularly, one masters level racer the other can hang with cat 1/2 boys and has a diesel engine paired with lungs.   We get out for a ride on rare occasions, and the daily grind is in ‘Solitude’.  It is as you say, a paramount distinction of one’s character, discipline and fortitude.  Knowing, as you roule out of bed, that your going out to get slammed by the man, and that your going to get it in repeated doses, takes guts.  Most people around here ask ‘why’, perhaps most logically, but the dividends are worth it and getting the privilege to ride with someone else on the rare occasions I do, I sure hate getting my ass whacked when I do, so I lone wolf it quite regularly.

Solitude for me is quite comfortable though, I like it.  Its soul time for me, medicine for my soul healing the ailements of my day dealing with all the crap that I do, the bike is my daily dose of prozac, and when I take it I am happier and sleep soundly.  Its another dividend we yeild as cyclists.

@frank

Solitude: 1969 Ronde van Vlaanderen. Kickin’ ‘er in from, what, 80 k from the finish? That’s one way to do it.

Lord that is a haunting expression. He has reached the deepest section of the pain cave and mining even deeper.

you can just tell from the body language that he’s using his whole body, not just relying on the guns.

Solitude: 1969 Ronde van Vlaanderen. Kickin’ ‘er in from, what, 80 k from the finish? That’s one way to do it.

Lord that is a haunting expression.  He has reached the deepest section of the pain cave and mining even deeper.

And no matter how doped he was, you have to respect, as LeMan first would call him, Mr. Cappuccino, or how BRR more accurately described him, “MIX ONE PART GRINTA WITH ONE PART PANACHE; ADD TWO PARTS HOWL-AT-THE-MOON, ATTACK-YOUR-OWN-SHADOW CRAZINESS AND THIS IS WHAT YOU GET”, Claudio and his Stage 13 of the 1992 TDF solo breakaway.  Must be one of the greatest solo feats in Grand Tour history, definitely within the last 40 years.  (Photo from BRR)

Dress to be cold for the first 15 minutes,

Usually aim to be warm after 45 min and from there nothing is removed. If I expect that I will remove something later, then I remove it before the start.

I find that the only person I really want to compete with is me.  When I go on the club rides I pick the old boys leisure ride and enjoy the chat the company and encouraging those that are new to the club.

Nothing beats riding solo though….

On photos when in Solitude – can’t beat a carefully chosen fence post really.

@mcsqueak

@G’rilla

As an occasional photographer, it’s difficult for me to look at a picture of someone and think of solitude.

Who took the picture? Right?!

I’d like to think frank takes a camera and tripod with him, sets it up, triggers a delayed-shutter, rides up the road, gets the photo, then goes BACK and collects the camera and tripod. Makes sense…

Have you studied the theory of relativity at all? Its really much easier than that; I just accelerate to race pace, take a picture, and by the time the shutter snaps, I’m up the road and I’ve taken a photo of myself.

Don’t tell me you can’t do that?

Turning all your mass in to energy explains why you find it relatively easy to stay warm…

As an American teenager who came into cycling rooting for LeMond, it was easy to hate on Hinault.  In retrospect… he’s one of the Giants of the Road.

@G’rilla

As an occasional photographer, it’s difficult for me to look at a picture of someone and think of solitude.

Who took the picture? Right?!

I’d like to think frank takes a camera and tripod with him, sets it up, triggers a delayed-shutter, rides up the road, gets the photo, then goes BACK and collects the camera and tripod. Makes sense…

Have you studied the theory of relativity at all? Its really much easier than that; I just accelerate to race pace, take a picture, and by the time the shutter snaps, I’m up the road and I’ve taken a photo of myself.

Don’t tell me you can’t do that?

As an occasional photographer, it’s difficult for me to look at a picture of someone and think of solitude.

Who took the picture? Right?!

Just like the stories of pirate ships who left no survivors. I wonder where the stories came from then?

Yes, the solitude of the long solo ride. Strangely, a different kind of solitude can be experienced with a faithful riding partner. My brother and I are almost equally matched in form. On long rides, we share the wind, silently trading places when it feels right. A day of hard riding-few word are spoken. Solitude.

With the right training partner, for sure. Also, when you’re deep in the cave, you can find solitude even in a group – like several of us experienced on the Seattle Summer Cogal.

That said, though, there is something about truly being solo that sets those rides apart. Sharing the wind, trading places, those are all impossibilities when solo. The work needs to be done just by you and no one else.

@Ron

On the topic of clothing – I was in V-jersey and bibs on Saturday, around 25*C. I saw people in gilets, winter gloves, knee warmers, jackets and even tights. Southerners need to be forced to spend a few winters somewhere cold or be forced to give me their 53 cm road bikes.

Merino base layer on the holiday self-gift list but in the mean time I have some Craft LS long zipper, high neck base layers. Really nice and paired with a LS jersey good down to freezing. My feet and hands are really what suffer in the cold, but that just comes with the season, no special circulation issues. I have tights but think I’ll sacrifice them this year as a) they suck. b) I don’t need them in this climate c) bought a house so looks like I’ll be here for a bit. Bibs with De Feet Kneekers are a solid pairing for cool & cold weather for me.

Hold on, 25 Celsius ? Twenty Five Degrees Above Freezing ? Jockinese can only dream of such warmth.

They issue a heat advisory in Seattle when we start getting close to 298K. It seems insane to that anyone would wear anything other than a jersey and bibs.

@mcsqueak

The heaviest thing I wear on the legs are some light thermal knickers. More likely knee warmers. On top, merino base layer, regular jersey, arm warmers, gilet unless it’s quite cold or early. The merino base layer is the key “” it works great in a wide range of temps.

Wool is amazing; I have three different DeFeet base layers – one with short sleeves, the rest are tanks. The right base layer can eliminate an outer layer, while no base or the wrong one can keep you chilly even when you over-layer on top.

Wool is just an incredible material for that function. And for knee and arm warmers.

@Nate

I’m of the group that follows the “start cold, you’ll warm up” mantra, especially if I know I’ll be climbing for extended periods of time, so I think I understand that perspective better, especially if you’ll only be in the canyons for a little while.

Maybe it’s a personal problem. I just hate how lots of layers feel, I feel bogged down. I hate tights. I’d rather have cold shins then wear the pair of tights I have. And I hate being too hot more than anything.

Yes yes yes. Dress to be cold for the first 15 minutes, though you need to make sure you also don’t under-dress, especially for joints that will be carrying load, like your knees. I’ll err on the side of caution when it comes to those puppies.

@Ron

On the topic of clothing – I was in V-jersey and bibs on Saturday, around 25*C. I saw people in gilets, winter gloves, knee warmers, jackets and even tights. Southerners need to be forced to spend a few winters somewhere cold or be forced to give me their 53 cm road bikes.

Rule 21, baby.

On the topic of clothing – I was in V-jersey and bibs on Saturday, around 25*C. I saw people in gilets, winter gloves, knee warmers, jackets and even tights. Southerners need to be forced to spend a few winters somewhere cold or be forced to give me their 53 cm road bikes.

Merino base layer on the holiday self-gift list but in the mean time I have some Craft LS long zipper, high neck base layers. Really nice and paired with a LS jersey good down to freezing. My feet and hands are really what suffer in the cold, but that just comes with the season, no special circulation issues. I have tights but think I’ll sacrifice them this year as a) they suck. b) I don’t need them in this climate c) bought a house so looks like I’ll be here for a bit. Bibs with De Feet Kneekers are a solid pairing for cool & cold weather for me.

Even those with many a cold winter behind us acclimate eventually. While there is a certain nostalgia in the feel of the first crisp morning, which thankfully happens here in December most years, the dry, windy cold is more difficult to stave off when the previous nine months have been filled with days at 35*C.

I have to say that I’m no stranger to dressing in a way that sometimes makes my brethren from the great white sometimes frozen or occasionally slushy North guffaw. But having lived in and loved many climates, one lesson stays with me: once (frost)bitten, twice shy.

I actually long for the alone rides. With being a “team leader” for us, I’m out on the team rides every weekend. 12-16 of us. I was fortunate enough Saturday that I had time constraints that didn’t allow me to go on the team ride, but I did get out for a couple hours alone. Only saw one other person riding. That’s the best part of Rule #9 training. Solitude. Alone with your own thoughts and misery. Because in my case, misery doesn’t love company.

Oh mister big shot, eh? “Oh, look at me, I have so many friends, training partners, and groupies, I just love having a few minutes to myself. For my wrist exercises.”

Its really just that old chestnut from Fignon that sometimes, you just have to go out and make an appointment with the Man with the Hammer. Those appointments are best taken alone.

Having been in the presence of V-kit this morning (not mine) I can only say it induces a quiet feeling of awe – much like the Sistine Chapel

As an occasional photographer, it’s difficult for me to look at a picture of someone and think of solitude.

Who took the picture? Right?!

I’d like to think frank takes a camera and tripod with him, sets it up, triggers a delayed-shutter, rides up the road, gets the photo, then goes BACK and collects the camera and tripod. Makes sense…

Breathing in that cold Fall air, all on your lonesome is pure joy – and straight unadultered Hardman!

Who took the picture? Right?!

I’ve also been doing more solo riding for a variety of reasons. The large groups I used to ride with on Thursdays and Saturdays are too full of odd balls and people who just don’t ride for the reasons I ride. Number crunchers, fitness freaks, etc. No fun, so long! Saturday rides I’ve found are either too slow or have too many racer nuts. See ya!

And the dudes I used to do smaller group rides with, well, after awhile of wondering why many of them acted so strangely I’ve come to realize…they’re strange! Now, as a confirmed weirdo I’m all for unusual folks, but there is just something off and it makes rides very little fun. I spend more time analyzing why some dude doesn’t say a single word to me in three hours than I do enjoying the ride. See ya!

In the beginning I liked testing myself, learning to ride in a line, et cetera. Now that I’m a smooth operator, well, I’d prefer to leave the data dorks and strange dudes alone and maximize Awesomeness when I’m riding.

Oh, and my recent move has put me in a location where the best way to get to the country roads is riding a cinder path. Ha, so every road ride can begin with a Strada Bianchi secteur. It’s a fine way to start & finish a road ride!

These rides … serve to remind that a large task is an aggregate of smaller, more simple tasks that we need only the courage to begin.  Just as a long ride is accomplished by the simple act of turning the pedals, we achieve our goals in life by starting today to incrementally move towards them.

Thanks for this, Frank.  I’m in the middle of one of those long-term, dauntingly huge projects right now (explaining my relative absence from the site lately).  This really resonates.  Chapeau.

On the topic of clothing – I was in V-jersey and bibs on Saturday, around 25*C. I saw people in gilets, winter gloves, knee warmers, jackets and even tights. Southerners need to be forced to spend a few winters somewhere cold or be forced to give me their 53 cm road bikes.

Merino base layer on the holiday self-gift list but in the mean time I have some Craft LS long zipper, high neck base layers. Really nice and paired with a LS jersey good down to freezing. My feet and hands are really what suffer in the cold, but that just comes with the season, no special circulation issues. I have tights but think I’ll sacrifice them this year as a) they suck. b) I don’t need them in this climate c) bought a house so looks like I’ll be here for a bit. Bibs with De Feet Kneekers are a solid pairing for cool & cold weather for me.

Hold on, 25 Celsius ? Twenty Five Degrees Above Freezing ? Jockinese can only dream of such warmth.