It’s been almost 7 years since I wrote this blog piece and so much has transpired since. The only one  thing that has not changed is my love for the bike.  After that Marmotte, I continued to ride, ride and ride and you could guess – I severely overtrained! I rode over 23,000km for nearly 3 years in a row and I was in my 50’s.  I know they say “Age is just a number” but their are some natural changes especially in those of us without the genetic gifts (except for dedication).  I was flying high and then one day I could no longer follow.  I did not STOP riding however I have changed my mindset. I bike for different reasons, I bike because I love the feeling of earning a descent. Flying down a mountain, taking the straight lines and pedaling though corners, taking in the views, smelling the flowers and although it seems like everyone passes me, I always smile and say “hola” . After  8 and 1/2 years living in Belgium, ( earning honorary Flandrien status) I just relocated to sunny Spain. I met a wonderful Belgian man who is a master’s racer  (going for gold in the Masters 60-64 category this year) . Sharing my love for the bike again is filling in a void that took some years to fully process.  Not sure if anyone will read this, but if so I am sending much pure bike love to all of you. Life is always better with a bicycle … xox

Farzani

I joined the group when I was thinking about what bike to buy and Nancy gave some great advice – hence the Damocles ISP in the garage and the two great weeks I’ve just had in the Pyrenees.

I’m lost for words now I understand the full story.

This is Dan_R’s great article about the wounded warrior games at Camp Pendelton. Both articles are both heartfelt and beautiful.

Remember to feel the breeze as you descend and hear the hum of the tyres as you ascend.  Stop and take a look around as tomorrow it might all be gone. 

It is all in the Bike if you take the time to look.

Allez!

@frank @farzani This too has had me thinking all day. While my VMH is a Badass, there are occasional times that I ride without her. She is never far from my thoughts, but particularly when I am on the bike. We’ve been together for 30 years now, but been cyclists together for only about the last half dozen. “It” can happen anywhere, anytime, but I never feel more vulnerable than when I am on a bike. This story just touches on something so…human…that I’m having trouble with perspective.

So, in an attempt to do so, may it please the Keepers, I propose the following as a newly discovered Rule:

“Rule #92: The Bike is an Eternal Committment: Love the VVork. The ride you are on now will never come again, while at the same time it is preparing you for the next ride.”

The Ancients occassionally work their wisdom in ways difficult to understand.

This is being kicked around the boardroom; we’ll advise the community of our findings. Its like I’ve said (and I’m sure many others as well) many times: the best rides are the ones we come home from.

BTW I am not a great climber just got a decent engine, strong legs (years of strength training and I mean REAL STRENGTH training- not what most girls do and most men for that matter) and stubborn as hell. I will NOT walk my bike. 22% etc.

You are lucky to have a supportive wife, Hopefully someday I’ll be throwing bidons to Yves boys..At 7 & 9 years old we already mastered hand offs.

Keep climbing!

On a side note, now that I have moved from the prairie to the mountains, I have a strong respect for your dedication to a goal and your climbing ability.  My previous climbs were relagated to the first bank of the velodrome, but now, I am learning the pain of going up. Always. I mean, I have a short 1km descent from my nieghbourhood that I have to ride up to get home now. It tops out at 7% which is peanuts compared to any of the mentioned climbs, but damn it still hurts. And I love it every ride. I hope to see you fly by me some day on the way up some epic climb. You’ll recognize me. I will be the guy that looks like absolute crap and my wife will be yelling me to ride harder from the support car while throwing bidons at me.

@Gianni how do I get one of those wonder “V”‘s  on my profile? xxx

I’m not quite sure what you are asking but the V to the right of @farzani changes with how often one posts articles and comments. More details at the bottom of this page. And the other V on the left is the default icon until you get yourself a sweet avatar on http://www.gravatar.com

Happy your story has met with such fine comments from our fellow readers. It’s well deserved. We are not such a callous bunch.

Wow. Touched. Thanks for sharing your story with us, and best of luck for your future, on and off the bike.

And yes, come and drop me on KT13!

@Farzani thank you for sharing your story, and your wonderful way of telling it. Have you thought of writing a book? I think it would make a brilliant and truly unique addition to The Works. I think it also has the potential to be the basis for a superb film that would touch a huge number of people – and maybe, just maybe help non-cyclists understand what we’re really about.

This.  Yes.

What a beautiful, tragic story.  I’m not a crier but you’ve moved me to tears this morning.

Sorry for your loss and I wish you strength for you and the children.

I really felt the love in your story.

Stories like this remind me that I need to savor every ride, as should we all.

@frank @Gianni
Can y’all leave this guest article up for a while?  I want to share this one with a lot of people I know, both in and out of cycling.

Hits home, as I met my SO climbing, and climbing was a shared passion for a number of years, and we’ve had a few tense moments together, not least of which was the time I hit the deck at her feet as she was belaying me, and she figured I had to be dead.  And she sometimes still (we’re getting old) goes mtb’ing alone, sometimes hours away during overnight trips, and I sit up thinking all kinds of scary painful shit.  But what can you do?  You love and support each other while you’re both here to do so.  And you know that nobody and nothing goes on forever, and it’s probably better to actually live while you’re alive.

Thank you again.

Can I inquire about the old woolen shorts you picked up? I ask because my maiden voyage into cycling shorts were $1.50 Performance shorts in royal blue off the rack at a thrift store, used chamois and all. It seemed like a good way to break into the Lyrca ranks at the time. Now I think I prefer first-hand kit!

Frank – yup, my VMH always reminds me to be careful as I head out the door. I too joke with her. This story reminds me how fast it all can change. I’ll definitely try to not leave in a huff ever again. She’s been commuting more and more and now that I’m on the other end it makes me very nervous some days to see her leave on her bike, knowing how poor many drivers are at sharing.

This is an excellent story to share on the Friday before Le Tour finishes. A wonderful reminder about how important cycling is to many of us, but how it is just one part of life.

Thanks again for sharing, farzani!

So, in an attempt to do so, may it please the Keepers, I propose the following as a newly discovered Rule:

“Rule #92: The Bike is an Eternal Committment: Love the VVork. The ride you are on now will never come again, while at the same time it is preparing you for the next ride.”

The Ancients occassionally work their wisdom in ways difficult to understand.

Thank you for sharing your story.  It moved me to tears.  That you honoured your love, and honoured yourself in such a way reveals the beauty and strength in your life.

@Gianni

It is decided then, this is what we must do for one another. What a beautiful way to celebrate one’s life.

@farzani – Thank you so much for sharing your story of love and passion. You sound like a risk taker which is to me as admirable a character trait as being compassionate. Although some would say I put the ‘ass’ in compassion. We cannot ever know happiness (in love or on the bike) without accepting risk. Chapeau and all the best to you. I hope you’re still being a wonderful figure in the lives of your stepchildren.

@frank  vast en zeker. wij kunnen vlaams praten :)

Ik spreek Nederlands, maar dat is bijna hetzelfde – wij kunnen elkaar althans verstaan. Tenminste zijn wij geen Kiwis!

So sorry for your loss, yet you remain so inspirational. I’m moved.

@rolanda mangelschots Bedankt Rolanda. ik mis Yves heel hard maar ik zal mijn beste doen voor de kindjes

Oh good! And we’ll even get to talk about Brett and William in Flemish so they don’t know what we’re saying. (Alex is too lovely to speak behind his back.)

But this is exactly what I never want to have to put her through. Its a terrifying aspect of our sport, and an unpleasant reality. We love riding our bikes, fairness would say that we should be able to survive doing it.

I could easily imagine you throwing the bikes in the dust bin after an accident like this. But this is a much better approach, to honor him like this. Its beautiful.

@Gianni

No kidding, mine two. Double paceline procession. Beautiful.

Having recently gotten married this has me thinking about how lovely & how fast life goes.

Ome question – whilst I am pretty sure I will never have the need for it iin Australia without an egregious Rule #5 violation – whats the story with pepper in you gloves? Sounds about as old school as using a steak as a chamois? n

Bless you.

Yeah, I would hate to meet her on a bike anywhere, she would leave me in the dust so fast. Maybe a cafe, I can keep up in the espresso drinking.

The two by two procession of cyclists after the funeral. I want that too. Everyone in V kits. Remember that brothers and sisters.

@Farzani   It is an amazing story. Thanks for coming to us to share it. Maybe a ride with us next spring in Belgium during the Spring Classics 2013 Keepers Tour. You can drop Brett for me.

Amazing.

I would hate to meet @Farzani on a climb and yet I would love to meet somebody that had a passion so deep for the bike that it got her through the most tragic of circumstances.

Tragically beautiful story, beautifully told. We would all like to be remembered this way if the worst should happen. Thank you.

This community is an amazing place, restores my faith in the human race.

Chapeau.

Glad to hear you’ve continued to live in a way that would have made him proud.

inspiring, tragic, inspiring again.  Best to you, truly.