Categories: ExportLa Vie VelominatusMusings from the V-Bunker

Winter

The Prophet gets pumped to ride. Hopefully that thing isn't going to find its way onto his bike.

As Cyclists, we are uniquely subjected to the changing of seasons. The green canopy of forest that we ride through in Summer gives way in Fall to one of orange and yellow that mimics the fire of sunset. Just as those hues give notice to the changing from day to night, so do they now signal the change from Summer to Winter.

It is also a time of transition in our riding. The rides are first wetter, then cooler. Soon, we’ll be rooting about the kit bin for gloves and a wooly hat. Shorts become three-quarters and three-quarters become fulls. There might be a shadow of trepidation in bidding the warm months adieu, but there lurks some excitement, too. Wearing long sleeve jerseys and leg warmers signals to us that the fight for peak form is behind us and our rides now have a sense of insouciance about them; it is freeing to embrace the lack of structure to our rides. We ride, once again, simply for the pleasure of riding.

There is something else. The longer days of Summer almost afford us too much liberty in our training. The sun rises early and sets late; the possibilities to train are endless; the morning ride is skipped for the likelihood of riding in the afternoon. The afternoon schedule fills up and the ride is missed and the training takes on a more frenetic nature. The shorter days of the winter offer less choices, so the rides are fought for more vigorously. Choice can lead to indecision while restriction often feeds discipline.

I embrace the coming Winter and its accompanying discipline. Besides, after the Winter come the Spring Classics, and we loves ourselves some cobbles. Vive la Vie Velominatus.

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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View Comments

Ccos says:

Oct 24 2016 at 2:30 pm

@Ron

I run front/rear lights at all times when on open roads. At this time of year, with the sun at odd angles, it blows my mind that many cyclists don’t use lights. I was out yesterday and I EXPECT (meaning I look for them in order to pass them in a very safe manner) to see cyclists and saw three different groups of proper road cyclists in all black, no lights, as the sun was getting low. If you’re a drunk guy with bum bars, I get it. But if you’re on a $3000 bike in brand new $ kit, you have no excuse to not ride with lights. I just don’t get it. $50 and it might save you from getting run over.

Mini-Reverence piece: I've been running the Bontrager Flare this year and have yet (knock wood) to be buzzed by a car. Earlier in the summer, I left a group ride and the guys said they could still see my light a km or two up the road.

A local director of transportation was hit in a hit and run last week. Guy who did it is 33 years old and he’s been arrested 18 time. Have to believe he was extremely unsober, as he was spotted driving around with the bike still on his windshield/roof…

That's a Inbredicus rednecki subspecies dumbassae , you gotta watch out for them.
wiscot says:

Oct 24 2016 at 2:45 pm

@paolo

I rode without any sunscreen on the other day. Soon I will begin to think about donning some arm warmers.

Yup, no sunscreen, that's always a watershed, isn't it? then it's knee or legwarmers. Cap under helmet. Gilet. Overshoes. Winter bike. Full winter kit of many layers. Co-workers incredulous that you rode. Bring it on.
Oli says:

Oct 24 2016 at 3:29 pm

@KogaLover

Have you tried messaging Frank? He can't possibly read all the posts.
paolo says:

Oct 24 2016 at 4:06 pm

@wiscot

@paolo

I rode without any sunscreen on the other day. Soon I will begin to think about donning some arm warmers.

Yup, no sunscreen, that’s always a watershed, isn’t it? then it’s knee or legwarmers. Cap under helmet. Gilet. Overshoes. Winter bike. Full winter kit of many layers. Co-workers incredulous that you rode. Bring it on.

LOL ! I might get as far as knee warmers, And maybe an undershirt, So Cal winters are pretty mild affairs.
paolo says:

Oct 24 2016 at 4:10 pm

@Ccos

@Ron

I run front/rear lights at all times when on open roads. At this time of year, with the sun at odd angles, it blows my mind that many cyclists don’t use lights. I was out yesterday and I EXPECT (meaning I look for them in order to pass them in a very safe manner) to see cyclists and saw three different groups of proper road cyclists in all black, no lights, as the sun was getting low. If you’re a drunk guy with bum bars, I get it. But if you’re on a $3000 bike in brand new $ kit, you have no excuse to not ride with lights. I just don’t get it. $50 and it might save you from getting run over.

Mini-Reverence piece: I’ve been running the Bontrager Flare this year and have yet (knock wood) to be buzzed by a car. Earlier in the summer, I left a group ride and the guys said they could still see my light a km or two up the road.

A local director of transportation was hit in a hit and run last week. Guy who did it is 33 years old and he’s been arrested 18 time. Have to believe he was extremely unsober, as he was spotted driving around with the bike still on his windshield/roof…

That’s a Inbredicus rednecki subspecies dumbassae , you gotta watch out for them.

I've been thinking about getting a Bontrager Flare. I've seen a few around and they are amazingly bright. I ride solo a lot and I always feel more vulnerable alone. Might have to pony up for one.
Ccos says:

Oct 24 2016 at 5:14 pm

@paolo

They're expensive but 100% worth it. It was a 9 ride this past weekend and I had the ion 700 front light on flash. It was the first ride that I didn't have to wave to get the attention of drivers pulling out (of course it may have blinded them). I may use it all the time as a result.

On a side note, even though we meet at sunrise, one friend always asks "wait are we meeting at 9 now?" When I note that it will be a 9 ride...
Buck Rogers says:

Oct 24 2016 at 11:14 pm

@paolo

So worth it. I only started to ride with one a few months ago but now I do not like to be out without one. I use the Lezyne 600 Macro XL for my front light and it is just amazing.
PantaniForever says:

Oct 25 2016 at 6:00 am

I'm loving the unstructured feel of riding this time of year. I love the change from sweating all summer to pulling out long sleeves or arm warmers.

Totally agree with the collective sentiment about lights. I rolled away from the house this morning and my headlight just shut itself off. I rode the short way home sans headlight and then managed to get the thing to work and turned around and made my way to work. I've had my eye on the new Serfas E-Lume 600 headlight so I'll be snagging one of those ASAP and relegating the old one to backup mode.
Erik says:

Oct 25 2016 at 7:40 am

This winter's goal is simple: Ride long, ride slow, ride fixed. I need base and weight loss. I need form. Currently on the workstand is my first real road frame + new wheels and geared up to be fixed. I ride only for me this winter. There will be no computer, sure as hell no Strava, not even MapMyRide. Just a silent ride through the chill to return me to Way of the V.
erik says:

Oct 25 2016 at 8:29 am

I should note that my first "real" ride was a Lotus Elite 600 --- a 12! speed Shimano 600 Gruppo. Steel is oh so real, baby! And now it is fixed.