While all evidence points to the contrary, the 20th century’s greatest twatwaffle LE Gunderson may have got something at least half right after all. Of course it’s about the bike, otherwise we’d be runners. But there are other factors that contribute to what makes us Cyclists which can often be overlooked completely. Not the clothes we wear, or the training we do, or the races we love. The people we ride with and the places we ride in help define our Cycling experience.
I’m reminded of this every Tuesday. I know there’s a ride on; there always is. Depending on what kind of day I’ve had, I may or may not be looking forward to it, especially at this time of year when the temperature drops and darkness has already cloaked the sky long before rubber meets tarmac. Motivation can go straight out the window, where it quickly shivers and tries to come back inside. No deal, that portal is shut tight. But it usually sneaks back in through the door when the other protagonists enter through it and mill around, happily chatting while waiting for me to get my shit together. What is wrong with these people?
The act of layering up to ride in the dark in peak hour in a capital city is one usually borne out of necessity, rather than recreational pleasure. Commuters do it every day, right? We do it because it’s what we do. Throughout summer, it’s no problem; chuck on shorts and jersey, cruise around checking out the packed esplanade, work up a sweat then enjoy a beer or two before heading home. The ride is more a conduit for the act of hanging out with mates and socialising. Take away the sun, the light and the warmth, and the ride itself holds a more important post. We could just shelve this ride for the winter, leave it as a summer thing to do, and just use the weekends as our chance to drink coffee, pedal, drink beer, repeat.
But I digress; getting back to cycling in the city at night, this is a huge factor in why this ride endures the middle months of the year. The city we live in contributes hugely to keeping us motivated. The first ten minutes may be spent alongside cars on some of the main arteries, but soon we are unshackled from frustrated drivers and are almost alone on the road, in silent darkness, looking back at one of the most picturesque skylines in the world. It’s always at this point that someone says exactly what I’m thinking; “what a night” or “goddamn, I love this city”. If we were just plodding along a highway we wouldn’t be saying anything remotely similar.
The city, and the people I ride with, makes all the difference. My environment is sorted, it’s just left to me and my bike to fill in the blanks.
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im glad to read this brett. The main one is that we are perpetually chasing the greener grass and oblivious to whats right in front of us. Im on the bike all hours of the day in the heart of the city and in a blanket of black on roads forgotten. Both can make the mind go blank and cover the face with a shit eattinf grin, just because.
The consumer confidence index needs a new metric, whether or not theyve been on a bicycle in the past weeks.
@Ron PIha Road and Scenic Drive was my most favourite ride in Auckland. Definitely made me feel stronger for the bunch rides out on the north shore.
It works the other way too. Over the next few months in Dubai it will take much motivation to go out and lose 5% of body weight to the heat.
Some people need an event or a target to get themselves through these periods.
I've always found the group ride is good motivation in itself. I'm happy to work at whatever pace the group wants, but if they choose to enter the pain cave I want to have plenty of matches to burn, and a few spare to put under other saddles.
@scaler911
Great evocative article @Brett. I was only commenting the other day with a cycling buddy how life has become so much easier now that the full winter regalia has been put to bed for the summer up here...although the weather forecast here today looks a bit changeable!
Strong work Brett. Winter may almost be upon you down there, but summer doesn't seem to ever quite reach us up here these days.
Awesome article. See below for words that almost capture the vibe... Cue the Chilli Peppers...
Sometimes I feel
Like I don't have a partner
Sometimes I feel
Like my only friend
Is the city I live in
The city of Angels
Lonely as I am
Together we cry
I drive on her streets
'Cause she's my companion
I walk through her hills
'Cause she knows who I am
She sees my good deeds and
She kisses me windy and
I never worry
Now that is a lie
I don't ever wanna feel
Like I did that day
Take me to the place I love
Take me all the way
I don't ever want to feel
Like I did that day
Take me to the place I love
Take me all that way (yeah yeah yeah)
It's hard to believe
That there's nobody out there
It's hard to believe
That I'm all alone
At least I have her love
The city she loves me
Lonely as I am
Together we cry
@ChrisO
"But it's a dry heat!" I feel you, though. Here in Florida we're coming into full-on "ride wet from minute 3" season. I'll still take it over riding in the cold wind!
"Motivation can go straight out the window, where it quickly shivers and tries to come back inside."
Classic. My "mental" cycling season officially began last weekend. 100km ride in 35C. The first ride with the beginnings of summer thirst - went through two bidons of fluid. Finally getting to try out the Defeet ICE base layer. Review to follow once I put it through a few more rides.
Tuesday must be ride night. On the weeks when I'm not travelling back from a meeting somewhere I've started going out with the headbangers chain gang ride. The pace is decidedly 'keep up or fuck off', it generally results in me feeling ruined but I've yet to be amongst those dropped. And the scenery is nice too; rolling hills and greenery. If only I had the capacity to enjoy it whilst feeding more V to the pedals.
Me? I love Tuesday nights in Vancouver:
http://escapevelocity.bc.ca/tuesday
Wednesdays are good too. Structured training at the velodrome. Velodromes, track bikes, skin suits and all of that are compliant with the Rules, right?
In the winter on Fridays we have races at the velodrome too.
http://www.burnabyvelodrome.ca/friday_night_racing.php
The only reason I lost weight rather than gained it is because of that damned velodrome. Was there for 1.5 hours last night as the weather rapidly deteriorated outside.