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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"What is wrong with these people?"
They're hanging out with you for starters (ba doom tish.)
Nice article and nice pic though.
Look at Wellington. You guys now got the internet and electric streetlights.
@Marcus You see those lumpy things in the photo? They're called "hills". Apparently there was one in Australia once but you dug it up and sold it to China.
Aren't the antipodeans cute when they bicker?
Beautiful photograph. Your post makes evident the geographic breadth of this community as we,in the Northern Hemisphere, make room for the most beautiful of riding weather as the ebb of spring's blooms give way to the rising tide of the hear of summer's rides.
@Frank
Why oh why no opportunity to edit something as simple as hear for heat?
I was just contemplating this on my Tuesday night ride this week. Everything prior to roll out is extra effort - lights, kit, raising the energy to simply start. But the rewards are magnified too. As we strung out on a long desent, swapping off and spinning out I took a moment to grin at how fucking awesome the moment was - under the moon, bombing down on fresh tarmac in a snake of red taillights. It never stops being fun.
That's right. Winter is almost on you "down under". I dream of visiting NZ someday. Originally for the climbing, but more and more for riding.
On a side note, today's weather in the PNW:
Excellent, Brett!
Nice timing for me, as just the other day I was realizing I live in the best cycling environment I've ever lived in, since I've been a Follower. First a conurbation that was hard to claw beyond, then a mix of suburban choking and silent country roads, and now an excellent combination of a small city that has an "esplanade" type strip, but is easy to get beyond, and some incredible rural riding. Add to that the nice amount of fellow cyclists, from weekend funsters to full-onsters, and group rides on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday...and I'm all set. On my long ride Saturday, when I hurt a bit near the end, I still felt lucky to live in such a good place to be on the Velominath.
When I was there I sadly always drove from Titirangi to Piha. Some day in my life I'll get to do that ride on a bicycle.
Nice article. If you live in a nice environment, don't take it for granted. I lived in Beijing for 8 years. Some good hills to ride in but a long harsh winter and many high pollution days that seemed to coincide with riding opportunities. Now I live in Jakarta. My training rides are always around the same flat housing complexes. We have a nice hill, but its an hour away by car on a good traffic day. I will now stop complaining because, being a school teacher, I get the European summer vacation. So every year VMH and go to southern France for nearly 2 months and I don't need to tell you how good that environment is.