Despite the proclivity towards being all-knowing that comes as a consequence of my being Dutch, the most beautiful things in life are discoveries that come as a result of not knowing. We are quick to answer but slow to think; the easy solution lies at our fingertips while the true mystery lurks just beyond, ready to reveal her secrets if only we are willing to venture into the unknown. Beauty is found in the journey, not the destination.

As Cyclists, we start our journey with the simple joy of pedalling a bicycle and escaping the clumsy limitations of bipedal locomotion – walking quickly loses its luster when you can pedal a bike instead. First we pedal to explore the limits of our range, then the limits of our speed. Finally, we pedal to explore the limits within ourselves as speed and range are tested together.

When we free ourselves from the confines of our local and familiar roads and point the bicycle towards parts unknown, we rediscover the childish beauty of exploration that came when we first started riding a bike. Not knowing what lies around the next bend is a mysterious sort of riding completely different from the regimented training we have become accustomed to. The familiar pressure will be there in our heart, lungs, and legs, but with it will come an element of nervous excitement at the anticipating the unknown. Whether we encounter a dead end or a gravel road; none of it matters in the scope of discovery.

One of the amazing things about a competent rider aboard a bicycle is how much distance can be covered in a day. After 8, 10, or 12 hours away, we can look at a globe and see the stretch of land we covered. The mind will be tired from the effort from having pushed the body and wondering about what will be coming next. The body will be empty, the lungs will have that familiar tension from supplying oxygen-starved muscles with fuel. The look in the rider’s eye will be one of the exhilaration that only comes as a result of total exhaustion.

We need this sort of emptiness in order to feel fulfilled. There is something beautiful to be discovered when we push into the unknown.

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.

View Comments

  • It holds some if the reasons I ride Sportives in that they encourage you to go somewhere you may not otherwise go.  Just a shame that some of them are so popular.  Most relevant when you are in a pretty highly populated region so you already know all the more local options.

  • Well said.  Too often I stick to the same roads and trails.  I am undecided if it diminishes the overall quality of the ride.  Time to conquer this hill or this turn, again- am I faster today than yesterday, do I even care?  There is something undeniably exciting about choosing to explore the depths of suburbia and to seek out the isolated patches of  tarmac seemingly made for cycling.

  • @Harminator

    @the Engine

    Love those long rides where you look at them on the app and you can see the whole island...

    My island must be bigger than your island.

    Or my rides are longer than your rides

  • Nice, Frank! This is great.

    One thing I absolutely love about cycling is that I can head out at 8 on a Saturday in nothing but tight clothes, with a few things in my pockets, and be set to stay out for hours and hours. It feels wonderful to be that self-sufficient.

    This lead photo could be used to sell Graveleur's to enthusiasts who think the stable is full...

  • @Buck Rogers

    Longest ride on tap for me today in over a year. I will indeed being clearing my mind before I am done.

    Also, LOVING that lead photo.

    What? You gotta quit that job and leave the wife and kids! I want more riding out of you.

    Enjoy the saddle time, Buck!

  • @wiscot

    A few weeks ago I set out on a lovely evening to ride some familiar roads. Around half way I turned left on a road previously unridden instead of heading for home. I then snaked and twisted and turned around some amazing new backroads almost totally devoid of traffic. The surfaces were smooth, the terrain lumpy, the weather perfect, my clothing spot on. I did 80kms and finished with a huge shit-eating grin on my face. I had gone exploring in a way that no other form of transport could match. It was a ride of empowerment and fulfillment. It was something beautiful that was mine and mine alone.

    I would love to know where those roads are so I can get on them!  Sorry we missed each other at the Cheesehead Roubaix, but I'm sure there will be other opportunities.

    Planned to celebrated my 60th yesterday with a 60 mile ride (60K would have been too short:).  Ended up riding with a friend for about 45 of the 64 I did, and she took me on some roads I hadn't ridden for a long time -- partway down the east side of Lake Winnebago and then east a bit, all into 12-15mph steady winds with gusts in the high 20s.  Coupled with the rollers there it was a good place to lose myself in the effort.  When we split and I headed back in I had a full-on tailwind for about 15 miles.  Nice.

    Birthday socks FTW.  Sure wish it would be shorts/short sleeve weather some day.  Funky tan line between socks and knee warmers....

    And of course, post-ride birthday dinner with my wife, starting as is appropriate:

  • @the Engine

    @Harminator

    @the Engine

    Love those long rides where you look at them on the app and you can see the whole island...

    My island must be bigger than your island.

    Or my rides are longer than your rides

    I thought Scotland was a Yard, not an island?

  • What a great photo and story Frank. That photo is exactly why I just bought a new Tamland.

  • @frank

    @the Engine

    @Harminator

    @the Engine

    Love those long rides where you look at them on the app and you can see the whole island...

    My island must be bigger than your island.

    Or my rides are longer than your rides

    I thought Scotland was a Yard, not an island?

    Scotland is a landmass which had the misfortune of bumping into what is often called England eons ago. This is now called Scotlands Yard.

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