There are those who are challenged to find the value of aesthetics in a sport which requires eating 11T cogs buttered with chain oil for breakfast and drinking kegs of Rule #5 at dinner. Ye of the Congoscenti, I present you with the following photos of some of the quintessential hardmen of our sport who rode during an era when merely climbing aboard a bicycle – let alone to race one – was an act of stony hardness which, by comparison, casts modern riders into the realm of the indolent.
Indeed, these were men who rode over the same mountain passes that we ride today, but did so on unpaved roads aboard bicycles weighing 20 kilos. They turned massive gears out of necessity, and rode races that were many times longer than those we see today. These were men who wore motorcycle goggles for a lack of any cycling-specific eye wear; who wore their spare tires in a figure-eight pattern looped over their shoulders. These were the hardest men imaginable.
Most of them also rode with a comb in their pocket to ensure they always looked their best the moment they stopped pedaling their machines. These men were Giants who understood that the finer things in life and in this sport are what make it worthwhile to suffer so.
So next time you pack your energy gels and inner tube into your jersey pocket, make sure you leave room for a comb.
A bunch of men, those.
[dmalbum path=”/velominati.com/content/Photo Galleries/frank@velominati.com/The Aesthete/”/]
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@frankNot to beat a dead horse on this subject Frank, but this just crossed my path a few minutes ago. Some interesting thoughts on our side subject of the hormonal effect of a training diet, and the opposite of what i've been doing lately:
http://fitness.mercola.com/sites/fitness/archive/2010/07/27/the-growing-promise-of-shorter-more-intense-strength-training-workouts.aspx
@KitCarson
That's really interesting; I've read some other accounts that make similar assertions in terms of shorter exercise having a great effect on training. It's very surprising to read that you shouldn't have carbs right after a workout, though; a post-ride beer is one of my favorite activities. Ah well, I'll live. I'm curious to hear what, if anything, Souleur has to say about this.
@KitCarson, @frank
I don't see anything truly ground breaking on that page. He's basically giving high praise to a HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) Program and likely following a sensible diet. We all know that doing hard intervals on the bike makes us faster, this is the same thing with some fancy words thrown in there. If you scroll down, you'll even see that he recommends a recumbent bicycle. DESPICABLE.
Regarding the Growth Hormone bit, I did a bit of digging through the links on the page, and managed to find a collection of abstracts that tie insulin levels to GH.
You can find those abstracts here towards the bottom of the page:
http://www.howtobefit.com/limiting-refined-sugar.htm
Basically, if the level of growth hormone is inversely tied to insulin levels, then all you need to do is avoid carbohydrates that stimulate a large increase in insulin. That means sticking to low glycemic index carbs postworkout, ie: sugary foods.
That means your post-workout beer should be safe, unless you're drinking sissy sugary fruit infused beer. You DO need carbs after a workout in order to replenish the depleted glycogen stores. You just gotta make sure you're getting the right ones.
As an amateur racer and dedicated yogi, I can speak to the benefits of combining both. I am a climber by preference so an emphasis on being lean and having more slow twitch muscle is important to me. But being 6'3" 165 lbs makes for a challenge with some of the grimpeurs in the Cat 3/4 scene.
But on the idea of developing requisite upper body mass, my belief is yoga will provide all you need. Muscle, balance, bone density, a practice can be tailored towards any mix of these and other metrics. During my pre competitive cycling days, my yoga practice was 2-3 hours/day/7 days/week. Everything in moderation, I find my general health is more balanced now, that I cycle-commute 12-15 miles each way to work, and find time for 30-90 minutes of yoga as many days a week as possible. Ultimately the science of yoga should not be forced, but when embraced I think a cyclist is one to benefit more than most other types of athletes.
Thoughts from fellow practitioners?
And P.S. @ Frank - That picture of Coppi is certified bad ass, I would like a link or copy of the file if you have it available. Thanks.
@Lovetoclimb
What style of yoga? I must say I enjoyed Iyengar when I did it for rehab, particularly for it's intense but quite aesthetic focus on precision. I found Astanga less satisfying - more energetic but less insistent on precision so more like just having a good stretch. But that may have just been the teachers. And then I discovered cycling and enjoyed that much more! But I do sometimes think I should incorporate some yoga into my week again to get better balance.
@ G'phant
I personally practice all varieties, whatever I happen to be feeling that day. I am certified to teach both vinyasa, and "Iyengar-inspired" Hatha (very alignment focused, but less use of props, and Iyengar cert. is very consuming).
My opinion is all types of yoga are great, but as you found some methods work for some people at some points in their lives. A consistent practice of asana, pranayama, meditation, and life introspection is my main suggestion. It has helped me to an almost immeasurable degree.
Woah, I missed this the first time around. Tons of interesting information and thoughts here. I do a lot of research on food and food science so this has been fun to read. Lots to think about here!
While I'm at it...not sure if I'm the only one, but the more I read this blog the less and less I read other cycling stuff. Sure, I'll check out velonews and cycling news. A few others as well. But I used to frequent discussion forums a lot and don't really do that much anymore. Yeah, I've learned and internalized a lot of the basic info I was after when I started out but beyond that I find the discussion here both enlightening and amusing, when there is banter about. I guess I find the readers, Keepers, Followers have more interesting and worthwhile things to say than other places I used to head to. Good on the lot of ya!
It's simplified my life, and left more time for cycling. Also doesn't hurt that this is a somewhat small community and I've come to "know" the other members and respect their opinions, even when I disagree.
@frank
I hope this isn't annoying pedantry. "Ye of the Congoscenti" Is it possible to ride in the Congo, if so one would have to have the British children's drink Um Bongo in the bidon. That 's what they drink in the Congo, according to the ad.
Um Bongo Advert.
And I'll guarantee that none of these hardman aesthetes ever rode a bike with a sloping top tube or upward sloping head stem. Nor would they wear one of those stupid bandanas that try-hard wannabes have as standard kit these days.
@Pistolfromwarragul
Agreed and agreed, although on the third point, you've lost me completely. Care to explain?