Lots of time spent indoors lately? Too bad for you. All we have to contend with over here is an ongoing drought (according to my personal record of note- The Carmel Pine Cone- this year's low is 4.19 inches, which "smashed" the previous low of 8.96inches in 1953. That is some serious halving. No wonder they ain't no mushrooms to be found.), an average ambient temperature of 53*, and the by-now obvious dearth of rider-partiers, or partying-riders, or people who really know how to have a fun time. As I like to call them.
I've lamented before the difficulty in finding the perfect balance with regard to partying and riding (hard), so I will only lamentito here. The range from DUI rider (which, if you wear normal clothes while riding, the general public figures you for, and for which- let's face it- sometimes you could rightly be mistaken, if there were the general public on sick ass trails. Ha HA!) to "serious racer" being the spectrum, I'd say we have both types in Monterey County but no middle ground. I have no love for either end of the spectrum. Someone who knew more than I ever will said the middle path is the one, and I feel sure he/she was talking about singletrack. Or maybe really twisty and perfectly surfaced one-lane traffickless tarmac. Either. Anyhow, it can all be summed up with: the pickings is slim and (2) straight is the way and narrow the gate.
All that adds up to the humble brag. And that isn't what Road Riding (or, as it was called in my youth "cycling") is all about. These things are on my mind, because local partner and youthful buddy _____ P is leaving town for good soon, and has been dipping his toe into the deep water of road riding. He doesn't know the history and pageantry that lurks there. It was a surprise to me when I mentioned in passing Hampsten's ride on the Gavia and I was met with a blank look. And frankly, kind of a sneer. Raised on mountain biking, he has an intuition that roadies (as a category) are dicks. Who can blame him?
Individual participants and a recent drug craze notwithstanding, Road Riding is fucking glorious. And at least as fun as mountain biking (though not as fun as camping via the bike). The legendary races and stages still resonate, still hold sway. History, maing! Anyways, I compiled a little list for this nOOb so that he can more deeply appreciate the Goods. The quick and easy:
Stars and Water Carriers (duh)
The Impossible Hour (I couldn't find the whole thing in a quick search, so find it yourself if you have the desire/gumption- it's worth it...."the personal nomination of oneself for the test of strength". Are you kidding me?!? The narration alone is fantastic- "a revelation of harmony and elegance")
La course en tete. THE classic?
I very much enjoyed Les Triplettes de Bellville, too.
I'd also strongly, urgently, sincerely, and highly recommend Tim Krabbe's book, The Rider. It is beautiful.
So, if you're stuck indoors, there's some options for entertainment. Anybody got some I missed?
I've lamented before the difficulty in finding the perfect balance with regard to partying and riding (hard), so I will only lamentito here. The range from DUI rider (which, if you wear normal clothes while riding, the general public figures you for, and for which- let's face it- sometimes you could rightly be mistaken, if there were the general public on sick ass trails. Ha HA!) to "serious racer" being the spectrum, I'd say we have both types in Monterey County but no middle ground. I have no love for either end of the spectrum. Someone who knew more than I ever will said the middle path is the one, and I feel sure he/she was talking about singletrack. Or maybe really twisty and perfectly surfaced one-lane traffickless tarmac. Either. Anyhow, it can all be summed up with: the pickings is slim and (2) straight is the way and narrow the gate.
All that adds up to the humble brag. And that isn't what Road Riding (or, as it was called in my youth "cycling") is all about. These things are on my mind, because local partner and youthful buddy _____ P is leaving town for good soon, and has been dipping his toe into the deep water of road riding. He doesn't know the history and pageantry that lurks there. It was a surprise to me when I mentioned in passing Hampsten's ride on the Gavia and I was met with a blank look. And frankly, kind of a sneer. Raised on mountain biking, he has an intuition that roadies (as a category) are dicks. Who can blame him?
Individual participants and a recent drug craze notwithstanding, Road Riding is fucking glorious. And at least as fun as mountain biking (though not as fun as camping via the bike). The legendary races and stages still resonate, still hold sway. History, maing! Anyways, I compiled a little list for this nOOb so that he can more deeply appreciate the Goods. The quick and easy:
Stars and Water Carriers (duh)
The Impossible Hour (I couldn't find the whole thing in a quick search, so find it yourself if you have the desire/gumption- it's worth it...."the personal nomination of oneself for the test of strength". Are you kidding me?!? The narration alone is fantastic- "a revelation of harmony and elegance")
La course en tete. THE classic?
I very much enjoyed Les Triplettes de Bellville, too.
I'd also strongly, urgently, sincerely, and highly recommend Tim Krabbe's book, The Rider. It is beautiful.
So, if you're stuck indoors, there's some options for entertainment. Anybody got some I missed?
5 comments:
let's take 'vantage of our warm, dry weather and do some o' that thar bike campin' you been proselytin' 'bout. may have to skip the camp fires though.
Per usual, I'll check with my superiors, but the outlook is favorable...
The Rider is so good it is a shame it gets categorized as a "cycling" book. Was Moby Dick a "whale book?"
A Dog in a Hat is another classic of they cycling lit ...
A Dog in a Hat is another classic of they cycling lit ...
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