Embracing the unknown

If there is one constant variable in not only cycling but life itself, its the ever swinging pendulum of change.  The flow of our day to day lives is and always will be in a constant state of flux.  From seemingly unchanging consistency to momentary, lightning fast, unexpected curve balls; there is an underlying element of change in even the most stable of situations.  Cycling is certainly no different from this being each and every ride exemplify this realization.  With so many individual yet connected elements giving rise to the unique, one time experience that is  our bicycle ride, it is no wonder its always such a diversified experience every time.  From lack of sleep and chronic stress to carefully planned meals and abundant mental clarity; the ride can and will be effected by myriad aspect.  

Different day, different ride 

How boring and unenticing would it be if every bicycle ride looked, felt and was experienced in the exact same way.  If we rode the same route, with the same whether conditions after having eaten the same meals we might begin to feel that the flavor of variety was somehow lacking in our experience.  Omitting the fundamental elements that compose diversity would be part and parcel with rendering our bike rides to mere routine.  

As someone who cycles almost daily, a huge aspect of my pleasure regarding the ride is the unknown factor.  Getting on the bike, moving forward and not knowing what exactly to expect or when to expect it is one reason why cycling can in and of itself be regarded as an act of grace.  The cyclist has the creative freedom to go whenever one wants, at whatever pace desired to whatever location determined.  Cycling is very much an equivalent to making abstract art in the sense that we work with available resources to produce something that is entirely unique and dependent on variables that are both within and simultaneously beyond our control.  From a harsh head wind that holds strong for countless miles to a sweeping descent that carries us effortlessly down a lengthy pass, we have certain parameters within which we can play and allow to help create a unique, new journey every time.

The elements are your friend

There is something to be said for the individual that treats adverse weather conditions as a something not to fear and avoid, but as a sometimes unexpected companion that can show us a thing or two about ourselves.  For when we allow ourselves to be taken by the ever changing climate we are at the same time allowing ourselves to acknowledge life as it is; a shifting sphere of movement that we are inexorably forced to move along with.  By allowing ourselves to dance with the massive force of energy that is nature, we are in a symbolic way opening our lives to the flood gates of the unknown.  

Whether deliberately or not we become exposed to unexpected torrential downpours, unrelenting waves of heat or blankets of blinding snow we open up a dialogue with the inevitable.  In these moments we tell the universe that we will not allow ourselves to become victimized by the uncontrollable but will do what it is that we can to work harmoniously with it. It is only by submerging ourselves in such environments that we gain the abilities and resilience to continue moving forward, without fear of what is to come.  Similar to acquiring a cold or a bad flu we must expose and harden ourselves to the elements of life and change, whether on the bike or not.  

Knowing the limits and testing ourselves

the highly decorated Bernard Hinault (5 time tour
de france winner)  embraces the winter life of a cyclocross
rider.  Mud, rain, snow and ice are staple aspects of
 cyclocross that often force riders to find non-conventional
methods of navigating terrain via bicycle

To broaden our horizons we must dabble a bit with the unknown by getting our feet wet so to speak.  For when we engage in diversified, even seemingly non related activity, we can strengthen what it is we may already seem proficient in.  It is the equivalent of developing the abdominal muscles and hip flexors to aid in a full bodied, fluent pedal stroke when general consensus sees the legs as doing most of the work. 

 By abandoning various metrics like heart rate, wattage output, vo2 max intake and lactic/anabolic thresholds we can begin to focus more on what is important to our own direct experience; an intimate ride that involves working within our unique abilities.  If all one can handle is a 10 minute semi-freezing downpour before numbness and similarly threatening physiological conditions present themselves then so be it; hang up the hat and call it a day.  Like anything else in life one must ask how else we will know what we are capable of without giving it a go to one degree or another.  It is when we let our expectations of the ideal circumstance go to the wayside the we truly allow ourselves to jump into the unknown territory.  Thankfully for us, the unknown does not have to be black or white but can instead be a gradual acclimation to what we are not yet capable of or familiar with.

The motorist/cyclist dichotomy

If there is one thing that has seemingly followed me everywhere within my handful of years riding it is, in a word vulnerability.  Cycling in the city is a fine-line dance between gliding gracefully through the ebb and flow of people, cars, infrastructure and terrain while avoiding accident, harassment, anxiety and humiliating faux pas.  The act can be equally elating and inspiring as it can be dangerous, uncomfortable and disenfranchising.  As cyclists we are constantly engaging in an activity that renders us, to one degree or another vulnerable.  Managing to co-exist and navigate the ever changing urban landscape can seem at times to be as much a test of patience and sanity as it is of pleasurable sporting.

The car is not your enemy

There seems to be a common school of thought with many cyclists that very much parallels the "us vs them" mentality when it comes to automobiles and the people who pilot them.  The seeming lack of co-operation between cyclists and motorist appears on the surface to primarily be agitated by aggressive, impatient drivers who contend for the bulk of our road's real estate.  Often times, and more so than not, this has indeed been the case for many cyclists; but ultimately the situation is no where near as black and white as is often described. These daily commuters (motorists) are painted as materialistic, wasteful, incompetent and unaware while cyclists tend to benefit from the longer end of the stick.  All to often the cyclist is always seen as maintaining the "right of way" even in the most questionable situations.  Tough the stories have been told of how it is that cyclists struggle massively to operate within the confides of the cities motorist density, there seems to be an unwarranted amount of unwillingness on the part of the cyclist to function in conjunction with motorists than vice-a-versa.   By subscribing to divisive mentalities such as the aforementioned the cyclist puts them self in a dangerous box of self designated alienation.

Neither the bike nor the car win here..

You, me and the rest of us

Many a time I have watched aggressive cyclists pull off shenanigans that are not only endangering themselves but simultaneously bring risk to surrounding pedestrians and motorists alike.  Assuming a first priority role as a cyclist is almost a guaranteed way of  hurdling yourself into pain and creating a bigger mess out what usually starts as a small error.  Cutting off drivers, running clearly active red lights, speedily darting between cars in parking lots; these are staple examples of behavior that give cyclists a negative image and perpetuate the motorist/cyclist dichotomy.  By being unwilling to work with one another we build another wall for ourselves and further perpetuate the hostility and territorial attitudes that underscore urban navigation.  As the bike is supposed to embody acts of freedom, grace, and unhindered movement; division, unaccountably and incompetence will negate all such beauty via lack of co-existence.  In the same way that walking pedestrians nod heads and cast gentle glances to cyclists and people using other modes of transport (skateboards, roller blades, scooters ect) we as cyclists have a fundamental duty to support the atmosphere within which we operate.  It is to the degree that we view our neighbors (yes motorists) as alien that we will continue to the very same degree see a negative split in our social fabric.  We are in this together after all; so lets think about treating one another like so.