I blame the Velominati for the toes and fingers I won’t be able to feel this weekend. My first race of the season, La Classic du Rocher, is promising to be a frigid affair, with a low of -2C, max of 2C, and a call for snow. For a guy who is used to the relative warmth of his living room for his rides, some hesitation arises.
If it were just about me I am sure I’d happily forfeit my €20 and stay at home watching old Eurosport videos, but my 2011 racing partner Karsten is coming down from Paris to ride this (his ‘revenge’ race – see what I mean here) and his wife, Sarah, has kindly reminded us of Rule #9, reproduced in full here:
If you are out riding in bad weather, it means you are a badass. Period.
Fair-weather riding is a luxury reserved for Sunday afternoons and wide boulevards. Those who ride in foul weather – be it cold, wet, or inordinately hot – are members of a special club of riders who, on the morning of a big ride, pull back the curtain to check the weather and, upon seeing rain falling from the skies, allow a wry smile to spread across their face. This is a rider who loves the work.
Now, I don’t necessarily believe this rule, but when it is waved in my face I feel the need to not be the wuss I naturally am. Damn you, Velominati…!
The Vicious Cycle 
Like Udo Bölts (RoadCaptain of Jan Ullrich in 1997 Tour) said: A ride on Christmas Eve or in foul weather is one more then your companion..
;o)
Good ol’ Udo…does anyone have any quotes from cyclists who say to stay indoors?…anybody..?
It’s not a rule that’s hard to obey at the moment here as there is very little weather of a non qualifying sort about.
I can see that. I won’t say I envy you since it’s pretty nice here at the moment, too.
I believe Bernard Hinault stated very clearly after winning the 1980 Worlds ” un jour froid en février, je m’assieds sur mon entraîneur et apprécie le film de Muppet “. rougly translated: on a cold day in February, I sit on my trainer and enjoy Muppet movie”.
Bon Chance Gerry!
Hinault. The same Hinault who, in Liege-Bastogne-Liege in 1980, won the race in conditions so bad that only 21 riders out of 174 finished the race. 2nd place was over 9 minutes behind him. This guy I should trust…?
absolutely trust….the reason…he was not beat down by the weather because of all the training he did indoors on cold winter February days…and the one thought that pulled him through those hellish conditions was how great an actor Kermit was….I thought all this was common knowledge….geez.
I never thought of it that way. I’ll try to use Sean Kelly’s verbal eloquence as my inspiration on the bike this weekend because I watch Eurosport reruns instead of The Muppets on the trainer.
I remember the phrase, “… consent of the governed.” Looks like a little revolution is needed!
I’ll lead it if it means I don’t need to ride in crappy weather.
I’m proud to adhere to rule #9, but that doesn’t say much given the warm climate here. Rule #5 is a different story, especially lately. Best of luck with the race. On the bright side, if you cannot feel your muscles, they won’t hurt nearly as much.
I’m in the same boat most of time myself, Aaron. Someone was just saying the same thing about frozen muscles – he felt invincible because he couldn’t feel his legs.
All I can add to the discussion is this. Everytime I’ve done an event in crappy weather I really do feel like a “bad-ass”. Besides, it gives you great bragging rights. Dress warn!
I’m going shopping for inner gloves today.
*inner* gloves? How abt overgloves? Overshoes? Do they even sell those in le sud?
They’re here. The local riders here are in full-length legs and arms in September. Even wussier than me, so yeah, all the heavy-duty stuff is available. I’m stocking up before I meet you at the train station tomorrow.
With a team name of Vicious Cycle, we thought you would adopt the moniker of a postman…..you know what it is…..”neither rain nor sleet nor snow… shall stop the wheels of a successful cycling team ” OK a little amendment was necessary but you get the drift. Is bad weather training not part of your coaches training book, he does live in a bad weather country? I can see you setting up in a meat freezer with your indoor equipment…. good luck, dress warm and chains on the tires
Meat freezer. Nice idea. I won’t need a protein drink afterwards anymore either.