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 