After a long day on my bicycle, I feel refreshed, cleansed, purified. I feel that I have established contact with my environment and that I am at peace. On days like that I am permeated with a profound gratitude for my bicycle. Even if I did not enjoy riding, I would still do it for my peace of mind. What a wonderful tonic to be exposed to bright sunshine, drenching rain, choking dust, dripping fog, rigid air, punishing winds!
Paul de Vivie -"Vélocio" (1853 -1930)1. Make your stops short and infrequent so as not to lose your drive.
2. Eat lightly and often. Eat before getting hungry, drink before you are thirsty.
3. Never ride until you are so tired that you cannot eat or sleep.
4. Put on extra clothing before you're cold, and take it off before you're hot. Don't be afraid of exposing your skin to the sun, air, and rain.
5. Don't drink wine, eat meat, or smoke---at least during the ride.
6. Never rush things. Ride within yourself, particularly during the first few hours of a ride when you feel strong and are tempted to force the pace.
7. Never pedal out of vanity, don't be a show-off.
I have just returned from a trip to Italy, in the land where cycling reaches its highest form and I have decided that Italian cyclists reign supreme in the cycling world.
ReplyDeleteCommandment #5. Don't drink wine, eat meat, or smoke---at least during the ride. Would come as quite a shock to the Italians! The event support of this particular event, L'Eroica featured traditional foods including cured meats, cheese, bread and Chianti. A large number of the almost 5000 Italians on this ride seemed to enjoy the occaisional cigarette during these stops as well. An unusual sight to be sure for me but apparently quite common for the Italians. These habits did not seem to slow them down in the least.
I would have to say that Velocio doesn't get out much if he is not aware of this! Just sayin.
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