Sacrifices for Cycling

Van Wim

Cycling has many great stories of sacrifice. – 1951 Tour de France, the Dutch cyclist Wim van Est was wearing the yellow jersey when he punctured and got dropped. Trying to frantically catch up on the stage leaders, he mistimed a bend and plunged off a ravine on the descent of the Col d’Aubisque. Remarkably Win Van Est survived the 20ft tumble down the ravine, but was left stranded with no obvious means of recovery. In days before mountain rescue,  the Dutch team manager used all the team spare tubular tyres to make a long 20ft rope. Then, helped with his other team mates and spectators, the stranded Van Est was pulled up to safety. Unfortunately, the tubular tyres were all stretched and could no longer be used. The next day, the entire Dutch squad abandoned the tour.

Although giving up your spare tubulars is quite minor compared to the pro cyclist who happily had his little toe amputated ‘to save weight in the mountains.

That’s the kind of sacrifice pros make all the time, but what about us, what kind of sacrifices would you make for cycling?

Money

If I wasn’t a cyclist I reckon I would have another £10,000 in the bank. Actually,  it would be more but I don’t dare add up all the hundreds of pounds on Carbon fibre and aero gear. I’m not sure what I would have done with the money spent on cycling – maybe a bigger car. But, my philosophy is always have a bike worth more than your car. Of course, I’ve saved a lot of money in bus fares and petrol cycling to work. But, all that good work of saving money – cycling through wind, rain and cold is unfortunately blown on one set of nice wheels.

Sartorial Elegance

These days it seems cycling is quite cool, even fashionable. But, when I started cycling, it was more like the traditional British attitude that a cyclist was something a little odd. It wasn’t helped by turning up for my shifts at the Little Chef in my proper cycling gear, tights and all. I know some people are able to combine cycling and satirical elegance (a la £150 jackets from Rapha). But, I can never catch that elegance, but get told off for walking around with my trouser in sock (bizarrely, it becomes such a habit, I tuck my trouser into sock even when not cycling)

Cold and Wet

Modern life makes it quite easy to avoid all those unpleasant things in nature like getting cold, wet or hot. You can go from your air-conditioned car to your centrally heated office, without nothing more than a brief interlude into the open air. Some say modern life makes us soft. But, if you cycle you can remember what it’s like to face the elements in all your vulnerability. If you cycle, you will remember the primitive joys of feeling the wind and rain on your face.

Shaved Legs

I don’t mind admitting that shaved legs look good – if you do it well. But, boy is it hard work to get your legs shave. I usually start off with this epilator machine which slowly plucks all the hairs out. Usually, half way round the right leg, I just can’t face any more of this torture and so give up (in my book, depilating your hairy legs, is more painful than sprinting up a 25% climb). I then get out my electrical shaver which kind of half does the job. After one hour of plucking and shaving you’re thoroughly bored (or in my case getting late for start of race, I know you’re supposed to do it on Friday evening before race, but I forget to spend my Friday evening with razor.) so I give up with about a 85% shaved pair of legs. If there’s one thing worse than shaved legs, it’s half a shaved leg, I mean that just looks ridiculous. I have tried self-waxing, but that just gets wax everywhere and only worked about 50% of each strip.

Vulnerability

Modern roads and  motorists generally behave with the attitude that ‘I’m protected by a very effective box of crumpable metal which will protect me from most crashes). All these safety features give motorists a sense of security which encourages reckless driving. When you cycle you sacrifice your metal box of protection. You might wear a thin piece of polystyrene (called cycle helmet) but, whatever helmet proponents say, it is not the same as being cocooned in a car.

Any other  sacrifices you would make for cycling?