As road cyclists, we’re accustomed to fitting in and submitting ourselves. Attired in a team jersey, you become part of a team. Your personal glory no longer matters because you’re part of something bigger. Something that gives you meaning and lets your chest swell up with pride. A great sensation, but one that comes hand in hand with pressure. A uniform that dictates how you’ll abide by rules so that the team runs like a well-oiled machine. Legs on, head off.
Decades of competition-driven professionalism within cycling have effectively nullified individuality, free will and creativity. Everything is focused purely on performance. Grown men discuss in all seriousness whether they really have to shave their legs – and even Peter Sagan isn’t immune to this. Rules are plucked out of thin air that dictate how you should behave, dress, and ride; what you should eat and which chainring you should ride in – and when. What’s more, these rules are actively enforced, and only those who abide by these prescriptions can consider themselves part of the enlightened within cycling, one of the Velominati.
Certain brave individuals might change the colour of their socks, garnering appreciative looks from peers for having made a bold move. But seriously, socks? Is that the extent of free will within cycling?
Humans have a talent when it comes to losing themselves in details, ‘not able to see the woods for the trees’ for want of a cliché. At the same rate that cycling is celebrated and details stylised, our awareness of what we actually want from cycling – and from life itself – diminishes. Once we’ve discovered what is considered de rigueur within the sport, we hone in on that. Riding isn’t just a simple case of ‘I’m going for a quick spin’; it’s now ‘a recovery ride with a soy milk latte stop.’ The importance of every ride is intensified, and we overlook what’s actually happening – and why.
It’s a similar scenario at work, where titles are bandied about and everyone is now an ‘expert’ or a ‘manager’ of something. The label that’s given to us takes on an importance that’s even greater than the responsibilities that come with it. What counts more: measurable performance or a subjective feeling? A segment on Strava or having a good time on your ride? The expensive equipment or the experience of getting out?
But who are you really trying to impress? Only you can answer this question. The best way to escape from the endless pursuit of meaning and justification of self-worth is to start with the person closest to you: yourself. It isn’t about dancing to other people’s tune (or rules), nor doing things to please others; there’s an art to making yourself happy. It comes from demonstrating the courage to change something so that you’ll no longer simply slot in to a preordained system. Ride how you want to ride. That’s real authenticity — when you’re questioning convention, breaking the rules and opening yourself up to the amazing diversity that life has on offer.
This article is from GRAN FONDO issue #009
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Text: Robin Schmitt Illustration: Julian Lemme
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