It's Not About the Bike

'I was not yet 16 when I understood a great deal, from having ridden bicycles for so long, about style, speed, grace, purpose, value, form, integrity, health, humour, music, breathing and finally and perhaps best of all the relationship between the beginning and the end.' 

William Saroyan (1908-1981) (American-Armenian writer)

So the Tour de France is with us again.

(photograph by Ben Ingham, available for purchase here)

For some, they watch Le Tour for the landscape and to dream of a sojourn in the Loire.  For others, it is the chateaux, the neat little villages, the churches and the glimpse of an eccentric little stone fort perched on the top of a craggy rock.   

Others watch for the Lycra clad men and the crashes.   Others for the Australians or the Americans or the British or the Spaniards.     

Others love the strategies, tactics and drug scandals.   Others, like me, are endlessly fascinated by the business proposition that is the Tour.    They pay how much to sponsor the time trial clock?  Yes, but think of the millions who watch.  It must be an investment which pays surely.    

Whatever it is,  there is something for everyone. 

I have a husband who is a mad cyclist.  Not commuting cycling.  No.  Cycling that involves riding  for 4 hours to Frankston and back on a Saturday morning.    Cycling that involves reading cycling blogs.  Buying beautifully written cycling coffee table books and touchingly trying to persuade me to read them.

Cycling that involves only ever wearing black with touches of  white - all sourced from the UK business, Rapha, who sells just the very best, sleek, high quality cycling gear.  Including a pink stowaway jacket, which I rather love.  And some wonderful jersey tops, in plain colours.  No fluoro.  No skin tones.  Just 1950s styling using hi tech and pure fabrics.  

   

Oh okay, here are a couple more:

My point is that the things men love, even if they are sporty or cave-like, are often no different in their manifestation to the things we love. 

And well we may ask, standing, watching, or dreaming.  What are we doing here?   

Cycling is a metaphor for life.  I didn't think of that first, many have got there before me.    

  

And like all obsessions, you need a book collection to go with.   So, to kick off the Tour, buy a book.  Here are some of mine ours:

The only one in the pile above I would not recommend is the second Lance book (Every Second Counts) - it's just a bit boring and self indulgent.    But all the others, especially the Escape Artist, about a man obsessed with the ride who is forced to grow up when his wife becomes seriously ill, are wonderful.


So, enjoy.  On all levels.  


(Images (1) (2) (4) (6) (7) (8) (9) Rapha (3) Cycling Tips) 

Tweet