After yesterday’s solo suffering on Palomar Mountain, today was perfect for one thing: victory. Not in a race sense, but victory as in riding to enjoy the ride, drinking in views of the ocean and sharing more holiday company with others who embrace the cycling lifestyle. I pedaled with Brad Davis of Chicago, Illinois. If you don’t know him, he’s @caribbeancwby on Twitter. A great one to follow. I thought I was a Soul Cyclist, but Brad is truly authentic. He rides sans computer, heart-rate monitor, power meter or any type of device to measure data. Instead, he relies on his mind, his body and his, yes, his soul. A man this comfortable and elegant on the bike is rare. He cuts a lean silhouette not unlike another classics rider: Roger De Vlaeminck, four-time winner of Paris-Roubaix — and the only man to have ever done it. De Vlaeminck also won Milan-San Remo three times, as well as other classics. Victory is what you make. And the joy of a great ride is not unlike this photo of De Vlaeminck below from gertkat. Raise your arms. Smile. Enjoy. I hope the feeling of victory is inside you, wherever you may be logging saddle time on your bike. Here are the Garmin stats (from my bike) for today’s great ride.
Related posts:
- Make it happen Five months. That’s how long I rode without a bike computer. Until today, that is. What did I learn? A bunch. How far did I ride? I have no idea. But going sans computer opened my eyes to so much more than numbers. It brought me closer to the road and...
- The ‘Deal Kitchen’ Here’s the deal: You get one shot. No matter who you are. Whether you’re good, bad or indifferent. Whether at the peak of youth, in the final stages, or barely beyond the start line at the highest professional levels. So much can happen. The seemingly impossible can go two directions so...
- Pedal with a purpose I’m passionate about a few causes. I hope you are, too. Today, I formally added a very personal one to my list: remembering Brionna Pettit. I’m sporting hot pink — her favorite color — thanks to Brionna’s dad, Ryan. We met up early this morning, had a cup of joe and...
- Bike friends Bike friends. They’re invaluable. You may not always realize it. But without them, you’re a single rider, exposed to the elements and all the road can bring, both good and bad. Bike friends can make a ride at least twice as good as you thought possible — no matter the route...
- Steady as you go I’ve written about the beauty of cycling and the liberation that comes with turning the pedals over. But the posts have usually been recorded after covering routes I know intimately. Sometimes the ride before an entry was solo, sometimes with friends. It became rhythmic and comfortable. Pedal. Think. Compose. Type....
{ 1 trackback }
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Discovered the same joy of knowing Brad when he was up here in the Bay Area. He is truly an authentic, soulful cyclist and person. Glad you guys had a good time out there in each other’s company.
i rode with Brad back here and he is a truly patient and gracious riding companion. as we approached the last hill of our ride (and i was swearing quite profusely) he laid his hand on my back and helped with a gentle push…and i accepted his assistance because he did it without judgement and without making me feel inadequate. a true soulful rider indeed. i look forward to many more rides (and cups of coffee) with him.
Emily & soozed – Thanks for stopping by BC and sharing your thoughts. Brad’s time here in San Diego has contributed to a perfect start to 2010. Cycling creates these unspoken bonds that just feel right the very moment you meet people. I count meeting Brad as one of those moments, and consider myself fortunate.