I’ve been in denial for a long, long time now and I’ve finally come to terms with it. I’d like to publicly announce – I’m bi-cyclist. A bike whore.
I had a play with mountain biking back in my uni days. Nothing serious. It was just a bit of fun. I’d sometimes have too much to drink, got a little carried away, then next thing you know I’m ripping down singletrack on the rocky road. You never know until you have a go, right?
After a few unsuccessful years on the MTB race scene I cleaned myself up, got a job, and bought a road bike. It was a Canondale with downtube shifters. Things were awkward at first but I knew I was back on the right path. The road ahead was clear and my future was bright.
Mrs CT doesn’t really know the extent of my former life, but I think there was always something she suspected that was never questioned. We never spoke anything of it.
This has been a week of reckoning for me. The mud, the mountains, endless singletrack, lack of cars…it’s all coming back to me now and I’m having a hard time fighting it. I know it’s not right. Is it okay to have mixed feelings, get dirty, and be unfaithful to the road?
I have BMC to blame for this. They brought me over here and they are responsible for this summer love affair. It started with them giving me some “shy shorts” to wear around the expo. It then led to a baggy jersey. Next thing I knew I was getting down and dirty on singletrack and haven’t shaved my legs in 5 days. I drink beer after a ride now instead of lattes. What have I become…
This vacation fling will go no further than this. While I’m “coming out” I may as well post a few photos of our day gallivanting around the Swiss Alps.
You gotta love the decorative Swiss cow bells or "treichelns"
Amazing to watch these Swiss Cattle Dogs diligently watching over the cows in the middle of nowhere
A cracker of an ascent taking us straight up to the top ridge in the middle. Took over an hour to climb
The signage here makes it nearly impossible to get lost. Didn't stop us though!
View from the top of the ridge. Singletrack all the way back to the bottom!
You're never too far away from a "ravitaillement" mountain shack for a cold beer
Do you think BMC will notice if I give the this bike back instead of the SuperTrail?
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{ 25 comments }
Gold!
Well done for coming out of the closet Wade, very brave of you ;-)
Next it'll be a singlespeed and then there's no turning back ! Incidentally, the Dirty Deeds CX winner rode a single speed to victory on the week end.
You've change man, at least it is not triathlons, if you wanted to remain'pro' and 'euro' it would have been cylo-cross!
Don't be ashamed CT. If Mrs CT truly loves you she will support you and your bicyxuality
What goes on tour, stays on tour? :P
Enjoy your holiday!
Noice, very noice. Great cycling in beautiful countryside. No wonder you came out :-D It would have been impossible to stay locked up in the closet!
I used to be a road/track racing snob. Now I realise there is fun, competition, fitness, adrenalin, value and meaning in all forms of cycling. To quote TC who probably stole it from someone else: “It's not what you ride, it's THAT you ride that counts”
I've got a bad case of bicycle envy!
As a fellow bi-cyclist I say congrats! I like riding dirt-tracks just as much as the smooth stuff. :0
And and as far as looking PRO goes the elite XC riders look exactly the same as roadies but on carbon hard-tail MTBs. They have white shoes, white helmets, shaved legs etc.
The helmets and legs I can handle but white shoes? That's just plain silly off-road.
Under 15 miles in over 4 hours?? Avg HR 100bpm??
There must have been more time spent in the ravitaillement shack than you are letting on.
Wow Wade, I thought it was just something we did in the bushes at You Yangs, now the whole world knows about it!! Seriously, what's next? You going to tell us you're an ice-skater? I agree with previous comments, just need a white set of sidi dragons and you will restore your manhood. I just typed this on an iPad.. Hehe not mine, at an applestore.
Switzerland has a great network of trails as you are now well aware. They also have a fantastic system in place for mountain biking, from hiring a bike and then linking it up with the train system.
http://www.mountainbikeland.ch/en/welcome.cfm
enjoy
Yep, 2h09 moving time out of 4 hours. Lots of revitalising.
I am a bi-cyclist as well. Actually a try-cyclist. I am happy on anything with two wheels. There is a saying which I love.
'Four wheels moves the body. Two wheels moves the soul.'
Good to see the branching out in fantastic scenery. Envious like the rest.
You trying to do a Simoni?
As CGR said, what goes on tour, LOL
I also agree with Sean, above, it doesn't really matter if you are on a dragster, it can still be fun
As a relative newcomer, I have to say what a fantastic vibe there is on this site… this is why I love cycling. It strengthens the spirit, cleanses the soul. Inhibitions be dammed… I'm going to hang out in a Tri-Club tonight.
Really great photos Wade, that scenery looks stunning!
wow, that was an awkward headline for my boss to catch me with while trolling the net.
Now you've gone and done it. ;-P
Interesting that you decided to “come out” during Pride week in Toronto….good for you for not being ashamed and I'm sure if you were here this weekend you wouldnt be the only guy keeping “secrets” from his wife.
As someone who was a roadie 25 years ago (when we had toe clips and if you couldn't change gears on the down tube to exactly the right gear you were just not PRO) and come back to the sport via mtb, I hear you. But yeah, get the lycra and the sidi's back on and get over it.
Be wary of those Swiss mountain cows. Back in the day I was on a road bike trip through the Alps wearing, of all things, bright red shorts. There were more than a few showdowns b/t me and those dreaded mountain cows on the road at 2000m elevation.
don't wear red biking shorts in the Alps….
CT, do you have the fifth shot minus the caption that I can use as a desktop? excellent riding!
“don't wear red biking shorts at all. Ever…”
Redbeard, fixed it for ya ;-)
You and me both kid – life is all about balance and cycling is no different. The beauty about my MTB outings are that Missus LanternRouge also does it (albeit it at her pace). When going out to the You Yangs she packs coffee / food / magazines / book for afterwards, and even frowns when I get back too soon:) Enjoy it out there! My trip to France starts 1 August – road – taking in 15 passes over 10 days, including Ventoux, Tourmalet, Alpe d'Huez :))
Cofidis is OK, but if you are a Redbeard then the fashion police my have an issue
And Cows are colour blind
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