At first I thought I would have more time for cycling and framebuilding (a thing I’d love to do fulltime) but as 2009 wore on the opposite was the case. I had commuted a 66km round-trip to work regularly and now I had to do all that cycling in my free time. My original justification for framebuilding as an opposite pole to the frustrations of IT-work was also vacant.
As the year wore on I had a number of colds and tummy-bugs. I was desperate to complete the 2009 Brevet Super Series in Brandenburg but didn’t finish a single Brevet for illness and family obligation reasons. My frame wasn’t getting anywhere either because I was obsessed with creating something way above my level of expertise.
In retrospect this whole experience was very valuable. Feeling I had somehow failed at work I wanted to prove myself what I was capable of in other areas. Brevet cycling is very for showing you where your psychological limits are. Every event is a confrontation with yourself that you have to deal with efficiently so that you can continue and enjoy your ride. This ranges from how prepared (fitness, navigation, strategy) you are, what you brought with you (and now have to schlep up the hills), what you didn’t bring and now have to do without, by what ideals you chose and built your bike and most importantly how you deal with others (their speed, their lack of experience, their annoyances) on the ride. Framebuilding (or perhaps any craft) is similar. You constantly have to be aware of your limits and work within them and most importantly look at your results with those limits in mind. In doing so you build the foundational skills and your limits become extended.
At last I gave up on the idea of riding LEL and finishing the frame in time and that’s when things started to look up. I finished the bike in time for the 2010 Brevet season and completed the Super Series on it. I hadn’t underestimated what a pure buzz and extra motivation it would be to riding on my own frame. Sort of like going on a big adventure with a good friend whose shortcomings you can’t see because the comfort they provide by just being there far outweighs any faults they have.
As the year wore on I had a number of colds and tummy-bugs. I was desperate to complete the 2009 Brevet Super Series in Brandenburg but didn’t finish a single Brevet for illness and family obligation reasons. My frame wasn’t getting anywhere either because I was obsessed with creating something way above my level of expertise.
In retrospect this whole experience was very valuable. Feeling I had somehow failed at work I wanted to prove myself what I was capable of in other areas. Brevet cycling is very for showing you where your psychological limits are. Every event is a confrontation with yourself that you have to deal with efficiently so that you can continue and enjoy your ride. This ranges from how prepared (fitness, navigation, strategy) you are, what you brought with you (and now have to schlep up the hills), what you didn’t bring and now have to do without, by what ideals you chose and built your bike and most importantly how you deal with others (their speed, their lack of experience, their annoyances) on the ride. Framebuilding (or perhaps any craft) is similar. You constantly have to be aware of your limits and work within them and most importantly look at your results with those limits in mind. In doing so you build the foundational skills and your limits become extended.
At last I gave up on the idea of riding LEL and finishing the frame in time and that’s when things started to look up. I finished the bike in time for the 2010 Brevet season and completed the Super Series on it. I hadn’t underestimated what a pure buzz and extra motivation it would be to riding on my own frame. Sort of like going on a big adventure with a good friend whose shortcomings you can’t see because the comfort they provide by just being there far outweighs any faults they have.
 |
| From Audax frame |
Keine Kommentare:
Kommentar veröffentlichen