As somebody who was as soon as the Web’s foremost chronicler of the minimalism motion, I doubtless perceive higher than anyone the sensation of freedom that comes with simplifying your life. So with the ‘Noner now re-homed, it occurred to me that I ought to preserve the momentum going and ship one other bike packing too. However which?
Nicely, even with out the ‘Noner I’ve bought extra highway bikes than I would like in the intervening time, and so I figured it was lastly time to return the LeMond to Traditional Cycle. However first I figured I’d take it for a fast farewell journey:
A number of pedal strokes later, I made a decision I’m nonetheless not able to half with it. Why? It’s simply so good. This was the second time I’d determined to return it and chickened out; the primary was a couple of weeks in the past once I took a motorcycle field down from my storage shelf, opened it as much as pack the bike, then closed it and put it proper again up on the shelf.
This underscores the basic problem fancy highway bikes pose to dirtbag cyclists resembling myself. See, dirtbag cyclists aren’t dirtbags as a result of they’re lazy or slovenly or neglectful. Quite the opposite; dirtbag cyclists are dirtbags as a result of they’re perfectionists. A featherweight carbon and titanium Dura-Ace-equipped race bike like LeMond appeals to the perfectionist hidden deep inside the dirtbag. Nonetheless, it additionally compels them to fuss and tweak and even (gasp) clear, whereas once they’re driving, say, an beat-up outdated Faggin, it’s too far gone aesthetically for them to even hassle with, which is in itself a type of perfection. This permits them to chill out:
It’s like getting dressed as much as go to a elaborate restaurant. Sure, the meals’s implausible, however you retain checking to be sure you didn’t get any sauce in your crisp white shirt. In the course of the peak of the fixie craze this form of fussiness resulted within the prime tube pad phenomenon:
Which is like going to a elaborate restaurant and sticking your serviette in your collar:
Now, think about the knowledge of the Buddhists:
They perceive that struggling is the foundation of want. You need the great bike, and that hurts. You suppose getting the bike will make every part all higher. However you then get the great bike but it surely nonetheless hurts, as a result of now you’re worrying about it as a substitute of having fun with it. That’s why the Dalai Lama nonetheless rides an outdated fixie conversion with flop-and-chops although these Himalayan roads could be the proper excuse for him to purchase the most recent and newest gravel bike in addition to a number of gear from Rene Herse:
Social media is even worse. A flowery bike might ship you right into a spiral of minute cockpit changes and cog-flossing, however on social media society’s the bike and also you’re the preening roadie who’s overly preoccupied with everybody else’s sock peak:
Think about caring about so many ridiculous issues concurrently–and I say this as a motorcycle dork! That Tweet is an beautiful concerto of smugness. By the way, minimalists and advocates have so much in widespread. For instance, as I famous in the aforelinked publish, minimalists use all the identical crap the remainder of us do, however they wish to brag about how they don’t personal it as a result of it technically belongs to their home companion:
And so do advocates:
Certain, you “don’t personal a automobile.” That is like having a vegan partner who is consistently ending your turkey membership:
[“Here, just take it for chrissakes!”]
Or like a motorcycle blogger who laughs at individuals who obsess over social media whereas obsessing over what individuals are saying on social media:
And never simply stuff individuals are saying on social media, however stuff individuals stated on social media years in the past! I actually am pathetic.
No less than I’ve principally stopped posting on social media, which is one thing, although now individuals suppose I’m useless:
Typically I’m unsure myself.
