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 maintain the momentum going and ship one other bike packing too. However which?
Effectively, even with out the ‘Noner I’ve obtained extra highway bikes than I would like in the mean 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 experience:
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 motorbike 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 reminiscent of 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 throughout the dirtbag. Nevertheless, it additionally compels them to fuss and tweak and even (gasp) clear, whereas after they’re using, say, an beat-up outdated Faggin, it’s too far gone aesthetically for them to even trouble with, which is in itself a type of perfection. This enables them to chill out:
It’s like getting dressed as much as go to a flowery restaurant. Sure, the meals’s unbelievable, however you retain checking to be sure to didn’t get any sauce in your crisp white shirt. Through the peak of the fixie craze this kind of fussiness resulted within the high tube pad phenomenon:
Which is like going to a flowery restaurant and sticking your serviette in your collar:
Now, contemplate the knowledge of the Buddhists:
They perceive that struggling is the basis of need. You need the great bike, and that hurts. You suppose getting the bike will make all the things 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 an alternative of having fun with it. That’s why the Dalai Lama nonetheless rides an outdated fixie conversion with flop-and-chops though these Himalayan roads could be the right excuse for him to purchase the most recent and newest gravel bike in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 could 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 motorbike dork! That Tweet is an beautiful concerto of smugness. By the way, minimalists and advocates have lots in frequent. 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 associate:
And so do advocates:
Positive, you “don’t personal a automotive.” That is like having a vegan partner who is continually ending your turkey membership:
[“Here, just take it for chrissakes!”]
Or like a motorbike 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 largely stopped posting on social media, which is one thing, although now individuals suppose I’m lifeless:
Typically I’m unsure myself.
