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 hold the momentum going and ship one other bike packing too. However which?
Nicely, even with out the ‘Noner I’ve bought extra street bikes than I want in the meanwhile, 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:
Just a few 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 after 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 elemental problem fancy street 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it additionally compels them to fuss and tweak and even (gasp) clear, whereas after they’re using, say, an beat-up outdated Faggin, it’s too far gone aesthetically for them to even hassle with, which is in itself a type of perfection.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 improbable, however you retain checking to ensure you didn’t get any sauce in your crisp white shirt. Through the peak of the fixie craze this type 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, think about the knowledge of the Buddhists:
They perceive that struggling is the foundation of need. You need the great bike, and that hurts. You assume getting the bike will make all the pieces all higher. However then you definitely get the great bike however it 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 That’s why the Dalai Lama nonetheless rides an outdated fixie conversion with flop-and-chops although these Himalayan roads could be the right excuse for him to purchase the latest and newest gravel bike in addition to a lot 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 rather a lot in frequent. For instance, as I famous within the aforelinked put up, 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 automobile.” That is like having a vegan partner who is continually 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 folks stated on social media years in the past! I actually am pathetic.
At the very least I’ve principally stopped posting on social media, which is one thing, although now folks assume I’m useless:
Generally I’m undecided myself.
