What do you do? 🤔 🚴🏼

 

You are what you do.

I read this headline in the paper today. I have been thinking about this for some time. Since retiring, when I am asked “What do you do?”, I’m not sure how to respond. Simply saying ” I’m retired” doesn’t say enough. I am more than that. So, when people ask, I say “I’m a cyclist.”. Inevitably, it starts a conversation. Are you a professional? No. What kind of cyclist? Road. What bike do you ride? Several. How often do you ride? Every day. Where do you ride? Everywhere I can.

Yes, I’m a cyclist! But I am more.

Here are 15 beliefs I subscribe to, ideas that better describe what I do:

1. 15% Tire Drop. I used to think smaller, harder tires were better. Faster. In recent years, this has been proven incorrect. Wider, softer tires are faster, more comfortable, and grip better. Also, I used to pump the front and rear tires the same until I realized the riders weight is not equally distributed over the tires. Now I use the 15% drop method calculator to determine how best to inflate my tires.
2. A Vegan Diet. I was raised a carnivore, but 50 years ago I became a vegetarian for health reasons, and gradually became largely vegan. Today, I am a committed vegan for health, economic, and environmental reasons.
3. Polarized Training. I’m not a competitive cyclist. I enjoy century rides, always try for a PR, but am consistently in the middle of the pack. That’s OK. I simply enjoy the events and preparing for them. The polarized method enables me to cycle every day, and still improve year-to-year.
4. Global Warming. The data is conclusive. The earth is warming, and we are the cause. I can’t understand why there is any doubt. I worry for my kids and grandchildren.
5. 1X Drivetrains. I purchased a bespoke gravel bike this past spring that features 35 mm tires, disc brakes and a 1X SRAM FORCE 1 drivetrain. I love it! It’s fast, versatile, and remarkably comfortable. I can talk about many of the features but the 1X has surprised me. I have as low a gear as my compact setups, and seldom spin out. Try it.
6. Wider Road Tires (32/35 mm). I have been riding the Compass 32 and 35 mm tires for 5 months. They are remarkable. Fast. Comfortable. And they grip better. I am more confident, and faster descending and cornering. Try them.
7. ECOSIA. An innovative search engine with a difference. The business invests profits in tree planting. Over 45 million to-date. Every 45 searches plants a tree. This is a business with a conscience.
8. Netflix/YouTube/CBC Radio. I don’t like commercial TV. Or, commercial radio. The repetitious commercials are insulting and disruptive. So, I stopped watching and listening to them. Instead, I subscribe to Netflix, YouTube, and CBC radio  for my entertainment needs. I know. They have ads as well. But they are fewer, shorter, can be skipped.
9. Minimalism. This has been a process for me. A long one. Over the past several years, I have consciously decluttered my life making room for the things I enjoy most, like cycling. My wardrobe is a fraction the size. I got rid of my car. I don’t have time for people that waste my time. I still have things. Too many things. But as I said, it is a process. I realize I don’t need much but what I do have gives me a lot of pleasure.
10. Intermittent Fasting. I have fasted in one form or another for 50 years. I have fasted for long periods, regularly on weekends, for a day once a week, and this past year intermittently, where I eat 2 meals a day, breakfast at 12-1 pm and dinner at 7 pm. The rest of the time – 17-18 hours – I am fasting. During this time I’m either sleeping, or cycling. I do this to maintain an optimum weight and feel more energetic.
11. iPhonography. Yeah, it really exists. Good photos, art photos using the iPhone cameras. The thing is that the iPhone is ubiquitous. Everyone has one (it seems), and everyone takes photographs (it seems). And, they can be really good. I was trained in photography, have a collection of SLR bodies, and lenses but seldom use the equipment any longer. It’s to much to carry, especially on my bike. Whereas, the iPhone is always in my jersey pocket collecting STRAVA data.
12. Bespoke Steel Frame Road Bikes. I have several road bikes. Carbon. Aluminum. And steel. There is no more comfortable ride than a bespoke steel frame. You may argue that a carbon bike is lighter and faster, but in my experience, I much prefer steel frames, particularly on longer rides. And, I would argue that with today’s technology – lighter tubing, carbon forks and rims, and more efficient drivetrains – a steel frame bike does not have to be slower.
13. Oatmeal Every Day. I eat a bowl of oatmeal every day at 1 pm. This is how I break the fast and fuel for recovery – steel-cut oats with a chopped banana, blueberries and a tablespoon of natural peanut butter. It’s sustaining and healthy.
14. Coffee. Coffee and cycling go hand-in-hand. The mid- or post-ride coffee is a ritual. Many ex-pro cyclists even open cafes – aka Christian Meier. He opened La Fabrica in Girona, Spain once his cycling career was over. And he isn’t alone. Coffee is a health drink. It’s full of antioxidants and nutrients that make you smarter, stronger, and free of disease.

I could go on. I have a lot of other interests. But you get the point. We are a lot of things. We are not simply what we do. We are also what we believe. What we eat. Who we befriend. And, where we travel.