Why I Ride: The Wind - Is It Beast or Friend?

I've been riding outdoors since the beginning of March and the wind has been a beast which is typical for this time of year (in like a lion and out like a lamb). Riding alone on many days I don't have my cycling friends to draft behind so the wind is always pushing hard against me at some point whether starting out or coming back home and there is also the crosswinds to contend with too. Being only 115 pounds and riding my carbon Trek Madone I feel at times I'll be blown into a ditch never to be seen again.

The wind is a training tool - a cataylst to propel an average rider into a better-than-average-rider. Riding into the wind you mimic the motion of being in front or climbing a hill. As one of my good cycling friends reminds me to ride in front of the group as much as possible. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger. It can also replicate the motion of being on a TT bike pushing hard on the gears. Riding into the wind stresses your legs and your spirit to endure and to appreciate days that are calm - or riding with a group. So appreciate the wind especially when it's in your back. Sail on.

Cycling Ristorante

Food is the fuel that sustains you and allows you to excel through your rides and to excel through your day. This series will explore the cultures of food offering you tips on nutrition, recipes of food that tastes great and will power any hard ride. We will explore the history of food in cycling and offer strategies that sustain healthy living. Follow along and we are looking forward to future comments.

What's in a name?

Via: (vī′ə, vē′ə)
preposition
By way of, by the route passing through, on the way to, through the medium of…
By a route passing through, along, or over; by way of; traveling through (a place) en route to a destination: from Rome to London via Paris
By means of; by the medium of via airmail
By way of; through: they can see the artist’s works via a camera hook up.
Etymology: L, abl. sing. of via, a way <> Gr ienai, to go, OE wath, a hunt, chase. Latin, late 18th Century, ablative of via, “way, road”.

Ciclante: (chee-clon-te)
Noun;verb;adjective: The cycling way

Describes the cyclist(s): (ie.) gruppo ciclante– cycling group
-the act of cycling; cycling with passion; cycling that encompasses all the senses and the sense of individual accomplishment. -the cycling route-giro ciclante
–cycling challenge-sfida ciclante.

In Latin - C • before e or i - like ch in chin
• otherwise - like c in cat
Ciclismo(noun) – the sport of cycling
Ciclista(noun) – the rider
Ciclare(verb) – the act of cycling
Giro(noun) Ciclante(adjective) – cycling tour; cycling route

Purpose of this blog

Mission

1. to contemplate human drives its relationships to our contemporary
world from the point of view from a bicycle saddle

Vision

1. to promote a community of cyclists who share information about
their physical and emotional experiences of cycling
2. to inspire a dialogue about the cultures of cycling and the
relationship to transportation, the environment and consequences
to our health.