Sometime around 2009, the Velominati published “The Rules” – a list “of simple truths of cycling etiquette”. They would go on to eventually formulate 95 rules. This was 2009 – before cycling was the new golf. Lance Armstrong was on the rise, and cycling was about to take off.
For some cycling old-timers and fundamentalists, the rules were a non-negotiable code to live by and used as a tool to exclude and bully newcomers to the sport. I was a disciple of the rules and to this day many of them remain deeply ingrained in my psyche. I’ll have more to say about the rules some other time – particularly some of my favourites.
As I’ve grown older, slower and more mellow, I’ve let go of the rules of the Velominati and replaced them with my own set of rules. My rules are infinitely more simple and shorter.
Curious? Here they are:-
The rules according to Stinky Dave
Must be fun
That’s it. Simple – just the way I like it. One rule to rule them all.
If you’re not having fun, what are you doing? Do something that is fun!! Turn the bike around, go home or go somewhere else and find some fun. Life’s too short to waste valuable leisure time not having fun.
Before I end today’s sermon, perhaps we should discuss the different types of fun. Here’s my take on the 3 types of fun. Expertly illustrated above – sourced from Sketchplanations.
Type 1 Fun
This is a no-brainer – the gold standard. All rides should be like this, both in the planning and execution. Enjoy it all!!
Type 2 Fun
Seems like a good idea at the time, Looks great on paper – the climbs aren’t that big, but the view on top is spectacular. Best done with a ride companion to share the good times, but most importantly the hard bits. Satisfaction is the ultimate reward for these rides – “Can you believe we did that?”
Type 3 Fun
I like to think of this as type 1 or type 2 fun gone wrong. It rains or snows midway through your ride. You get lost and have to push your gravel bike down what appears to be a cliff, through an ocean of clothes-destroying brambles, only to emerge bloodied and very close to where you started. You’re totally out of water on a blazingly hot summer day. There’s no mobile coverage, so you have no choice but to ride out of there. While this did happen to me, I love telling the story – classic type 3 fun!
So that’s it – one rule and the three types of fun. I think it’s critically important to keep the type 1 and type 2 fun in balance. One cannot thrive on type 1 fun alone – although it is fun (by definition). A little bit of type 2 fun is character-building.
What are your rules? Do you have a type 3 fun story? Let me know in the comments below.
One Response
Type C fun. All rides are more fun with coffee.