Don’t be afraid. It’s just the Man With The Hammer.

[tombeej]

Rule #91 // No Food On Training Rides Under Four Hours.

… Or, as Fignon put it, sometimes, when we train, we simply have to go out to meet the Man with the Hammer….

 

-------------------------

 

For me, December is a time of winding down, dialling down, and recharging my empty batteries.

 

It’s also the time to return to some serious base training: very long, introspective TITS rides (which also help to deal with those hectic Christmas binge sessions we all know so well).

 

He waits for us out there on those very long rides, at that time where the mind says “I’m done”, but the Garmin says “No, still a long way to go”, and the legs scream something inaudible while the pedals ignore them and just keep turning.

 

This means it’s the time of year when I get reacquainted with The Man With The Hammer. The mystical one who waits somewhere out there on the road for me, at the top of a distant lonely climb.

 

I’ve met him a few times, but while I can’t tell you what he looks like I can certainly tell you what his Hammer feels like. Like the Abominable Snowman, he lurks just out of sight. Some say they’ve actually seen him, but I don’t believe them (most likely a figment of a tortured imagination).

 

Merry Christmas Mr. Hammer Man. And please be kind when you see me this time.

 

(pic from the pages of Velominati)

 

['Dale]

Awesome post, tombeej

 

I suspect I will meet him too as I have some rollin' to do as well

 

Already met him somewhat in the final few kms of yesterday's ride 

[shaper]

felt like i got very well acquainted with him on Saturday's ride !!

[tombeej]

“The blanket you wrapped yourself in gets pulled up over your head, over your ears, nearly to your eyes. Darkness is everywhere except directly in front of you, the tunnel guiding you along. You hear nothing but the whirring of your tires, perhaps the changing of gear. The Man with the Hammer wanders close; you feel him. But La Volupte has graced you as well and she distracts him to stave off his hammer for a bit longer.

 

His killer blow will come, but not yet.”

 

Frank, Velominati / Keepers of the Cog

[Guest DieBees]

Awesome posts. Its almost as if I would like to bonk now.

[flyluis]

I see that oke almost every ride... 

[Spinnekop]

Nice post.  Almost gives me motivation.....

 

Almost...

[SwissVan]

Ha ha motivation for the skinny okes

 

Never met him, knew there was a reason to carry surplus food n stuff on a ride