The Ecstasy of Movement

The common thread that runs through the sports many of us enjoy is the ecstasy of movement.

In cycling, the ecstasy of movement comes in at least three varieties:

1. Velocity
The simple act of pedaling propels the cyclist, and the nervous system delights in the sensation of velocity.

Velocity has healing properties. Midsummer, with lots of miles in my legs, I typically start to feel burnt out and not particularly inspired to get on the bike. But, because I have a training objective, I gear up, step onto the bike, snap into the pedals, and make the first few pedal strokes. The bicycle accelerates, and within moments the frown disappears and the apathy is gone. Velocity is a natural anti-depressant.

Velocity has an infectious quality. Just watching elite cycling, track, or skiing athletes move causes the nervous system to react with an increased heart rate and sweaty palms.

Cycling legend Jacques Anquetil was probably addicted to velocity. Close family members report that he claimed he had to move fast because he somehow knew (“the prediction”) that he was going to die at an early age. Jacques’ prediction was correct and he died from stomach cancer at age 53. Even though he died relatively young, velocity was such a big part of his life that maybe he enjoyed twice as much of the ecstasy of velocity as the average person.

The ecstasy of velocity depends on context. Driving a car down the freeway at 60 mph doesn’t result in ecstasy (maybe the opposite!), but pedaling at almost any speed down a country road does. And alas, at least for me, pedaling a mountain or city bike doesn’t generate ecstasy, but pedaling a snappy road bike does. The quality of the machine seems to matter.

2. Cadence
Cadence, the frequency of the pedal stroke, is the rhythm of cycling and is a reflection of the individual’s natural frequency. We all have a frequency, a “vibe,” and cadence is a way that vibe expresses itself.

Although cadence is a cycling term, the same phenomenon occurs in other sports. In skiing it’s the frequency of the skier’s turns, and in running it’s the pitter-patter of the running pace.

Since moving to Seattle I’ve been running more and I’ve noticed that, maybe as a result of settling into middle age, my running cadence doesn’t match my cardiovascular capability. If I run at what I perceive to be my natural cadence, my heart rate skyrockets to an unsustainable level. One of the pleasures of cycling is that it enables the rider to settle into the pleasure of his / her own natural rhythm at a sustainable heart rate.

Cadence is akin to dancing, and when you’re having a good ride or a good run (skiing or jogging) it feels like a Snoopy happy dance.

3. Group cycling
Group cycling is an ecstatic orgy that combines velocity and cadence with camaraderie and teamwork. I don’t think any other sport has anything that compares to being in a group of cyclists moving briskly at speed. Maybe playing in a hockey or basketball team?

I usually have so much fun riding in a group that I’m often more preoccupied with the movements of the group than anything else. Cycling through scenic countryside, I probably miss more sights than I should.

And with all this ecstasy comes fitness too!

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