Strong, light-weight, efficient. Able to handle tremendous loads, absorb great shock and distribute huge forces far beyond expectation. Newton meters, foot pounds. Torque.
Bicycle, strong like spider web.
A spider web is incredibly strong. Strong enough to catch little insects for days. For its intended purpose there is no better design.
Rolling down the road, just riding along, riding a bike the way it was designed to be ridden, a bike is an amazingly strong and efficient machine. But it doesn’t take much to fuck it up.
Bicycle, delicate like spider web.
A well-tensioned wheel is very strong radially, and strong enough laterally, and it’ll get you where you want to go, until someone steps on it, or you hit a man-hole sans the cover, or you throw the chain into the spokes grinding up Spring Street and sheer off a few with your monumental torque output (too bad your derailleur was poorly adjusted)
A bottom bracket spindle puts up with a lot of stress, a headset takes a beating, the dropouts take it in the teeth all day. The whole package is truly amazing and I appreciate it. However, I find it beneficial to remind myself how delicate a bike can be. Riding down the road on two contact patches the size of communion wafers, and sometimes on only one, anything can happen. Toss in some rain, road grime, oil, balsamic vinegar, beer and a few bad drivers and you’ve got a colorful chef salad.
I call it a healthy respect, even fear. A respect for other factors out there. The knowledge of the possibilities. The fear of what could happen. It’s in the back of mind most of the time. Advancing, retreating. Growing, shrinking. Reminding, overlooking. But it’s there.
Actually I think it’s there in most people at varying levels. It’s sometimes referred to as stupidity, ignorance, youth, balls, bravery, wisdom, skill, experience, caution, flow.
Maybe it's Sunday morning, so I'm thinking about communion wafers too much...I'll take two.
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