The Legs

Guest Post from the inestimable Cole Harden -

The level of preparation given The Legs provides a glance into the psyche of a competitor. His respect given his adversaries, his meticulous preparation, and his determinedness to succeed are expressed by a cyclist through The Legs. The Legs determine the nature of a ride, the level of performance expected during a race, and the quality of a win.

The Legs are a manifestation of the beast within. All the training, the dieting, the sacrifice, and the toil in the life of a cyclist is reflected in The Legs. Every broiling summer day, every icy morning is there. Every endless climb and brutalizing headwind is etched for eternity. The Legs will show miles in their sinews and creases.  The Legs will show disappointment in their scars and divots. The Legs will show victories in their shine and glow. The Legs will show, by their neglect and inattention, defeat.

The Legs must be treated with respect and not a small amount of reverence. By removing the hair that conceals them, The Legs are allowed to gleam in their full glory. The Legs are presented to all who wish to consider them; honest, proud, and without secret or subversion.

The Legs are the motor that powers a cyclist to his fate. If they are well regarded, they will carry the cyclist to The Line on his own terms. If The Legs are regarded with impunity, the cyclist may expect little more in return.