Of Cycling and Via Ferrata

Last night a bike ride was cancelled for this morning due to the risk of rain. As a result I got to sleep in rather than get up to ride at dawn. In the process I got to rest. It also confirms that the seasons are changing.

It’s because seasons change in Switzerland that I am still torn about whether to do the Via Ferrata (VF) Illuminée on Saturday or not. If I do it then I will finish at 2 or 3 in the morning and I will lose my sunday. At the same time I have used Sunday as rest days recently so it doesn’t matter.

I checked my VF gear just now, before writing, and it’s ready. My gloves are there. My helmet is close, and I still need to check one or two lights to make sure that I have a primary and a backup light. In essence I am ready within seconds, to do a VF.

Not Mutually Exclusive

If I ride with the Divonne group there is a high chance that I will be energetic enough for the VF. If I do a BCS relaxed ride as well. It’s if I do moderate, challenge, or peak rides that things become mutually exclusive. If I do the Saturday ride then this too excludes the nocturnal Via Ferrata.

Decision Time

In theory it’s tonight that I will have the information I need to make an informed decision. It’s tonight that I should see what rides are organised, as well as who is participating. It’s at this point that I can decided "duck it, I’ll do the VF after all". (Intentional spelling)

Unusually Early Decision

It’s rare for me to make my mind up days, let alone weeks or months before an event. It was uncharacteristic of me to commit to organising the VF as soon as I knew when it was taking place.

I have already taken measures to try to get a backup person to lead it, if I cancel my own participation.

FOMO and What If

If I was married, with a family life at home then the decision would be easy. I’d do what fills me with passion. As a single person I still question which one will provide me with the greatest sense of belonging to a group.

The greatest sense of being accepted came from the Divonne group I rode with a few weeks ago, and can ride again with, on Sunday. I also get a good sense of conviviality from riding with Bike Club Switzerland, even if I regret not asking one person’s name last week after we had a good conversation, at the end of the ride.

I’d like to see her again. As an introvert in the MeToo age this is a normal feeling for me. It would have been so easy to ask for a name.

With Tête de course rides are often fast. If you’re not drafting in the right part of the group then it is easy to be dropped out, and have to fight to get back to the group so it is often knackering. With this group I can definitely not do a bike ride, and then a VF. They’re mutually exclusive.

This is the group I was meant to ride with this morning, and again tomorrow evening. If the weather holds I will ride with them tomorrow.

I have three reservations about the VF. The first is the time of day. I don’t want to have to wait for most of the day to do something at night. I prefer to do things during the day. The second reservation is due to driving distance. It’s one and a half hours each way. I prefer to use cars, and trains, as little as possible. In this context I would be doing the opposite.

And Finally

Last year the decision was easy. I was either hiking or doing via ferrata, and the group I was in wanted to do via ferrata so the default was Via Ferrata. This year, due to being in several difference groups the default is cycling. That’s why the decision to do this VF in May was so easy, but now I wish I had not committed.

I really enjoy cycling, both as a sport, and for the group. The VF on Saturday might isolate me. I can cancel when I have a concrete replacement, either to lead, or a project that justifies cancelling. I don’t feel that I would be doing the VF for me.