Counting the Cost

Cycling provides all the big lessons in life: humility, pride, greed, discipline, grappling with ego, and learning what your will is and when to apply it and how to apply it.

—John Weissenrider

It has been said often, to the point of being cliché that if anything is worth doing, it is worth doing well.  Perhaps it is also worthy to consider it this way, when we take on a commitment, it merits doing with all your will and all the might that lies within. For the most part I believe we do this.  For example, when we look at commitments to profession, we consider the obligations involved. When we look at having children and a family, we regard the time it will take and weigh within the balance its value. When we look at little things like what we eat, we take into account fine details. However, all too often and interestingly, this same truth does not necessarily hold true for cycling, something held so near and dear to us.

One reason I believe we become removed from a true consideration of the discipline of cycling is partly due to something inherent to the bike itself, we generally start when we are children. When I started cycling more than 30 years ago, I thought so very little about it. It seemed so natural to ride. I knew nothing else; after all, I was just 8 years old at the time. It was love at first ride—and every—ride. Then as I grew up, I thought no more about it. It was my freedom and it gave me a sense of the world around me. Everything about the bike was given to me, so expense meant nothing. But, just a few years later this would all change.

As a college freshman, now riding a Peugeot which I hand picked, I then bought a few items at a time, being constrained by the budget of a college freshman. Then a new wife, new family, and the price I could afford at this time meant pursuing good deals, slightly used items and basement deals on the side that fueled my infatuation. And the fact remains that I never really considered the cost of my pursuit nor the sacrifice of being a cyclist. I bought only based on the cost, and only cheap.  My clothing at the time was to be abhorred, my shoes were disgusting, my helmet simply atrocious. I had no sense of style not to mention dedication to the sport, and admittedly, most of my riding compatriots were the same. But this one thing was true, we sometimes would witness an occasional rider who rode among us that instantly drew some respect; simply by the gear he chose, it stated without hesitation that he was a cyclist. They were committed cyclists and we would joke amongst ourselves and ask ‘how much that must have run him?’

Then I bought my first Giordana bib shorts, and instantly recognized that there really was something different about them. After my first century in them, and no ‘monkey butt’, I swore I was never going back. Then my first Assos jersey, then my first good helmet and similarly my experience was equally impressive of the simplicity for which it flawlessly performed the task it was designed for. I then stepped up a level w/the grouppo, moving from downtube shifting to an STi grouppo, which seemed like a leap of faith. Despite my hesitations, I was impressed with the new grouppo’s function. I regretted not getting it sooner. Each time then that I donned that jersey, each time I threw a leg over the bike and slipped through the gears I was reminded why I bought the ‘better’ quality item.

One would think I would have matured by this time, and that this experience would bring about an appreciation for the discipline of cycling for which I admired. But it did not. I was still yet at a neophyte’s level. I still had no sense of sacrifice. For me, the sport was like a girl I had once dated—and liked—but never would fully commit to. I was holding back for some reason. I truly believe we appreciate a little more those items in our lives that we sacrifice for and entirely commit to. Each time we use those items, we remember their value to us. And because for years I would scout out ‘good deals’ and would only bargain for goodies, I lacked an appreciation for the true value of something I held dearly. Cycling was the girlfriend waiting for me to grow up.

Then just a couple of years ago, I had a total mindset change. This was prompted after something I took notice of, and it hit me with the subtlety of a gorilla wielding sledge-hammer across my forehead. I commute nearly every day and as you know, gas a couple of years ago was very expensive. The price of gas was nearly $4 per gallon. Commuting by bike was becoming quite popular as a very economic way to go back and forth to work, and because of that ‘cost savings’ I saved perhaps a few hundred dollars that summer, no doubt.  Nearly everyday as I conducted business, people would say ‘boy, you sure must save a lot riding by bike’. I responded affirmatively, that indeed it did. Then it hit me, is that why I ride?  Am I a cyclist to only save money? Is that the purpose of cycling? I ride all the time and nearly everyday, but commuting simply brought this out for me, should it even save me money?

Then I started thinking, and I started to ask myself very fundamental questions. Have I counted the cost of my discipleship to cycling? Do I sacrifice? Do I return to cycling the respect it deserves or is it a cheap date I am on? I asked myself, have I truly counted what must be forfeited for the love of my life, or have I only calculated in the arbitrary value of dollars what a price tag reads? I found this to hold a critical difference. I was then logically led to ask what I would do if cycling asked of me far more to ride than even driving a car, what if it was 10 times as expensive? Would I still be a cyclist?

Well, answering in the affirmative, I then had to make a change in my attitude and my entire frame of mind. I had to stop dealing with cycling like I had in the past and I had to throw out my cheap date attitude. I started truly pouring myself out when it was about the bike, thus recognizing the true value it holds in my life. I stopped looking at the price of everything I bought and I began simply working to the ends of obtaining what I need to cycle. I buy the best I can because my girl deserves it.

Giordana FormaRed Carbon Body Clone Kit

My first couple of cycling jerseys were made by Giordana. They were, relative to the 1980s, pretty hi-tech affairs, which is to say 4-inch zippered, three-pocket, sublimated designs on polyester fabric.

As my knowledge of cycling clothing increased, so did my sense of style. Soon I graduated to pro team jerseys, then to club team jerseys. At each stage, the previous style became rather unhip. As time went on Giordana jerseys seemed more and more like the antidote to PRO. Surely, I didn’t want the cure. At some point I just stopped paying attention.

It was as a result of Competitive Cyclist that I got a heads-up to Giordana’s Body Clone series of clothing. The company had done a lot of work since I last checked in. Rather than attempting to come up with clever sublimated designs, the look of the clothing relied on the use of different colors in different panels so that its look reflected its design. Form followed function. Mies van der Rohe would be pleased.

Learning about the Body Clone line has been something of a relief. Clothing that features advanced design with materials strategically placed according to function while maintaining an understated look has been almost the exclusive domain of Assos. And, as if you hadn’t already come to the conclusion yourself, giving an Assos garment a positive review is almost as likely as finding opium in Afghanistan. It’s about time they had some serious competition.

One of the first things you notice about the FormaRed Carbon jersey and bibs are the garments surprisingly low weight. I’ve got base layers heavier than the jersey and I’ve never felt a lighter set of bibs. With all the talk of lightweight bikes and components, here’s a surprising example of weight cutting that remains practical. The combo of bibs and jerseys weighs just 300g; I’ve got bibs that weigh that much.

Of course, such lightweight garments are specific in their appeal. This stuff is very well ventilated, dog days ventilated. This combo has been my go-to combo for the very hottest weather.

One of my favorite features of the jersey is the MCK fabric that is used in the back to reduce vertical stretch; I loaded up the pockets and was psyched when I didn’t also get a skirt in the process.

HC44 and Ametista fabrics make up the bib shorts. The 44 in the HC44 material refers to the thread count, which is said to be higher than similar materials while providing a level of compression on a par with materials using coarser fibers. What I can attest to the fabric’s supple feel, making it immensely form fitting while also offering excellent muscle support through compression.

Carbon fibers run through the Ametista material to aid compression. While the seems between the various materials are flat-stitched, the Ametista used in the bibs and Moxie used in the leg cuffs are unfinished at the edges yet doesn’t unravel the way many materials would. The front of the bib is cut very low to make nature calls as easy as possible.

The pad features gel inserts to reduce impact and vibration. What I noticed was comfort I’d associate with much thicker pads, yet a more conforming fit than possible with thick pads. The upshot of these many features is arguably the most comfortable pair of bibs I’ve ever worn.

The gloves are an impressive complement to the jersey and bibs. Pittards leather graces the palm and is combined with minimal padding to make the glove’s fit as accurate as possible. There’s just enough Terry-type material to give a good wipe when you need it and the MCK material breathes well and provides enough stretch to make the closureless fit secure. I’ve become a big fan of closureless gloves; I like the clean appearance they present.

All these features come at a price, of course. Retail for the jersey and bib combo runs $475, though discounters can be found. The gloves fetch another $50. Assos has already staked out this pricing territory; Giordana’s presence gives both companies greater justification for the work they do: one guy in a tree seems crazy, but six guys in a tree makes you curious to see the view.

I spent years all but unwilling to show up to a group ride in anything short of a full team kit. The FormaRed Carbon kit gives the stylish appearance of a coordinated team outfit minus all the sponsor logos. After all, the line between simple and boring is thinner than cellophane. Not many companies can manage that look successfully; fewer still get the look right while nailing fit and, ultimately, comfort.

FormaRed Carbon is to the hot summer day what a hotdog is to a baseball game. The right answer.