In January, 2018, I took delivery of a bike. A Cannondale Synapse Carbon Disc Ultegra Di2. A mouthful. I gave it a nickname, as I do all of my bikes. Silver Machine. As in the Hawkwind song. Not that I am a fan of Hawkwind! Just seemed appropriate.
Now, 40,000 kilometres on, two Classics, lots of long distance rides and five mountains, Silver Machine is leaving. It will part exchange for a new road bike. A e-road bike. The E standing for an Electric. A little boost. I need a little extra help these days.
I could make this a long piece of nostalgia. And then talk about technical specifications of which I know nothing. Instead, here are three memories. Well, two and one that is an easy way to cover a huge spread of different experiences.
Liege-Bastogne-Liege – 2018
To those who do not know much of cycling, this probably sounds like an exotic chocolate bar from Belgium. Some exquisite sweet. It is in Belgium, there is that much in common. Besides that, the only pleasure is perhaps a little sadistic. The oldest of the Classic Races, raced on a Sunday in April in the Ardennes region. On the Saturday before, the amateurs can do it. A choice of three different distances, 56km, 156km or the full 256km. For the second year running, I did the 156km. Technically Liege-Stavelot-Liege but let’s not get pedantic.
Me, in the fifth year of my MS diagnosis. It did impact. I had bladder problems. Yes, bladder problems. I simply couldn’t, no matter how desperate I felt. My nervous system f*cking with me, a big distraction. My legs were really good back then though, apart from one miscalculation. I fell sideways on Cote de la Redoute, my biggest triumph of the 2017 ride. Unlike 2017, the weather was clear. No pictures but the Ardennes was beautiful.
And I finished. Despite the… discomfort, that smile at the end was so very real.
Passo Gavia – 2019
If I could have a peak year it would be 2019. Ventoux, Passo di Stelvio, Mendel Pass, Mont Ventoux. Some absolutely insane gradients in the Alto Adige region of Italy. Totally intoxicating. Most intoxicating was Gavia. Unlike Liege-Bastogne-Liege, there are not many photographs. The 2018 event benefitted from professional photographers in place ready for the pros the following day. This was just a Thursday in June. No events. No feeding stations. Just the bike and whatever was in my back pocket.
I don’t know why. I felt my legs were made of iron springs. No stops, just a slight slowing on the steeper parts toward the summit as my right leg started to resist a little. After 26km and 1,400 metres of climbing, though, that was not surprising. It was also where the cycling in Italy and France comes in to its own; a group of Italians descending and yelling encouragement. Of course they all looked perfect.
It felt like an achievement. Standing there in the snow wearing lycra and not feeling cold. Coffee and apple strudel and then a descent. I crawled down, of course. Silver Machine was light climbing but felt nervous on descents. Made it intact, eventually. Another two days of climbing followed, including the famed Stelvio. Still, nothing could eclipse Gavia. It will always stay in my mind. I will talk about Ventoux in another post 🙂
Splendid Isolation – 2018 to 2022
40,000 kilometres. The first two highlights cover just over 200. The other 40,000? 10,000 of these were actually indoor, Silver Machine being mounted on a Wahoo Kickr that had been bought during COVID. It is now good for fast training. The other 30,000… well, some were memorable, others just tearing around local roads. Splendid Isolation. The (joyous) loneliness of a long distance cyclist. There were risks. A couple of falls, one hit in the side of a car, a few punctures. Also joy. Dawn rides to watch the sun climb, fast sprints that got the adrenalin flowing, long rides just to get to a hill, a precious commodity in Holland.
I will not be able to remember every kilometre. I will remember the joy that so many of them have given me.
Farewell, Silver Machine
So now it is time to go. I cannot get too sentimental. Silver Machine was the right bike at the right time. I could have chosen so many highlights. It is good to leave it with three. Well, one of them is a little all encompassing.
A big part of the fact that I have stayed so mobile and so well for so long, though, is because of Silver Machine. One of the best personal investments I have ever made. It will be sad to bid farewell. But also time to look forward to the next phase, as the ‘E’ keeps my world as big as possible.
