I've been calculating that the collective wisdom of the ages on this forum is, well, several thousand years. I'm sure on our life quest we have come upon unique observations about the nature of cycling. Please contribute, but remember, this is for singular axioms that you'll not find elsewhere.

So first, here goes:

The desire to get to a refreshment stand varies inversely with the likelihood that the stand will be open, or that it even exists.

Twice in the past week I've taken modest rides in the hot sun, just counting down the miles until I got to stop for sustenance. On one trip I traveled 28 miles to get to a coffee shop in hopes of getting some Le Chocolate Cakeaux and some coffee, only to find that the establishment had been boarded up. Today I went a similar distance dreaming of stopping at a roadside vendor to buy a diet Coke and a Snickers bar, to find that the vendor wasn't there. It really chapped my hide.

As long as you have detectable testosterone levels, it's still possible to do really stupid stuff.

On my way back from my leisurely ride today, I came upon a gent riding up a hill. I didn't want to gain on him, but I had the momentum and couldn't help almost pulling even with him. He saw me in his dorky handlebar-mounted mirror and took off, with me just behind him, not really wanting to pass him but not wanting to eat his dust either. At the top of the hill I passed him and he gave chase, a foolish move as we were headed downhill and I was benefitting from some gravitational love and having a quicker bike. As we approached another hill he cranked it up, so I had no choice but to stand out of the saddle and sprint up the next hill, blood pouring out of my eyes and such. I dropped him good.

Which leads to a natural question: why? My knees were already sore and I just wanted to go out on a recovery ride. It made no sense. You probably would have done the same.

Your honor student is a mere pawn in the diabolical plan of my Dachshund to achieve World Conquest.

Not a biking axiom, but I saw it on a bumper sticker and thought it was pretty funny.