Anatomy of a Photo: And He Parted The Waters

De Vlaeminck parts the waters in the Trouée d'Arenberg.

No double wraps of bar tape. No arm warmers or bandages for an injured left arm; just some wrappings borrowed from an Egyptian mummy he sent back to the underworld earlier in the morning. Nothing special for Roger on a typical race day in Hell. Just unmeasurably enormous helpings of Rule #5.

The most remarkable thing about this photo? He did that to the water before he rode through it.

frank

The founder of Velominati and curator of The Rules, Frank was born in the Dutch colonies of Minnesota. His boundless physical talents are carefully canceled out by his equally boundless enthusiasm for drinking. Coffee, beer, wine, if it’s in a container, he will enjoy it, a lot of it. He currently lives in Seattle. He loves riding in the rain and scheduling visits with the Man with the Hammer just to be reminded of the privilege it is to feel completely depleted. He holds down a technology job the description of which no-one really understands and his interests outside of Cycling and drinking are Cycling and drinking. As devoted aesthete, the only thing more important to him than riding a bike well is looking good doing it. Frank is co-author along with the other Keepers of the Cog of the popular book, The Rules, The Way of the Cycling Disciple and also writes a monthly column for the magazine, Cyclist. He is also currently working on the first follow-up to The Rules, tentatively entitled The Hardmen. Email him directly at rouleur@velominati.com.

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View Comments

scaler911 says:

Nov 7 2011 at 12:42 pm

Nice, nice, nice!
Sam says:

Nov 7 2011 at 1:11 pm

@frank @Oli
I love this photo, according to my Rouleur archive (issue 25) it's 1977 as they use the picture in relation to Resurrecting his 1977 glory steed
Oli says:

Nov 7 2011 at 1:18 pm

@Sam
They might use the picture, but I'd take the scrupulous research of A Journey Through Hell over Rouleur anyday. For a start he isn't wearing the rainbow stripes he would wear after his 1975 Cyclo-Cross World Champs win, secondly he wasn't injured in his '77 win, but more importantly the 1977 race was dry and dusty not wet and foul.
il ciclista medio says:

Nov 7 2011 at 1:24 pm

Great photo and the look on his face....I.am.rule V
Oli says:

Nov 7 2011 at 1:24 pm

As seen here.
Pedale.Forchetta says:

Nov 7 2011 at 1:29 pm

Yeah, sideburns!
Sam says:

Nov 7 2011 at 1:36 pm

@Oli
holy shit i bow down and pay penance, i've watched these pastings from the outside but being on the receiving end is a whole new experience. Btw has anyone seen 'The Bicycle Academy' courses i really like the idea or molding my own ride
Oli says:

Nov 7 2011 at 1:39 pm

Haha! Sorry, Sam...
il ciclista medio says:

Nov 7 2011 at 1:41 pm

This is from the 1973 Paris Roubaix. Note Roger's left arm...same as main photo. The prophet's last win of the race as well BTW.
Both looking very weary.....
frank says:

Nov 7 2011 at 1:47 pm

@il ciclista medio

This is from the 1973 Paris Roubaix. Note Roger's left arm...same as main photo. The Prophet's last win of the race as well BTW.
Both looking very weary.....

Indeed! Nicely done. As it turns out, our main shot from The Rules features from the same race.

The bandage is different, though; the mummy wrappings must have come off.

Both have enviable 'burns, I'd say!

@Oli

@Sam
They might use the picture, but I'd take the scrupulous research of A Journey Through Hell over Rouleur anyday. For a start he isn't wearing the rainbow stripes he would wear after his 1975 Cyclo-Cross World Champs win, secondly he wasn't injured in his '77 win, but more importantly the 1977 race was dry and dusty not wet and foul.

Easy there, fella! Right you might be, but lets not disparage Rouleur. Top notch work and an inspiration.