Categories: Anatomy of a Photo

Anatomy of a Photo: Drifting Stones

I would have put this under the new “Belgian Affirmations” category, but was overcome with fear that King Kelly would hunt me down and strangle me with his death stare for the crime of suggesting he wants to be anything other than Irish.

It is said that some people ride the cobbles with greater ease than the rest. It isn’t necessarily a skill that is learned; on the contrary, some simply ride with a lighter touch than others resulting in them going over the stones a few kilometers per hour faster. These are the riders who excel in the rain-addled editions of the Cobbled Classics. In the absence of evidence to the contrary, I have no choice but to assume I have this skill.

King Kelly, on the other hand, got so bored riding shit-slicked pavé that he decided to start doing tricks and stunts on his way to his second victory in Paris-Roubaix. A moment after this shot was taken, he popped a one-handed Lone Ranger, causing Urs Freuler’s mustache to grow three sizes in amazement before temporarily falling off, ultimately leading to the loss of his ch’i and the race.

Unapologetic Cobblebone continues as I find myself thinking about little else other than Keepers Tour 2012: Cobbled Classics.

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

MrBigCog says:

Nov 17 2011 at 9:20 am

@Xyverz

Pain was bad last week. Hardly hurts this week. I luckily avoided surgery due mostly to me being 25 and the fracture didn't displace. My Ortho said it is the first time in his 25 years of practice he has seen a fracture so bad that didn't displace. I got way lucky and avoided a plate and screws which would have kept me from racing next season. I should be go for riding in about 6 weeks. I'm going to be weak as hell though.
xyxax says:

Nov 17 2011 at 9:25 am

@MrBigCog
Wow. Condolences. Instead of a Carbone, you may be getting a Ti-bone.
Heal fast. Big season ahead.
xyxax says:

Nov 17 2011 at 9:28 am

@xyxax

you may be getting a Ti-bone

..or not.
Ron says:

Nov 17 2011 at 9:34 am

MBC - Ouch is right! Rehab that thing, if/when you can. I'm sure you will have to rehab the leg/hip area. I broke a neck vertebrae playing college sports, didn't do any strength/stretching and it's the one lingering pain I still have. Gets really sore when I sit at my desk all day, and the position on a bike doesn't help either. Just saw a friend last week who is a physical therapist. I must get it rehabbed now while I'm still young, lest I be on a recumbent before I hit 40...

For anyone thinking about a cx bike, GO FOR IT! Picked up my first one in the spring, now just decided to swap out one of my road bikes for a second one. Whether or not you ever race, they make wonderful additions to the stable. You can hit the trails, you can run your dog on gravel paths, or you can throw fenders on them and use for winter/rain training. I just couldn't stand the lack of clearance on my road bike, nor riding 23s in the cold, when I'm trying to stay fit/warm, not hammer it at warpspeed.
MrBigCog says:

Nov 17 2011 at 9:43 am

@Ron

Doc says rehab will be minimal since I will only be on crutches for 6 weeks, so that was good news. I'm just pissed off that my team mates have taken falls very similiar to the one I took and they just walk away just some road rash. I'm a bit concerned about my bone density. I do no cross impact training to promote bone strength. I hate running with a passion.
J.Michael says:

Nov 17 2011 at 11:00 am

@MrBigCog

@Ron
Doc says rehab will be minimal since I will only be on crutches for 6 weeks, so that was good news. I'm just pissed off that my team mates have taken falls very similiar to the one I took and they just walk away just some road rash. I'm a bit concerned about my bone density. I do no cross impact training to promote bone strength. I hate running with a passion.

Maybe you could work in some plyometrics in the off season?
wiscot says:

Nov 17 2011 at 11:38 am

Fantastic photo! I'm estimating that 95% of riders who might find themselves in Kelly's situation would be on their asses before they knew it. Kelly, I'm sure, got shipshape immediately and on his merry way.

And yet again, in the thick of the action is the 'tash with panache, the mighty Urs Freuler. You know Frank, someone should write an article about Urs . . .
Cyclops says:

Nov 17 2011 at 11:40 am

Here's a good photo to "anatomize"...

The legs of Katusha's Aleksandr Kuschynski.
MrBigCog says:

Nov 17 2011 at 11:41 am

@J.Michael

I usually do strength training of my legs in the off season, but I live in Florida so the off season is very short and riding season is very long. By the end of the riding season I think my bone density drops quite a bit. Found this article on alarmingly low bone densities in competitive cyclists
Steampunk says:

Nov 17 2011 at 11:43 am

@Cyclops
Twigs!