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

Souleur says:

Nov 17 2011 at 4:33 pm

+1 to that, heal well & best of luck MrBigCog
that nasty thing makes a fractured clavicle look like childs play
hats off to you and the real suffering you've been in
frank says:

Nov 17 2011 at 4:48 pm

@MrBigCog
Yikes - take care of yourself. Heal right and you'll be much quicker to recover than if you push it too soon.

Watch that bone density; you could have just had a flukish fall, but bone density is an issue you don't want to let get out of hand, especially in cycling.
frank says:

Nov 17 2011 at 4:52 pm

@Souleur

What a photo and what a hardman
Not having Cx in this area much, I still am in route to buying a cross bike for off road and the rare cx race that pops up.
Having raced some mtn bikes though, and having ridden enough in the snow/ice/sleet/rain, the occassional rear end drift does occur, and it is quite the feeling, I personally like it while I have control, but a little overdrift and confidence and you can find your self spinning in circles like the squirrel that gets hit by a passer-byer car...and thats not pretty
Kelly obviously couldn't care less, isn't scared and riding like he always does, and thats why I think he's half belgian in heart

I'm glad you said it and not me. When he comes looking, I'll point him in your direction.

I asked an Irish mate why the Irish pint is bigger than the others, and he said that when it comes to the Irish and their beer, you just don't fuck with them. I'm assuming someone in Irland just made a pint glass a random size and no one has had the guts to ask why it was that size ever since.
frank says:

Nov 17 2011 at 4:56 pm

@Steampunk

Done this on gravel, on wet leaves, and on snow. It does make the heart rate jump more than a little. I guess it takes a real hardman to take advantage of that adrenaline burst to push even harder; mere mortals are chastened and exhibit more caution for a few moments while they let their courage recover.

Yeah, and when I was riding the Schwalbe Ultremo slicks, it would happen to BOTH WHEELS any time I'd get caught in a wet corner. That's unnerving.

I'm not sure if Kelly raced 'Cross, but most Belgians/Dutchman do and that's why they're good at racing the cobbles - you learn to control these things and actually just work with them. Mountain biking gives a similar quality to your riding and one of the main reasons it so important to ride the tarmac as well as the dirt, in whatever form you can find it.

Oh, and you have to not care if you crash. That helps. That HR thing you're mentioning is just an artifact of you being concerned for your welfare.
frank says:

Nov 17 2011 at 4:57 pm

@Rookie_Roubaix

His interviews in "Road to Roubaix" are awesome.

VMH in Kenya, so I'm watching Cycling videos almost non-stop. Road to Roubaix has got to be the best cycling film made. Awesomeness.
frank says:

Nov 17 2011 at 5:03 pm

@wiscot

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 . . .

All in good time, mate - its due for it's glory before too long. Getting to a regular pattern on the guest pieces so they come out more predictably. Gianni's got it covered for me so I can focus on other things.

As for Urs, though...what happened to the big guys in our sport? Seems like the 80's had loads of 'em. Check out Rogiers, dude is truly massive. I like him, obviously. But Kelly - KELLY. Talk about a magnificent stroke!

@Jim

1986 Colorado Springs. I walk into the hotel lobby after a evening of spectating the World's at the velodrome. I was fit at the time and wearing a cycling jacket. Across the lobby Urs Freuler is staring at me with an expression that said, "who in the hell is he?" I am all, "shit Urs Freuler is staring at me wondering who the hell I am!"

Awesome!
Marcus says:

Nov 17 2011 at 5:23 pm

@frank
check out the 7 minute vid i just posted in the Rules. Gold!
mcsqueak says:

Nov 17 2011 at 5:43 pm

@itburns

Well, luckily I've never had it cause a crash but those moments when you push down on the pedals and they don't "push back" like you'd expect are interesting, to say the least!
LA Dave says:

Nov 17 2011 at 5:56 pm

@Marcus
Awesome video Marcus, thanks for posting.
LA Dave says:

Nov 17 2011 at 5:58 pm

@MrBigCog
Sorry to see this Mr Big Cog. Best wishes for a speedy recovery.