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

cathalroche says:

Nov 18 2011 at 1:19 pm

@frank
frank the rider whose name escapes you is polands lech piaseki, not sure about the spelling though.this is him in the 1987 tour de france prolouge.he rode for del tongo, and almost won that day, had the fastest time for a long time,jelle nijdam won that day, stephen roche was third, and went on to win overall, a great race. Hope that was helpful frank.
Ron says:

Nov 21 2011 at 8:20 am

You surely wouldn't mistake this for the start of a road race with uptight, number-crunching roadies with power tap meters and garmins...
Buck Rogers says:

Nov 21 2011 at 8:51 am

@frank

@Ron

Oh my god! That mustache! That jersey! That cap! That Casually Deliberate pose! What a photo. I now must get back to work so I can cycle this afternoon!

Yes, also perhaps the most elegant saddle ever made, the Selle San Marco Rolls.

That is the exact saddle on my '92 Merckx. Man, I had forgotten how wonderful those saddles were. Thinkning about getting the "new" Rolls that San Marco are making for the newer Merckx in the stable.
wiscot says:

Nov 21 2011 at 10:53 am

@chubster
Yup, Lech Piasecki. Very good TT man in the 80s. Here's what Wikipedia has on him:

Lech Piasecki (born 13 November 1961) is a Polish former racing cyclist. Born in PoznaÅ„, he became the first Polish cyclist to wear the yellow jersey in the Tour de France, in 1987.[1]

After Piasecki became Amateur world champion in 1985, the Colnago team wanted to sign him. The Polish cycling organisation allowed that in exchange for bicycles.[2] His first victory as a professional cyclist was in a time trial in the 1986 Giro d'Italia, where he surprisingly beat many favourites.[3] In 1987 he won the first stage of the Tirreno-Adriatico. It was a time trial in which he started early, and the wind changed direction after Piasecki finished, so the main favourites who started later had a disadvantage.[4] In the 1987 Tour de France, Piasecki became second in the prologue, and took the yellow jersey in the team time trial. After he lost the lead, he had to abandon in the seventh stage due to dhiarrhea.[5] On August 24, 1998 he became World Track Champion in individual pursuit.

I love the quid pro quo of the Polish federation saying 'we'll let him go if you give us some bikes." At least they had the good taste to ask for Colnagos. What Wikipedia fails to mention is that his mustache was inferior to that of the mighty Urs.
wiscot says:

Nov 21 2011 at 10:55 am

@frank
To borrow from Spinal Tap, Urs is an 11 on the scale of cool.
wiscot says:

Nov 21 2011 at 10:56 am

@Ron
Ron, were you really at this event? Please tell me you sourced this eyesore off the interwebs.
TommyTubolare says:

Nov 21 2011 at 12:56 pm

@wiscot

Nice one.I'd also add that he was not only the first but also the only Polish cyclist to wear a yellow jersey.I remember Jaskula in the 90's and the fact that he won the stage and was 3rd overall but I don't think he ever wore yellow,did he?
blackpooltower says:

Jun 10 2016 at 1:30 am

Commenting on this pic in order to bump it ... and to point out that the man behind King Kelly might be Urs Freuler ... but might equally be Bill the Butcher, out of Gangs of New York.