A lot has been made lately of the fact that riders today are lacking a little bit of the V. It’s not so much a criticism of how they conduct themselves during a race (although that has also been called into question lately), but in their general demeanor towards their life as a cyclist.
It doesn’t surprise me much; historically, riders chose a life on the bike as an escape from their other occupational choice which typically involved hard manual labor in a dark pit or on a cold field whereas today’s riders generally come from more privileged backgrounds and find their way into this world from a life of relative luxury.
A life of hardship went beyond their working-class roots, it applied to their life on the bike as well. They scaled the same passes we do today, except they did it over dirt roads aboard heavy, flexy bikes with relaxed geometries, wearing what amounted to little more than leather loafers. Hardness wasn’t something to aspire to; it was simply the way it was.
This is one of my favorite photos of a cyclist, and the bicycle is nowhere to be seen. From the look on his face, Coppi just ate himself a Schlecklette and, based on the gesture he’s making, is preparing to drop trou and shit ‘im right back out.
To put Cipollini’s sentiments above into Coppi’s words:
Age and treachery will overcome youth and skill.
To todays generation of riders, I offer this advice: take no prisoners, fucktards.
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@frank
Nice one!
@Jarvis
I love your energy, but you've raced long enough to know the difference between not getting dropped and passing someone, let alone attacking. If you're cooked, you're cooked.
Riding at the top of Haleakala, there was nothing I could have done to attack someone, let alone pass them. At the very top, as I hit the 10,000ft sign, you can see me "sprint". My cadence lifts by about 0.2%. And that was for 2 meters. It was all I had. If that was their state, I can't blame them for not attacking.
@Pedale.Forchetta
+1
@frank
The guy on the mono ski looks like he did his face up in geisha makeup. He must have been a tag cold.
Love the Coppi photo. Sure looks like the face of a man who's sick of fucking around and is getting on with the job.
Question! What is that in the pocket of the guy on the left? They look like reporters to me with their smooth image but is that a paddle? And Coppi is holding his ass. Has he just got a severe spanking and got told "now get out there and dominate!"
And when someone schlecks on your Sunday ride the correct reaction is "ATTACK!"
@frank
It looks like you have a 9 Iron in your hand.
Effing brilliant Frank. I couldn't agree more. Not to mention the coat is pretty cool (but I know there is no way I could pull it off without looking like a total D-bag)...
Time for a little rule 9?
Shit, I meant rule 5.
Now I am a d-bag...sigh
@Cyclops
Umm, that's me. Frank is Dutch for can't tele.
Is Marko Norwegian for Shankopotamus