Categories: Anatomy of a Photo

Anatomy of a Photo: Sleepless in Belgium

Team Quickstep gets sleepy

I’ve got a fever, and the only prescription is more Rule #5.

Thanks to Michael for bringing this matter to our attention.

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.

View Comments

  • xyxax - sorry about the misspell on your moniker there.

    Also should mention that the only truly uber-aesthetic chainring is the lone 52, paired with a fixed 14 cog, of course.

  • @ZachOlson
    At the risk of making an argument that results in the purchase of a Trek, you do realize that one can swap out the crank, right?

    I bought a bike in December that came with a compact. They swapped it for a standard and only charged me $75 (less than half the price of the parts).

    In full disclosure, two weeks later the left crank arm fell off while I was riding, but now it's been fixed and shifts as smooth as butter.

  • @Gianni
    First, Alexis can take my wheel anytime, though I'd much more likely be taking hers unless she was on a recovery recovery ride.

    Second, I wonder if they thought out the placement of the TaTa Motors logo that much. It is right where the tatas are. I'll keep myself amused thoughout the season with that.

  • @Geoffrey Grosenbach

    Oh yeah, I realize I can do that, but I'm a reasonable guy with simple needs, and I think that with all the bike manufacturers out there I can get EXACTLY what I want from someone else. I think the biggest(am I making that up?) bike company in the USA can afford to offer standard or compact/triple as an option all the way down to its entry-level bike. They used to. Fact is that the last few years the options on all their bikes at lower price points have been getting worse and worse. So, I will not purchase a Trek any time soon.

    Not that I'm even in the market for a new bike right now, but if I happen to stumble upon a couple grand...

  • @ZachOlson
    It's pretty much that way with every manufacturer. Find a Cervélo, Bianchi, or any other stock bike under $5,000 that comes with anything but a compact. Example: A $4,300 Bianchi with Campagnolo Athena ships with 50/34.

    Why is this is the one issue on which cyclists can debate endlessly without giving an inch? There's just enough engineering involved to help each person feel secure in the conviction that the other is an idiot, unable to do math, or much more than two months from peaking.

    I'm a chainring hedonist. Although I get my kicks on 53/39, I fully respect anyone who chooses a compact.

    But a triple? Blood will be spilled!

  • @blaireau
    On the 52/14 single-speed, I will have to defer to your superior eye and engine.
    Speaking of monikers, are you a self-effacing francophone?

  • Collin :
    @Gianni Alexis can take my wheel anytime, though I'd much more likely be taking hers unless she was on a recovery recovery ride.

    Even if she was on a recovery ride, wouldn't you prefer to take her wheel?

  • @Collin
    You really did stare at that photo for a while. If the women's kit changes this season, we will know who to thank.
    Garmin-Cervelo now has the men's and women's road titles and the men's TT for Oz on their team. Nice.

  • @roadslave

    when the dust settles, I'll show you the scars and bruises I've still got from last time I tried to fight that fight on this website

    They are a hostile and stubborn crew. A good argy will keep everyone in the Northern hemisphere warm at least. There is hardly any racing to think about so we might as well get on to this.

    @xyxax
    Thanks for the data, I'll need all the help I can get. I should go through all the old posts/comments/diatribes but that would require effort.

  • 50/34 and 11-25 for me. Gives me lots of gear choices, low end for the big hills around here and a higher top end than a 53-12. Flame on!

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