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.

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View Comments

ZachOlson says:

Jan 7 2011 at 10:21 am

@sgt
His wife was having their sixth(?) baby. He took the day off.
ZachOlson says:

Jan 7 2011 at 10:33 am

@Souleur
I don't need a bike company that tries exciting and new things. I just want a solid ride at a decent price. My first road bike was a Trek 1.5 and I still ride it fairly regularly. Aluminum? Nine speed? Doesn't make much of a difference on the road for me. I still keep up just fine with the folks around here.

The only thing that really bothers me about Trek bikes is that everything under $4200 comes with a compact crank or a triple. Not everyone needs a compact crank. Some of us live mostly in the flat land and/or have the legs to go up hill in a 39T...

Basically this guarantees that my next bike will not be a Trek because I'm just in no position to drop more than a couple grand on a bike.
Souleur says:

Jan 7 2011 at 11:13 am

@zach
good to hear. We have alot of common ground.

No doubt, its about the bike, the ride, the road, the gear, the rules.

Compact rings serve a limited purpose, IMHO, see Rule #5 repeatedly until it is served up warm and understood on the 53t. Triple chainrings, see the same aforementioned Rule #5 until the inner ring is thrown away.

I have to admit being of the ritualistic V-cognoscentia that I am, I hold out a glimmer of hope Spartacus puts a Trek decal over the undisclosed 'prototype' of something else and causes a bit of chaos.
frank says:

Jan 7 2011 at 11:51 am

@Souleur

Compact rings serve a limited purpose, IMHO, see Rule 5 repeatedly until it is served up warm and understood on the 53t. Triple chainrings, see the same aforementioned Rule 5 until the inner ring is thrown away.

Word. Don't ride triples; drink trippels.
sgt says:

Jan 7 2011 at 12:47 pm

@ZachOlson

Sixth?????...Dang... Sounds like Mme Jens-elle is no stranger to The V herself!
Souleur says:

Jan 7 2011 at 6:30 pm

@frank:
Thats what Jen's Cheerios really are, he eats them for breakfast everyday, & nobody knew til now that they are really little rings!
frank says:

Jan 7 2011 at 7:06 pm

@Souleur
Yeah, they're just his worn out 11T cogs; they look like O's but thats just cuz the teeth are worn off. Then he eats them.

Ok. Now we're just making stupid Jens Jokes.
ZachOlson says:

Jan 8 2011 at 7:38 am

It's ok, Jens makes stupid jokes too.
xyxax says:

Jan 8 2011 at 9:31 am

More facts about Jens.
(Click on the picture, HT to RBR)
Gianni says:

Jan 8 2011 at 11:26 am

@Buck Rogers
Speaking of Garmin 2010 jerseys, on 1/1/11 morn I saw Ryder out in his new kit. I bet he was happy to ditch that old f'ed up looking one. This new Garmin kit is a nice mix of Cervelo's and Garmin's even though it now looks like Sky's and this new Schleck kit.