Anatomy of a Photo: Snowy Mountain Stages

Vittorio Adorni knew what Rule #9 really meant.

Vittorio Adorni taught Merckx how to manage himself during a Grand Tour. I wasn’t a part of any of those conversations, but I’m betting there were heavy conversations about not being a little bitch about bad weather, gravel roads, and high snowy mountain passes.

This photo proves the entire modern peloton needs a giant Rule #5 suppository.

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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Ron says:

May 17 2016 at 11:14 am

Imagine how Adorni would react to his riders sitting in the nice, warm team bus and tweeting about how they didn't feel like racing that day, due to less than ideal weather...

I wager he'd leave a few smashed smart phones in his wake!
hudson says:

May 17 2016 at 11:47 am

its suppose to be 80 next week here in the mid Atlantic, warmest weather so far. Part of me is very excited,.....part of me is mourning winter, and the roads who were shared by only the most committed. My saving grace is the fact that there is a steady rain today, maybe i'll take the long way home.
wiscot says:

May 17 2016 at 11:50 am

Gravel roads? This weekend I'm doing the Bear 100 in Laona, WI. Temps in the 70s expected! 160kms in total and about 150 of those on gravel.
Buck Rogers says:

May 17 2016 at 12:17 pm

@wiscot

Gravel roads? This weekend I’m doing the Bear 100 in Laona, WI. Temps in the 70s expected! 160kms in total and about 150 of those on gravel.

Really awesome!!! I'm jealous! I am riding the Battenkill ride, around 110 k's but only 20 of those dirt/gravel.

And Frahnk, what is there to say on this thread that you have not already said. That pic stands alone! fucking brilliant!
hudson says:

May 17 2016 at 12:22 pm

@wiscot

just looked that up, looks pretty epic. good luck!
wiscot says:

May 17 2016 at 12:29 pm

@hudson

@wiscot

just looked that up, looks pretty epic. good luck!

Thanks! I did it last October too. They call it the Hibernator 100 in October! This time I know what I'm in for, but the forecast is for 70s! (Last year it was upper 40s). Biggest issue is water - there's only one rest stop - the Rescue squad trailer in the middle of the woods at the 35 and 77 mile marks. Food I can carry, but water is the issue. I said I'd pay another $10 to have one more water stop. We'll see . . .
imakecircles says:

May 17 2016 at 12:52 pm

The end of the ride at the North Cascades Highway, Washington, USA this spring. A great ride if you time the road closure well.
Olli says:

May 17 2016 at 12:56 pm

Last weekends ride :-) At least the photo fits well:
hudson says:

May 17 2016 at 1:17 pm

@Olli

I'm so jealous, it takes us 3 days to get our roads cleared after 4 inches.....i mean i'm jealous of the ride and scenery too,...but really, your plow guys must be on it!
Olli says:

May 17 2016 at 1:50 pm

@hudson

The credit goes to the Rocky Mountain National Park here in Colorado. They usually try to open the pass (Trail Ridge) on Memorial Day, so they work hard beforehand. It's certainly impressive and as of know, still closed for cars.