Anatomy of a Photo: The Eyes of March

The Killer, Jan Lenferink, has arrived.

Some riders lose before they even arrive at the start line, questioning their form or their health, or allowing themselves to be demoralized by the weather or the distance of the day’s racing.

Other riders win the race just by showing up. Jan won the moment he threw his woolly jumper over his flowery, collared shirt, and casually perched his cap atop his coif of blond, curly locks.

His eyes tell you everything you need to know.

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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Mikael Liddy says:

Feb 18 2016 at 6:58 pm

Our sadly departed friend @BIGRINGRIDING has a perfect example of that opening paragraph.

I WON’T INSIST ANY MORE ON THIS POINT, BUT HERE, AGAIN, IT COMES DOWN TO THE SHOES. WHAT A NAMBY PAMBY CHOICE BY THE DUTCHMAN.

EVEN MY DAD WOULDN’T WEAR THOSE.

JOOP, YOU’VE CEDED THE VICTORY BEFORE GETTING ON THE FUCKING BIKE, AND YOU BOTH KNOWS IT.
Buck Rogers says:

Feb 19 2016 at 6:27 am

@Mikael Liddy

BRR has been inactive for a year or more now, haven't they? Does anyone know why? I REALLY miss that site. They were awesome.
Owen says:

Feb 19 2016 at 7:10 am

@Buck Rogers

@Mikael Liddy

BRR has been inactive for a year or more now, haven’t they? Does anyone know why? I REALLY miss that site. They were awesome.

BRB comes and goes periodically. Agreed they were always good for at least a laugh and often motivation.
Owen says:

Feb 19 2016 at 7:10 am

@Owen

@Buck Rogers

@Mikael Liddy

BRR has been inactive for a year or more now, haven’t they? Does anyone know why? I REALLY miss that site. They were awesome.

BRB comes and goes periodically. Agreed they were always good for at least a laugh and often motivation.

BRR. Thanks, autocorrect.
coachprops says:

Feb 19 2016 at 7:33 am

@Owen

Yes, loved BRR. A buddy turned me on to it one day - spent the entire afternoon going through all of the posts. I wish it would be revived. Great vintage pics and great smart alec comments......what's not to like about that?
frank says:

Feb 19 2016 at 9:32 am

@Buck Rogers

Can't resist.
frank says:

Feb 19 2016 at 9:34 am

@Rob

To put the train back on the tracks, cycling was a working class tough sport, not the effete collegiate crowd I came up with in early 80’s east coast US. One summer I worked and trained in London for a couple of months. I could only race Tuesday/Thursday Eastway Marshes and Crystal Palace evening training crits as open racing was impossible for me to get into. It was a huge eye opener, those kids were tough and if you did not mix it up with them you got no respect. When I got home the racing seemed softer and easier.

Doesn’t Lenferink mean something like firestarter or pyromaniac?

One day you're going to have to tell us more about those days racing in London.

@Mikael Liddy

Our sadly departed friend @BIGRINGRIDING has a perfect example of that opening paragraph.

I WON’T INSIST ANY MORE ON THIS POINT, BUT HERE, AGAIN, IT COMES DOWN TO THE SHOES. WHAT A NAMBY PAMBY CHOICE BY THE DUTCHMAN.

EVEN MY DAD WOULDN’T WEAR THOSE.

JOOP, YOU’VE CEDED THE VICTORY BEFORE GETTING ON THE FUCKING BIKE, AND YOU BOTH KNOWS IT.

Yes. This, this, this, and this.
Buck Rogers says:

Feb 19 2016 at 10:20 am

@frank

Glad someone finally bit! Fucking David Byrne ... in another life, I will be him.
Ron says:

Feb 19 2016 at 11:23 am

Buck - do you know he's written a cycling-related/based book?

Also, found myself in Melbourne in the early 2000s. Felt like seeing a show and just my luck, there were two: David Byrne or Ryan Adams. I went for Mr. Byrne and stick by my choice. Awesome show in some very cool old theatre in downtown Melbourne, were maybe 200 people there.

Also, and not to get soppy or lewd...first full night I even spent in the company of a gal friend...the 2-disc Talking Heads highlights set was played on loop. To this day, I can't hear it and not recall those simple joys of youth!
Rob says:

Feb 19 2016 at 3:22 pm

@frank

I think my best finish was 6th at Eastway and never did zip up at the Palace. It was just as competitive as a big cat 1-3 race in Boston and it was just club racing!