Categories: Defining MomentsFFS FridayRantings from the V-Bunker

On Rule #42: Running is Balls, Even for the Maillot Jaune

Stand still and get your shit together. Wait for the car and freak out like every other civilized person.

[rule number =42/]

Alright people, we heard you. Chris Froome ran. But he was going to lose the Tour de France. I’ve got news for you: Cyclocrossers run, too. So do convicts, burglars, children, footballers, and triathletes. And anyone who has ever seen a Grizzly Bear up close. And all of them ran because they were going to lose something. The person with the bear has the best case here, as far as I’m concerned, and I’ll be disappointed if they didn’t trip something with a heartbeat just to gain a little extra advantage.

Because if you’re already stooping so low as to run, your life better be on the line, and you better be willing to play dirty.

You know what the worst kind of running is? A road cyclist in carbon-soled shoes designed to be so inflexible that even Admiral Tarkin would approve of them. I once jacked up a cyclocross bike so badly I had to break the chain to get it unwound, and because I didn’t have a chain tool I ran the rest of the lap to finish the race. Finishing the race on foot was almost as humiliating as crashing because I was too dumb to appreciate that 15 PSI tires don’t corner as tightly as 110 PSI tires do.

Worst. Day. Of. My. Life.

Including that time I crapped my pantaloons on a transcontinental flight in India.

In conclusion of Froome’s Rule #42 violation, here are the facts:

Yes, Chris Froome was knocked down by race motos. (He actually crashed into another rider who was knocked down by another rider who was knocked down by a race moto.)
Yes, Chris Froome was in the Maillot Jaune and everybody knows everybody with any dignity always waits for the Maillot Jaune, no matter how many riders from the crash actually caused them to crash.
Yes, Chris Froome’s bike was broken. I’m not trying to be adversary here, but do you remember when COTHO’s bike broke in a crash on Luz Ardiden and he just rode it home to win the stage anyway? Yeah, me too. And that guy was a dick. And only dicks ride broken bikes. Chris Froome is less of a dick so shouldn’t need to ride a broken bike. Obviously.
Jens Voigt once rode a child’s bike to finish a stage within the time limit. Jens Voigt used to eat broken bikes for breakfast, just to keep regular.
Chris Froome looked so completely awful running in his little carbon ballerina slippers that he should lose the Tour de France on appearances alone.

The verdict is: he violated Rule #42 and the UCI turned a blind eye to how rotten a runner he is. Next they’ll allow motors in bike races while pretending to scan for them.

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.

Next Tough Boys »

Previous « Of Mother or Limb: First Week Wrap-Up

View Comments

Rick says:

Jul 16 2016 at 3:51 am

To be fair I think is should be pointed out that even in a panicked state, Mr. Froome adhered to Rule #65.

It must be cherished, and when leaning it against a wall, must be leaned carefully such that only the bars, saddle, or tires come in contact with the wall or post. This is true even when dismounting prior to collapsing after the World Championship Time Trial.
kybikegirl says:

Jul 16 2016 at 4:31 am

@frank

Pretty sure a second moto came up on the tiny carbon soled dancer lying in a heap from the first moto caused pile up and ran over his 18k dogma. Still a stupid bike but a bit more understandable as to why it's cracked like Nairo's desire to win the race...
Ed says:

Jul 16 2016 at 4:47 am

@justindcady

And what is this shit about shortening the stage because of a little cross wind?!! What a sight that would have been: all those skinny little climbers blown into Spain!!
@Clank
xyxax says:

Jul 16 2016 at 5:22 am

@kybikegirl

@frank

Pretty sure a second moto came up on the tiny carbon soled dancer lying in a heap from the first moto caused pile up and ran over his 18k dogma. Still a stupid bike but a bit more understandable as to why it’s cracked like Nairo’s desire to win the race…

Giving that last sentence a thumbs up. I am fully expecting a report of bronchitis or allergies or paracoccidiomycoses infection in the next few days. Oh Nairo, prove us wrong.
ChrisO says:

Jul 16 2016 at 7:40 am

@Ed

@justindcady

And what is this shit about shortening the stage because of a little cross wind?!! What a sight that would have been: all those skinny little climbers blown into Spain!!
@Clank

The end times have arrived... this morning on radio I heard a golfer trash-talking cycling.

He was some functionary connected to the Open which is apparently on at the moment.

The reporter asked him a question along the lines of the conditions yesterday being much better for the earlier starters than those who teed off later. To which he replied that this wasn't like the Tour de France, they don't play 17 holes instead of 18 because of some wind and the players know that.

Had I been eating cereal I would have choked on it. Truly the signs of the apocalypse are with us.
LawnCzar says:

Jul 16 2016 at 7:45 am

What do you do when you meet the Buddha on the road?

Kill him.

Being in yellow looks fantastic. The top spot on the podium in Paris looks fantastic. Therefore, every second saved is fantastic. Rule 43 is the finger pointing to the moon; look at it and you miss the true glory. Froome was right to run.
LawnCzar says:

Jul 16 2016 at 7:48 am

@LawnCzar

What do you do when you meet the Buddha on the road?

Kill him.

Being in yellow looks fantastic. The top spot on the podium in Paris looks fantastic. Therefore, every second saved is fantastic. Rule #43 is the finger pointing to the moon; look at it and you miss the true glory. Froome was right to run.

Whoops, typo on the rule number. Womp womp.
frank says:

Jul 16 2016 at 8:21 am

@Al Shepherd

What bothers me is that he abandoned his mortally wounded bike to the baying mob. Froome briefly lost his mind as the overwhelming urge to win took over but the image should have of him carrying his dead steed with him. In this there would have been great poignancy.

That adds a Rule #4 violation to the list of transgressions, not to mention Rule #65 because when your machine is broken, you should build a funeral pyre and put it to rest properly, not discard it like a used-up rag.

@Oli

Feckin' iPad. Thumbs and late nights don't play well together!
frank says:

Jul 16 2016 at 8:23 am

@Rick

To be fair I think is should be pointed out that even in a panicked state, Mr. Froome adhered to Rule #65.

It must be cherished, and when leaning it against a wall, must be leaned carefully such that only the bars, saddle, or tires come in contact with the wall or post. This is true even when dismounting prior to collapsing after the World Championship Time Trial.

True, but you might find a Panzerwagen.
DVMR says:

Jul 16 2016 at 8:24 am

@frank

Call me pedantic, but the bike race to which you refer was neither preceded by a swim nor followed by a run, therefore a violation of rule #42 did not occur. That is my legal opinion. Perhaps you should consider an amendment to the rule to include unnecessary and unsightly running during road races.

My personal opinion, however, is that my eyes can never unsee that yellow streak of misery trotting up that hill in his tiny carbon soled ballerina shoes. Mentally scarred for life, I am.