Categories: Defining MomentsExportLa Vie Velominatus

Youth

René Privat wears yellow as Master Jacques reads a newspaper and tries not to notice.

I’ve never been afraid of imitating my heroes, they always seemed like the best examples available and as a student of life (as every child is) it seemed normal to me to copy every aspect of their lives that I had visibility into. I copied my dad’s handwriting as I was learning to write just as I copied Greg LeMond’s position on the bike as I was learning how to get serious about Cycling. None of my friends recognized my dad’s handwriting; they all thought my handwriting looked different from everyone else so they figured I had “cool” handwriting. All of my friends who rode bikes recognized Greg Lemond’s riding style; they all figured I was a copycat.

It was an early lesson; neither the complement nor the criticism meant terribly much to me; I was busy learning and that was good enough for me. I have to say, though, that as I’ve grown older, I’ve become more fond of my younger self, that version of me who didn’t feel the influence of what others believed so much. As we age, we “know” more and we “believe” less. Preserving the ability to believe is what keeps us young; for that reason alone, I refuse to grow up and insist on believing in everything I find beautiful, however irrational it might be.

Which brings me to Cycling; Cycling is the perfect way to stay in touch with the more delicate aspects of what we love in our lives. Riding in the first place is already enough; breathing the air and indulging in the tension of strength in our muscles and body as we ride brings an awareness that most people don’t have the opportunity to experience. As we develop in the sport, we start to test the limits of our bodies and equipment; testing is the way we experience growth and the development of our skill.

Every time we climb aboard a bicycle, we are testing our limits the same as we did as children; to be a Cyclist is to be young again. Vive la Vie Velominatus.

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 Velominati Super Prestige: Milano Sanremo 2017 »

Previous « Dead Tired

View Comments

wiscot says:

Mar 1 2017 at 8:23 am

I'll just post this here as it's the current thread. The weather for Le Samyn today is truly Belgian! Maybe we're in for a classic classics season?
Teocalli says:

Mar 1 2017 at 8:43 am

@wiscot

I’ll just post this here as it’s the current thread. The weather for Le Samyn today is truly Belgian! Maybe we’re in for a classic classics season?

Strade Bianchi looks like being wet this weekend too. Unfortunately that covers Sunday too at the moment.......
Ron says:

Mar 1 2017 at 12:05 pm

Le Samyn was incredible! For that matter, that's three great one-day races in a row. It's a good time to be alive and love cycling!

Felt for #2 today. Guillame tricked that youngster as only a more senior race knows how. Big G probably would like to give a double middle finger to Lefevere, or did so tacitly.
Buck Rogers says:

Mar 2 2017 at 3:58 am

@Ron

Le Samyn was incredible! For that matter, that’s three great one-day races in a row. It’s a good time to be alive and love cycling!

Felt for #2 today. Guillame tricked that youngster as only a more senior race knows how. Big G probably would like to give a double middle finger to Lefevere, or did so tacitly.

Super Hardman race! Just awesome. I watched the last 55 k's on the rollers today.

Man, what a tough one. I just LOVE the Napoléon Race series!

I totally thought that Keirsbulck was the Man of the Match and did more than his fair share in the wind. Not sure how he tricked the younger rider? They were both fucking dead on that final climb and never had more than about 20 to 30 seconds on the main chasing group for the whole last 50 k's. Brutal!
DVMR says:

Mar 2 2017 at 3:19 pm

@Buck Rogers

@Ron

Le Samyn was incredible! For that matter, that’s three great one-day races in a row. It’s a good time to be alive and love cycling!

Felt for #2 today. Guillame tricked that youngster as only a more senior race knows how. Big G probably would like to give a double middle finger to Lefevere, or did so tacitly.

Super Hardman race! Just awesome. I watched the last 55 k’s on the rollers today.

Man, what a tough one. I just LOVE the Napoléon Race series!

I totally thought that Keirsbulck was the Man of the Match and did more than his fair share in the wind. Not sure how he tricked the younger rider? They were both fucking dead on that final climb and never had more than about 20 to 30 seconds on the main chasing group for the whole last 50 k’s. Brutal!

That was a great race. Especially after what I thought was a disappointing omloop/kbk opening weekend. Way too predictable, but still in awe of Sagan's ridiculous abilities/super powers. I think the guy who won le samyn just held is nerve while the younger guy panicked into leading out the finish. Roll on the spring classics!
Buck Rogers says:

Mar 2 2017 at 10:28 pm

@DVMR

@Buck Rogers

@Ron

Le Samyn was incredible! For that matter, that’s three great one-day races in a row. It’s a good time to be alive and love cycling!

Felt for #2 today. Guillame tricked that youngster as only a more senior race knows how. Big G probably would like to give a double middle finger to Lefevere, or did so tacitly.

Super Hardman race! Just awesome. I watched the last 55 k’s on the rollers today.

Man, what a tough one. I just LOVE the Napoléon Race series!

I totally thought that Keirsbulck was the Man of the Match and did more than his fair share in the wind. Not sure how he tricked the younger rider? They were both fucking dead on that final climb and never had more than about 20 to 30 seconds on the main chasing group for the whole last 50 k’s. Brutal!

That was a great race. Especially after what I thought was a disappointing omloop/kbk opening weekend. Way too predictable, but still in awe of Sagan’s ridiculous abilities/super powers. I think the guy who won le samyn just held is nerve while the younger guy panicked into leading out the finish. Roll on the spring classics!

Yes, such a great race.

But I did not think that there was any tricking going on or any panicking.

They both knew that the chasers were close and both were attacking the hell out of each other in the final 3 k's.

I thought that they both did a great job and that the strongest guy on the day won in the end.
DVMR says:

Mar 3 2017 at 7:32 am

@Buck Rogers

Ahh, maybe I need to watch it again. Wouldn't be a bad thing!
VirenqueforeVer says:

Mar 6 2017 at 8:56 am

Wrong! : https://cyclingtips.com/2017/03/commentary-forget-velominatis-rules-youre-not-wrong/
Nick says:

Mar 7 2017 at 1:26 pm

@chuckp

I've talked to a lot of people who have a similar feeling about riding a bike. Even at the ripe age of 33 I ride my road bike like a kid on a bmx bike.
Deakus says:

Mar 14 2017 at 5:40 am

@ChrisO

Test rig. Trying to figure out where to put the battery for when electronic shifting came along.....