Have you ever been told to take a good look at yourself? Usually it infers that you need to smarten up your ideas, get your shit together, shape up or ship out. If Viagra eyedrops had an advertising campaign, (or indeed existed), their tagline would be: “Take a long, hard look at yourself.”
Most Cyclists need to take a long hard look at themselves. Ourselves. We could do a lot better in the public relations sphere if we took more care to use our playgrounds, ie the roads, as road users rather than pseudo-racers. And we need to take a long, hard look at ourselves every time we kit up and head out the door for a ride. Because what you see in the mirror is what others see also, and we should present ourselves as smart, tidy and sensible, rather than walking fluoro billboards or wannabe Pros.
The mirror is one of the most overlooked pieces of a Cyclist’s kit, and one that needs to be looked into a whole lot more than I suspect it is, going by the rolling messes I see out on the roads on every ride. Of course I’m not endorsing a Rule #66 violation, no sir. Offensive attire isn’t exclusive to the slovenly who go shopping in their tracky pants and Crocs, or the mostly smartly-dressed professionals who top off their neat-pressed pants or skirts with a fucking sleeping bag. You’re not George Costanza, so don’t bother.
It shouldn’t be necessary to tell you how to dress for the ride; you should know that yourself. That’s why The Rules were forged; to educate, yet sometimes to berate is necessary. If you are too clueless to put a helmet on your head level, to wear clean and matching kit, or to buy a pair of socks that don’t expose your fucking ankles, you’re either a hopelessly sloppy individual or a completely lost cause. These are the type of people who go out to dinner with their partner or take long haul flights while wearing rolled-up denim shorts, boat shoes and a t-shirt. Even if you have such little respect for yourself, you, as a member of society, should at least show some for those who have to encounter you.
Let’s smarten things up people. I know for the main part I’m preaching to the converted here, but it’s our duty to spread the knowledge and help ourselves by helping others within our ranks. It’s easy. Pick and choose kit carefully, pre-plan well in advance so you don’t end up just throwing whatever isn’t dirty on, and make sure it’s all adjusted properly. And if you’re in with a show of winning a Monument, straighten up that goddamn helmet!
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@wiscot
Agree completely- although I am a late convert to this line of reasoning- A backpacking trip to Greece convinced me of the slovenliness in the USA. My friends and I were woefully underdressed most evenings- cargo pants and t-shirts. We were often embarrassed to go out in the evenings amongst the locals who were always sharply dressed, but we were too cheap to buy a nicer set of clothes. It was most apparent when we flew back in and had a layover in Dallas. The horror of what we saw walking and waiting around there is seared into my memory.
@PeakInTwoYears
And I'm thinking she is lighter now than when you were lighter then.
@unversio
@VirenqueForever
Jesus Wept
@ChrisO
When riding and see that, it makes me want to swerve and hit it.
@PeakInTwoYears
I'm not complaining. Merely making an observation on what I see.
@Buck Rogers
Yeah, sounds like it was done to raise awareness of theMove to Improve charity, which is supported by Boonen. It's also the beneficiary of his Boonen and Friends cyclocross race in the winter. http://www.movetoimprove.be/
So I'll let him off as it's for a good cause. And as he says, it doesn't see much street action.
Might I suggest that the issue is less the wonky lid and more that he went out of the house in a Bongo Hat in the first place? It's depressing how many Freds are turning up in these things these days, ditto that Specialneeds abomination - Terpstra is literally the first person I've seen carry off the look without looking like an extra from a B-movie.
@sthilzy
Cippo can wear Whatever TF he wants. Doesn't get any cooler....ever! He can even wear white (also known as 'never' for us mortals!
@andrew, @Nik, @ChrisO, @universio
I'm really interested to understand what you see as the main crime being committed by the 'Bad Rapha' fella above. Don't you like the pink jersey? Or is that OK but the matching oversocks make it too much? Or is it the Rapha shorts & knee warmers? Or is it the too-conservative black helmet, when a pink Kask would be a better match?
Would you consider that look to be OK in another colour - say chartreuse, white, V orange?