Categories: Etiquette

Universal Message: Metal Horns = Awesome!

T-Bone gives the Metal Horns Salute; Photo: Roberto Bettini

It’s funny how malleable our definition of “local” becomes when emotion gets involved.  Seattle is a fiercely independent town where “local” is meant to imply your immediate neighborhood and we struggle to consider people who inhabit a community less than a kilometer away to be little less than an étranger. On the other hand, I have yet to meet a cyclist in town who does not consider T-Bone Farrar a hometown boy, despite the fact that he hails from Wanatchee, which is quite a distance (and an entire mountain range) away from Seattle.

But such are the wonts of fans; we’re not required to be rational, and what a beautiful thing that is. In any event, I was delighted to see hometown boy T-Bone make an amazing jump at the line today.  As the bunch approached the finish, he seemed hopelessly poorly positioned and likely to get closed out in the final dash.  Cavendouche was in his usual spot, tucked in behind Matt Goss, and I almost walked away, taking another Cav’ win as a forgone conclusion.  But, in a masterful jump that showed a combination of skill and power in maneuvering up from a relatively poor position, he accelerated past the front of the fastest leadout in the world to take his second stage of the race and demonstrate what an exciting bunch sprint can do for a race.

And, given his roots in the Hard Rock capital of Seattle, what would be more fitting than the Metal Horns Salute? The answer is, of course, “none”. It certainly is quite a bit easier to understand than the J-Rod Cyclops.

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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  • @frank
    That only reinforces my point, really, age-wise. I'm sure I've already cited this somewhere on these esteemed pages, but it warrants reiteration.

    In fact, the pros used to say, "put your arms in the air", not "give your salute". When did that change? I'd like to do a study to see how and when the changed.
    On second thought, I'd like to oversee a study. That way, I don't have to do any of "the work" but still get to draw conclusions, which is the good part.

    Now you're talking: we'll make an honest-to-goodness academic out of you yet! And maybe another on the relationship between musical genres and cycling. This one puzzles me...

  • I was right into Mudhoney in 90, and I remember a bandmate telling me about Nirvana. I thought they were ok, but didn't bother going to see them when they played the Big Day Out. Regret that, only because of Kurt swallowing a shottie. Saw Mudhoney 4 times though, it took weeks for my ears to stop bleeding every show (and I saw them 2 nights in a row as well, ouch). Dan Peters makes Dave Grohl look like an amateur. My band covered Touch me, I'm Sick, and I interviewed Matt Lukin for a radio show, and asked him what he would tell this band; he said "more power to em", which we used on our posters and promo stuff!

    Same bandmate was raving about Nevermind when it came out, but I kept telling him Badmotorfinger was the shit. Still think it kicks ass. Jesus Christ Pose did my head in, especially when accompanied by the video. Epilepsy, anyone?

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umHoQBZeXJQ

  • @Steampunk
    Genuis. I shall be referring to Farrar as "Corn-fed" from here-on

    Cobain was a loser.

  • frank

    You kidding me? Kirk Cobain wasn't Grunge, he was the guy who figured out how to make it palatable for the mainstream. I'm talking about Alice in Chains, Soundgarden (before Superunknown), the Pixies, and the Melvins. I'm talking 'bout tuning down your guitars and slowing down the beat as far as it will go. I'm talking about Man in the Box, not about Teen Spirit.

    Tad for the win!!!

  • One more thing. After reviewing videos of TF's win, it almost looks as if Cavendish is easing up to let Goss go by him for the win. From above you can see Cavendish start to hammer again as TF goes around everybody. Just something to think about.

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