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Style and Fashion

Michele Bartoli, possibly the pioneer of the small frame and slammed stem.

The difference between Style and Fashion is that Fashion changes, but style is something that persists through the ages. You can’t buy it, and you either have it or you don’t. In other words, you can get all the best and expensive kit and still look complete crap if you don’t have Style. Conversely, you can wear the most crap kit possible and make it look good if you have the gift. That is why photos of Anquetil, the Prophet and Roger de Vlaeminck still blow our minds even though they are wearing completely outdated kit. This is also why Pantani could wear lycra jeans and Cipollini could wear a Zebra suit and make us contemplate trying our hands at it. (We should not.)

If there was an upside to the EPO era, it meant that a number of riders who had immaculate style may never have risen to the top of the fish bowl if it weren’t for EPO. Allegedly. Michele Bartoli was a prime example of a rider who was so doped up that he had plenty of bandwidth left for a complete and total commitment to Looking Fantastic at All Times. Allegedly. Let’s face facts (allegedly): the Mapei kit would have been lining the rubbish bin if it weren’t for riders like Bartoli and Frank Vandenbroucke. And Michele pioneered the mini-frame with long, slammed stem and a meter of seatpin.

I think we all agree that doping is wrong, but it doesn’t feel so wrong when they looked so good. We owe him a weighty debt for his contribution.

Shameless Plug: come down to the Rouleur Classic this week to listen to me cover this topic in greater detail. And then head to the pub with me afterward to hear me do it louder. My speaking schedule is as follows:

Thursday 19th – 22:00: Host Ned Boulting and I will talk about Style.
Friday 20th – 19:15: Host: Matt Barbet and I will talk about what is Cycling means to us as a lifestyle.
Saturday 21st – 13:30: Matt Stephens and I will discuss the dichotomy of being a profoundly innovative sport while at the same time being fiercely protective of our history and culture.

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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View Comments

Ccos says:

Nov 18 2015 at 5:04 pm

Then there's style blindness. My VMH (who I adore otherwise) thinks I look like a complete douche when kitted for a ride, as does my mother-in-law (her only flaw it would appear). My fellow cyclists would attest otherwise (though there is the chance they may be fantastic liars).
Clank says:

Nov 18 2015 at 5:41 pm

Some subjectivity at play here. I once walked through our lounge room past my teenage daughter and five friends après ride in my absolute black best with attention to every detail and fine gossamer of perspiration sculpting every chiselled muscle. Not only did I suck every sound from the room but she didn't speak to me for four days.
chuckp says:

Nov 18 2015 at 6:20 pm

"Cipollini could wear a Zebra suit and make us contemplate trying our hands at it. (We should not.)"
piwakawaka says:

Nov 18 2015 at 6:50 pm

Our bibs are too long.
EBruner says:

Nov 18 2015 at 7:42 pm

Sorry, but I have to post this again. Style.
Barracuda says:

Nov 18 2015 at 9:54 pm

Its Millar time
frank says:

Nov 19 2015 at 1:55 am

@EBruner

Sorry, but I have to post this again. Style.

Case completely in point.

@piwakawaka

Our bibs are too long.

Yours might be. I've been careful to keep mine Goldilocks.

@Ccos

Then there’s style blindness. My VMH (who I adore otherwise) thinks I look like a complete douche when kitted for a ride, as does my mother-in-law (her only flaw it would appear). My fellow cyclists would attest otherwise (though there is the chance they may be fantastic liars).

Spoiler Alert: your friends might be lying.

@Clank

Some subjectivity at play here. I once walked through our lounge room past my teenage daughter and five friends après ride in my absolute black best with attention to every detail and fine gossamer of perspiration sculpting every chiselled muscle. Not only did I suck every sound from the room but she didn’t speak to me for four days.

It's a well known fact that teenagers are terrible judges of their parent's sense of style. I feel confident that you can discount this response in its entirety.
wiscot says:

Nov 19 2015 at 5:12 am

@Clank

Some subjectivity at play here. I once walked through our lounge room past my teenage daughter and five friends après ride in my absolute black best with attention to every detail and fine gossamer of perspiration sculpting every chiselled muscle. Not only did I suck every sound from the room but she didn’t speak to me for four days.

Clearly they were dumbstruck with admiration. Your daughter's friends left wondering why their Dad's don't look so awesome.
RobSandy says:

Nov 19 2015 at 5:29 am

@chuckp

“Cipollini could wear a Zebra suit and make us contemplate trying our hands at it. (We should not.)”

I'm less offended by the zebra suit than I am by that helmet.
Al__S says:

Nov 19 2015 at 6:01 am

Having won a ticket, I'll see you Saturday. I'll be the one failing to look stylish