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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why photos of Anquetil, the Prophet and Roger de Vlaeminck still blow our minds even though they are wearing completely outdated kit.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 19 2015 at 6:05 am

@frank

That's possible, but my VMH thinks ALL cyclists look like douches. Not a deal breaker in the relationship, but it would be if she were yelling out the car window at them instead of mumbling to me "why do you have to wear those silly clothes?"
chuckp says:

Nov 19 2015 at 6:09 am

@RobSandy

@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.

I've actually always liked the Aqua Sapone zebra kit. Along with Mapei, so 90s. So hideous but oh so cool. Have been tempted to get it. Would be great for #TbT ride.
Owen says:

Nov 19 2015 at 6:50 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.

To be fair, you could have walked in looking the balls in a perfectly tailored Italian suit and gotten the same reaction from that group.
davidlhill says:

Nov 19 2015 at 6:55 am

@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).

one of the most suspect phrases you should ever spout in public.
davidlhill says:

Nov 19 2015 at 8:14 am

@EBruner

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

I'll be the party pooper: if you didn't know who he was, would you still seriously say he's a style icon? So much is wrong, bar the "f you" expression.
chuckp says:

Nov 19 2015 at 9:17 am

@Ccos

@frank

That’s possible, but my VMH thinks ALL cyclists look like douches. Not a deal breaker in the relationship, but it would be if she were yelling out the car window at them instead of mumbling to me “why do you have to wear those silly clothes?”

Since mine rides (and used to race), it's just the opposite. Of course, the physique of the rider matters too.
EBruner says:

Nov 19 2015 at 10:32 am

@davidlhill

My wife has no fucking idea who he is, and she thinks he looks "cool". Everything about this photo is wrong, but it is somehow so cool.
chuckp says:

Nov 19 2015 at 11:22 am

@EBruner

@davidlhill

My wife has no fucking idea who he is, and she thinks he looks “cool”. Everything about this photo is wrong, but it is somehow so cool.

If you had guns like that, your wife would think you look cool too.
LawnCzar says:

Nov 19 2015 at 1:37 pm

@davidlhill
RedRanger says:

Nov 19 2015 at 1:42 pm

The ultimate style photo.