Categories: FolkloreThe Hardmen

In Flanders Fields

You don’t have to be in Flanders very long before you start to breathe in the history of the area. Horrible things have happened in the fields across Northern France and Belgium, like the Battle of Waterloo and the Battle of the Bulge. These are the kinds of things that hang in the air for centuries; they seep into your blood.

There is a famous poem written by John McCrae that is worth reading. Its also been put to music by my favorite band, Big Head Todd and the Monsters.

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place: and in the sky
The larks still bravely singing fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the dead: Short days ago,
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved: and now we lie
In Flanders fields!

Take up our quarrel with the foe
To you, from failing hands, we throw
The torch: be yours to hold it high
If ye break faith with us who die,
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields

Take a moment to remember the fallen with us.

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

Jay says:

Apr 2 2012 at 4:49 pm

This discussion took on a more philosophical and somber/respectful turn than most. I found it to be quite enlightening. I am grateful that to the others who shared "1916" and "No Mans Land". These gems would probably have escaped my notice otherwise. The most intersting thing about this group is that there are times when the bikes can move to the periphery and other topics spark discussion. That is why I come back frequently...
Tartan1749 says:

Apr 2 2012 at 7:45 pm

Not particularly related to this article nor the Belgian fields, but a somewhat obscure 90's WWII movie, A Midnight Clear, is worth a view. I'm sure there's not a wait for it through your preferred movie provider.
la Vela says:

Apr 2 2012 at 7:58 pm

@wiscot
Respect!
Mason says:

Apr 2 2012 at 10:05 pm

It really is a pity at how the First World War gets so easily forgotten, when it was so fundamental in shaping the modern age. I spent three weeks while teaching High School World History explaining the break in western society that happens at the First World War.
Marcus says:

Apr 2 2012 at 11:10 pm

@Mason
Come to Australia on April 25 - ANZAC Day. You will see that WWI is definitely not forgotten in this part of the world.
936adl says:

Apr 2 2012 at 11:52 pm

I always find it sobering to think what went on in Flanders in WW1 when driving throught that area.

On a trip back from the TdF in 2009 we stopped by at the Vimy Ridge memorial. Well worth a visit if you're ever in the area.
Buck Rogers says:

Apr 3 2012 at 8:06 am

@Mason

It really is a pity at how the First World War gets so easily forgotten, when it was so fundamental in shaping the modern age. I spent three weeks while teaching High School World History explaining the break in western society that happens at the First World War.

Renoir's "Grand Illusion" is an amazing French film that goes into the whole societal change that occurs at the time of WWI. Just a super film. Also, someone mentioned "All Quiet on the Western Front" which is trully a classic novel in all respects but the old 1930's film of the same name is also outstanding.
niksch says:

Apr 3 2012 at 3:27 pm

@936adl
Indeed. I visited Vimy Ridge back in '99 before a deployment. It's quite a sobering place. Of course, when driving through northern France and Belgium you can't throw a stone and not hit a Commonwealth or German cemetery. When I visited the American cemetery at Somme, the director told me an interesting piece of information...at least for US Forces in WWI. WWI American cemeteries are located on the battlefield in which Soldiers fought, where in WWII they were interred in temporary cemeteries then relocated to the large cemeteries that we know today.

Here is a link to the ABMC web site. http://www.abmc.gov/home.php
El Mateo says:

Apr 3 2012 at 8:32 pm

Great insight on WWI- It was supposedly the War to End All Wars... Except for all the wars that followed. Unimaginable hardship in that area for centuries. We should all settle our differences like hardmen... On the bike!
Dan_R says:

Apr 4 2012 at 6:33 am

@Marcus
While in university I wrote an article on the ANZAC attempt to take Galliopli. One of the greatest quotes was from a young private, "the futility of it all."

WWI's generation was one of great literary creativity. Maybe that's why a group like the Velominati can respect as it does? Nes pas?