Look Pro, Part VIII: The Phantom Menace
Casually Deliberate is at the core of Looking Pro; it’s something that comes from a lifetime spent on a bike, becoming one with the machine. There are two components to this phenomenon, two organisms forming a symbiotic bond and working together in perfect harmony towards an end.
The Machine. Immaculate. Every piece of kit in its place, adjusted to the millimeter; il posizione must be set up precisely to maximize the V-Locus. The Principle of Silence reigns supreme; no creaks, no squeaks – no Rattle, just the Hum from the tires and spokes as they cut through the air. Every last detail is looked after; the frame is spotless and the bars perfectly wrapped.
The rider. A paradox. Victim at the hands of the Man with the Hammer, yet conqueror of their own physical limitations. Perched on the saddle, the rider is comfortable as the legs spin with deceptive ease. Every movement is perfect and carefully controlled, yet nothing is given undue consideration. The hands reach out and rest easy on the bars. The back is simultaneously arched and flat as the body finds the ideal balance between transferring maximum power to the pedals while keeping the shoulders low and narrow to punch the smallest possible hole through the air.
Nothing conveys this notion as much as riding in the Phantom Aerobars. The forearms resting on the tops, hands draped loosely in the air, clutching at nothing but wind: physics are seemingly defied as somehow the rider manages to not only steer, but also coax the leverage from the arms required to propel the machine forward. In a word: Grace.
It is paramount that any rider who endeavors to Look Pro learn to ride in this difficult position. But beware: one must take care to avoid crashing while practicing; not only is crashing while trying to Look Pro un-casual, it is monumentally un-Pro. That’s a tip.
- Because your arms are resting on the bars with your hands dangling unsupported, you will need a Magnificent Stroke with a smooth upward motion in order to provide the counter-balance that your arms normally provide.
- You will also need a strong core to support your body and avoid supporting your shoulders by leaning on your forearms too much. Not only will this become uncomfortable, but the added weight on the bars will make the bicycle unstable.
- Find the V-Locus. Your bike must be set up properly, allowing you to ride in a neutral position in order to minimize undue torquing or twisting.
- While unsightly and generally frowned upon, older model Shimano shifters with outboard shift cables make for a kind of crutch as you learn to ride in this position; avoid clutching the cables too firmly, but it is permissible to hold them loosely to provide some modicum of steering and leverage.
- Watch where you’re going; you don’t want to be hitting potholes or road furniture while conducting what amounts to a high-speed balancing act.
One last consideration, the gut you’ve been nursing since discovering that beer is the ideal post-ride recovery drink may actually help keep your forearms unweighted. I recommend you keep testing that theory until it becomes true.
I was amazed to see Gilbear chugging along in the phantom aero position with 5km to go in stage 10. It takes complete skill to put full speed into the pedals in that position.
That’s what I was talking abut when I said I was “being all pro and shit…” in my VSP report.
Millar eats his Wheatabix like thusly in the morning:
I said thusly!
Millar went all phantom aero today during his brief foray off the front.
And you know DZ can lay it down TT style almost anywhere.
@Jeff in PetroMetro
aye, he did! that’s what made me think of it.
@ben
I read the interview with Millar in Rouleur. I am definitely gonna buy his book. I really like the panache he, JilBear, and V-oeckler displayed today. I loved how they all tried to burn up HTC-Highroad before the sprint. And it worked!
@Jeff in PetroMetro
This was the original shot for the article, until I found Faboo, King of CasDel. Before him, though, it was Dekker. Dekker may have invented it.
Awesome. I aspire to ride in this position. It makes you a bad ass.
@Jeff in PetroMetro
We have been served up heaping spoonfuls of panache this tour. I don’t know how Prudomme has done it but I can’t think of any boring stages thus far. The sight of the green and Yellow jerseys off the front making Cav’s leadout train suffer is enervating and pure genius.
@mouse
OK this is like when you see someone with their collar sticking up – do you tell them, or let them go the whole day like that ?
So the first time – I think it was you Mouse, talking about Gilbert – I wasn’t sure but now I have to say something. Who knows, you might be on your way to a job interview… :-)
Enervating means “weakening or draining of energy and vitality” , which I think is the opposite of what you are trying to say.
I agree it sounds like it shouldn’t mean that, but there you go…
And while I’m on this theme, if anyone is tempted to use the word ‘enormity’, do it at your own risk.
@RedRanger
But beware. Only a small mistake can make your ass bad.
@Jeff in PetroMetro
I red the Millar book, it’s definitely worth, one of the frankest story on cycling I’ve read.
@ChrisO
Ah, whoops. How Enervating.
Who says you can’t learn something on cycling blogs?
Thanks. Just don’t tell anyone, ok?
I think Faboo rode the phantoms for the last 30k of P-R in 2010 when he soloed away.
Also Michele Bartoli was a regular user of the phantoms…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBt155gMbp0
Nice piece frank. I’ve seen a few of Le Tour riders in this position and it makes me think they are relaxing into the ride when I know they are laying down some V, especially in the last 5km of the stage. I have to assume this position on my rubbish bike in order to help cut through a head wind (It’s a mountain bike with straight bars). I can’t keep it up for long and feel really unstable.
I’m new to the Tour. I’ve never watched it before and it is an inspiration. Is this a good year or is it my inexperience of cycle racing?
And just for ChrisO… I can’t believe the ENORMITY of the upcoming mountain stages. I hope Jonny Hoogerland continues in the race.
JoD
@Pedale.Forchetta
Riding the phantoms FTW in a monument with a smile on your phace is badass. +1 for the video.
@John of Denbigh
Welcome. This year’s tour so far is really good. I would say too much carnage and too many GC riders having to abandon but the racing has been spectacular on every stage thus far. In all, a great introductory tour for you, the bar is high now.
@ChrisO
@John of Denbigh
Let’s go with “gi-normous-ness”. (Can’t say I spelled that right.)
I’ve been scouring the web and my cycling magazines to no avail but I know I saw a picture of Spartacus on the phantom aerobars on the cobbles of PR last season.
@Matt
A-Merckx.
@Cyclops
He was blasting at the front of the peloton on that cobbled stage of the TdF 2010 (stage 3?) with some Phantom Aerobars.
Looked amazing leading the whole bunch with a subtle grin on his face.
@Cyclops
You’ve mentioned that before and I know what picture you’re talking about. The only problem is he’s not on the cobbles. The shot in question was taken on the tarmac, just after he rode off a secteur of stones; they are in the background but there’s smooth road between him and the stones. It was a Specialized advert. So, in effect, you can’t find that picture because it doesn’t exist.
Boom in the Phantom Aerobars in the rain, off the front, lone attack!
Dutch monkey Lars Boom goes phantom aero off the front!!!!
Lars Boom rockin’ the phantoms right now…and he’s caught. Bummer.
Boom goes into the PAB’s trying to hold the peloton at bay.
@earnest, @Jeff in PetroMetro, @frank, @Cyclops
Ha! Great minds…
Millar rockin’ the phantoms now…
@Marko
Too right that there have been too many crashes (particularly motorbike and TV car carelessness!) and we have lost some top riders. Being from the UK I was gutted when Bradly Wiggins crashed out. I just hope he’s on form again for the Olympics next year.
As for the bar being high – too high I suspect and my only excuse is this. More V is called for and get out and train!
JoD
Hmmm… a pic from the recent rest day. He’s still the Man in my book.
@Mikeweb
I saw this the other day and wanted to post it with some negative commentary.
Then I got afraid that his guns would find me while I’m unawares and annihilate me without mercy.
As you say, though: still the Man. Wisdom.
We forgive them.
@Jeff in PetroMetro
Last year I was in Berlin and with some help of the people at Villa Pasculli, I had an interesting chat with Timm Koelln (the author of this photo).
Ah! And he speak a great Italian too…
@Mikeweb
Best to simply point out the greatness of the adidas scuffs on his feet and leave it at that lest things get, you know, weird.
@Minion
@earnest
@Jeff in PetroMetro
As far as I’m concerned, Spartacus can break any rule he wants.
@Mikeweb
He is wearing the Swiss national champion jersey. He can take the sleeves off if he wants I must say. The Rules exist to Look Pro. If you *are* Pro, don’t you Look Pro by definition?
Yep. I was hoping to avoid the thread descending into the homoerotic.
Ok, so back on topic,
I’ve to say that I’m not a lover of the phantom aero for myself, to me looks like a distracting position.
I think it’s a position that require a great amount of hours spent riding, maybe the total amount of hours I ride are not enough to be accustomed to.
If you all remember, we’ve talked about the scuffs here.
@Pedale.Forchetta
I just bought Kolln’s book, “The Peloton”. What a masterpiece.
Pedale, your life is my dream life. If you told me you lived on the shores of Lake Como, I would not be surprised. I guess that’s the price one pays when one lives in Italy: ride with pros, make friends with world-famous authors and photographers, be a world-class photographer (which you are), watch pro racing live and in person, drink negronis, ride bikes, eat good food, go to bed, get up, and repeat.
How do I get a work visa in Italy?
@Minion
But he is soooooo Faboo!
Based on the metrics and content analysis of this thread, those who drop into the phantoms are also those who are strong in the TT. Would we see the likes of Griepel or the Pocket Grimpeur in the phant posish? Not sure.
@marko
I remember. i have a pair. Frank has a pair. Faboo has a pair. If that’s not a ringing endorsement I don’t know what is.
@Minion
Hehe. I hadn’t kept up with discussion and read this. I took it to be referring to PABs. Now that’s a funny idea. I’m going to upgrade to a lighter set of PABs.
Bartoli, how frikkin cool, going onto the PAB’s in the finishing straight at Liege! Class…
@brett
Calling Brett and other Welly-based Velominati. Stage 11 replay is being shown at D4 bar from 6:30 to 8am Friday. Karl from Adventure Travel has organised apparently. Good chance for a catchup. I’ll be wearing the red & white carnation…
@Bianchi Denti
Sweet, but probably won’t make it as I’m going to attempt to avoid the result all day and watch it on Fri night at a mate’s place…
Welly velominati = Welliminati btw…
@Cyclops
I thought it saw that, too – and Google Image search failed me so hard.