Categories: Accessories and GearGeneralThe Rules

Looks Can Be Deceiving

At first glance, you might cite a whole host of Rules being broken here. Bars too high, not enough set-back on the saddle, lack of chain, to name a few off the top of my head. Furthermore, the rider of this particular bicycle lacked cycling-specific eyewear and was wearing knee pads, and was doing nothing towards cultivating the “Pro Look”.

But the truth is, what we’re witnessing here is the sapling of a future Keeper.

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

Marko says:

Jan 23 2010 at 4:19 pm

@frank. You have news to report dude?
frank says:

Jan 23 2010 at 7:45 pm

@Marko
No, not related to me or Jim. Just a young stud, ready to rip that shit up when he's old enough to rock some clipless pedals.
bob says:

Jan 25 2010 at 8:35 am

A wooden curricle! the saddle-handlebar distance looks a lot more comfortable than this..
bob says:

Jan 25 2010 at 8:35 am

http://i49.tinypic.com/hvut7r.gif !
frank says:

Jan 25 2010 at 9:34 am

@bob
I think technically a curricle has room for a passenger, but now that I think of it, I suppose this bike does have room for himself and his bucket of AWESOME. So, yes, it is a curricle!

Thanks for stopping by.
frank says:

Jan 25 2010 at 9:51 am

@bob
Further research has shown that this is in fact a curricle! A pedestrian curricle, to be precise. Learn something everyday, I guess!
john says:

Jan 25 2010 at 4:34 pm

The youth deserves some credit for heading out on two disc wheels and the handle bar color match the saddle color. He or she is on the right track providing the socks are not too high.
frank says:

Jan 26 2010 at 11:54 am

@john
Well, the padding and helmet use were way off, but I agree, the double disk is 'core. Points there, for sure.
Marko says:

Jan 26 2010 at 12:30 pm

The stack height is a bit much but the saddle does appear visually level.
frank says:

Jan 27 2010 at 6:45 am

@Marko
Indeed. What's the rule for the color of the bushing between the frame and the unifork? It appears to be matching the bars and saddle, not a bad choice.

It has to be said, though, that you can't just follow some rules; one is either in compliance with them or not. There's not really a middle ground here.

This little punk is obviously reckless in his youth, a phase many of us go through. All we can do is hope he comes around before he hurts someone or himself even more.