Tan lines are to the Velominatus what a drug overdose is to a rock star, or a Victoria Cross is to a returned serviceman.
It's a badge of honour, and while neither
You've gotta earn your stripes, right? Even if it could result in sunburn, or much worse. Will Lance save me if I get cancer?
So this is what greeted me in the mirror on my return from a long session in the hills of Wellington yesterday.
When I left the house in the morning, a dense fog shrouded the skyline, even delaying the arrival of one Prince William to our fine city.
Nah, I won't be needing sunscreen today, I thought. Actually, I didn't think about it at all, I just got on the bike and went, the crisp morning air not hinting at the heat to come.
Now, being follicly-challenged, my bonce is usually one of the first areas to be slathered in SPF 30.
It's the nearest point to the sun, after all. Like a solar panel for a sex machine.
Now, it just looks like a stubbly template for an S-Works 2D.
And the arms and legs copped a bit too, but at least I can go out in public with no more than the usual embarassment that spindly, hairless limbs cause. Looks like it's hats on for the next week or so. [dmalbum path=”/velominati.com/content/Photo Galleries/brettok@hotmail.com/Tan lines/”/]
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@john
Shit, I thought I would be the first to post on tanlines as well. In fact, when I saw the headline in my news feed, my mind went racing back to the night before to reassure myself that I didn't get shitfaced and drunkpost something awkward and inappropriate.
The relief was palpable.
@brett
I just read this again. It's actually a great post, but it takes a couple reads before the pictures stop being so distracting that I can start to absorb some content.
Well done. We'll have to file this away for a 2010 Keeper Award for Crossing Boundaries.
I feel like I could be looking at a pic of il Pirata wearing a Gerolsteiner t-shirt.
@Marko
TOTALLY!
Brett, that is some serious cred, right there!
@frank
In observance of Rule 42, I humbly retract my suggestion to break Rule 11.
Whoa, Pirate cred! I'm not worthy.
But I am a habitual boundary crosser.
So, what's the rule on wearing an Il Pirata-esque bandanna? This could open up a whole new can o' worms...
Ouch - that's impressive.
Summer? That's a long way off for us. It's 45 degrees and wet here. I wouldn't mind a little risk from sunburn at the moment.
@brett
I'm thinking bandanna's are covered by the same rule as cycling caps, sadly. Makes one regret the fact that it's prudent to wear a helmet these days. The bandanna sans helmet was a sweet look.
Note the Three-Point System applies to bandannas as well, as demonstrated here by the master.
@frank
but what's even cooler is riding virtually all the time on your drops. especially when it comes to climbs. Next rule: When climbing, riding with your hands positioned on the handlebar drops renders you either a hardman or a posuer. So if you plan to climb on your drops you better not be passed by anyone else not climbing on their drops.