Categories: Belgian AffirmationsLa Vie VelominatusLook ProMusings from the V-Bunker

Body Language

As a matter of fact, no, I hadn't forgotten how awesome I am.

A true leader rarely asks someone to do something for them; the best leaders inspire through their own example those around them to follow suit and join them in their cause. The leader is fueled by something that is not externally driven, it is born from within and appears in this world as passion and conviction. These qualities, in their genuine state, are irresistible.

Style is a special kind of art, it is not the kind of art that is hung on the wall and gazed upon by passers by; like leadership, it is not externally focussed but instead is something one uses to shape how we feel. We become a piece of living, breathing art. And then, hypothetically, after you spill some mustard down the front of your lovely, crisp shirt, the art might also take on an olfactory quality as well.

A foundational principle of La Vie Velominatus is the power of Looking Fantastic: of dressing up in impeccable, matching kit and climbing aboard a perfectly curated, cleaned, and tuned machine before setting out onto the road brimming with confidence and oozing morale. As Paul Fournel said, “To look good is already to go fast.”

There might actually be some science behind it, which I’ve never needed but always assumed there would be.

Research suggests that our own body language can alter our hormonal levels to the effect that they significantly change the way we perceive ourselves. (If you haven’t watched Amy Cuddy‘s TED Talk on Body Language, you should.) In her studies, she found that something as simple as adopting a high power stance for two minutes can increase testosterone levels by 80% (making one more confident and assertive) and reduce cortisol levels by 25% (making one less reactive to stress).

Both of these sound a lot like how kitting up for a cold, rainy ride in my Flandrian Best makes me feel; I will set out into the deluge brimming with confidence and ready to face the cold and risks that come as a part of not only riding a bike, but riding one in wet, poor-visibility conditions. At high speed. If standing in a bathroom with your arms in the air for two minutes can measurably change your hormone levels for the better, then I have every reason to believe that knowing that you Look Fantastic at All Times would have the same, if not stronger, effect.

Vive la Vie Velominatus.

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

Teocalli says:

Feb 4 2016 at 8:41 am

@Buck Rogers

Contrasted with.......
Teocalli says:

Feb 4 2016 at 8:42 am

@Sebastian Bustos

Welcome. Cool photo.
hudson says:

Feb 4 2016 at 8:50 am

Both of these sound a lot like how kitting up for a cold, rainy ride in my Flandrian Best makes me feel; I will set out into the deluge brimming with confidence and ready to face the cold and risks that come as a part of not only riding a bike, but riding one in wet, poor-visibility conditions.

This! This is what its about. As much as i adore tanned guns and the quiet hum of the tires on the road on a June afternoon, out sprinting my ghost adversaries...i even more so have fallen lustfully over the V that it takes to kit up at 5 am knowing full well the pain of the frigid air awaiting me and the slush that has been deposited on the road while i slumber, taping over the cleats just so i can make it through the snow in the drive to get to the road. To me this is cycling at its finest. Early morning hours or not, i will look fantastic even if no one sees me.
Ron says:

Feb 4 2016 at 9:13 am

I had two incredible social psychology professors in college. Both were brilliant, yet both were also able to truly connect and teach, which is something many geniuses lack.

One of them is actually the person who accidentally gave me the nickname "Ron," which stuck.

I need to Look Fantastic, by default. I have a closet of clothes I've never, ever worn because they don't fit Just Right. From kit to street clothes, I have to have the perfect fit.

As for body stance, leading, and looking fantastic, since most of us have played competitive team sports/sports in our lives, these are all things we've learned and developed over time. It's something that you can't quite get from other pursuits. To sweat, to bleed, to argue, to compete teaches so many important lessons.
Ron says:

Feb 4 2016 at 9:15 am

Sebastian - welcome! (the carrot). Now...are your bars wrapped with the Shroud of Turin? (the stick).
DeKerr says:

Feb 4 2016 at 10:11 am

@Sebastian Bustos

Welcome! Beautiful photo, but I'm with @Ron... what in the name of Merckx is going on with your bar tape?
DeKerr says:

Feb 4 2016 at 10:21 am

@RobSandy

Yes. I’ve been having a bit of a crisis of confidence recently (am I training too hard, am I not training hard enough, am I ill, should I just HTFU, have I got my bike set up wrong,etc), but through a bit of PMA and an application of the V I’m feeling much more positive and ready for the racing season.

Just hope I can engineer a race situation where I can use my sprint.

Patience fellow Pedalwan, patience. Don't be too keen to engineer a situation in a race unless you've got a team to work for or to work for you. Take time, and a few early races, to read the field; watch how others ride. The patient warrior waits for the opportunity but is always preparing and ready for its arrival.

Then, when that moment arrives, you can crush the fools, ride them off your wheel, and hear the lamentation of their coaches. (paraphrased from a certain barbarian)
wiscot says:

Feb 4 2016 at 10:51 am

@Sebastian Bustos

Welcome aboard! Our first South American Velominatus unless I'm much mistaken. Keep sending the awesome pictures (but fix the bar tape and position of your rear wheel skewer first!)
PantaniForever says:

Feb 4 2016 at 12:54 pm

@hudson

Both of these sound a lot like how kitting up for a cold, rainy ride in my Flandrian Best makes me feel; I will set out into the deluge brimming with confidence and ready to face the cold and risks that come as a part of not only riding a bike, but riding one in wet, poor-visibility conditions.

This! This is what its about. As much as i adore tanned guns and the quiet hum of the tires on the road on a June afternoon, out sprinting my ghost adversaries…i even more so have fallen lustfully over the V that it takes to kit up at 5 am knowing full well the pain of the frigid air awaiting me and the slush that has been deposited on the road while i slumber, taping over the cleats just so i can make it through the snow in the drive to get to the road. To me this is cycling at its finest. Early morning hours or not, i will look fantastic even if no one sees me.

Perfectly stated! Recently I realized that instead of complaining about not riding my bike much I could start riding to work as a means to fit more time in on the bike. On one of my first rides in it started sleeting heavily as I rode in. While I was firing up my lights on my bike in the garage I thought it was just snow. I was wrong. At any rate while all the motorists sat in gridlocked traffic on the main roads because of the weather and related accidents I rolled down the side streets with the biggest nervous smile thinking "man I can't believe I haven't crashed in this sleet and I bet I look like a fantastic badass in this black kit/black bike combo." My coworkers all thought I was insane, I pointed out that I probably made better time than them that morning.
frank says:

Feb 4 2016 at 2:59 pm

@Buck Rogers

Brilliant TED talk. I had never seen that. I think she says around minute 11:00 that it is a 20% increase after two minutes, not 80%, in testosterone but even with that logic, I wonder how much increase I can get if I walk around ALL DAY and even sleep in a POWER posture, Baby!

But this really hits home for me as on two of my deployments to Iraq my Unit had a full company of Navy SEALs attached to us and it was a standing joke amongst my guys that you could not graduate SEAL School until you learned to permanently stand in a “Tough Guy” stance. Seriously, those dudes ALWAYS stood with their chests flared and their thumbs in the tops of their pants, even right before going on target. Guess it makes sense as they all had a ton of testosterone, both endogenous AND exogenous!

Are those guys doping? I suppose in war it doesn't matter, I'm just a little surprised to hear that. Fuch, though, anything to win a war! That actually IS life and death!

When you come out here in May, you'll have to come prepared with a doping schedule for me for l'Huere!