Photo courtesy Ray Smith Photography
Cycling is a sport steeped in the tradition of style. There’s no denying it. From the days of miners and farmers escaping the hardships of a life spent toiling in harsh and filthy conditions either under or above ground, through Coppi and his Cosa Nostra-esque garb and swagger, Merckx and De Vlaeminck’s 70s sideburns, to Cipo and his many hits and misses both on and off the bike, there have always been riders who just look the part. I don’t hesitate to add David Millar’s name to that list as a modern day doyen of cycling style.
While we’re all wrapped up in farewells and handing out plaudits, let’s not forget that the curtain is about to be lowered on the long and storied, some may say sullied, career of this polarising British rider. Yes, we all know what he did. We have either accepted it and re-accepted him, or possibly still hold him in contempt. To me, he was always a classy Pro with a fluid riding style, a constant time trial threat, a worthy wearer of the Maillot Jaune and Maglia Rosa, a multiple stage winner in all three Grand Tours. Nothing more, nothing less. Not a fan, more an observer and moderate admirer.
Off the bike, however, Millar’s style is something I’m definitely a fan of. Maybe it’s because of his inherent Britishness that enables him to pull off the array of casual, smart, almost foppish looks which he does so well. Crisp collared shirts, tailored suits, pastel polos, smart shoes, just the right balance between ostentatious and sensible accessories. In the peloton, you could usually rely on him to be largely Rule compliant (and even if he wasn’t, he’d somehow manage to get a pass with ease). Being a tall and thin guy myself, his dress sense and attention to detail is not the worst template to work from. Especially as I’ll never pedal a bike as well as he did.
I think cycling has always had a tradition of being a bit dapper, especially back in the day. Fausto Coppi, Jacques Anquetil and that older generation were renowned for being suave and sophisticated gentlemen off the bike–that’s something I was enchanted by. They always looked so cool. Cycling is based so much on form, on aesthetics, on class–the way you carry yourself on the bike, the sort of technique you have.
David Millar via
Chapeau Mr Millar.
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I like him. I've even chucked a bit of money in the direction of the film project. But them I am a Brit who is Scottish..
It'll be interesting to see where he goes next. I think he's talked about having a role at the Slipstream development team in the US, though how that'll fit with his love of Girona I'm not sure.
As for the Bec Hill Climb, I think he said his wife is doing it to. Fun for all the family!
@Barracuda
Ha! Nicely done.
I like him. His book was a good, sobering read, and I'd agree with @antihero's sentiments about the position he found himself in, and his subsequent resolve to help clean up the mess.
He must have some style as he manages to make that minging POC kit look half decent. I'll miss him when he's retired, but hopefully he'll get himself a gig as a DS or media pundit, so it'll be a transition rather than a departure.
Here's a pic of him tooling around Abergavenny sometime in late June. Judging by his shoes, he must have been feeling patriotic.
Fausto Coppi was stylish on and off the bicycle.
Wow, what a thread. It was fascinating for its sheer pedanticness. I have seen some wild tangents, but never one so...boring in the minutiae.
@therealpeel
There is no such word in the dictionary as "pedanticness." I believe you're looking for the word "pedantry." (I would put an emoticon here, but Frank doesn't like them.)
At the start line of MSR 2014.
Ok, here's a question for Velominati regarding style. How many of you/us take a double standard approach to bike gear/clothing as opposed to casual/non-bike clothing. Example, I'm sure many of us have cycling shoes that cost many, many times what we'd pay for "regular" shoes. Or, we but a jersey/gilet, shorts that cost way more than what we'd consider prudent for off-the-bike wear. In short, we look at the cost of bike gear and think "yup, I'll pay that", whereas with something equivalent in non-bike gear we'd say "no way!"
Those with spouses/significant others may also have a different approach to this than the unattached amongst us.
@wiscot no double standard for me, I try to be coherent with the way I dress myself on and off the bike. But you know I'm Italian.
David Millar in Milano.