Categories: Anatomy of a PhotoAwesome Belgian GuysLook ProNostalgia

Anatomy of a Photo: Casually Deliberate Masterclass

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but I’d need a thousand just to describe the carefully disheveled cap placement. I’d need another grand just to describe the positioning of the cranks or front skewer or downtube shifters. I’d be another mille mot in the hole to discuss the fit of the jersey or the white socks and black shoes.

All those words and still I wouldn’t have touched the way he’s holding his bike with his forearm. This is the Casually Deliberate masterclass. Full stop.

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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Buck Rogers says:

Nov 10 2012 at 10:06 am

@farzani

Now THAT is a photo worth reposting. That is perfect, esp for this time of year.
farzani says:

Nov 10 2012 at 10:20 am

@Buck Rogers yep it's cross time here in Belgium and even Farzani is riding singletrack in "het bos met de crossfiets"
frank says:

Nov 10 2012 at 12:09 pm

@farzani

Original cyclocross: just ride your bike in the dirt, fucktard.
american psycho says:

Nov 10 2012 at 12:57 pm

Anyone notice the Betty's in the background on the right!

Also, his brake levers aren't drilled on the TDF photo.

Looks like I'll be needing some white bar tape soon...
the Engine says:

Nov 10 2012 at 1:29 pm

The DT shifters in the picture of The Prophet - were they adjusted by the mechanic to line up "just so" in a particular favourite ratio for the terrain? As per the dials in your Ferrari F1 car pointing at 12 o'clock when everything's as it should be..
Buck Rogers says:

Nov 10 2012 at 2:16 pm

@farzani

Can't get this photo off my mind. So awesome! Is he even riding wide tires here? Any extra tread? Difficult to tell. I think they must be at least 28 mm, maybe larger but I cannot appreciate any real tread. Probably just camera perspective and I am missing it.
farzani says:

Nov 10 2012 at 3:04 pm

@Buck Rogers i just happen to find this pic on the internet and had to save it! Cross racing is in full swing and in my neighborhood we have a few difficult wk races! I have 2 women friends who race pro so I try to go support when I can. It s such a great spectator sport.. In addition there is a lot of fun singletrack and farm roads to ride on and this time of year it is a nice break of routine for the legs.
Winelli says:

Nov 10 2012 at 3:05 pm

For some reason, the past week has gotten me down. It's partly the weather in the UK, partly a horrendous sore throat which made it difficult to swallow and which only disappeared today, partly some minor failings and stupidities of my fellow human beings coming to light all at once, both amongst my great friends and occasional acquaintances. I haven't been on the bike for a whole 10 days. My illness has gone, but I'm feeling low. Out of sync. Troubled. Listless.

But tomorrow morning, when others go to church, I'm going for my ride. In the soft cold light and hushed chill of a November morning, I'm going to work all the knots out of myself. I will set a goal and achieve it. I will return to breakfast, as the city rises from sleep, a victor, and all will be well again.

Vincit qui se vincit.
the Engine says:

Nov 10 2012 at 3:42 pm

@Winelli

For some reason, the past week has gotten me down. It's partly the weather in the UK, partly a horrendous sore throat which made it difficult to swallow and which only disappeared today, partly some minor failings and stupidities of my fellow human beings coming to light all at once, both amongst my great friends and occasional acquaintances. I haven't been on the bike for a whole 10 days. My illness has gone, but I'm feeling low. Out of sync. Troubled. Listless.

But tomorrow morning, when others go to church, I'm going for my ride. In the soft cold light and hushed chill of a November morning, I'm going to work all the knots out of myself. I will set a goal and achieve it. I will return to breakfast, as the city rises from sleep, a victor, and all will be well again.

Vincit qui se vincit.

Illegitimi non carborundum
starclimber says:

Nov 10 2012 at 10:29 pm

Cog-ito; ergo sum.