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.

Next Solitude »

Previous « Awesome Almost Belgian Guys: Alex and William

View Comments

The Pressure says:

Nov 11 2012 at 6:41 am

@Nate

Taking the piss out of Casually Deliberate

I hate to tug on Superman's cape but a wrist watch? I would have thought with the competition receding in his wake that time would be of little importance.
The Pressure says:

Nov 11 2012 at 6:57 am

Also in The Rules Photo. Was this his signature?
The Pressure says:

Nov 11 2012 at 7:02 am

Ahaa! When he set The Record the watch is gone (but a sharp tan line remained!)
The Pressure says:

Nov 11 2012 at 7:07 am

Yikes! He looks fast!!!
Nate says:

Nov 11 2012 at 7:33 am

@The Pressure

He often wore a wristwatch while racing. It was probably actually useful in the days before cyclocomputers. And remember, Wim van Est was wearing his Pontiac wristwatch when he fell in the ravine.
The Pressure says:

Nov 11 2012 at 7:46 am

@Nate

@The Pressure

He often wore a wristwatch while racing. It was probably actually useful in the days before cyclocomputers. And remember, Wim van Est was wearing his Pontiac wristwatch when he fell in the ravine.

Thanks. van Est put the "V" in "V"! 70 m fall,chain of tyres. I thought it was Timex that "Took a Licking and keeps on ticking"!
Ron says:

Nov 11 2012 at 9:12 am

@Nate

Taking the piss out of Casually Deliberate

The gloves! The jerseys! The bikes!

Is that bar tape just plain cloth? Or was some thin cork stuff around in the mid-70s? Looks a bit thicker than just cloth.

And jeez, Merckx sure as hell does know how to sport the cap. It always looks perfect!
Ron says:

Nov 11 2012 at 10:05 am

No matter how many times I see it I'm still floored by how damn cool Roger dV and Merckx are when they arrive for Paris-Roubaix at the start of "A Sunday in Hell." It's awesome that both show up in sedans and help unload their own bikes. Who needs a big ol' team bus? Give me a goddamn Volvo and a denim suit!
Ron says:

Nov 11 2012 at 10:20 am

@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.

I'm feelin' ya. Can't remember my last long road ride. Been forcing myself to do work & focus on other things, which I've needed to do for awhile. Have managed to fit in one hour cross rides most weekdays, but they're just not the same as long road rides. Also went down last week and skinned and bashed my knee, elbow and hip. Plus, moved into a new house and NONE of my "friends" could be bothered to help. Left me and the VMH to move dressers, beds, etc. Definitely has me wondering how such "friends" could be so clueless and useless, especially when I do fuckloads of favors all the time. Bastards.

Yesterday took out the #1 in sun, blue skies, and around 26*. Splendid. Got in around 80 kms and was totally dragging for the last 15 or so. "What is going on?" I thought, since I normally can just crank 'em out. Well, I have been riding much, I've been moving, I haven't been sleeping enough, I have a stiff and swollen left knee and a slowly healing sprained right ankle. Homestretch was not easy but I tried to remember that time on the bike is always better than time off the bike.

Ten days is a long darn time but, I'm always amazed at how quickly the passion and love return when you can fit in just one good ride. Hope you did so this weekend! And, I too LOVE that I go to my own special "church" on Sunday mornings as the rest of the folks go to theirs.
frank says:

Nov 11 2012 at 11:02 am

BRR's finest work: