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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frank says:

Nov 11 2012 at 11:11 am

Here Zoetemelk conducts an in-depth study on losing the race before it starts. Joop in loafers and with disheveled hair, Merckx basically looking like Elvis Presley in Cycling Kit.

And, in case its not clear, Elvis was a closer.
Ron says:

Nov 11 2012 at 11:24 am

Frank - maybe you should burn those adidas sandals and get some Joop Loafers to wear before & after rides...You might be less of a hard time 'round here! Or, possibly more.
Chris says:

Nov 11 2012 at 12:53 pm

@Nate

Taking the piss out of Casually Deliberate

Love this, god knows what they're saying but you sure as hell know Eddy is saying "have a good feel boys because that is the closest you'll ever get to it"
farzani says:

Nov 11 2012 at 1:18 pm

I believe it is a combo of off center hat,

sideburns and of course: SPONGE!
Dan_R says:

Nov 11 2012 at 1:23 pm

Gents, today is a day off the bike for me. after the Remembrance Day ceremony at the town cenotaph, the family had lunch and a few beers at the Legion (VFW for Americans) with a couple of the old boys. Shaun, a fellow A'stan vet and Gary, a former Commando thatlast served in Croatia - still has the shrapnel in his body from it; and families.

I raise my bottle today for Remembrance Day/Veterans' Day.

VLVV
Nate says:

Nov 11 2012 at 2:15 pm

@frank

Here Zoetemelk conducts an in-depth study on losing the race before it starts. Joop in loafers and with disheveled hair, Merckx basically looking like Elvis Presley in Cycling Kit.

And, in case its not clear, Elvis was a closer.

Eddy: "Joop, just to even things up a bit, you bring your road machine. I'll ride a track bike."
DerHoggz says:

Nov 11 2012 at 6:45 pm

@The Pressure

@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.

Faboo rocks a watch.
Skip says:

Nov 12 2012 at 1:07 am

@DerHoggz

@The Pressure

@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.

Faboo rocks a watch.

Here's a pic from Cyclingnews coverage of Strade Bianchi of Faboo with his analog watch.

And Brendan from Competitive Cyclist went off on a whole tangent on them back in 2010 when the "What's New" blog on their site was still regular and worthwhile. http://www.competitivecyclist.com/whats-new/the-athletic-answer-to-molecular-gastronomy.372.html

I guess it's the timekeeping equivalent of the V-Meter.
VeloVita says:

Nov 12 2012 at 7:34 am

@farzani

I believe it is a combo of off center hat,

sideburns and of course: SPONGE!

This looks like a frame taken straight out of The Triplets of Belleville.
Buck Rogers says:

Nov 12 2012 at 7:59 am

@VeloVita Such an awesomely bizarre movie. Really need to watch it with the VMH but the frog scenes just make me feel a bit sick.