Categories: Belgian AffirmationsFolkloreKeepers TourNostalgiaThe Hardmen

Belgian Affirmations: Andrei Tchmil

Andrei Tchmil got so tired of the palpable disappointment of not being Belgian that he decided to become one. Envision the world the way you want it to be, then make it so.

People are cynical when I talk about Belgium. They think I’m only Belgian on paper. That is not true. Yes, I was a Russian, even a proud one…. Now I am proud to be Belgian.

A-Merckx; I totally understand the Awesome you’re on about.

Incidentally, I’m so inappropriately excited about Keepers Tour: Cobbled Classics 2012 that I can’t promise next week won’t be another week of unabashed, full-frontal Belgian Toothpaste Porn.

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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RedRanger says:

Nov 11 2011 at 6:40 pm

@Steampunk
awesome picture
frank says:

Nov 11 2011 at 7:04 pm

@RedRanger

One more.

Awesome shot! I would have used that if I'd found it first! Nicely done. The look on his face. The classic wheels, the Old World Record, the FUCKING ROCK SOX.

One of the Golden Eras of the sport. Am seriously thinking about swapping this one out for the main shot.
frank says:

Nov 11 2011 at 7:06 pm

@Gianni

I have posted this before but it is so badass it deserves it.
"I ride to win, winning is the reason for my existence. That's what I always think at the first races of the season, when I notice the opponents are younger once more. At the first races in the South of France I saw them again: all the new pros who will ride their first pro races. All with high expectations, fresh ambitions, high hopes, shaved legs. Then they see a guy like me: a bit selfish, calm, very experienced, stubborn, self-assured. In a way of speaking I could have been their father. I never wanted to upset their balance, but they should know that it is a new world they are entering. But that is what they know two days later when the first dreams are shattered. I wish them good luck though, but nothing more. Besides, we are opponents, aren't we?" Andre Tchmil

And I'll post my response to that from way back when - I'd forgotten we'd used this picture once before, in one of Brett's great works.

I imagine a neo-pro, entering the big lake from their little pond: feeling big and important as they just signed their fancy pro deal. Talking all winter long amongst their friends how they are going to be different from all the other pros, they have that extra edge the others lack. They are tough. They have grinta. Only to edge up to the start line at Het Volk and looking to their side to peer into the cold, calculating presence of Tchmil, Museeuw, or Ballerini. They must shrink three sizes on such a day.
frank says:

Nov 11 2011 at 7:14 pm

@Steampunk

If I didn't know better, I'd say that's Eric Vanderaerden. In fact, I think it is.

Even if it's not, he was a proper stud. Not a lot of dudes would go up against the likes of King Kelly, knowing the beating to come was almost a sure thing.

And just for good measure.
frank says:

Nov 11 2011 at 7:16 pm

Man, there's so much badass on this page, it's like it's got Boba Fett all over it.
frank says:

Nov 11 2011 at 7:20 pm

Oh Merckx. The VMH is in Kenya and there's no adult supervision here; the "Don't Post This" filter is set to "OFF". These posts will rock your world. Look really close, now look away. You can't.

Besides, I love my job.
RedRanger says:

Nov 11 2011 at 7:26 pm

@frank
That action figure vid is straight AWESOME!. btw I concur on changing the main pic to that bad as one I found.
Steampunk says:

Nov 11 2011 at 8:12 pm

@frank
Yep: well played. I like your pic of him and Kelly. 1985? They battled at the TdF, I think"”and both got penalized.

Here he is again. I love him screaming at Kelly.

Three pints of awesome here:
il ciclista medio says:

Nov 12 2011 at 3:00 am

Great shots everyone. I now have mudbone
Marko says:

Nov 12 2011 at 3:57 am

It's like looking into a beautiful majestic waterfall made out of rainbows and unicorn vaginas. It's fuckin' majestic man.