Categories: Awesome French GuysLook ProNostalgiaThe Hardmen

Five Face

Hinault in his element

Why is it that all the greatest riders look strangely happy when they are suffering the most? Hinault says he still hasn’t regained the feeling in some of his fingers from racing off the front that day in Liege in 1980. He wanted to get someplace warm as quickly as possible, he said. That’s why he went off the front so far from home. Seems to me the 151 riders who climbed in the bus found a more expedient way of doing it.

And I’ll tell you something else: it would have been a crime to cover up those guns. Respect.

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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View Comments

tessar says:

Feb 3 2015 at 12:54 am

That's not a smile, that's just facial muscles frozen mid-spasm
rfreese888 says:

Feb 3 2015 at 2:09 am

In my experience there is a point where the elements feel shite and one wishes one was not out on the bike - and then something kicks in and the thought comes, 'Bring it on!'

At that moment the V-face comes to light.
The Grande Fondue says:

Feb 3 2015 at 2:41 am

Sometimes even the pros go "what the fuck am I doing here?"

More here: http://www.steephill.tv/2010/giro-d-italia/photos/stage-07/
wilburrox says:

Feb 3 2015 at 3:32 am

@The Grande Fondue

I see what looks to be green stripey Pave's. I've been riding the heck outa some Pave's this winter on the dirt roads in Alabama. And I gotta say, the same mojo characteristics that make these tires good for riding on wet cobbles... wet dirt? is like riding on peanut butter. And I recall having the discussion earlier: are there truly all black Pave's available? In fact there are. And I have 'em in both 25's and 27's. Now, I know, I know... if I were riding the cobbles in Europe I'd stick with green stripes on principal. And I still have some green stripes. But I figured since I was using them way outa their natural element: red dirt roads in Alabama USA ,that I could maybe go with something a little more, say, modern (?). Anyways, great tires. Love 'em.
VeloJello says:

Feb 3 2015 at 4:41 am

I had a similar weather conditions to Hinaults last night on the cycle home from work. I could hear my phone ringing in the rucksack. Pulled over, it's the wife texting to say it's snowing on the coast and get the Metro home. Newcastle was clear, dry roads and a crisp star lit sky. "Pah, Rule V, I've ridden in snow before"... In the last 2km of my ride I hit what I can only describe as a full on blizzard. Another rider popped up behind and piped up with "It's really rough tonight". My response? "No, it's really fun now!".
Ron says:

Feb 3 2015 at 6:37 am

Surely the soigneur rubbed some concoction onto the Badger's guns. What was the traditional recipe for embrocation? And, are some guys still using some old recipes or are most racers now going to be using the factory-made stuff provided by sponsors?

Wonder how the braking was on those Reynolds wheels. Probably not much worse than the alloy Mavics ahead of him.

VeloJello - commute home last night was a stiff wind in my face the entire time. Plus I was delayed in leaving work and was worried the VeloHounds wouldn't be able to hold it. Nothing like racing on your commuter, into the wind, and facing and wet carpet...
PeakInTwoYears says:

Feb 3 2015 at 11:17 am

I'm surprised he kept his toes that day, using clips.

I wish we in the US of Murica would bin Groundhog Day and institute Badger Day. We'd be a better nation for it, by far.
Beers says:

Feb 3 2015 at 11:54 am

I was still in training wheels at the time of this awesome pic, and that of Hampsten at the Giro, but does anyone know if there was the clusterfuck afterwards from teams and riders after those legendary stages like there was after the gavia stelvio stage last year on the giro?
unversio says:

Feb 3 2015 at 12:11 pm

@PeakInTwoYears

I'm surprised he kept his toes that day, using clips.

Very telling that the toeclip era had the best opportunity to integrate toe covers -- they didn't need them.
unversio says:

Feb 3 2015 at 12:22 pm

@Beers

I was still in training wheels at the time of this awesome pic, and that of Hampsten at the Giro, but does anyone know if there was the clusterfuck afterwards from teams and riders after those legendary stages like there was after the gavia stelvio stage last year on the giro?

Pretty tough to top the "day the hard men cried" on the Gavia. The final day after, teams "agreed" to hold off while changing (off the bike) into winter kit before continuing! Franco Chioccioli made a fast dash for his bike forcing Andy Hampsten and team to scramble.