It doesn’t take a genius to see what’s going on here. Rule #5, Rule #9, Rule #10; every rider in this frame Looks Fantastic (most other Rules). The riders are in short sleeves and shorts while the public apparently has scavenged materials from rubbish bins and the local grain elevator in a very visually unpleasant effort to keep warm. When I visualize the 90’s, this photo pretty much shows what I see. (Why was the weather so crap in France during Big Mig’s reign? Only redeeming quality of his wins.)
What this photo also shows is the highest concentration of Les Maîtres de la Casquette, the masters of the Cycling cap, in recent recorded history. We discussed the art of wearing a Cycling Cap before, probably more often than necessary. Like all art, it begins with some founding principles, and then opens itself to the artist’s vision and expression. And like with art, there are The Masters.
In the art of wearing the revered casquette, we are guided by the Three Point System. From there, we are at liberty to express ourselves. In the days before helmets, the peloton was overflowing with masters of this studied art with an early style peak coinciding directly with the point of bushiest sideburns, but it has since all but died out. The last peak was in 1991, when Big Mig, Chiappucci, Bugno, Luc LeBlanc, and Richard Virenque were all at the height of their powers. Like the Jedi after the rise of the Sith, it is the responsibility of The Velominati to keep this art alive.
It also occurs to me in the state of high fever in which I write this, that the transcended Velominatus is always engaged in a Cycling-related activity which could possibly provide a release-clause for any accusation of a Rule #22 violation.
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"It also occurs to me in the state of high fever in which I write this, that the transcended Velominatus is always engaged in a Cycling-related activity which could possibly provide a release-clause for any accusation of a Rule #22 violation."
This!!! Yes, I am absolved of all guilt as I wear one most of the time, always with bill down, though. I am not completely classless.
But this article needs the pic of the rider wearing his cap and smoking the cigar in the car after a race. I cannot find it but it has been around here before. Might have been an AOP in the past?
Buck, for you...
I love cycling caps. Not so much I wear them while not riding, but dam they are cool looking on the bike, that's for damn sure! Except the dumbasses who wear them backwards. That looks fucking stupid to me.
@Chris
Ahhhh, yes. My night is complete. "Chapeau!" to you (pun intended).
@Buck Rogers
I'm not sure anyone can declare themselves transcended. But go with it buddy.
Also, did you click any of the links in the article?
http://www.velominati.com/folklore/look-pro-part-ix-proper-cycling-caps/
@frank Ahhhh, there's that sticky point about actually reading the articles again. Hell, I was impressed that I actually scanned it and saw my statement of absolution. Yup, I'm going with it!
Now there's a Le Coq Sportif cap worth wearing!
Seems it's the time for casquette reverence...
http://www.bicycling.com/bikes-gear/bikes-and-gear-features/why-i-never-ride-without-cycling-cap
You know the real questions though, where the fuck are the V-caps?