Les Maîtres de la Casquette
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.
“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?
@Mikael Liddy
THIS !!!!!!!
Frank, why is it that after lumbering us with batman and tires “pour le une pour cent” you redeem yourself with this? Not only are you praising the skimpy little things but you now give the Buck, Gianni, Rob demographic the virtual Papal dispensation to wear the casquette Anytime, Anywhere!
I loved wearing one back in the day but I usually looked shit – I don’t know why, same reason I don’t dance well and had no timing when free fighting in karate is my guess… I am just not cool. On the other hand Buck and Gianni are the epitomes of bad ass cool when they use it to cover the bald spot.
The only little bone to pick is your pegging 1991 as a high water of fashionable wearing of the cap. By then the design had changed and the high square poofta style that Big Mig wore had almost erased the rounder smaller looking tighter fitting older caps of the 60-70’s. Thank Merckx that I squeaked in at the end of that era because those are the caps that worn under a helmet look best and off the bike take the greatest of sartorial skill to pull off – but when achieved – SNAP!
@Barracuda
It’s time to begin a V-Starter for V-caps. This would be a KickStarter to raise the initial lucre to make the minimum order. I imagine it’s got to be a fairly large number of caps and therefore I purpose that we canvas the community and do the math so that at each level of donation you would receive more caps.
What, for instance a large donor does with say 200 caps is irrelevant, it is the means to an end and I am betting that In a hundred years they will sell as collectible.
Maybe now that the fixie-hipster is crawling back into the hole from whence they emerged, we can rightly reclaim the casquette as an off-the-bike accoutrement. Of course, as we are definitely not savages, it still must only be worn with cycling kit and not topping off your formal or smart casual attire.
And you’re spot on Franky boy, the disparity between the style of the riders and spectators is a yawning chasm.
@Rob
This. It’s been long talked about in the Boardroom, and it seems so simple to produce a V-cap, but it’s not. Getting the right mix of quality, price and number has been a seemingly insurmountable task. But we’re gonna get there… we must.
The Chiappucci vs Bugno vs Mig tour was when I first got into cycling in a big way. I was a Bugno fan because he looked so good on a bike. I still own an original Gatorade jersey.
Sorry, but no. Are you also going to clomp around in your cycling shoes whilst loading the washing machine? Wear your jersey whilst un-blocking a drain? Tis a slippery slope, one only has to look at the gutter-snipes who wear the awful basball cap 24×7, or the dick-heads one meets on holiday weating a football shirt on the beach.
Ignore Jaja
Then again should the brim be up or down
@brett
Is this why the V Kit has disappeared? But I do get it – if a cap can’t be produced, how the hell are you going to create bib shorts?
Put me down as buyer.
As to the question of the brim, simple. Sun and/or warmth – Up and the legend – Rule #5. Wet and/or cold – Down and the legend – Rule #9.
David
@markb
Tis best to wear the cap for brief periods post ride lest mussed hair spoil attempts at looking fantastic (post race or post group ride away from home).
Wearing one elsewhere certainly runs the risk of moving the needle on the Douche meter, but we needn’t worry about the slippery slope bit: the cycling kit is too damn impractical to where off the bike. Unless of course you are massively obese. I’m not sure of the attraction there by some of that tribe to Lycra, FFS.
@Markp Unless you are RDV, Le Blaireau or PhilGil it has to be down in my opinion. O/w you like like a tosser. This is, of course, when wearing it without a helmet. If you can pull off a brim up cum helmet, then you’re pro. Never seems to work for me, though (maybe b/c I am so far from being pro?–nah, that couldn’t be it).
Damn, Bugno looks PRO beyond belief in that lead pic – the cap, Italian champs jersey (was there ever a better complement to those Gatorade shorts?), the gloves and the Diadoras. For what it’s worth, I don’t think it’s a regular cotton cap he’s wearing, it’s a kind of rain cap – soft nylon and almost insulated. I had a Peugeot one in the 80s. It was ace.
@Buck Rogers In my experience, flipping the cap only works with certain helmets. Lazer are great, but my Rudy seems too thick at the front to flip the cap up.
So, Indurain has the first aero helmet on his bars and it looks like Rominger is going for the nuts…..
@brett
You mean like this guy?
@Mikael Liddy
It will be part of the 2015 V-Gear reboot; in the mean time, meditate on this fucking cap.
@Markp
This photo puts in sharp relief what has happened to the European peloton due to the introduction of the helmet, a device that has flummoxed the French in particular more than anyone.
Compare Jaja below with cap with the above.
How can a dude who can even crush a sweat band still look that bad in a helmet.
@davidlhill
Frank and all – an apology. By coincidence your v-kit ordering thread from 2011 popped up and I took a look at it. And after re-reading my comment above I’ve come across as an asshat – I’ll try not to let it happen again!
In mitigation I’ve been desperate for the V-bibs ever since I bought the V-top over a year ago.
And re caps – no idea if the cap design is affected by whether it’s worn under a helmet but if so, please remember us old school riders that don’t bother.
And I still like my legends idea!
David
Some of us carry on l’esprit de casquette.
For example, riding our bikes wearing just a cycling cap.
Try it someday, you might not die.
Until then I refuse to listen to the opinions of anyone who either:
a) doesn’t wear a cycling cap when cycling or;
b) wears a cycling cap under their helmet when not obliged to do so e.g. by event or UCI regulation. Worse than the non-cap wearer. They want to suck up the sangfroid of the cap, but are afraid to do it without the helmet. Be one or be the other, not both.
I wear my cycling cap anytime I please because I’ve earned it.
At his last Monument Race, Il Lombardia 2014.
photo by me.
@Markp
Bernard is just too damn cool to care what anyone might thing about his brim….
“Brim up? Down? Bah! I rode you off my wheel you silly English punter! Now ask me a real question before I insult you again!”
@ChrisO
THIS!!
Never understood a cap under a helmet – surely it is one or the other? And since caps Look Fantastic then the path is clear……..
David
I’m hoping there’s a dawn of a new era in cycling – the return of the proper cap and the banishment of the “baseball” cap. Quick Step have been particularly prominent in this regard. Look at the podium of this year’s Paris-Roubaix. Only one rider is properly attired: Niki Terpstra. Fabs and Tash Degenkolb are related to the lower steps on account of a) not winning, b) wearing shite caps.
@Pedale.Forchetta Good Lord, that photo is soooooo clear that it looks like Cuddles is coming right out of my screen. Great shot not only of a perfect cap wearing instance but also just a great shot in general.
@davidlhill
I wear a cap under my helmet at all times and not just b/c I am going quite bald. Actually, that is the main reason but I also love the way it looks.
And ChrisO: I’m not biting on your proffered helmet debate!
@wiscot
absolutely right wiscot, Terpstra rocks, and I hope he does continue to ride with panache
There is not a lot I relish in this time of year, waking up to 17* this am and pondering when I am going to ride, winters chill to the bone isn’t welcoming until your in the ride at least an hour.
The one thing however I do smile about is donning of the cycling cap, truth be also, the arm warmers and knee warmers as well. The cap isn’t something I can do all year, in the heat it is just too much, but it is not just vanity for this time of the year, its is HIGHLY functional. It must absolutlely be done right, I prefer no helmet with the cap, but sometimes do wear the cap under helmet as well, either way, the 3 point V code must be followed.
And the true beauty of the cap is when something is so classy and essentially functional: well, it just makes one smile
@Buck Rogers
Spot on. No helmet debate. Mad Jacques wouldn’t wear a helmet, would he? Black beret was where it was at for him. That was then, this is now. No more debate!
@Buck Rogers
I do this as well when the weather warrants it and at all times when racing cyclocross, if for no other reason than it simply looks awesome.
I wear a cap under my helmet year round because:
a) I’m bald and it keeps my head warm in winter and unburnt in summer.
b) Helmets are compulsory here.
c) It’s fucking badass. Buck (and VeloVita) knows.
@wiscot
Yeah, that is about as squared away as a pro can look on a wet chilly climb.
@Rob
A back handed compliment is still a compliment. My head is much too huge to wear cycling caps unless under the helmet in shiet weather. One size fits all…baaaah!
Just reading the 1990 edition of Winning’s Fabulous World of Cycling and the intro has Merckx and the other author wondering in amazement about how the Italians came out of “nowhere” to dominate the year, winning nearly everything except the TdF and how amazing it was and a real Renaissance for the Italians. Of course, Conconi’s name was not to be found within the pages anywhere. Funny to read literature from that time with the hindsight that we have now.
@VeloSix
Its all about execution.
Sorry to be pedantic but it should be “Les maitres…”, not “Le maitres”. It’s plural innit :)
@The Grande Fondue
I was a Bugno man myself; that was a fantastic Tour, despite the heartbreak of LeMond “faltering”. Chiappucci also went from dodgy looking weirdo to totally Pro looking stud. He even looked good in those blue denim spandex shorts.
@frank
Oh, we’re so stealing that!
Cap under helmet in the rain, just to keep the lenses clearer. Otherwise no, because I’ve realized that since I can still grow some hair I might as well have a bit of insulation up there in winter.
@ChrisO
Okay you earned your cap… ?? Pretty sure cycling caps were simply designed to keep sweat and sun from the eyes — and they work under helmets too. A good cotton cycling cap is all that is needed throughout the winter as well. Skull caps don’t work unless you have the essence of Pantani.