Les Maîtres de la Casquette

The last masters of the Cycling cap slipped into the shadows at the close of the 20th century

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 MaÃ®tres 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.

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

ChrisO says:

Nov 20 2014 at 8:09 am

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.
Pedale.Forchetta says:

Nov 20 2014 at 8:09 am

At his last Monument Race, Il Lombardia 2014.

photo by me.
Bruce Lee says:

Nov 20 2014 at 8:31 am

@Markp

Then again should the brim be up or down

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!"
davidlhill says:

Nov 20 2014 at 8:51 am

@ChrisO

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.

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
wiscot says:

Nov 20 2014 at 8:51 am

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.
Buck Rogers says:

Nov 20 2014 at 8:52 am

@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.
Buck Rogers says:

Nov 20 2014 at 8:54 am

@davidlhill

@ChrisO

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.

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 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!
Souleur says:

Nov 20 2014 at 9:11 am

@wiscot

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.

absolutely right wiscot, Terpstra rocks, and I hope he does continue to ride with panache
Souleur says:

Nov 20 2014 at 9:15 am

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
wiscot says:

Nov 20 2014 at 9:56 am

@Buck Rogers

@davidlhill

@ChrisO

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.

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 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!

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!