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

Markp says:

Nov 21 2014 at 4:40 am

@frank

How can a dude who can even crush a sweat band still look that bad in a helmet.

Would take the Professor sweat band over Jaja
geoffrey says:

Nov 21 2014 at 5:09 am

@brett

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.

+1

Yes, bald here as well. I need something to soak up the sweat, and to stop diamond shaped sunburn on my much abused pate. The brim keeps the sun off my much abused nose and the rain off my sunglasses. If you grew up in Australia when pink zinc was the only thing going to ward off sun burn, like me, you will likely spend some time at the doctor getting bits of your outer layer burnt or frozen or chemically peeled. Not fun. So, cycling cap under the helmet is a pretty good idea.
Gilly says:

Nov 21 2014 at 6:13 am

@VeloVita To be fair, I've yet to see anyone carry the Rapha cap off. I've got one and I look a complete tool in it, with the exception of under a helmet when it is pretty cool. There isnt enough material in the top section IMO.
KogaLover says:

Nov 21 2014 at 6:24 am

@ruudi You're spot on, I was thinking the same but being a newbie did not want to be the wise-ass from scratch
VeloVita says:

Nov 21 2014 at 6:28 am

@Gilly

@VeloVita To be fair, I've yet to see anyone carry the Rapha cap off. I've got one and I look a complete tool in it, with the exception of under a helmet when it is pretty cool. There isnt enough material in the top section IMO.

Yes, but not wearing it with a sportcoat and collared shirt is a start...

I do agree that the three paneled cycling cap does not lend itself well to many for exactly the reason you state. I for one look much better in the 4 panel Nalini/Santini style cap that most team caps are made in. That said, the three panel cap has a more streamlined fit for wear under a helmet.
Buck Rogers says:

Nov 21 2014 at 6:57 am

@Giles

@Buck Rogers Without the context of the other photos, you'd swear he's enjoying a crafty ciggie while racing in that photo - which obviously while this would be extremely cool, is unlikely to be the case. Great photo - but seriously those conditions, shit when you have to clean your own bike.

He always seems to have his tongue out in his photos. Too funny.
rfreese888 says:

Nov 21 2014 at 6:59 am

@Gilly yeah I find it a bit tight too which is a shame b/c it goes great with my retro pink jersey!
Souleur says:

Nov 21 2014 at 7:08 am

@Buck Rogers

how much better does it get than that????
Souleur says:

Nov 21 2014 at 7:16 am

@Beers

I see abominations of cap exhibitionism, yet can only lay claim to wearing that most clichÃ© of clichÃ©, the Brooklyn, purchased in starry eyed wonder of De Vlaeminck, only to find it the most maligned of all. But hey, can't afford a new one, and it works, and I don't have to look at myself when I'm riding do I. Ha.

Once wore it to a bar, in a town flooded with cyclists for the largest event of the year, and didn't get served. Lesson learned, but I do wear it about town that weekend.

Would post a pic, but you know, don't have any more self esteem to lose..

you drilled it here Beerman. For some who are purposely touting their cycling pet-degree, they are Poseurs and easily detected in the crowds. like this cat.

I am however drawn to the subtle, quiet cat that drilled it off the front of the ride for the last 2 hours, who roules in and wears the cap proper with all points respected or actually even forgets he had the cap on and...just keeps wearing it. That is point on and respectable. like the holy father:
ChrisO says:

Nov 21 2014 at 7:19 am

@wiscot

@Buck Rogers

@davidlhill

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!

You misunderstand - I know better than to start a helmet debate.

I was saying that as one who wears the casquette in its natural state I claim the moral high ground on matters of cap-wearing.

Consequently I don't give a flying fuck for what helmet-wearers, or the Rules, think about whether I shouldn't wear it off the bike, in the bath or whenever I goddam please. Their opinions on cycling caps are tainted at source.

@gilly Even I have to agree on that. The Rapha cap is not good. It makes one look like this.