Categories: EtiquetteFolkloreLa Vie VelominatusNostalgiaThe Hardmen

On Rule #43: Shaming the Sensei

This cat got skills

I think it would be hard for anyone to make the case that Eddy Merckx was Roger de Vlaeminck’s Cycling Sensei, but I think we can all agree that De Vlaeminck was a student of Merckx, if only a student of his domination. But every student at some point becomes the master, and the driven student will always challenge the Order of Things.

Every rider should keep their bicycles safely inside their warm house during the Winter, on account of us not being savages and not wanting to leave our beloved steeds out in the cold. Rule #69 suggests, then, that if one happens to have a brick front staircase, one should ride one’s bicycle down said stairs rather than waddle down in cleats with bicycle lurched over the shoulder. Such was the case on this snowy Winter’s day, somewhere in Oost Vlaanderen, when the student Roger casually rode his bike down his brick steps while The Prophet waited on the sidewalk to start the ride.

Not only is RdV demonstrating a fundamental property of life (i.e. that shaming your Sensei is an incomparably rewarding experience) but that rivals can be mates. I observe two important points: Roger and Eddy are getting ready for what appears to be a winter training ride and Roger and Eddy are on rival teams. I’ve always been good mates with my competitors; I may well view them as pure evil during an event, but outside that narrow scope, I recognize that they drive me to become a better person, to explore the very limits of my abilities. For that alone, I owe them a debt of gratitude because the quality of my rivals tests the quality of my own character. Most of them are people who share the same motivation and goals as I do. There is no need to hate them in even the remotest realms of reality. We are not soldiers at war; we are foes engaged at a game of Sport – we are more similar than we are different.

Rule #43 is about brother and sisterhood. Save the rivalry for Race Day and learn to know your opponents and spend time with them. You may find they are much like you and have many lessons to offer. But come Race Day, crush them like an ant under the Lone Ranger’s boot.

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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wiscot says:

Dec 17 2014 at 10:26 am

@pistard

@Nate

That is all kinds of awesome. the best looking derny pilot in all Flanders; usually it's some large older man, whose chief attribute is the ability to punch a bit hole in the wind.

But some manage to bring a bit of style to the job:

I think this pic belongs in the Michelin Man thread. A shirt and bow tie can't hide those rolls o fat!
Ron says:

Dec 17 2014 at 12:28 pm

What about all the fat American dudes who wear a fleece vest year round to hide their cheeseburger lockers? It's like...buddy, I can still tell you're fat under that vest. And, it's 20*C, why the vest?
Ron says:

Dec 17 2014 at 12:32 pm

@unversio

@Ron

@unversio

"Classic looking wool kit." Dug around to uncover Torm from the UK making Sportwool products. Torm makes their T7 with full length YKK 3C locking zip. I can't handle quarter-zip.

I have the T7 jersey and I like it a lot. I wish it was a bit shorter, but they clearly state their jerseys are a bit relaxed, not club fit, but not peloton-tight. My biggest gripe is the pockets. They're a bit too small and definitely too narrow. I can't fit a big beer in the center pocket after rides, nor some holiday whiskey in a bottle on way home from the bottle shop. But, the biggest issue is that I can't fit my Lezyne (older model) bag with my tube, tool, CO2.

If they resize the pockets, I'd say they're golden. But, as it is, I tend not to wear the jersey that often because the pockets make carrying my normal ride/puncture gear a pain.

Essentially needed the Sportwool jersey layer this winter. Ordered their accompanying base layer as well. Riding tubulars all winter so I only carry Lezyne Pressure Drive and one small alloy tyre lever to dig under the tyre. In most winter scenarios will wear a dhb gilet over the T7 jersey to which I can complain that the rear pockets are way too damn high!

Ha, I wish the T7 was shorter because the pockets are a bit low for my liking. Different folks, different torsos. I'm very careful about what I put in my pockets, but the T7s are a bit small. Plus, in winter and fall riding you always have extra warmers, gilets, etc.

If you don't have one, I suggest a merino wool baselayer. I picked up an Icebreaker t-shirt model last year and the thing is thin and comfortable but paired with a LS Castelli jersey and a gilet, I'm fine down to around 0*C. I used to wear heavier, bulkier jackets (have one Descente one, one Castelli) but never wear them anymore. It's amazing how warm just the baselayer and LS jersey keep me.
wilburrox says:

Dec 17 2014 at 12:35 pm

@Ron

What about all the fat American dudes who wear a fleece vest year round to hide their cheeseburger lockers? It's like...buddy, I can still tell you're fat under that vest. And, it's 20*C, why the vest?

That's classic... not heard that before. Damn I love a good cheeseburger. I never keep 'em stored in a locker though. Thank goodness for riding the wheels off of a handful of bikes. Cheers
wiscot says:

Dec 17 2014 at 12:55 pm

@wilburrox

@Ron

What about all the fat American dudes who wear a fleece vest year round to hide their cheeseburger lockers? It's like...buddy, I can still tell you're fat under that vest. And, it's 20*C, why the vest?

That's classic... not heard that before. Damn I love a good cheeseburger. I never keep 'em stored in a locker though. Thank goodness for riding the wheels off of a handful of bikes. Cheers

In Wisconsin, they're brat lockers.
piwakawaka says:

Dec 17 2014 at 1:04 pm

Alfa.
unversio says:

Dec 17 2014 at 2:22 pm

@Ron

Ha, I wish the T7 was shorter because the pockets are a bit low for my liking. Different folks, different torsos. I'm very careful about what I put in my pockets, but the T7s are a bit small. Plus, in winter and fall riding you always have extra warmers, gilets, etc.

If you don't have one, I suggest a merino wool baselayer. I picked up an Icebreaker t-shirt model last year and the thing is thin and comfortable but paired with a LS Castelli jersey and a gilet, I'm fine down to around 0*C. I used to wear heavier, bulkier jackets (have one Descente one, one Castelli) but never wear them anymore. It's amazing how warm just the baselayer and LS jersey keep me.

[ Ed McMahon voice ] "You are correct -- sir!" I will ride all winter long with just a Merino wool or blend base layer and short sleeve jersey with warmers (preferred) and then may add the gilet on the right occasion. Vanity found me though at a weak moment and I couldn't resist the TORM black base layer with white striping on the collar, sleeves, and bottom hem. Icebreaker is in the top 5 [ top V ] proven within my online research. I rotate Nalini, Rapha, Campa, Craft and recently adding to the rotation is SmartWool and Torm. I am a base layer zealot!
Gianni says:

Dec 17 2014 at 2:26 pm

@wiscot

@pistard

@Nate

That is all kinds of awesome. the best looking derny pilot in all Flanders; usually it's some large older man, whose chief attribute is the ability to punch a bit hole in the wind.

But some manage to bring a bit of style to the job:

I think this pic belongs in the Michelin Man thread. A shirt and bow tie can't hide those rolls o fat!

A fucking bow tie!
Oli says:

Dec 18 2014 at 2:41 am

@wiscot

@Chris Myhill

Note the car on the drive. I'm not sure what it is (Lancia?), but like everything else in the 70's it's as cool as fuck.

Chris

Looks like a Lancia - some sweet Italian stylin' going on at the rear end. I'd date the picture to the late 60s as Merckx rode for Faema from 1968 to 1970 and de Vlaeminck for Mars Flandria in the late 60s too. Roger and Erik rode a lot of cyclo-cross in their days so mad skills on bike handling were currency of the realm for them. I heard it told that Roger could actually ride in the tram tracks commonly found in Belgium and hop out without crashing. That's bike handling right there!

In fact, both World Cyclo-Cross Champions; Eric was Pro World Champion 7 times (!) and Roger won both the amateur and pro titles.
cognition says:

Dec 18 2014 at 9:18 am

@brett

@Buck Rogers

...Then there are the leeches. What is it that makes some people think that a bunch (I use the term loosely, as our group is never much more than 6 riders) passing them is an open invite to hop on the back, or worse, shove into the line? This happened to us yesterday, this fat hairy fuck thought it'd be a good idea to jump in as we passed him, forcing me out into traffic then having the gall to grumble at us when we forced him back out again...

Late to comment, but -- seriously: what about some (un)common politeness? I almost always ride solo, but if I come across a group or another rider, give a little distance. Hang on the back. Show that you know how to handle a bike and handle yourself in a pack and around other riders. Then ask if you can hang in.