Categories: Accessories and GearFolkloreNostalgia

On the Rivet

Pete Boydell shows us what Rule #5 looks like.

I’m proud to declare that I am fluent in three languages: Hyperbole, Dutch, and English. All of them rubbish. The language of the peloton is, by and large, the most beautiful and expressive in French and Italian, which already make anything sound sexy. But they really excel in le langage du peloton: Sur la plaque, La Volupte, Grinta, La Fringale – each of those smash their English translations with pure linguistic voluptuousness.

The exception is, of course, the term “on the rivet”. Don’t ask my why we all slide forward on our saddles when we’re riding hard, but we all do. Slip your saddle forward a bit to accommodate the forward position, and you’ll still slip forward once you start laying down The Five. It’s one of life’s great mysteries, alongside gravity and how the frosting got inside the twinkies.

Saddles used to have a rivet on the front, to hold the the crotch-numbing slab of leather in place because Cycling saddles at the time were modelled after Western horse saddles. And whenever you were well and truly on your limit, you’d have your rump precariously perched right over that brass nubbin. Hence the term, on the rivet.

To kindly demonstrate the point, no one does “On the Rivet” better than former Manchester DC legend, Pete Five Face Boydell. Even his saddle is having a shit.

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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RedRanger says:

Nov 16 2015 at 5:11 pm

its phycological. I have noticed for some reason that when I'm trying to pedal extra hard, I slide back. I have always been odd.
Haldy says:

Nov 16 2015 at 5:18 pm

Impressive use of the elbows to get hunkered down into V-locus position...one wonders why he didn't just drop his stem...a foot or two...
Dave says:

Nov 16 2015 at 5:21 pm

True! Forward when pushing hard at high cadence. Rearward when tired and grinding hard up steep grade.

Have to wonder how many Velominati are actually are on rivets when riding on the rivet. Pretty heavy saddles. I ride a Brooks C17, but thats because it simply fits and is unaffected by water/sweat.
EBruner says:

Nov 16 2015 at 5:23 pm

Great shot. Single ring, single DT shift lever, high flange hubs, no rubber hoods on the levers, pump, and a sewup under the saddle. And he is killing it!!
freddy says:

Nov 16 2015 at 6:48 pm

…and this was before Strava, right?
frank says:

Nov 16 2015 at 6:51 pm

@EBruner

Also, I believe he's wearing a speedo.
Nate says:

Nov 16 2015 at 7:58 pm

Longest femurs known to man.
Chipomarc says:

Nov 16 2015 at 8:28 pm

@freddy

…and this was before Strava, right?

Then what would be the point of hammering like that?
freddy says:

Nov 16 2015 at 10:03 pm

@Chipomarc

@freddy

…and this was before Strava, right?

Then what would be the point of hammering like that?

If we could zoom out of the frame we might know who else is on the rivet--or maybe he's going against the clock.
Al__S says:

Nov 16 2015 at 11:46 pm

I've got a Brooks C17 on one of my bikes. I reckon the future involves making that "all, and a spare for when I have a test bike"