Categories: RacingThe Hardmen

Encore de la Pluie

The Lion roars in the mud and rain

I don’t enjoy the races in February on the Arabian Peninsula because I like watching other people ride in the sun while I spend my afternoons looking for a sliver of daylight that coincides with some fragment of my day where I don’t also need to work or engage in some other activity. I also don’t enjoy them because I think corners are overrated, nor because I like watching stock-bike time trials, nor because I believe wind is a suitable substitute for mountains.

No, I enjoy the February races on the Arabian Peninsula because it’s the first sign of life we get from the hardmen who will be bending, breaking, and smashing their way over the cobblestones this Spring in snow, rain, or suffocating dust.

Not a bad way to start things, Tomeke.

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.

View Comments

  • @frank

    can i throw in a mention for the lad Ian Stannard who beat Cuntadore and TJ in a climb to the line in Volta Algarve

    I also like the salute

  • @Sam
    Man, I've LOVED Ian Stannard ever since I saw his post K-B-K interview last year! Super result for him (although I do need to temper my reactions while they are still racing in the Middle East!)

  • @Buck Rogers
    Not likely. Much more likely to fall off. Pray to Merckx that doesn't happen, eh?

    @Sam
    Very cool. I have to say, with the advent of the smaller and smaller race-fit jerseys everyone is sports, and the lower and lower cut on the bibs, we're starting to get that pookey little bit of underjersey in the finish line pictures. Can't decide if it's uncool to show any undergarment, or if it's cool because they are layin' down the V.

  • @frank
    Looks like he managed to keep the rubber side down today. The Dutch have a real contender in the ranks this year!

  • @frank
    the jersey sizing is a real issue for me, i have a weird shape, broad shoulders and a tiny waist, so i'm somewhere between M & L on most charts. Got a really nice Santini jersey t'other day and it fits really well but mighty short. I think from now on we have to accept it that laying down The V will result in a slightly iffy salute

    @Buck Rogers
    yeah but he always goes well in the classics, so with Hunt, Stannard and Flecha it's looking good for us

  • shit it's Cummings not Stannard, everything said is still true. I'm blaming it on an unsuccessful return to the bike this week that left me hauled up in bed pumped full of cold and flu drugs

  • Sam :
    shit it's Cummings not Stannard, everything said is still true. I'm blaming it on an unsuccessful return to the bike this week that left me hauled up in bed pumped full of cold and flu drugs

    Bummer about the sickness. As you said, still great even if it is Cummings although I will always have a soft spot for Ian after that interview (if you have not seen it, youtube K-B-K postrace stannard interview--it's not to be missed!)

  • @Buck Rogers
    Holy shit the boys cold, watchin world cup in Manchester atm, we're getting pasted by the aussies and americans, but thats what you get for a funding system based on Olympic Golds, has aided our road tho

  • @All Just read Eddy Merckx thinks Robert Gesink is the top contender for this year's Tour de France.

  • @ Netraam

    Aye, he does look in good form, but it's whether he keeps it, personally i'm a Vicenzo Nibali fan just hope he gets the place in the team

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