Categories: Awesome Belgian GuysLook ProTechnique

Look Pro: Going Belgian Style

Belgian Style isn’t just for Belgians. Photo: Cycling Tips/Cor Vos

To keep chickens is to walk a path towards introspection. From the songs they sing after laying an egg (which I assume is “chicken” for “I’m Every Woman“) to the sheer glee they show when they find a worm in the mud, chickens provide a perfect example of living life in and for the moment. The most interesting aspect of their social interaction is whenever a new chicken is introduced into the flock: all of them freeze in place and stretch their necks out as high as they can, the winner presumably being the one whose head boasts the highest elevation.

As a Dutchman, I am born with the genuine belief that I can stretch my head higher than anyone in Belgium can. Where Americans make Polish jokes, the Dutch make Belgian jokes; we unrightly view them as a sloppy, dim-witted lot. Jokes of indoor airstrips, helicopters with ejection seats, and windshield wipers perplexingly installed inside the car windshield filled my youth and caused endless side-aches from laughter. This is all to say that I carry a healthy sense of superiority over our neighbors to the south with two notable exceptions: riding bikes and making beer.

Especially when it comes to riding bikes, Belgians have the market cornered on Rules #5 and #9, not to mention the entire lexicon pertaining to being Casually Deliberate and every Look Pro article not having to do with climbing, if you can ignore Lucien van Impe. But mostly, they own the art of riding Belgian Style.

Riding with hands on the hoods is a critical element of finding both power and comfort on our machines; it blends aerodynamics with leverage and casual cool like no other position does. The key to keeping from getting sore (or even numb) on a long ride is to constantly change positions; beyond the tops and drops the Belgians have explored the vast world of possibilities of riding on the hoods like no other group has. Learning from their lessons, we can distill the usual V points of reference:

Riding elbows locked is strictly for relaxation or intimidation. If you’re laying down The V, keep your elbows low to the tops like Roger de Vlaeminck. (Pronounce it Correctly: The Flemish pronounce “Roger” like the French, “r oh ‘sz ai “. There is no Dutch/Flemish version of “Roger” as in “Roger Rabbit” – the closest name would be “Rutger” as in “Rutger Hauer” who is not as cool as Roger De Vlaeminck.)
Keep your wrists rolled in and elbows tucked towards the top tube. This applies to the drops as well, but its still a good time to bring up the point. We’re riding bikes, not wrestling elephants.
Experiment with how many fingers go in front of the brake levers and how many go behind; whether or not to also wrap the bar itself with your pinky and/or ring fingers. Mix it up to keep your shoulders loose on long rides. If you get out of the saddle, make sure you grab a handful of hood like grabbing the horns on a buckin’ bull; don’t stay choked up on the bars as you’ll lose leverage and steering control.
Always keep a loose grip on the hoods. You’re riding a bike, not trying to milk a cow; keep enough tension in your hands to maintain control of the bike but not so much that you’re suffocating the poor thing. And speaking of grip…
Belgian Style riding is best employed in smooth or moderately technical terrain. If shit be gettin’ bumpy, best to grab the tops or drops. Thumb holds and rocky bumps don’t mix and you don’t want to do a Jens when a blind bump comes knocking.

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

The Grande Fondue says:

Oct 24 2014 at 11:44 pm

Somehow I forgot about this pic. Cameron Meyer riding on the "hoods" on the track.
therealpeel says:

Oct 27 2014 at 6:32 am

@Nate

@frank

@EBruner

I have always done 90% of my riding from some version of the hoods. I feel most control from hood positions. Drops on major descents or murderous head winds only for me.

This to me is a very bad habit; the hoods are too easy to slip off from; the drops are much safer because you're not just holding on by your thumbs.

One of my most strictly-adhered to principles for descending is to do it in the drops; I get what you're saying about getting sore but I'll take sore over in the ditch or on the face.

If you aren't spending at least 25% of a hard ride on the drops, meditate on why, start doing some stretches or admit to yourself that you have slammed your stem entirely for aesthetic reasons.

Ya, that's me. I used to ride in the drops a lot more- on flat and windy rides, but now I ride with little wind and more frequent climbs and its just more comfortable on the hoods. But really I just need to HTFU.
VeloSix says:

Oct 27 2014 at 7:36 am

Does this count as Belgian Style?
Haldy says:

Oct 27 2014 at 8:47 am

@The Grande Fondue

Somehow I forgot about this pic. Cameron Meyer riding on the "hoods" on the track.

I am not sure @frank will agree these bars count as Belgian style, since the confound him so...he is always giving me crap about my using them. I absolutely love them though. Sure wish I had Cam Meyers turn of speed though...
Nate says:

Oct 27 2014 at 10:05 am

@therealpeel

@Nate

@frank

@EBruner

I have always done 90% of my riding from some version of the hoods. I feel most control from hood positions. Drops on major descents or murderous head winds only for me.

This to me is a very bad habit; the hoods are too easy to slip off from; the drops are much safer because you're not just holding on by your thumbs.

One of my most strictly-adhered to principles for descending is to do it in the drops; I get what you're saying about getting sore but I'll take sore over in the ditch or on the face.

If you aren't spending at least 25% of a hard ride on the drops, meditate on why, start doing some stretches or admit to yourself that you have slammed your stem entirely for aesthetic reasons.

Ya, that's me. I used to ride in the drops a lot more- on flat and windy rides, but now I ride with little wind and more frequent climbs and its just more comfortable on the hoods. But really I just need to HTFU.

If you have climbs then you must have descents and you are in the drops then, yes?
Ron says:

Oct 27 2014 at 12:28 pm

Nate - I have Campa on three road bikes. Yep, love the different hand positions. (But, I also like riding my Red equipped bike and my 105 9-speed commuter too. Variety is nice!)

It might change as I get older and my body changes, but for now, I like having my bikes be a bit different.

Oh yeah, and age is just in your mind, so says the NY Times article I read earlier today. So, at least it's a good thing I'm still refusing to grow up.
Ron says:

Oct 27 2014 at 12:31 pm

The worst is getting in the drops if you've been gluttonous over the winter. Argh, that fat fucking gut reminds you that you've been a lazy fuck.
Teocalli says:

Oct 27 2014 at 2:20 pm

@Ron

Nate - I have Campa on three road bikes. Yep, love the different hand positions. (But, I also like riding my Red equipped bike and my 105 9-speed commuter too. Variety is nice!)

It might change as I get older and my body changes, but for now, I like having my bikes be a bit different.

Oh yeah, and age is just in your mind, so says the NY Times article I read earlier today. So, at least it's a good thing I'm still refusing to grow up.

You can't help getting old but you can stay immature for ever. Works for me.
frank says:

Oct 27 2014 at 5:37 pm

@VeloSix

Does this count as Belgian Style?

Appart from the iPhone on your handlebars, for sure!
EBruner says:

Oct 27 2014 at 7:03 pm

The hood and lever shape of the current Super Record is flawless. The shape is brilliant.