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Look Pro, Part II: Casually Deliberate

Louison Bobet rests calmly on his top tube before a race.

Looking Pro is a delicate art rife with paradox and enigma. Aesthetics in a sport as difficult as cycling is itself a contradiction; surely anything wrought with such suffering should be driven by function and function alone. Yet cyclists are both some of the hardest people in sport and the most vain. For a cyclist knows better than perhaps any other athlete that Morale is a fickle beast that lives upon a knife’s edge; it can drive us on to incredible heights yet squash us at will like an insect for little more than spotting grime on a freshly laundered jersey or dirt on the bar tape. In order for us to ride well, we must have good Morale. In order to have good Morale, we must look Fantastic.

The argument could be made that the best way to improve your riding is to meditate extensively on Rule #5; some might even suggest that aesthetics dilute it’s purity. On the surface, that may be a seductive thing to believe, but it ignores the single most important fact of cycling: looking Fantastic is the best anesthetic available. Just imagine how you looked there, standing on the pedals, dishing out The V. I was magnificent and didn’t feel a thing; I looked Pro.

Along with the vital The Three Point System, mastering the art of being Casually Deliberate is one of the key principles to Looking Pro. A professional gives the impression of having been born on their bicycle; they are one with their machine. When riding, their Magnificent Stroke exudes grace and power. Movements on the bicycle are deliberate yet effortless. Standing, sitting, climbing, cornering – rider and machine form a cohesive union.

Even when not riding, the Professional exudes an air of calm. Sitting across the top tube, the rider rests easy, precisely familiar with the movements of their loyal machine, trusting in the motion and balance. The bicycle is as familiar and connected to the rider as the very air they breathe.

In your quest to master the art of the Casually Deliberate, keep these pointers in mind:

A pre-ride espresso is the perfect casually deliberate means to prepare for a ride. Fully kitted up, loyal machine leaning patiently against a nearby wall, cycling cap carefully disheveled atop the head, sunnies perched above the brim.
Never look like you’re too eager to get on with the ride or the race. After all, the ride is a daily companion and while it is cherished, you are tranquillo in the knowledge that the ride will start soon enough. This is the genesis of Rule #80; energy is to be saved for the right moment and is not to be wasted on pointless things like standing under your own strength.
Once the ride begins, the first twenty minutes are to be taken at a luxuriously slow pace. A rider is confident in their powers and never too anxious to show their hand too early. When riding with others, this is the time to ride two abreast, chatting about simpler times.
Light conversation is to be taken up casually near the top of the first several climbs of the day. If not at the top, at least during the more difficult bits. As the other riders in the group begin to feel the pressure in their legs and Doubt begins its steady march into the bit of the morale where they do their worst damage, a casually deliberate comment which show no signs whatsoever of labored breathing can do much to hurry that march along.
Never show how much you’re suffering. Ever. Even when inhaling a wasp, the effort that shows on your face is less than you are truly suffering. Unless, of course, it is the finale, and all thought has vacated the mind in the solemn journey into the void. Only then is it acceptable to cease being casually deliberate.

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

Oli Brooke-White says:

Dec 7 2010 at 9:30 pm

Rest easy Frank, lactose is in no way related to lactic acid, and lactic acid build-up is a complete misnomer anyway - acidosis is what causes the pain.
Jarvis says:

Dec 8 2010 at 12:25 am

@Oli Brooke-White
Shhh! OK. Educate the ignorant in any way possible, small milky white lies will never hurt.

Matt of the very excellent Inner Ring blog, has something to say about those who appropriate European culture. Not that he thinks it's a bad thing, but he always like to ensure people have the basic cultural facts correct. This is what he has to say regards the drinking of coffee:

The important point to note is that a genuine coffee in Europe is small and black. There's no milk, no syrup, no flavourings. Italy has cappuccino but it's seen as a breakfast thing and rarely served after 11.00am. As standard it's served in a small cup and black. It's meant to be consumed quickly, a shot of coffee is not something to be nursed or accompanied by a muffin.
Dexter says:

Dec 8 2010 at 3:57 am

@wiscot
Great video, "all calculation is swallowed by the unfolding of power" TT 101.

I did my best at looking casually deliberate this morning and it made me feel super strong!

@frank
You've definitley hit on something!
frank says:

Dec 8 2010 at 5:15 am

@Souleur

if I may add my favorite latest addition to my morning 'routine'. Along w/brewing perfect espresso, adding to that is my morning steel-cut oats. With the cold, it is most helpful.
Sitting and eating breakfast pre-ride tranquillo is definitely most 'PRO'

You just named my favorite weekday breakfast. We just started back up with it (somehow this doesn't seem right pre-December) and it's fantastic. We eat these. For some variety, I drizzle over some Dumonde Tech and crumble a few 14T cogs on top.
Chris says:

Dec 8 2010 at 6:38 am

@frank
Hey, I am new member and just wanted to agree with the lactose in milk. The pro Mark Cavendish will never drink or eat anything containing milk on the day of a ride because it messes with the lactate acid buildup in the muscles.
Marko says:

Dec 8 2010 at 7:04 am

The adolescent lad standing behind Louison is conducting his own Study of a Hardman. Seems like he's got "the look" in his eyes. Surely he's impressed to be standing near one of the greats yet he's not showing his foolishness like the older chap to the right. Makes me wonder if he went on to race bicycles.
Jeff in PetroMetro says:

Dec 8 2010 at 7:36 am

Cycling photos from the earliest days through the mid 60's draw me in because of how nicely the fans are dressed as well as how Casually Deliberate the pros are. To me, one gets dressed up to go to church. Church clothes should be one's "Sunday best".

European pro bicycle races are church. A-Merckx.

I dream Antler Guy trips and all the Borats impale themselves on his magnificant rack. Then Didi Senft tridents Antler Guy to death. I like Didi. He can stay.
Jarvis says:

Dec 8 2010 at 7:48 am

@Jeff in PetroMetro
Fans can still dress smartly. Let's start the revolution. Steampunk will be in with this and I'm sure Frank will. Let's smarten up the roadside fans and watch races dressed in three-piece suits. Or if you have to ride to watch the race, plus-fours and a riding jacket. What! What!
Buck Rogers says:

Dec 8 2010 at 7:59 am

Harminator :

Buck Rogers :"Absolutely spectacular photo. I toyed very seriously with making this one as the main photo for the article, but Bobet took it on account of his sitting on the bike"Not to mention those amazingly cool sunglasses. Man, he is sooo in the groove in that photo!

And I imagine he is showing the fan a picture of the Zoncolan and saying something like "this is excellent for a dozen laps before lunch" and the man isn't quite sure if he's joking or not.

Ha, well played!
Buck Rogers says:

Dec 8 2010 at 8:02 am

Nate :
@wiscot Love that video. "The simplest possible manifestation of power, psyche and style." F'ing brilliant.

That video clip is a true testiment to the bike. It captures the deep, spiritualness of the TT so poetically.

A few other f'ing brilliant quotes, in my opinion from it are:

"He's riding his race like a work of art."

"Strength as a aclassic expression."

and "The pain as an icon." Such a great clip!