Categories: Accessories and GearEtiquetteNostalgiaTechnology

On Rule #36: Cool Shades

Forget quick-release skewer, the mechanical derailleur, carbon frames, or disc wheels. Never mind clipless pedals or brake-mounted shifters. Scratch those deep-section road wheels, lightweight helmets, or miracle fabrics.

The most important innovation in Cycling had nothing to do with those incremental advances, but rather with the invention of Cycling-Specific eyewear. To begin with, they allowed the Cyclist the privilege of being able to see where they were going, and avoided the indignity of having the eyes tear up on a descent. After all, no one needs to look like they’re crying because the speeds are too high. They also protect the eyes, saving them for important things like the admiration of the opposite sex.

Most importantly, however, they look cool as hell. And, as Paul Fournel rightly pointed out in Need for the Bike, to look good is already to go fast. To go fast, you need to look fast.

Oakley is widely considered to be the pioneer of cycling-specific eyewear, but others were doing Merckx’s work in that avenue at about the same time. While Greg LeMond and Phil Anderson were leading the arms race for the American eyewear specialist, another of my childhood favorites, Charly Mottet, was also busy sporting some prototype Rudy Projects and setting an early high water mark in the art of Looking Fantastic.

Once Cyclists sorted out that shades make you cool (we’re not as clever as rock stars), the late Eighties and early Nineties saw an explosion of rad eyewear in the peloton. Here are some standouts from the period.

[dmalbum path=”/velominati.com/content/Photo Galleries/frank@velominati.com/Shades/”/]

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

HigherGround says:

Dec 31 2013 at 6:55 pm

@DCR

@Weldertron

I want to see more of that "saddle"

As do I. what is the purpose of the "high chair" he is riding with?

I believe it was to give him something to push against, for better leverage. If I remember correctly, the Italian national team used another approach in the TTT at the Worlds one year, when they wore belts that had them tethered by a cable to the top tube of their bikes. The idea was that they could pull against the cable to help stabilize the core and give them more leverage. I think Assos actually was involved, but I could be wrong. I only saw it one year.
HigherGround says:

Dec 31 2013 at 6:59 pm

@ToeOverlap

I always roll Rule #36 compliant. However, I've given up on Oakleys. While I've had a couple of pairs and liked them quite a bit, they have gotten entirely too spendy, especially considering that every swinging dick in town wears them. Even my LBS, who stocks them, admits they are overpriced.

Right now my regular set are Tifosi, which I get a small discount on through my club, but even without that I could get two pair of them (with 3 lens sets each, mind you) and still have dough left over for a bagful of gels or whatever. Plus I really like them, and at the price I don't have to freak out about how to handle them like I would if they were $120+. (I wear Ray-bans when on foot, which I'm mindful to keep good care of.)

Sorry, Oakley, but for me, your time has passed.

Do you notice any significant difference in quality or comfort?
Mikael Liddy says:

Jan 1 2014 at 2:04 am

@HigherGround

@DCR

@Weldertron

I want to see more of that "saddle"

As do I. what is the purpose of the "high chair" he is riding with?

I believe it was to give him something to push against, for better leverage. If I remember correctly, the Italian national team used another approach in the TTT at the Worlds one year, when they wore belts that had them tethered by a cable to the top tube of their bikes. The idea was that they could pull against the cable to help stabilize the core and give them more leverage. I think Assos actually was involved, but I could be wrong. I only saw it one year.

Thought it was the Spanish in the '92 Olympics....
bikezen says:

Jan 2 2014 at 6:21 am

@Teocalli

@bikezen

Once you have the cool shades, the universal question is: Over or under the helmet straps?

Still working up to Rule #37 then?

Oh I live Rule #37 but it was also pointed out to me that Sven Nys does not.
VeloVita says:

Jan 2 2014 at 7:08 am

@bikezen

@Teocalli

@bikezen

Once you have the cool shades, the universal question is: Over or under the helmet straps?

Still working up to Rule #37 then?

Oh I live Rule #37 but it was also pointed out to me that Sven Nys does not.

Check out the photos of all the pros in their preseason training toting around Rule #29 breaking EPMSs. Just because the pros do it, it doesn't make it ok. As much as I love and respect Sven, eyewear temples go outside the straps, period.
wiscot says:

Jan 2 2014 at 12:22 pm

Late to the party here, but picture 8 is the killer shot: the shades, the backwards cap, the RMO jersey and, of course, those red Rivat shoes - the finest looking shoes ever produced.
Ron says:

Jan 2 2014 at 5:21 pm

@VeloVita

@bikezen

@Teocalli

@bikezen

Once you have the cool shades, the universal question is: Over or under the helmet straps?

Still working up to Rule #37 then?

Oh I live Rule #37 but it was also pointed out to me that Sven Nys does not.

Check out the photos of all the pros in their preseason training toting around Rule #29 breaking EPMSs. Just because the pros do it, it doesn't make it ok. As much as I love and respect Sven, eyewear temples go outside the straps, period.

Well, that clears things up very nicely, like a lens polishing of the 29th...
frank says:

Jan 2 2014 at 6:14 pm

@VeloVita

@bikezen

@Teocalli

@bikezen

Once you have the cool shades, the universal question is: Over or under the helmet straps?

Still working up to Rule #37 then?

Oh I live Rule #37 but it was also pointed out to me that Sven Nys does not.

Check out the photos of all the pros in their preseason training toting around Rule #29 breaking EPMSs. Just because the pros do it, it doesn't make it ok. As much as I love and respect Sven, eyewear temples go outside the straps, period.

To see this, this justifies every effort The Keepers have made here at Velominati. It brings a tear to my eye and renews my focus to continue the quest.

We are not about Looking Pro. We are about Looking Fantastic. In most cases the Pros have a leg up, but just because a Pro (or many of them) do it, does not mean it Looks Fantastic. Looking Pro is a good place to start, but Looking Fantastic is to transcend the narrow scope of the people getting paid to ride their bikes and applying their lessons to our individual style to achieve Magnificence.

Man, I should write that down somewhere.
VeloSix says:

Jan 3 2014 at 4:42 pm

@frank

@VeloVita

@bikezen

@Teocalli

@bikezen

Once you have the cool shades, the universal question is: Over or under the helmet straps?

Still working up to Rule #37 then?

Oh I live Rule #37 but it was also pointed out to me that Sven Nys does not.

Check out the photos of all the pros in their preseason training toting around Rule #29 breaking EPMSs. Just because the pros do it, it doesn't make it ok. As much as I love and respect Sven, eyewear temples go outside the straps, period.

To see this, this justifies every effort The Keepers have made here at Velominati. It brings a tear to my eye and renews my focus to continue the quest.

We are not about Looking Pro. We are about Looking Fantastic. In most cases the Pros have a leg up, but just because a Pro (or many of them) do it, does not mean it Looks Fantastic. Looking Pro is a good place to start, but Looking Fantastic is to transcend the narrow scope of the people getting paid to ride their bikes and applying their lessons to our individual style to achieve Magnificence.

Man, I should write that down somewhere.

Another example of why you @Frank are the instructor, and I am the student.....
fignons barber says:

Jan 4 2014 at 7:16 am

Spent the week at my house up in Michigan, and pulled out some oldies. First up, a pair of Mapei team issue Briko Bolds. I remember getting these from Mick at Prendas Ciclismo, back before the time of the internet. I think I ordered them off an ad at the back of CycleSport magazine. While the Italians get it right on style, their optic tech is a bit off. When riding in these, you get the feeling you are sitting roughly 6-8 inches higher than you actually are.
Next, we have an early rendition from Rudy Project, as rocked by Moreno Argentine at Ariostea and Fondriest at Del Tongo.