Categories: Anatomy of a PhotoLook ProThe Hardmen

Anatomy of a Photo: Looking Fantastic

Roger de Leginck riding in a Flemish Mirror. Photo: CorVos/Pez

Steel Gazelles, check. Monster fork rake, check. Hairnets, check. North European monsoon, check. Flemish Mirror, check. Chain welded to the Big Ring, check. WTF Leggins affixed to Our Hero, check.

Roger de Vlaeminck does his part to remind us that while Looking Pro isn’t synonymous with Looking Fantastic, being a Level V Badass can make even the most jacked gear look the business.

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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Buck Rogers says:

Dec 9 2011 at 10:45 am

@cutters79

Lest we forget Roger's smallest gear is probably 42-19!

My '92 Merckx with all '92 circa gear has a straight block 11-18. I wonder what his actual gearing is? Looks larger than a 19 to me.
Souleur says:

Dec 9 2011 at 10:51 am

uh oh...i feel the man with the hammer comin
Bintang says:

Dec 9 2011 at 12:18 pm

What an amazing picture. You just have to love the way his wheels divide the water behind them.
frank says:

Dec 9 2011 at 2:11 pm

@Buck Rogers

@cutters79

Lest we forget Roger's smallest gear is probably 42-19!

My '92 Merckx with all '92 circa gear has a straight block 11-18. I wonder what his actual gearing is? Looks larger than a 19 to me.

It looks like a 23, meaning if they are on a six-speed block, that's what, a 14, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23? Ouch. Dudes had to know how to mash a gear on one end and spin like a bastard on the other.
frank says:

Dec 9 2011 at 2:13 pm

@Bintang

What an amazing picture. You just have to love the way his wheels divide the water behind them.

I love the spray of water De Vlaeminck is rocketing up IN FRONT of his wheel. Dude parts the waters.
frank says:

Dec 9 2011 at 2:13 pm

@mblume
+1

@Marko
Is my back flat?
Oli says:

Dec 9 2011 at 3:09 pm

@Souleur
Clearly RdV does give a damn that it's cold, wet and nasty or he wouldn't be wearing those stupid leg protectors. That's 10 points off his style file he'll never get back.
DerHoggz says:

Dec 9 2011 at 3:25 pm

@Oli

Does the Merckx wearing soccer socks pic need reposted?
gaswepass says:

Dec 9 2011 at 3:49 pm

never had heard of these prior to this post, yet here is one in the wilds of SE portland...of course it wasn't defying gravity like this...
mcsqueak says:

Dec 9 2011 at 4:09 pm

@RedRanger

One of my favorite photos:

Merckx: "Remember that one time I borrowed a wrench from your team car? Yeah, I never gave that back. Sorry mate."