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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frank says:

Dec 9 2011 at 4:23 pm

@mcsqueak
It looks to me like the square at the start of RVV; Merckx is obviously saying, "When the Kapelmuur goes like this, I'm going to drop you like a oiled Jell-O."
frank says:

Dec 9 2011 at 4:26 pm

@gaswepass

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...

My mom's steel is a Gazelle. Dutch brand - very popular over there. Also makes a lot of commuter bikes. You don't see many of them here, but they're beautiful bikes. And as you can see, they are light enough that you have to anchor them down or they levitate.
RedRanger says:

Dec 9 2011 at 4:37 pm

@frank

@mcsqueak
It looks to me like the square at the start of RVV; Merckx is obviously saying, "When the Kapelmuur goes like this, I'm going to drop you like a oiled Jell-O."

+1. That's more or less what I always imagined when I look at that picture. one of my favorite photo's for sure.
RedRanger says:

Dec 9 2011 at 4:39 pm

and it's a great example of Casual Deliberate.
Souleur says:

Dec 9 2011 at 7:14 pm

@oli
perhaps your right. my constant optimisim in looking back at our legends keeps begging me to give them tons of credit. Rdv is the only one i have ever seen wear that kinds shin guard.

Was it a moment of weakness? did he ever go to the vatican and confess this? if so, it had to be momentary and a venial cause, cause he simply rocks it every other time.
Oli says:

Dec 9 2011 at 10:32 pm

@DerHoggz
10 points off Eddy Merckx!
Oli says:

Dec 9 2011 at 10:36 pm

@frank
Gazelle is the Dutch version of Raleigh or Bianchi - bikes from the very bottom of the range to the very top. The good Gazelles are very, very cool bicycles.
frank says:

Dec 10 2011 at 6:30 am

@Oli

@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.

That's like telling Warren Buffet he lost a c-note. Its not like those ten point make any difference to his VVorth. That aside, SERIOUSLY. What. The. Fuck. Are. Those. Things? And they had knee warmers and tights then. What did these offer that those couldn't?
frank says:

Dec 10 2011 at 6:33 am

@Oli
This being an example of the bottom of the bin.
frank says:

Dec 10 2011 at 6:36 am

@Souleur, @Oli
And the moral of this story, kids, is that just being a Pro or dressing like the Pros is not enough. They are a good guide, but just because the Pros do it doesn't mean it (a) Looks Fantastic or (b) is sensible. Always seek to find the V as it flows through your decision making.