Categories: EtiquetteLook ProNostalgiaTradition

Look Pro: Souplesse

Master Jacques, master of souplesse.

Souplesse. Only the French would have such a word; one you can sink your teeth into, chew on. It begs to be spoken over a plate of assorted cheeses and a bottle of vin rouge. Its exact definition is unimportant; such things conjure up an image in our minds that is cheapened by words. Souplesse is the ideal, sought by all and obtained only by The Few.

Souplesse is the perfect storm of Looking Pro; harmony between grace and power, casual and deliberate. It speaks of the entire organism, the perfectly manicured machine together with the perfectly refined position and technique of its rider. It is the combination of Magnificent Stroke, gentle sway of the shoulders and head, the rhythmic breath, and of knees, elbows, and chest converging on the V-Locus.

Jacques Anquetil is man of whom we have spoken surprisingly little in these archives. Perhaps it is because he is a man who inspires us in death as little as he did his fans in life. A calculating man, he pursued Cycling not for the love and passion of it, but for the business of it; for him, the bicycle provided a path from peasantry to aristocracy. That was all.

Be that as it may, he was a gifted cyclist whose fluidity on the bike exemplified Souplesse:

A Magnificent Stroke is more than pushing or pulling on the pedals. The stroke flows from the core and hips, driving the pedals round and belying the effort to do so.
Feet sweep the pedals around in perfect revolutions, one leg cannot be distinguished from the other – they work as one to counter and balance the forces to drive the machine ever faster forward.
The legs can not do their work without the arms, the lungs, the chest, the heart, the mind. Each unit functions independently to do its work, yet feeds seamlessly into the other. In a phrase: Fluidly Harmonic Articulation.
Move to the V-Locus; the body is folded such that legs, arms, and chest overlap but do not intersect. Knees tucked in, shoulders hunched, wrists rolled inwards, elbows angled such that the knees only just slip inside them with each revolution of the cranks.
Face calm, eyes cooly focussed up the road; a grimace is energy that is better spent on turning the pedals.

I give you Master Jacques.

More: Jacques Anquetil Part II & Part III

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

TomB says:

Feb 16 2012 at 12:35 pm

Really guys? Everyone just go to the garage, look at your bike(s) and realize that we all are here to do one thing....

Point out Frank's shortcomings.

At least that's what I was told when I signed up here.
RedRanger says:

Feb 16 2012 at 12:35 pm

@Ron
In 100% agreement.
scaler911 says:

Feb 16 2012 at 12:38 pm

Souplesse: Mr Hampsten

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZ5pEm3ZEn4&feature=results_main&playnext=1&list=PL15EF9D400D92C271
paolo says:

Feb 16 2012 at 12:40 pm

@TomB

....
Point out Frank's shortcomings.

I understand there's a corrective surgery available for that sort of thing...
Calmante says:

Feb 16 2012 at 12:48 pm

I understand that it's fashionable to disagree with me right now, but I'm far from self-aggrandizing. To call me out personally because I disagree is jackassery.
Oli says:

Feb 16 2012 at 1:13 pm

@paolo
We sure did - BB was on afternoon telly for years...
frank says:

Feb 16 2012 at 1:38 pm

@Ron

I actually don't feel like I can say or do whatever I want, since I consider this a bit of a community. I might disagree, but I'm not going to try and step on anyone's toes. Why would I? One of ya is going to have an answer or a super sweet video for me in the near future.

Has the New Yorker in you died already? I thought stepping on toes was both a talent and a sport in New York!

Its true, we are a community, but it doesn't mean we can't disagree and argue.

@Bill

This is the type of conversation that makes me really look forward to the tour next month. Especially over Belgian beer.

It is going to kick so much ass. Then arguing about the same stuff the next more, except with a hangover.

@itburns

Interviewer: "What do you love about cycling?"
Cyclist: "The pheasant with chestnuts, the champagne, and the women before a race. Actually, I can do without the race."

I don't have to tell you that's one of my favorite movies!
scaler911 says:

Feb 16 2012 at 1:44 pm

Big Pimpin;

I'm coming around to Cav, a little, but he's gat a ways to go to be as chill as Mario.
Souleur says:

Feb 16 2012 at 1:50 pm

@Oli

Good morning, everybody...I'm feeling very suppleness today, just ask my wife (boom boom)!

@Oli: now this is class fella's

I just busted a nut laughing on that one

Listen, I come here like anyone else. I love this site, the Rules, the Lexicon, all things cycling and we are a bunch of passionate bastards taking things to the Nth degree....AS IT SHOULD BE, yet one thing trumps all, respect for one another.

Oli, you got it man and thats all good.

And we can all toss around our thoughts, concepts, beliefs, experiences, and I will continue to be convicted of all things souplesse until I am convicted otherwise. I think I am right, just like you think your right, the fact remains in my mind in this whole concept that nobody has given me anything to change my mind so far in the definition of all things souplesse. Its all good, and until Eddy says different, it is what it is. Oli believes what he believes, and I haven't convicted him otherwise, because he thinks firmly he's right. Fairs fair.

I don't think less of anyone for it...ok, yes I do when your a douche and you think I am entitled to your opinion, but otherwise, when your classy like Oli we can all sift this out and ride down the road.

So lets all just HTFU a bit, rub Rule V across your forehead before reading further in the thread and I bet it all works out

Chapeau
Chris says:

Feb 16 2012 at 1:59 pm

@itburns

@Louutah

I am currently reading "Sex, Lies and Handlebar Tape" Here is a quick little paragraph from the book.
Not that Anquetil helped himself; he couldnt resist provoking his assailants: "Here's the routine I'd advise for the evening before a race: a pheasant with chestnuts, a bottle of champagne and a woman"
Jacques = V

Reminds me of the cycling version of the Spinal Tap drummer interview:
Interviewer: "What do you love about cycling?"
Cyclist: "The pheasant with chestnuts, the champagne, and the women before a race. Actually, I can do without the race."

From what I can gather from Sex, Lies and (white) Handlebar Tape Master Jacques wasn't particularly a fan of of the race, certainly not any mass start efforts.

Speaking of whom, if you can get hold of it there's a great piece entitled "Anquetil on his own" in Rouleur 25 that sums up the focus require time trialling.