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

Bianchi Denti says:

Feb 16 2012 at 5:48 pm

@sthilzy

@scaler911.. damn! Beat me to it! I was going to mention the bar tape!Howz-a-bout, note the orietation of the Cinelli finishing tape!Love the Avocet wire and what Rule #74 is all about! Don't know about the HRM?

HRM tells when he's stressed enough to need another cig.
frank says:

Feb 16 2012 at 5:54 pm

@Souleur, @scaler911, @Marko
So long as he takes responsibility for mistakes and doesn't spit on guys who's season (or career) he's ruined, I agree - he's on the way to being pretty cool. That kit is bangin'.

[dmalbum: path="/velominati.com/wp-content/uploads/readers/frank/2012.02.17.01.37.06/"/]
Souleur says:

Feb 16 2012 at 6:00 pm

@frank: damn straight on the +1, it fits great too, race cut
Souleur says:

Feb 16 2012 at 6:01 pm

heading to ski boys, with the v-hottie and daughter
see you fellas monday
minion says:

Feb 16 2012 at 6:16 pm

My guess is that the curse of the rainbow jersey is going to increase the amount of empathy people feel towards Cav, since he's already had a less than ideal start to the year. (Crashed already this year, sick during the start of Qatar) just have to hope that he doesn't overdo the celebrations on the wins he is going to get, like Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Bettini and the rifle shot after his second worlds win, which might cost him some of that good will.
minion says:

Feb 16 2012 at 6:53 pm

@frank
He looks like Ricky Jervais if Ricky'd shave and ride a fucken bike. Hairy pudgy little
fucker. Jealous, Moi?

I didn't say the empathy would come from me. Likely, and obviously, it's going to be the opposite.
scaler911 says:

Feb 16 2012 at 6:59 pm

Well that came out fucked up. What I said, was its cool with the camels in the BG. And I wonder if Mario is smoking a Camel.
frank says:

Feb 16 2012 at 7:15 pm

@scaler911

Well that came out fucked up. What I said, was its cool with the camels in the BG. And I wonder if Mario is smoking a Camel.

I killed that comment for you. I have to sort, apparently, the "quote" function on the DM albums posts!

@minion

@frank
He looks like Ricky Jervais if Ricky'd shave and ride a fucken bike. Hairy pudgy little
fucker. Jealous, Moi?
I didn't say the empathy would come from me. Likely, and obviously, it's going to be the opposite.

Gold! He does need to learn to either (a) grow a proper beard like the Rooskie in American Fliers, or (b) shave.
Buck Rogers says:

Feb 16 2012 at 7:41 pm

@frank
Oh Jesus, you had to mention American Flyers. I'm still having nightmares about that movie, fuckin' Kevin Costner.
scaler911 says:

Feb 16 2012 at 8:03 pm

@Buck Rogers

@frank
Oh Jesus, you had to mention American Flyers. I'm still having nightmares about that movie, fuckin' Kevin Costner.

Wow. I'm surprised that bothered you that much. I lose track, but you're a MD right? Was it the "bleeding out of the ears, aneurysm"? I admit that I like that movie, but it really had a negative effect on you dude.