Look Pro: 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.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3uWs5ULAZE[/youtube]
Nice as always @Frank
Souplesse just means suppleness.
@Oli
“Its exact definition is unimportant; such things conjure up an image in our minds that is cheapened by words.”
@Oli
Not anymore than “jante” simply means “rim.” (Thanks Tim Krabbe).
I was just about to make the same post myself Scaler ..HA! Frank waxes poetic and Oil just stomps on it.
Frank l’artiste, huile pour le mécanicien.
You know I’d like to think that in the last six to nine months I have achieved just a degree of souplesse from my old sit up and beg style and I feel more like a cyclist for it.
My point is that souplesse isn’t some mythological state of being or anything to do with position, facial expression or even focus; it’s just not being choppy and stiff in pedalling style.
To me sometimes the exact definition is important, especially when it actually changes the meaning of a word that has been perfectly well used in its original form for a hundred years or more.
I love the romanticism of Frank’s prose at times, but I don’t agree with ascribing more meaning to words that actually exists…
@Oli
@Oli
In other words being fluid and graceful ? Is that not a romantic notion, a lofty goal to which we should all aspire ? Seems poetic enough to me.
( btw it would seems it probably does have a little to do with the correct position.)
On your other point, language is alive and the meaning of words do change as we all know…but thats a whole other topic.
Other riders of lesser palmares that nevertheless demonstrated remarkable souplesse: Gianni Bugno and Bobby Julich
@paolo
For me, souplesse is part of that ideal but not the ideal in its entirety. Isn’t there a word we can use that doesn’t take quite a specific meaning and broaden it so much?
…yes, I’m aware I’m being a prick. I’m allowed.
@MarcL
Ah, Bugno! I actually almost used a picture of him instead. What a stud. The man could pedal a monster gear and hardly move a muscle. Loved him and his green bollés!
@Nate
Exactly.
A word is a crude tool to describe something that takes years and years and years with hundreds of hours of devotion to achieve. Watching someone ride with souplesse – Coppi or Bugno, for example – fills your eyes with beauty and your heart with emotion.
I hardly think that is conveyed by using a word like “supple”. Supple describes a piece of worn leather, not a cyclist.
yes to Oli, and yes to Frank, great article
Oli, I have to agree and disagree, and in respect I offer this
Yes, indeed Oli, that is the meaning, suppleness in its strictest of definition, but thats limited and fairly legalistic. I get that and agree with that.
Yes, indeed Frank, to us who are Keepers, the context is deep and broad in that our observations, our miles in the saddle, our years of suffering and discovering that perfect stroke and souplesse holds a very deep and rich meaning. Its not only the suppleness that becomes instinctive every time you throw your leg over your dearest ride, its also the realization of what you have done to attain it. Its sometimes pedaling squares after 160k, then realizing in recovery, you got it back. Its virtuous, its alive and it can die depending on how one keeps it. I see it as very much fluid, coming and going over a very long time that I have been riding. Every cyclist wants it, and as Frank said, some have it, some don’t
In my humble opinion, since there is differences of opinion, & because I agree with Oli nearly all the time.
@Oli
I think sprezzatura is what you are after……
Okay, you’re the boss.
@Gerard
Nice!
@Souleur
What I’m trying to say is that the word souplesse has been used as a romantic descriptive concept within cycling for ever, but not this new one that Frank has given it! His reworking of the meaning changes the history of cycling with the stroke of a keypad – I have myriad old books that talk about the great riders having souplesse, but then they also talk about the other aspects of what I’ll now refer to as ‘sprezzatura’ as well. Trying to broaden the concept dilutes it, I believe…
there are many great examples of souplesse however, this is how you do it. Blow the peloton to smithereens, with a souplesse stroke and ride to victory at Les Deux Alpes
@Oli, ok, I’ll bite, since your logical and so am I
whats the differences in history, when they talk about the differing aspects of souplesse and how its being done now, by us?
Is it watering it down, or enriching it?
I tend to see things like you do, really, I am totally left brain, and the creativity in my right brain could be measured in picograms like clenbuterol in a spaniards blood sample. My gut was reading this article is that this is all an enrichment of the term, not watering it down.
do we parse it down into categories then?
@Oli
It never occured to me that you were being a prick Oil. It’s just a difference of opinion that’s called conversation.
I love all the romatic notions about this sport. Probably because I lack grace and style in reality. But I read articles like this and I go ride my bike and in my mind I’m as graceful and stylish as these former Gods of cycling. It gives me something to aspire to as I revel in the sensations of the ride. I think my utter lack of cynicism is because I haven’t been around this sport as long as a lot of people here have.
@Oli
Very interesting!
In your opinion, how would you define what souplesse means? I am not disagreeing with you at all but I am really curious as you have wayyyyy more knowledge of cycling and cycling history than me and I am curious as to how you would define it.
Thanks!
@Souleur
I just snorted my coffee!
I like the extended definition because in my life I have more soupknees than souplesse.
Nice article and great debate. I don’t know much about ‘souplesse’ but ‘sprezzatura’ is definitely a word you can sink your teeth into especially if you put a little roll on the ‘r’ and linger a little over the double ‘z’.
@Frank great article as ever. There are some words that should never be translated from their home language into English… Think Maserati Quattroporte (literally, Maserati “Four door”)… it should only ever be said in Italian. I think Souplesse is one of those words.
Nice video too. The subtitles from French to Dutch really helped.
Souplesse is what makes every cyclist better.
Sometimes when I see someone cycle past I cringe at the power that someone loses just by not practising enough souplesse.
@Oli
The point, Oli, is that having a smooth, supple stroke has more to do with than just your legs. It takes your whole being to do it. Like so many things, nothing can be isolated when its all part of an interconnected relationship between body parts.
If all you think about is your legs, you’ll never have it. Souplesse comes from everything working together in perfect harmony.
@paolo
Absolutely.
@Oli
To put it another way, this article doesn’t try to define it. In fact, per the first paragraph, it steers well clear of it.
This article is about what it takes to have it.
Now that we have that straightened out, there is another matter needing attention for those who have mastered the principle:
http://www.theonion.com/articles/antidoping-agency-has-a-bunch-of-old-tour-de-franc,27331/
@gaswepass
The Keepers could swing by and pick ’em up while they’re in the neighborhood.
@frank
Can we agree that la souplesse is an expression of form (of which suppleness certainly plays a critical role)? Which means this comes at an especially cruel time of year for those of us in the northern hemisphere. Went out for a short ride today. Long on power, short on cardio, and even shorter on form. Was bouncing all over the saddle and feeling wildly uncomfortable. Not smooth.
@roadslave
“There are some words that should never be translated from their home language into English… Think Maserati Quattroporte (literally, Maserati “Four door”)… it should only ever be said in Italian.”
Agreed. The literal translation is not what we are after. We are after the sensation created by the word in its original language.
“Barchetta” sounds better than “Dinghy”, “Testa Rossa” sounds much better than “ginger haired freak”, etc…
You may witness nothing finer than the graceful, calculated effort on a race bike — ciclismo en ruta!
Thanx for posting the video as evidence that we are part of something more than words can describe.
Another study of souplesse, from my favorite Cycling-scene ever: Ole Ritter prepares for a Contre la Montra during the ’73 Giro.
There’s another phrase you could go on about: Contra la Montra. Time Trial doesn’t say it nearly as well as that. Though this time, the translation – “Against the Clock” embodies what you go through: a race against time.
Wow, getting into a YouTube funnel here. Breukink is another one, though it would have been nice if he’d gone faster more often!
And, despite his great awesomeness, LeMan did not embody the concept at all when climging (though he did when riding contra la montra.
Nice job Frank! You’re right – not enough Maitre Jacqus around here. I’m just finishing Sex, Lies and Handlebar Tape – the superb bio of the man. A complex, amazing (in both good and bad ways) rider and man. Highly ecommended.
I’m also just finishing a big piece for submission on THE greatest sporting achievement (according to L’Equipe) ever – Anquetil’s Dauphine/Bordeaux-Paris double. Even if such a possibility still existed today, I doubt anyone would try it. The ultimate manifestation of the V.
Jeez! Bugno was a wee bit cocky with the victory salute in that video. I’d love to see a side shot to see what his winning margin was. It looked as if it was damn close to being a Zabel/Petacchi scenario.
@frank
LOVE this video. A masterpiece of film-making and commentary. All modern commentators should study it, but it just wouldn’t come across as well.
As a former TT rider in the 80s, I love the shots of the riders fiddling with their toe-straps before the “off.” It’s akin to baseball batters adjusting their gloves before a pitch. Nervous tension and expectation.
@frank
I may need to start watching the Grand Tours in Spanish. that was awesome.
@frank
Pedant ahoy!
Contre la Montre is the proper spelling.
@Oli
I don’t know how else to put it; I think I have a bit of a man-crush on you, Oli. Seriously, you are the real deal, regardless of how little you think of me!
@frank
With all respect…
Although I think Breukink is great, and he certainly had style, there isn’t much souplesse to be seen in that video. The best example in that clip is Andy Hampsten, in strict accordance with the true meaning of the word.
@frank
I know that very well. I still think you’re missing my point, which still stands.
@Calmante
Far from thinking little of you, I think we’re cut from the same lycra. I don’t agree with some of the things you say, but I respect your right to say them and have at times enjoyed your tilts at various windmills.
Brilliant videos. I love the older French stuff!
@Oli
You get to pick which character you are.
(David Attenborough voice, crouching behind a bush) “And here we have the two species, the greater Olisalwaysrightus, eyeballing its North American cousin, Olisalwayswrongus, also known as the lumpy headed Fronk. As is usual in displays of dominance like the one we’re seeing here, these two specimens will charge at each other, butting heads to assert themselves and show their superior ability to any females in the herd, until one of them backs down. Despite the tremendous forces these two generate, the construction of their necks and incredibly thick skulls, save them from doing any permanent damage to one another, though as usual the younger upstart isn’t quite able to gain a distinct advantage over his more experienced opponent.”
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
Opening photo – nice hair!
Pheasant & chesnuts…and champagne. Oh, and a woman. What a pre-race routine!
@Calmante
Careful @Oli.
Strong words from an omniscient rabble rouser who has a proclivity for “losing” things…
@Calmante “…now where did I pit that gerbil / pedal spanner / frame pump…”
@frank
HA!, Ha ha haha! You’re killing me.
@minion
Something that I think is appropriate to share with you (and other “down other folk) now (this ones for you Fränk!):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9oWe0Y7YT34