Categories: Defining MomentsExportLa Vie VelominatusNostalgiaThe HardmenTradition

Truth and Fiction

Hinault, Le Blaireau

There is nothing more disappointing than discovering the truth behind a myth or spotting the mortal behind a legend. This is why I make a point never to do any research or in any other way attempt to validate my assumptions when evaluating a situation; mystery that feels like a fact and sounds like a fact is better than an actual fact. Truth, like sex, is something that should be kept private between willing participants, not spread around for everyone to see.

Lucky for me, I’m Dutch, which means my assumptions are usually correct and by extension means I’ve mastered almost every challenge I’ve taken on in life; sometimes it pays to descend from pale Northern European stock that subsists equally on root vegetables and wild guesses (external participants’ experience may vary).

I’ve always been obsessed with history and mythology; the Iliad and The Odyssey occupied my mind like little else did if you can ignore Luke Skywalker or exactly what I might accomplish in life if I had access to a lightsaber and/or the use of The Force. When I became interested in Cycling due in part to Greg LeMond’s influence on the sport in the early 80’s, I was immediately confronted by this crazy character he was embroiled with nicknamed Le Blaireau who was a tireless competitor spitting out quips like, “If I breathe, I attack.” I pulled on the yarn and discovered similar or greater legends and stories hand over fist. This was a sport that seemed to combine everything I love in life: history, legend, myth, aerobic sport, discipline, technique, and not a small amount of OCD within its practitioners.

The most amazing thing about Cycling is that it has a unique kind of mythology. Mythology is normally something that lays in the distant past, far from the reach of our personal experiences. But in Cycling, our mythology and legend lays within the span of our influence, it is something tangible we feel when we watch it unfold before us at the roadside or even on television. This is also why our fallen heros continue to be lionized; when the observer is genuinely unaware of the false forces behind the performance, the emotions felt at the time leave an indelible mark that are unsullied of thoughts of cheating or malfeasance. Discovering the truth years later may well tarnish the reasonable portion of our minds, but the imprint of those original emotions can never be removed and continue to influence us at a level that lives somewhere below the conscious and the rational. This explains why those of us who watched a rider like Pantani dance away from the bunch in the late 90’s continue to love him, while those who came to the sport later view his performances as obviously false and wonder how we could rationally continue to ignore the elephant behind his legend. The point is, rational has nothing to do with it.

They say truth can be stranger than fiction, but I have rarely seen anything more interesting than myth; we are lucky to be a part of a sport whose mythology is still developing and rather than frown upon the truth behind some of its details, I cherish the opportunity to be a part of it.

VLVV.

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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Teocalli says:

Oct 29 2014 at 11:05 am

@frank

@wiscot

First, awesome photo of M. Hinault. The hairnet, the "other" sport gloves, the nylon cap and, of course, the rain jacket with mesh panels for "breathability." Those things sucked. It was like wearing a think bin bag. You got as wet inside from sweat as you did outside from rain.

I had the clear version and I agree, they sucked ass. Despite rain coats getting much better, they still suck unless it's raining hard enough that the animals are starting to line up in pairs.

The thing about breathable waterproof (water resistant) fabric is that when it rains they stop breathing as the water on the outside blocks all the pores. So you get just about as wet inside from sweat as a non breathable one. Also when it is dry there is a limit to the exchange rate which might be OK for cruising but ain't going to cope with a warp factor ride output.
Ron says:

Oct 29 2014 at 11:06 am

Love that photo of Rog! How did we go from the ill-fitting Men's Wearhouse suits to the skinny suits in such a short span though?

I'm all for well-fitting clothes, but I'll be damned if I'm going to be wearing anything (off the bike) with the word "skinny" in the description.

That said, I bemoaned cargo pants and carpenter pants for years, now we have Crocs and faux eyeglasses paired with fauxhawks. Goddamnit, I didn't wish for this!
frank says:

Oct 29 2014 at 11:07 am

@VeloVita

Or Tim Krabbe's accounts of the stories of Anquetil always removing the bidon from his bike and placing it in his jersey pocket on climbs in order to make the bike as light as it could be....only then to find photograph after photograph of the bidon still placed in its cage as Anquetil pedaled up each slope. Krabbe insists that the story told about Anquetil speaks more to the nature of the rider and therefore is indeed MORE true. I like that.

Krabbe is a genius, and is obviously also right about speaking more to the nature and therefor being more true.

I might also point out that he's Dutch.
frank says:

Oct 29 2014 at 11:14 am

@freddy

@DeKerr

Good one. Reminds me of McCrae's In Flanders Fields. Excerpt:

We are the Dead...

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

I was brought into that piece by way of Big Head Todd and the Monsters in '89. Such great writing, and to be in Northern France and Belgium, you feel those spirits still hanging in the air.

@Ron

As someone who came into cycling in their mid-20s, I'm enthralled by the legends, the myths, and the tales of the peloton. Oh, it doesn't hurt that I'm a historian either. Great piece, Frank! I only started riding seriously in the early aughts and watching seriously within the past few years. But, I can't get enough these days. Cycling is a part of my daily life and I enjoy the history lessons provided by Keepers and Followers alike, thanks!

Your posts are always so enthusiastic and ADD, totally awesome, I bet you and Buck could really tear a place up if you ever got together.
frank says:

Oct 29 2014 at 11:17 am

@Teocalli

@frank

@wiscot

First, awesome photo of M. Hinault. The hairnet, the "other" sport gloves, the nylon cap and, of course, the rain jacket with mesh panels for "breathability." Those things sucked. It was like wearing a think bin bag. You got as wet inside from sweat as you did outside from rain.

I had the clear version and I agree, they sucked ass. Despite rain coats getting much better, they still suck unless it's raining hard enough that the animals are starting to line up in pairs.

The thing about breathable waterproof (water resistant) fabric is that when it rains they stop breathing as the water on the outside blocks all the pores. So you get just about as wet inside from sweat as a non breathable one. Also when it is dry there is a limit to the exchange rate which might be OK for cruising but ain't going to cope with a warp factor ride output.

This is why I normally just go for windproof and forget about waterproof. I'm getting wet either way, what I want is the wind off my chest when its wet and cold.

@Ron

Love that photo of Rog! How did we go from the ill-fitting Men's Wearhouse suits to the skinny suits in such a short span though?

I'm all for well-fitting clothes, but I'll be damned if I'm going to be wearing anything (off the bike) with the word "skinny" in the description.

That said, I bemoaned cargo pants and carpenter pants for years, now we have Crocs and faux eyeglasses paired with fauxhawks. Goddamnit, I didn't wish for this!

The best part about being a skinny Cyclist is we're ask thin as the food-starved models they were designed for. I'll rock a skinny suit any chance I get, so long as its tailored perfectly.

@Ron

The (Cross) Force. Happy Halloween!

HA!
Teocalli says:

Oct 29 2014 at 11:50 am

@frank

@Teocalli

@frank

@wiscot

First, awesome photo of M. Hinault. The hairnet, the "other" sport gloves, the nylon cap and, of course, the rain jacket with mesh panels for "breathability." Those things sucked. It was like wearing a think bin bag. You got as wet inside from sweat as you did outside from rain.

I had the clear version and I agree, they sucked ass. Despite rain coats getting much better, they still suck unless it's raining hard enough that the animals are starting to line up in pairs.

The thing about breathable waterproof (water resistant) fabric is that when it rains they stop breathing as the water on the outside blocks all the pores. So you get just about as wet inside from sweat as a non breathable one. Also when it is dry there is a limit to the exchange rate which might be OK for cruising but ain't going to cope with a warp factor ride output.

This is why I normally just go for windproof and forget about waterproof. I'm getting wet either way, what I want is the wind off my chest when its wet and cold.

Yup - I go for a waterproof(ish) gilet and good arm warmers. So my core can stay reasonably dry and warm as the arm holes allow plenty of ventilation and the arm warmers act a bit like a wetsuit.
gmk69 says:

Oct 29 2014 at 1:19 pm

@Teocalli I ride in ALL weather! ALL year round! For the wet and cold layers are best but new tech is out so you can be waterproof and still let sweat out! I have been fall/winter ride with a Sugoi RSE Neoshell jacket and it is awsome! Wet outside and dry inside!
the-farmer says:

Oct 29 2014 at 2:38 pm

@Teocalli

Watching a TV programme at the weekend in the UK Guy Martin - Speed on C4. Worth a watch in C4 Player if you missed it in the UK. Anyway he came up with a name G P Mills and here which is worth looking up. Not sure anyone would get away with his solution for nuisance chasing dogs though these days.

Also a little anecdote that the term Break Neck Speed originated from racing Penny Farthings - for obvious, if unfortunate, reasons.

Watched that, sitting in a puddle of piss, top man!
DeKerr says:

Oct 29 2014 at 3:06 pm

@frank

@freddy

@DeKerr

Good one. Reminds me of McCrae's In Flanders Fields. Excerpt:

We are the Dead...

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

I was brought into that piece by way of Big Head Todd and the Monsters in '89. Such great writing, and to be in Northern France and Belgium, you feel those spirits still hanging in the air.

@Ron

As someone who came into cycling in their mid-20s, I'm enthralled by the legends, the myths, and the tales of the peloton. Oh, it doesn't hurt that I'm a historian either. Great piece, Frank! I only started riding seriously in the early aughts and watching seriously within the past few years. But, I can't get enough these days. Cycling is a part of my daily life and I enjoy the history lessons provided by Keepers and Followers alike, thanks!

Your posts are always so enthusiastic and ADD, totally awesome, I bet you and Buck could really tear a place up if you ever got together.

The conflagration of irascibility would be GLORIOUS!

And @freddy, being born of the maple leaf and thistle though never served, that one always gives me a solid case of the Feels.
frank says:

Oct 29 2014 at 4:23 pm

@gmk69

@Teocalli I ride in ALL weather! ALL year round! For the wet and cold layers are best but new tech is out so you can be waterproof and still let sweat out! I have been fall/winter ride with a Sugoi RSE Neoshell jacket and it is awsome! Wet outside and dry inside!

I have to say, the best cold/wet jersey available is the Gabba jersey by Castelli. Unreal. Pair that up to wool knee/arm/leg warmers and you are good to go in the worst of weather.

Wool, by the way, retains most of its insulative properties when its wet, which makes it incredible for that sort of application. When it freezes after being its not as helpful, or in really hard wind (wind from riding itself is fine when its cold and wet.)