Sur la Plaque: Rule #9
As many of you know, there’s been a lot of synergy between BIGRINGRIDING and Velominati for several years now. Though BRR and Velominati have very different flavors, we work on a similar principle: foster passion for the sport through a mix of knowledge, history, and humor tempered with a healthy dose of irreverence, all while obviously making things up as we go along.
It seems only natural, then, that we should work together and thus it is with great delight that I present our monthly feature with the Big Ring taking his capitalized view on a Rule of his choice. No better Rule to start with than my personal favorite, Rule #9. And remember, it’s more than just a chainring, it’s a state of mind.
Yours in Cycling,
Frank
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LOOK AT YOURSELF IN THE MIRROR. IF YOU DON’T SEE ICE, YOU’RE NOT AS BADASS AS GREG. PERIOD.
@Dinan thank you, I like this… not as the best but as a good one.
Alessandro Proni, Vini Fantini – Selle Italia.
@Steampunk
10c on the other side of Canadia? I guess not. Even in the Pee-Yew Jet Sound region, 10c is feeling pretty balmy.
Ready for tomorrow’s club ride – 1 frikkin degree C forecast – cafe opens at 10.00 though
@Steampunk
Maybe that’s why the Costa Rican player has neon boots?
@Spun Up
Sorry for the meme but if a comment has ever called for it, this is it.
@Scilly Suffolk
Way to Harden the FUCK Up!!! Chapeau!
@the Engine Tomorrow I have 3 hours inside on the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome. Short sleeves and shorts. Cafe in the foyer. Lovin it.
@PeakInTwoYears
in southern Ontario, we got up to 3 or 4 with some sunshine today. It’s more or less the nicest we’ve seen in months.
Tomorrow = (9.5º and “partly sunny”) x 120kms. I’m feeling bullish on this “life” thing.
@Pedale.Forchetta
Such a fantastic photo. Bit envious of both the photographer, able to capture the suffering, and the cyclist, able to endure the suffering.
@Buck Rogers
I’m assuming that’s what second place feels like, but I don’t really know… hee, hee
Really love the shot of Cav with the thousand yard stare, too.
Club reliability test tomorrow. 160km. It’s been snowing all day and I’ve really been looking forward to it (need to get a long ride in my legs before next Saturday’s assault on the pave) but what was going to be a late Sunday lunch has been moved forward so it’ll have to be the shorter 80km club ride with a ride to and from the start tacked on.
Fingers crossed it’ll be on.
@Spun Up Ha! All in good fun!
@Pedale.Forchetta
if you can get one of Andy finishing a race, you’ll be the master!!!
@starclimber
I like that photo too. Great timing on that one!
Funny thing with that face Cav is making…. You just don’t ever really know if thats his thousand yard stare or if he’s about to have one of his diva moments.
-Dinan
so I’m not on a bike, but does it still count for #9 ?
@frank
A+1
@PeakInTwoYears
Or an MTB race at Cookin’ in the Kettles on Whidbey Island at 10am! You have the gear!
@G’rilla
LOL Yes, I do, but I also have a VMH who’s keen to join me for a double espresso and baked goods in Port Townsend followed by a gorgeous 120kms of rollers followed by ales back in PT. My hands are tied. So happily tied. (Not that I haven’t pondered the alternative.) Good hunting.
@PeakInTwoYears Thanks for the welcome, this sounds just like my family! A multitool and a pump are nothing I’d like to have between my back at the tarmac when falling, but I guess that such mundane considerations only show that my sense of cycling aesthetics has yet to evolve. Have fun on your trip today!
With only one season here, the chances of me getting ice on my brim is zero to none. However with the mercury hitting 37 deg C today I came over the last climb somewhere between medium and well done.
@starclimber What about the two bisons?
@frank ah! That’s looks beyond my possibilities, at the moment!
@Buck Rogers What about the two bidons
@Mirko
That’s true about the pump/tool, but I’ve always copped it on the hips/shoulders and knees, to the extent that the phone I’ve had in my back pocket has always worked fine for the inevitable whimpering call to mummy to come collect me because I’ve had a boo boo.
Wilkommen as well, btw.
@minion Vielen Dank!
Not sure this entirely marries up with the persona that carries across in the lead photo
@JohnB
You bastard – that was near four hours in a gale – bit warmer than expected at 2 degrees C so not all bad.
@strathlubnaig
Nope – at least one eye has to be frozen shut to count
@Docbrian
Bisons are what @minion and @marcus wash their hands in.
Can someone please link a stream to todays race? I would appreciate it.
-Dinan
@Dinan
I should have added that my usual places to watch are being uncooperative this morning. I swear I am not being lazy on trying to find a stream.
-Dinan
Wesh bisons.
@the Engine
@Scilly Suffolk
Chapeau,
But quite frankly, FUCK THAT SHIT!
There’s no Rule #9 needed down here in the Middle East, but it appears our very own ChrisO has been dishing out copious amounts of Rule #5. I believe that’s him, bib #101?
In two-three months, I’ll envy you guys with the rainy, cold summers. Maybe even the snowy, harsh winters. I’ll start my rides before dawn to escape the 40c midday, and spend the rest of the day inanimate in front of a fan or AC.
But meanwhile, let me enjoy the fact that yesterday’s ride required nothing but thin arm-sleeves and summer kit (though it did drizzle, at some point), and Friday’s TT session ended with salt-residue on our team kits. With no weather-induced setbacks, I’m well on the way to peaking for a few events next month.
We’re doing our bit to fulfil Rule #9 in Yorkshire on a weeks training camp. Some snow, but not huge amounts, but howling Easterlies bringing low temperatures even lower and giving us headwinds everywhere. Obvious way forward – go and find any hill onto the N. Yorks Moors that runs at 25%+ and go and smash your way up it. Watched one of my mates end up in the opposite lane of a 25% A-road downhill earlier when the crosswind caught him… Eye opening riding!
@JohnB
Fuck – is it bust?
I did mine on the open road a few years back and the first thing I remember on coming to was the coach saying that if I’d bothered doing judo I’d have known how to fall and wouldn’t have got hurt so badly. They then flagged down a passing farm pickup – put me and my bike in the back and got on with their ride whilst the farmer took me to A&E in Pitlochry (actually a nurse in a shed with some aspirin). Happy days.
@JohnB damn, best of luck. Clipped a wing this time last year, recovery time did give me a nice excuse to watch the Spring Classics though.
@the Engine
Clavicle ok, at worst it’s a chip or AC joint separation. Tried a full roll keeping hands in but helmet and right shoulder took the brunt. Pissed off as that was my favourite lid. On the plus side I was rocking the V kit prior to that but changed before points race so no damage to #1 gear. A few more sessions on the turbo now beckon in prep for Caledonian Cogal 2. Heard a rumour it may be June 1st. @snoov the main man.
@JohnB Commiserations. That sucks. Heal well.
@JohnB
Good to hear you dodged the clavicle bullet – you can always buy a new helmet too.
@frank Looks like Andy finished the Criterium International this week. He squeeked in just before the time limit on the third and last stage but managed to place better than a very bad cadel in the time trial.
Much further up the road Froome and then Porte tore the lead group apart.
@Chris
Staying somewhere with Sky TV so got to watch this for a change. Impressive stuff from Sky; Froome and Porte in particular. Improvement from Schleck Jr. as well who at least managed an attack before being booted out the back door.
Whenever I see a Sky-led peloton chasing down a breakaway I always hear the Imperial March whenever they come into shot…
Ah, the man behind the curtain is brought into the fold! Great work, glad to have his CAPITAL COMMENTS ’round these parts.
Beautiful photos, as always, Pedale!
I live too far south these days for much Rule #9 riding, though I did do some cross riding in January where my bike, hands, and rim braking surfaces got covered in frozen ice. Definitely couldn’t tell how cold that day was going to be from my kitchen window. Well, I still feel like I put in my time playing college lacrosse in upstate NY with games & practice outdoors in January.
Apparently Heinrich Haussler has ridden every race this season without gloves (including Milan-Sanremo & Gent-Wevelgem). Not sure if that is Rule #9 or just crazy.
I don’t know what to make of the gloveless riding. My feet are okay down pretty low, my head is always fine with just a cycling cap, but I need gloves in anything from cool to cold.
Road rash sucks. Road rash on your hands sucks more than average.