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]
@Oli
I didn’t know you had Basil Brush in New Zealand ( you are a Kiwi right? Or am I confusing you with someone else on here?)
@Calmante
Well, he did say you possessed a “wealth of knowledge,” which is kinda a compliment that evens out the name-calling. Plus, he wants you immortalized as a Lexicon entry. That should make you happy!
Where would this site be without self aggrandizing internet heroes?
Edit that, where would I be if I couldn’t come here and be a self aggrandizing internet hero…(on another website, leaving all you lot to discuss howmanyfuckingtimesnowalready bar tape and seat colour)
Vive la resistance!@frank
What you say about Oli? Huh? Em’s fighting words
@Calmante
@Calmante
Naw. You sure haven’t. Cheers mate!
This is the type of conversation that makes me really look forward to the tour next month. Especially over Belgian beer.
No. The name is borrowed. If you guys want me immortalized as a tool, I should change my user name. The real Calmante doesn’t deserve that.
@scaler911
Is that the only sentence you read? I thought it was pretty obvious that that was a joke? I guess i’m not the only one who needs to settle down, Francis.
@Oli
HA!
@Louutah
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.”
Wow, this one has really taken off & caused some serious ruffled feathers.
As for this brazenness allowed by the anonymity here, I have to say it’s quite the opposite for me. I know I might ride with some or all of you in the near future, so I’m not about to pretend I’m harder or stronger than I am. Or bigger. I’m just 170cms, but I’ll do my best to keep on that wheel!
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.
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.
@Ron
In 100% agreement.
Souplesse: Mr Hampsten
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZ5pEm3ZEn4&feature=results_main&playnext=1&list=PL15EF9D400D92C271
@TomB
I understand there’s a corrective surgery available for that sort of thing…
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.
@paolo
We sure did – BB was on afternoon telly for years…
@Ron
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
It is going to kick so much ass. Then arguing about the same stuff the next more, except with a hangover.
@itburns
I don’t have to tell you that’s one of my favorite movies!
Big Pimpin;
I’m coming around to Cav, a little, but he’s gat a ways to go to be as chill as Mario.
@Oli
@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
@itburns
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.
@Calmante
It’s only fashionable to disagree with you when you’re wrong.
@Oli
For Americans reading this BB is not bottom bracket. It’s Basil Brush.
@Calmante
What are you on about, it’s not fashionable to disagree with you. ON THE CONTRARY!
@mcsqueak
[laugh] Good, good.
Damnit, Frank! You are exactly right. I think I’ve been too far South for too damn long. My VMH will often say things like, “Why can’t you just be sweet & nice?” I’ll have to point out that fighting, arguing, and criticizing folks comes much more naturally to combative, excitable Northerners.
I’m not sure what is the most awesome part of the Mario Photo – his superb round bars, his shades, or that hair. I always wanted Brikos.
@ChrisO
Do you have a few examples of “words like enormity”? Bigness maybe? Or maybe you should have written “…words such as enormity…”.
Gee, pedantry is fun after all.
@Ron
Again, the man’s smooth, even in his crazy kits.
@Marcus
Look, a ginormous ewe, right over there!
For what it’s worth, all words have some sort of genealogy. “Suicide” for example used to have much more of a sense of nobility, to commit suicide could be to spare your family from some kind of shame while nowadays it’s seen more in terms of a way out or escape from responsibilities or/and being unable to cope with something. I don’t judge, I’ve lost a few friends this way, one of them a cyclist (World Champion BMX Freestyler).
Think of the word bicycle. A hundred years ago a bicycle was not what is conjured in our minds when we hear the word nowadays. If we know what a word meant in the context of it’s time in history, it’s meaning to us now is richer even if that meaning now applies to something slightly different.
My word that I hate to hear being misused is “bespoke”, which should properly apply to something that is a one off, but I’ll get over myself.
@Ron
So fucking true. add sarcasm to the mix. I tend to have a very dry and sarcastic sense of humor, which is unusual for a Latino like my self. I chalk that up to being a native New Yorker. Its something many of the natives down here dont get.
@scaler911
exactly.
The Lion King, was something else. It really took me time to come around, and actually seeing him win Milan San Remo sealed it for me. He rode that one hard, then bought a Porsche in celebration, a typical Italian gest I suppose.
I don’t smoke, don’t advocate it, but seeing him not give a flip….has a cool factor to it for some reason
@heinous
Maybe she should have had cake less and soup more.
@Bill
Word! We can just sit back with some pints and frites and watch the fur fly!
@Souleur
Check the bar tape. White.
Ive come around fully to Cav. He’s really come into his own and it’s hard to recall the last time he dicked out. At least his coolness has vastly outpaced his dooshiness in the past year or so. He’s a great champion and far from boring. He’s also raised the bar for sprinters considerably, it’s just too bad nobody can touch it. And the WC kit he’s been rocking is La Vie Velominatus. Good shit.
@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?
@Marko
I’m coming around a bit on the fella. And that’s saying something given last fall, I couldn’t stand the little ass-hat.
There’s a local kid (from Portland, Jacob Rathe, 20y/o) that’s a neo-pro with Garmin this year. A shit ton of attitude, and a skilled rider. Watch out for him, and I hope he does well as well as remembers his humble roots.
@sthilzy
Howz-a-bout, note the orietation of the Cinelli finishing tape!
+2
(Not a typo. My opinion is worth roughly twice as much as most.)
@scaler911
of course! it matches his white leader jersey!
Cav is very much the same overall as Cipo. I respect Cav more now than I did a year ago after his product at the TdF, and making it over the mtn’s.
@Souleur
Nice one. You look good in your new +1 badge, don’t you?
@snoov
That is beautifully bespoke!
@RedRanger
There were more times than I can count when I lived in the South where conversations ended with “Really? What are we gonna do??” and my answer was, “No, not really…”
@sthilzy
HRM tells when he’s stressed enough to need another cig.
@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/”/]
@frank: damn straight on the +1, it fits great too, race cut
heading to ski boys, with the v-hottie and daughter
see you fellas monday
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.
@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.
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.
@scaler911
I killed that comment for you. I have to sort, apparently, the “quote” function on the DM albums posts!
@minion
Gold! He does need to learn to either (a) grow a proper beard like the Rooskie in American Fliers, or (b) shave.
@frank
Oh Jesus, you had to mention American Flyers. I’m still having nightmares about that movie, fuckin’ Kevin Costner.
@Buck Rogers
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.