The above photo was liberated from a Dutch website which appears to be dedicated solely to a book about Dutch and Belgian riders both old and new. I can’t read a lick of Dutch, in fact, I’m not even 100-% sure it’s a Dutch site (based on the “.nl” though I’m pretty sure). The website is rad though and the book looks mint, anybody know it? Check it out and see what you think. The guy in the back of the gruppetto is, of course, Rik Van Looy.
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That's an awesome photo. Several interesting things. Sure they are "short" shorts, but they were wool, cut short (by today's standards) and because they had no leg grippers they had a tendency to get loose and ride up. Mind you, if I had guns like Van Looys, I'd be happy to show 'em off! (I have a pic at home of an Italian rider in the Giro in 73 and his shorts are flapping they're so friggin' loose!) Also, look at how close the difference in height between the saddles and bars are. For De Cabooter they're almost level. Today, some riders have an almost 6" differential. Also, look at the amount of "bend" in Van Looy and Vannitsen's legs. They're sitting pretty low. The bar end shifters are also used as few bikes from this period had any kind of braze-ons. Water bottle cages were held on with clips - as you can see in the picture. They were also limited to one cage I believe. De Cabooter even has a frame-fitting pump on there too. A different era for sure . . .
Don't know where this beongs, but I couldn't say it better myself: http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2011/mar/20/school-of-life-cycling
@Brett
Ewww. And yet, spot on.
@wiscot
Rik is SO AWESOME precisely because he's without a bidon in his cage. He's laughing at how wussy Vannitsen and De Cabooter are for needing bidons at all.
Also, note how Old School the Ford jersey is compared to the others. It's still sporting pockets on the front while the others' pockets are on the back.
Ah, look at all that luxurious fork rake and those laid back angles. These guys are driving Cadillacs.
The pump? IMHO, I think it's trompe l'oeil--that's something in the field behind De Cabooter.
Nothing to add!
what a beauty of a foto!
awesome, confusing and i am just like most, in awe of the heat their packin
IMHO however, the gorilla rider on the left is getting passed, he was on a lone wolf break....has been drilling it all day like a new found love...hears something and its a guy in a Ford freaking jersey, who may or may not even be in the race for all he knows, his hair in place better than coppi, comes passing by like a kenworth diesel running full steam.
Rik VanLooy is hanging obviously, complementary that he is able to take it so easy in the streamline of the train.
and he asks 'is that a 302 Boss'...
@Souleur
"Thuur. Seriously. He's a caveman! Mad as a hatter. Grunted at me, like, I don't know, a hundred-and-fifty kilometers ago, and I haven't had to take a pull since. I mean, look at me. I'm as fresh as a loaf of bread straight out of the oven. I even smell good. And I think he's deaf. Must be deaf. I've been singing one of those new Beatles tunes for two hours. I can't get it out of my head. It's really catchy. It's a Pick-to-Click. And everyone knows I can't sing. I sound like a tom cat. He hasn't bitched at me once. Weird. Anyhow, you should get on this train before you get dropped like a bad habit. Maybe later we can buy him a beer or something."
I've just spent another 15 minutes or so poking around Dutch awesomeness. There's all kinds of hidden little gems on that site. Christ, I wish I could read Hollandaise.
@Marko
If you need to understand Hollandaise to read that web page, you need to see a specialist for your condition.