Anatomy of a Photo: Rule #47

Leducq and Frantz writing a Rule photo: via Il Dolore

André Leducq was a complete French Badass, with a capital B. He was third, below Merckx and Hinault for Tour de France stage wins. Nicolas Frantz was an equally Badass Luxembourger. He rode to more victories than Frandy Schleck shall ever attain in a few lifetimes. He did win the Tour de France.

The crowd is obviously pleased to have these thin, healthy supermen in their village. Bicycles are properly leaned against a wall. Their caps look a little dusty. Studying the glasses a person might guess they are enjoying some of Belgium’s finest beverage. Maybe, in the late 1920s the French brewed excellent beer. Are they drinking before a race or after a race? Can one look this good after a race back in the 1920s? Let’s assume this is post-race. Someone won, someone didn’t. Two rivals can still have a laugh and a glass of quality malted recovery beverage to make the day complete. These brothers of the road are enjoying some beautiful ale and having a nice time doing it.

As we have pointed out many times, we didn’t invent these Rules, we just wrote some of them down.

Gianni

Gianni has left the building.

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paolo says:

Apr 27 2013 at 12:16 am

@Joe

@gianni - the lack of pubs is disconcerting, even more the lack of al fresco boozing. So many sunny evenings going to waste for lack of beer gardens..

@nate - will need it soon. Face, arms and legs have turned a dirty brown, the rest is still polar white. regulation issue.

Bruichladdich used to be part owned by a mate of my boss. REAL character....lovely dram. Still like Talisker and bum basic Laphroaig a bit better maybe....

Tinhorn Flats is a bar in Burbank, has a beer garden. There are a few god pubs in Hollywood, Santa Monica ( bit touristy) and dotted around the Valley.
Where do you ride Joe?
piwakawaka says:

Apr 27 2013 at 12:41 am

@seemunkee

@Malfadactus

Not sure if this is the appropriate venue for this question, but here goes. I have a serious problem with dry eyes on long rides. Even when wearing sunglasses, after four or five hours, one eye dries out to the point where I can't even see out of it, and the other eye gets pretty marginal. Not pleasant and downright dangerous. So, if I were to obtain and wear a set of old school goggles, like the gentleman in the photo above, would that be a rules violation? Would I have to obtain and wear the rest of the old school kit-button collar wool shirt, cap, etc? Could I put the helmet straps over the google straps? So many issues.

Perhaps a pair of Oakley's finest would be in order

Wasn't thinking eyewear ...
eenies says:

Apr 27 2013 at 1:24 am

One warm but windy day I was descending at the regulation "ludicrous" speed when my contact lenses shrivelled up from lack of blinking and fell out of my eyes. I suddenly found myself riding blind but managed to come to a safe stop. Luckily the lenses had stuck to the inside of my shades, I then spent a considerable time by the roadside getting the lenses moistened with spit and trying to get them back in using my sunglasses as a mirror. Note to self, "Blink ye fanny".
the Engine says:

Apr 27 2013 at 10:38 am

@eenies

One warm but windy day I was descending at the regulation "ludicrous" speed when my contact lenses shrivelled up from lack of blinking and fell out of my eyes. I suddenly found myself riding blind but managed to come to a safe stop. Luckily the lenses had stuck to the inside of my shades, I then spent a considerable time by the roadside getting the lenses moistened with spit and trying to get them back in using my sunglasses as a mirror. Note to self, "Blink ye fanny".

Nothing to do with any of this but were you one of the Fleet Feet people in the late 80's early 90's in Stonehaven?
Joe says:

Apr 27 2013 at 4:36 pm

@paolo - ta for that. Red Lion in Silverlake serves good German beer and has a nice garden. I live in Echo Park and work in Hollywood so do a lot of extended loops out around Griffith and Elysian parks. Got to get out into the Santa Monica / Gabriel mts soon for some proper riding.
paolo says:

Apr 27 2013 at 6:03 pm

@Joe

There used to be a really cool Indian in Silverlake on Sunset called Tantra,

Anyhoo if you don't mind riding with a Brummie ( without the black country accent) and I am no great shakes as a rider I can tell you but I'd be happy to show you around the Santa Monicas sometime. There's some great rides. We can probably exchange emails through Frank. Let me know. I'm off every other weekend and I have lots of time off during the week.
eenies says:

Apr 28 2013 at 2:42 am

@the Engine

No, closer to Sandhaven than Stonehaven and my feet have never been very fleet.
Joe says:

Apr 29 2013 at 6:36 am

@paolo - sounds good to me mate!