Categories: Anatomy of a Photo

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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  • @mcsqueak

    Yeah if you suffer from dry eyes during a ride you need sunglasses that don't let in nearly so much air.

    I used to ride with a pair of ray bans, just normal looking ones you'd wear off the bike. Was fine on shorter rides, but on longer rides, especially on warm summer days, I'd suffer from blurry/stinging eyes from being exposed to wind that would go around the lenses for 5 or 6 hours straight.

    I have Jawbones now and they completely eliminated that issue, as they hug the face tightly and don't let nearly as much wind in. I can't imaging riding without them now.

    Thank you. I'll investigate Jawbones.

  • @chris - I'm a life long Londoner but recently transplanted to Los Angeles for work. Enjoying the hills and the good weather!

  • @Joe

    Never buy Corona, not ever.

    Now in LA? What a weird place. So fucking spread out.That is a change from London in almost all ways. At least the cycling is drier. But the lack of pubs, a big problem.

  • @Marcus

    @Docbrian You do not need goggles to ride along Beach Rd FFS. What are you thinking?

    When your eyes are falling out of their sockets because of salt burn, yes you do!

  • Great photo and anyone who looks this relaxed post race either has reserves of V enough to power several large scale powerstations or is on the sherbert again!

    I'm going with the former..

  • @DocBrian

    @Marcus

    @Docbrian You do not need goggles to ride along Beach Rd FFS. What are you thinking?

    When your eyes are falling out of their sockets because of salt burn, yes you do!

    I doubt it's from salt air blowing off the sea. I've never heard anyone complaining of that in years of sailing.

    More likely its a grain of sand or salt from the beach acting as an irritant.

  • @Chris

    @Cyclops

    from the looks of euphoria on their faces it is obvious that they are drinking Rochefort 10

    Just when I'm trying to knuckle down and get myself back on the bike and off the booze you have to remind me that there's a few 10s kicking round the house somewhere. Thanks.

    Love that glass, I'm going to have to keep an eye out for one of those on ebay.

    Question.....Is there one for every Rule? and can you have one for every rule obeyed on a ride?  Now that would be Badass! Flaccus

  • Bear in mind that dry eyes may also be a function of poor head positioning relative to direction of travel. Your helmet or cycling cap should disturb the airflow around your eyes and face. I used to get dry stinging eyes when I started out riding, but I don't any more. This is probably because I have changed my seat and bar positions and have a much improved, classic riding style.

    Weeping due to hyper-V-ification also helps.

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