Casually Deliberate is at the core of Looking Pro; it’s something that comes from a lifetime spent on a bike, becoming one with the machine. There are two components to this phenomenon, two organisms forming a symbiotic bond and working together in perfect harmony towards an end.
The Machine. Immaculate. Every piece of kit in its place, adjusted to the millimeter; il posizione must be set up precisely to maximize the V-Locus. The Principle of Silence reigns supreme; no creaks, no squeaks – no Rattle, just the Hum from the tires and spokes as they cut through the air. Every last detail is looked after; the frame is spotless and the bars perfectly wrapped.
The rider. A paradox. Victim at the hands of the Man with the Hammer, yet conqueror of their own physical limitations. Perched on the saddle, the rider is comfortable as the legs spin with deceptive ease. Every movement is perfect and carefully controlled, yet nothing is given undue consideration. The hands reach out and rest easy on the bars. The back is simultaneously arched and flat as the body finds the ideal balance between transferring maximum power to the pedals while keeping the shoulders low and narrow to punch the smallest possible hole through the air.
Nothing conveys this notion as much as riding in the Phantom Aerobars. The forearms resting on the tops, hands draped loosely in the air, clutching at nothing but wind: physics are seemingly defied as somehow the rider manages to not only steer, but also coax the leverage from the arms required to propel the machine forward. In a word: Grace.
It is paramount that any rider who endeavors to Look Pro learn to ride in this difficult position. But beware: one must take care to avoid crashing while practicing; not only is crashing while trying to Look Pro un-casual, it is monumentally un-Pro. That’s a tip.
One last consideration, the gut you’ve been nursing since discovering that beer is the ideal post-ride recovery drink may actually help keep your forearms unweighted. I recommend you keep testing that theory until it becomes true.
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Great article! Recently discovered my Phantom Aerobars - and I like them! Feels natural, casual, yet the power from legs - wow! Gotta work on being able to maintain that.
I tried this the other day without much success! That said I was suffering somewhat at the time.
I spent last week in Naples, Florid on holiday last week and took my bike with me to keep up with my new found ability to get out of bed early and ride. I end up riding on five of the seven days and clocked up 235km which is way above my usual weekly mileage. 151km were on group rides with Naples Velo which was a first, I'd never ridden in a paceline or at that sort average speed. I got dropped on two of the rides, the first time I dropped myself on an out and back ride when I realised I was riding just below my maximum heart rate and was sure of the route back so I bailed out on the out bound leg with the thought that a brief respite would allow me to get my heart in order and get back on when they caught up with me on the return leg. In the end I managed a decent enough pace that I was only caught at at the last set of lights before the start/finish. Looking back I should have stayed with the group.
On the second occasion I was dropped climbing a bridge. I was gradually catching up, standing and sprinting until I had to sit down for a moment and then standing again but a second bridge killed the chase. I carried on for a bit but again turned and headed back and managed to get back up to speed and cover the 28km back to base before being caught. My average speed for the whole ride was 39.7km/h, my usual solo pace is about 32km/h.
It was after I was dropped and was trying to put my lungs back in that I tried the Phantom Aerobars, having seen their Casually Deliberate use on the Tour. My poise and balance went and any pretence at a magnificent stroke evaporated rapidly. The only was to main any sort speed and dignity was to get back in the drops and get my head down. For the first time I found my self truly comfortable on the rivet and can only imagine that I was approaching some sort of novice V-Locus.
A big thanks to the Naples Velo riders for some great rides.
@Chris
Youch. Baptism of fire. Have fun, tho'?
@Blah
I really enjoyed ridding in a group and riding at a whole new intensity! I just wish there was more of that going on around where I live. I was doing OK with the pace being set by the group while on the flat but the bridge caught me out and I burnt some matches trying to get back on. I was catching up gradually but realised the second bridge would undo all the work even if I could catch up before I got to it.
Hopefully we'll be back over there on holiday and I'll be peaking! Next holiday is 2 weeks in Southern Spain which is going to be considerably hillier than Florida!
@Chris
The step up to group rides can be a bit startling. Your average speed, after cracking, sounds high as a high thing, so it's no great shame at all. Good luck next time, and have a ball in Spain!
@Blah
The average speed was for the whole ride, not just after I cracked. Stepping up to group rides was a bit daunting, I found it quite hard to keep a consistent distance from the rider in front. Taking turns at the front was tough and it was hard work getting on a the back fter taking pull (the bridge coincided with trying to get back on after a pull). I'd say I'm a pretty good bike handler so I dind't find the closeness of it to be something to worry about, it added to the fun.
I suspect Spain is going to be pronounced with a silent "S", it's going to be super hot, very dry and steep. Being close to the Atlantic coast it may also be a bit windy. Fuck Yeah!