As a matter of fact, no, I hadn't forgotten how awesome I am.
A true leader rarely asks someone to do something for them; the best leaders inspire through their own example those around them to follow suit and join them in their cause. The leader is fueled by something that is not externally driven, it is born from within and appears in this world as passion and conviction. These qualities, in their genuine state, are irresistible.
Style is a special kind of art, it is not the kind of art that is hung on the wall and gazed upon by passers by; like leadership, it is not externally focussed but instead is something one uses to shape how we feel. We become a piece of living, breathing art. And then, hypothetically, after you spill some mustard down the front of your lovely, crisp shirt, the art might also take on an olfactory quality as well.
A foundational principle of La Vie Velominatus is the power of Looking Fantastic: of dressing up in impeccable, matching kit and climbing aboard a perfectly curated, cleaned, and tuned machine before setting out onto the road brimming with confidence and oozing morale. As Paul Fournel said, “To look good is already to go fast.”
There might actually be some science behind it, which I’ve never needed but always assumed there would be.
Research suggests that our own body language can alter our hormonal levels to the effect that they significantly change the way we perceive ourselves. (If you haven’t watched Amy Cuddy‘s TED Talk on Body Language, you should.) In her studies, she found that something as simple as adopting a high power stance for two minutes can increase testosterone levels by 80% (making one more confident and assertive) and reduce cortisol levels by 25% (making one less reactive to stress).
Both of these sound a lot like how kitting up for a cold, rainy ride in my Flandrian Best makes me feel; I will set out into the deluge brimming with confidence and ready to face the cold and risks that come as a part of not only riding a bike, but riding one in wet, poor-visibility conditions. At high speed. If standing in a bathroom with your arms in the air for two minutes can measurably change your hormone levels for the better, then I have every reason to believe that knowing that you Look Fantastic at All Times would have the same, if not stronger, effect.
Vive la Vie Velominatus.
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@frank
The 90s! Spinergy wheels and Spinacis! One of teammates rode the former and I had the latter. It was a sad day when Spinacis were outlawed.
@frank
Thanks Frahnk for proving my point. JeeeZHUS that kit looks as bad a mullet on a spindly Dude wearing MC Hammer pants trying to lip sync Vanilla Ice. Fuck, leave it for dead, will ya, already!
On the topic of Mapei looking better with the rainbow stripes, is there any way Sagan is going to make this look good?
@DeKerr
I won't hit Quote as that pic should never be seen again. It's like one of those shitty paintings that supposedly contain a picture if you look long enough. Alas, with this kit you could look at it for a month and all you'd see is pain. Fortunately it was only used as "training" kit. No-one could make it look good; however, next to that Mapei shit-fest kit, it looks as good as La Vie Claire.
@chuckp
Makes sense given his constant fretting and worrying about his weight. Mind you, most women wouldn't brag about their chest size being smaller than their hips as Francis did the other week.
@wiscot
Oi!!! Let's not get carried away there, Mate!!! You should know better than comparing anything to the La Vie Claire kit. That's like comparing someone to the Virgin Mary when speaking with a Catholic; it's just not done.
@Buck Rogers
But that's my point! The LVC kit is ne plus ultra. The Mapei kit is one of the worst of all time!
@wiscot
Damn! Never mind! That was just me commenting before doing a full read again. Hell, at least I read enough of your post to see La Vie Claire, right?
@Buck Rogers
Me, I just look at the pictures. And right now, a picture of the Atala kit would do just nicely. (Hint, hint to people with better tech skillz than me.)