Categories: Belgian AffirmationsFolkloreKeepers TourNostalgiaThe Hardmen

Belgian Affirmations: Andrei Tchmil

Andrei Tchmil got so tired of the palpable disappointment of not being Belgian that he decided to become one. Envision the world the way you want it to be, then make it so.

People are cynical when I talk about Belgium. They think I’m only Belgian on paper. That is not true. Yes, I was a Russian, even a proud one…. Now I am proud to be Belgian.

A-Merckx; I totally understand the Awesome you’re on about.

Incidentally, I’m so inappropriately excited about Keepers Tour: Cobbled Classics 2012 that I can’t promise next week won’t be another week of unabashed, full-frontal Belgian Toothpaste Porn.

frank

The founder of Velominati and curator of The Rules, Frank was born in the Dutch colonies of Minnesota. His boundless physical talents are carefully canceled out by his equally boundless enthusiasm for drinking. Coffee, beer, wine, if it’s in a container, he will enjoy it, a lot of it. He currently lives in Seattle. He loves riding in the rain and scheduling visits with the Man with the Hammer just to be reminded of the privilege it is to feel completely depleted. He holds down a technology job the description of which no-one really understands and his interests outside of Cycling and drinking are Cycling and drinking. As devoted aesthete, the only thing more important to him than riding a bike well is looking good doing it. Frank is co-author along with the other Keepers of the Cog of the popular book, The Rules, The Way of the Cycling Disciple and also writes a monthly column for the magazine, Cyclist. He is also currently working on the first follow-up to The Rules, tentatively entitled The Hardmen. Email him directly at rouleur@velominati.com.

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View Comments

Marko says:

Nov 12 2011 at 4:08 am

@Steampunk
Great footage. Must watch through to the end.
Routier says:

Nov 12 2011 at 4:18 am

Here's Tchmil at P-R in 1994, powering along 'roads' so rough that the bikes are in the process of falling off the team car. Possibly.

You've got to love the old RockShox SLs, there's something very cool about them along with P-R tech in general. A subject for a future article perhaps?
wiscot says:

Nov 12 2011 at 6:26 am

I think there should be a new rule: all photographs of Paris-Roubaix should be printed in black-and-white. C'mon, you know they just look better that way. In fact, color photography should be banned from all the spring classics.
scaler911 says:

Nov 12 2011 at 6:59 am

@frank
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCnZqg1RgGA&feature=related
Steampunk says:

Nov 12 2011 at 7:31 am

@Marko
Dude! That just sounds all wrong!
Steampunk says:

Nov 12 2011 at 7:34 am

@Steampunk
Here's what I like about the Vanderaerden pic I posted:

1. He's covered in mud, which is the theme of much of this conversation.
2. He's suffering.
3. He's desperately trying to keep the bike upright.
4. He's beyond casually deliberate in all of the above, but rather imbuing a greater sense of serenity.
Steampunk says:

Nov 12 2011 at 7:36 am

@Marko
Also love that Moser is looking absolutely wrecked. Gap between sleeves and arm warmers on such a pro's pro is a strong indication of just how hard P-R 1987 was...
scaler911 says:

Nov 12 2011 at 7:37 am

While a photo of an old folded magazine cover usually sucks, check out the amount of V Freddy is laying down here. Everything is 'right', right?
Steampunk says:

Nov 12 2011 at 7:39 am

@frank
Turning ozone into oxygen: is that what makes Ritchey such a badass?
frank says:

Nov 12 2011 at 10:24 am

@Routier

Here's Tchmil at P-R in 1994, powering along 'roads' so rough that the bikes are in the process of falling off the team car. Possibly.

You've got to love the old RockShox SLs, there's something very cool about them along with P-R tech in general. A subject for a future article perhaps?

Check out the V his tires are making in the mud. It's fuckin' badass, man, like shootin' a machine gun on peyote.