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

scaler911 says:

Nov 11 2011 at 9:57 am

So I go and post up a rule 9 photo in a different article this morning, and Frank goes and one ups it. Great minds think alike.
Bill says:

Nov 11 2011 at 10:11 am

@frank

What's really going on in the background, far right? Is that a rider that's employing Rule V and cranking out 100 burpees before entering the cobbles?

Or is it just a turn gone wrong?
Nate says:

Nov 11 2011 at 10:12 am
RedRanger says:

Nov 11 2011 at 10:26 am

One more.
Souleur says:

Nov 11 2011 at 11:06 am

beautiful thoughts Frank!

the prostelytized spirit...to that of a Belgian. I love it! Rule V multiplied for all, enjoy thinking of this all winter til next spring!
Dr C says:

Nov 11 2011 at 11:16 am

@Nate

BRR in fine form this morning "” and on topic.

BRR +1
Souleur says:

Nov 11 2011 at 11:19 am

this is a good one from this year!
mcsqueak says:

Nov 11 2011 at 11:23 am

These are awesome photos! Makes me sort of excited to go ride in the rain this weekend.
wiscot says:

Nov 11 2011 at 11:34 am

@Nate
Back in the day (the 80s) before knee warmers were in our cycling wardrobe, on cold wet days in Scotland (which generally happened all year-round), when we were racing we'd do the embrocation thing on cold dry days and if it was wet do vaseline over the top. Worked a treat, but a real bugger to get off. Full strength eau de cologne or something alcohol-based usually did the trick. Another great reason to keep the guns super smooth!
wiscot says:

Nov 11 2011 at 11:37 am

@frank
I'd forgotten Tchmil was an Alfa Lum rider; I always think of him in Lotto gear. I still have one of those Alfa Lum jerseys, although it's a tad small now . . . It even has CCCP on it as it was basically the Soviet pro team.