Always be casually deliberate, even when riding.
You have just attacked off the front to take a town line sprint. It was a just-the-perfect-amount-of-dumb yet successful move. You went deeply anaerobic for a sprint no one else was even mildly interested in, but you did crush them unrestrainedly.
Now, to hide your effort, you deploy the Rule #80 Casual Coast. Left hand on the bars, right hand resting on the thigh, right pedal up to raise the right thigh to armchair height. You coast along as your awesome sprinting momentum eases and the group rolls up. You are a picture of relaxation and confidence. You drift left and regard them as they ride up on your right. Your body language says one thing.
Let that be a lesson, jongens.
My old friend and LBS owner, George “Lefty” Sykes has taught me many cycling things over the years. He invested too much time, swearing and frustration drilling us in the perfect double pace line. The Casual Coast was never mentioned but George was a master of this move. I discerned this posture was as important as riding a double pace line though no one was going to pull me off the road and lecture me about it. This was not a skill, this was just cool. We cyclists don’t do much coasting but this an awesome way to recover and survey your fellow riders from a position of power and relaxed confidence.
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@Adrian
ahhhh, it was a photo shoot. I knew I could spend more time on the internets looking for a good photo than to just go out and shoot a decent one. And we didn't have time to actually go out on a ride afterward. I'm not @pedale, I always go out with a bidon.
@The Pressure
Grazie, ebay is a wondrous thing. It's a Ritchey classic stem and bars. It measures at 125mm (?!). Later I put some Chris King silver headset spacers under the stem so it's all one color.
@scaler911 @Nate
Maybe it would be cooler to be rolling your own while waiting for people to catch up.
@ChrissyOne Thanks. Gadzooks it right! Serotta does not mess about. I lusted after a Colgano lugged carbone frame but this may be better. It's custom made, the original owner was smaller than I am, yet it fits me well. And he kept it in perfect shape. Chapeau to him.
@wiscot
Actually, that is not far from the truth. Not me, as I've never smoked real cigarettes but the fake ones amuse me endlessly. But I do roll with a crowd of amazing cyclists here who do not fear some maui-wowie on a long road ride. Again, not me, I can crash in a wet corner without, thank you very much.
Here is an alternate photo, where it looks like I am taking a big drag. Me and Cipo!
@Gianni
Jesus those calves! My two calves put together would still only be half of one of yours. Fuckin calf envy right here, Mate!
@Buck Rogers
Me too. I have always been in the "pathetic calves" class. @gianni they are a work of road art.
@Buck Rogers @Mike_P
You lads can put your calf envy away. Mine are all show, handed down. They don't make me faster in any way. I'd rather have Frank's "calves" and climb like him, maybe. Maybe not.
Just last week I rolled up on 4 guys, with shoulders rocking, working really hard at 35kph. I had a clear lane and a mouthful of Clif Bar. I had been feeding at the 2hr mark when I approached these men who were exhibiting all the Rule V signs. I 'lauded them. But, with on hand on the tops and the other holding the rest of my Clif Bar, I rang my Japanese-law required bell (ugh) and easily overtook them. I bowed my head slightly, as is customary here and a pretty damn cool tradition while encountering any cyclist in Japan. They returned and said nothing....and nor, did they show a sign of cracking. In my Rule 80 moment, they displayed their own version in the face of certain defeat. After I finished my food, I decided to sit up and offer my wheel as a friendly show of respect.
@Gianni
The first time we came to Maui, Gianni and his VMH show us through the apartment we'd be staying in; here is the bathroom, the towels, here is the kitchen, the beer, here is the coffee, and here are your fake cigarettes. At Casa Andrews, the faux cig is as crucial to the Good Life as a good beer.
Gianni is so good at it that he can make all the expressions of taking a drag, while still exhaling in order to make the smoke come out. Its truly a talent. I am 90% sure he rides with one at all times. I am 100% sure he drives with one at all times; every car they have has a stock of them.
And those blokes we did the East Maui Loop Cogal with, smoking dope halfway around and still being able to kill it on the climbs. Unbelievable to my wee brain.
It's been said that Gianni's Serotta is easily the nicest Keeper bike. I agree. His calves aint bad neither.