“You ruined a heap of photos!” Not the words you want to hear when the photos in question are ones you didn’t shoot, but were in. “How?” “You’re too low, too compressed.” At least he didn’t say I was ugly. “And you’re ugly.”
When you work with professional photographers, you pick up a few tricks of the trade along the way (and then reject them, it seems). ‘Ride slow, look fast’ is a favourite tip, but usually just ends up with me looking like someone who is slow and desperately trying to look fast, but just looking slow. Getting your elbows, knees, ass and eyes all pointing in the correct (but completely different) directions is something that comes easily for gifted riders, and not at all for the rest of us.
Joe Breeze don’t need no tips on how to look perfect for the camera. He just tells the photographer where to stand, then lays down a one-take lesson in feet-up drift cornering technique that remains the benchmark to this day. His clothes, hair and moustache, well they deserve a complete chapter in the Book of Cool all their own.
Modern mountain bikes may have come a long way, but clothing could do worse than take some cues from the 70s (not just for biking, either). This is the way to dress for a ride. Just make sure you’ve got Breeze-perfect form to back it up.
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@Nate Yep, dude's a master.
@frank
No Belgian compact there. And yes that is a hairnet. Also: does Tom's style on the bike not resemble that of a certain eminent retired American cycling champion?
@frank
Next time we'll have to get over to that side of Tam.
Absolutely awestruck by this photo ... made my day!
One of the photos I ruined... talk about a muppet! Hartley's Creek, North Queensland, photo Stefan Haworth (he's not the accuser of ruin).
Better technique, but no Breeze...
@Ron
My VMW has a saying "Have you no mirrors in your house". It seems to get muttered more and more these days.
Stuffed that up! First ever MTB race.
@frank
This set of photos impressed from the first go round... I can only hope I look this bad ass when I get a little older.
@sthilzy
Not sure that I am ever going to master that... Ride slow, look fast... Probably easier for me to achieve- ride slow, look fat.
@therealpeel riding slow, looking slow. Should've been airborne! Instead gotta handful of brake levers.