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Belgium Knee Warmers Defined
For many professional cyclists the Spring campaign is the toughest of the season; it means training from October until March in the worst, character-building weather conditions Europe can dish out. This weather and the suffering that is bicycle racing breed characters known as "hardmen".
Select cyclists tackle these conditions in shorts, long sleeve jerseys or short sleeve jerseys with arm warmers, wind vests, and shoe covers. A true hardman opts to forego the knee or leg warmers and instead chooses an embrocation to cover the knees. The liniment provides warmth for the legs and keeps the blood circulating and muscles supple. Embrocation and the sheen created is affectionately known as "Belgium knee warmers". The hardest of cyclists will sport bare legs in the most ruthless of conditions.
Belgium Knee Warmers are indicitive of the many subtleties that make professional cycling so enthralling.
Select cyclists tackle these conditions in shorts, long sleeve jerseys or short sleeve jerseys with arm warmers, wind vests, and shoe covers. A true hardman opts to forego the knee or leg warmers and instead chooses an embrocation to cover the knees. The liniment provides warmth for the legs and keeps the blood circulating and muscles supple. Embrocation and the sheen created is affectionately known as "Belgium knee warmers". The hardest of cyclists will sport bare legs in the most ruthless of conditions.
Belgium Knee Warmers are indicitive of the many subtleties that make professional cycling so enthralling.
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- I spent 20 years of my life working in the bicycle industry, turning wrenches and selling bikes for some of the industry's best shops. I have extensive experience designing and constructing frames in both steel and titanium and have performed thousands of bike fits. I am passionate about bicycles in all forms. The bicycle provides me with physical and mental health and taps me into a social pipeline that allows me to share my passion with others. I ride as often as possible and love the flow of a hard group ride. Check back for musings about all things road cycling and, especially, the Spring Classics. The devil is in the details and I am an expert in the useless minutia that makes up our discipline.
© 2006-2009 Belgium Knee Warmers. All Rights Reserved.
© 2006-2009 Belgium Knee Warmers. All Rights Reserved.
7 comments:
I love how relaxed the QS hardmen are in the top shot - compared to the Caisse rider in the third - rule one, relax over the cobbles makes them easier...
Look at the second picture closely, what does the FDJ rider have on his fingers, tape?
...couple a' those guys seem to have tape on their fingers...
...notice in the third photo, the cofidis rider is using top mount 'cross' levers...
...& even though that is a relatively smooth section of cobbles, that's gotta be pretty serious after hours in the saddle...
"I love how relaxed the QS hardmen are in the top shot - compared to the Caisse rider in the third"
Different points in the race. Everybody else in the third shot looks pretty strained too.
Use your brain.
"rule one, relax over the cobbles makes them easier"
Armchair genius. Fuck you.
I believe Ballan ran a single top-mount lever (rear brake) like he's done previously. Makes sense for cobble sections in groups.
One of the things that has been most enjoyable about our comments section has been the civility we enjoy here.
Let's keep it that way; we're chums here.
"Let's keep it that way; we're chums here."
Roger that. Sorry, the "p.s." thing was meant without venom, and was intended to be humorously contradictory. But it came off as simply crude. My apologies.
Fletcher
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