Vélo by Paul Fournel

Paul Fournel retrata maravillosamente la experiencia y espíritu de todos los aspectos del ciclismo. Desde el momento del primer aprendizaje a mantenerse sobre dos ruedas al disfrute del ciclismo con los compañeros de ruta y los descubrimientos al pedalear por la carretera. Fournel también describe los aspectos más desagradables del ciclismo - fatiga, accidentes, caídas y dopaje

Vélo por Paul Fournel

Ilustraciones por Joe Burt

Vélo es una visión única sobre la bici. A través de una serie de ensayos cortos, Paul Fournel retrata maravillosamente la experiencia y espíritu de todos los aspectos del ciclismo. Desde el momento del primer aprendizaje a mantenerse sobre dos ruedas al disfrute del ciclismo con los compañeros de ruta y los descubrimientos al pedalear por la carretera. Fournel también describe los aspectos más desagradables del ciclismo - fatiga, accidentes, caídas y dopaje. Acompañados por las ilustraciones de Jo Burt, estos relatos son la historia de amor no sólo con la bicicleta, pero con todo lo que representa.

Nota: Textos en inglés:

When I ride with someone for the first time I immediately cast a glance at his legs to know which speed we’re going to go and to know what my lot will be.

You can read a cyclist by his legs.

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If you come across somebody who’s a shaver, beware: generally they go fast and they’re in shape (the out of shape rider willingly lets his leg hair grow back). The slightly chubby leg, vaguely weighed down and with indistinct contours means, on the other hand, that there remains work to do and that a gentle ride will be just that.

The slender leg, with an ever-so-small calf, is the leg of a climber (no unnecessary weight). The voluminous thigh – that’s a sprinter. The long harmonious leg- that’s a rouleur. A short femur? He’ll be swift. Rounded bum? He’ll set off strongly. Slender ankles and knees, he will have class.

Contrary to what’s usually asserted, fat calves are of little use: the essentials of cycling power are concentrated int he back, the buttocks and thighs.

At the height of the season, it’s difficult to forget your legs. They are the site of curious physiological phenomena. The most surprising is ‘big thighs’. Having accumulated I don’t know what kind of fatigue, the thighs swell up and get firmer. They don’t fit into your shorts any more, or your trousers, and you find yourself burdened with two ham-like thighs whose cycling worth is relative, at least for a few days.

…

I dream of a masseur who would supply me with supple muscles, unknotted cramps, and kind words that would give me two beautiful legs.