Book review: The Rules

[Johnny Rad]

Some of the rules are funny. Some are ridiculous. And some don't make sense. It seems like you need to have ridden during the wool era to truly appreciate some of them. Some of the rules are rooted in retro-grouchness.

Ride on and take the joke for what it is.

I agree with these posters. Flawed? Maybe. Funny? Many. Timeless? Yup!

The Rules are my occasional North Star. If I care to look, they're always shining the light on what's ahead and behind (except during the day I suppose) because cycling culture is admittedly very odd to those who don't embrace it. More than once I've shared some of the Rules with cyclist friends that needed a "helping hand." They always ask why and I say because it's the rules. I email them the rules and we all laugh (and they get their act together so we all win).

[jlok]

Some of the rules make actual sense. Others, like sock height, how to wear sunglasses, etc. are stupid and pointless. All I care about from other riders is that they ride safely when they are near me. Everything else is a big "I Don't Care".

FWIW it's actually more aero by putting the sunglass arms over the helmet straps... saves you 1W probably.... is there Aero Weenies subforum here?

[jeffy]

They could really have done with the addition of;

Rule #96 Thou shalt understand satire
Rule #97 Do not talk about The Rules

[mattr]

The irony is that most of the people who quote the rules don't understand satire. Or irony.

[djwalker]

Some of the rules make actual sense. Others, like sock height, how to wear sunglasses, etc. are stupid and pointless. All I care about from other riders is that they ride safely when they are near me. Everything else is a big "I Don't Care".

FWIW it's actually more aero by putting the sunglass arms over the helmet straps... saves you 1W probably.... is there Aero Weenies subforum here?

I think that the aero savings or loss probably depends on the shape of your head and the size of your ears

[Leviathan]

The irony is that most of the people who quote the rules don't understand satire. Or irony.

Indeed, and its a scary shibboleth for a contingent (or perhaps that should be continent, yes, we know the one) insufficiently ingrained with its own cycling culture as to need some ridiculous dogma to give itself credibility. But funny.

[kulivontot]

[jlok]

It looks better anyway. +1 to the sunglass over strap rule.