December 14, 2009
Hey Joe, now that it is cross season, along with visions of “being the only one in the photo” at the end of a raining, cold early season road race, tell us about the real “Belgian Kneewarmers”. What did you use on your legs in the races or what did you see being used as embrocation in Belgium in the changing rooms. I know that the application of products on the legs is as much of the ritual of riding a Kermis as is training. Can you enlighten us?
David A - Portland, OregonIt’s funny, but actually didn’t know what “Belgian Kneewarmers” referred to until about a year ago. I guess it might be, perhaps, that as I was in the habit of putting on one or another type of embrocation gunk on the knees and legs, and that everyone else was doing the same thing, I never knew there was an American term for it.
Yes, for those of you who have never been in a dressing room immediately prior to a Belgian kermis, classic, semi-classic, or cyclocross race … the air becomes thick with the fragrance of at least a dozen different analgesic ointments. Some of these are familiar smells – a lot like that Ben Gay smell you got when you went to visit your grandparents. Some of them, on the other hand, are like nothing you have smelled before – and quite possibly could be some sort of cross between a freaky hillbilly poultice and a high desert meth lab.
Continue Reading »
Share this Page
