Had never heard that one before...

Sherwin used the expression to describe one of the guys struggling mightily in the Pyrennees today...

Here's the origin according to the Powerful, All-Mighty Internet:

'If you're going as hard as you can, you're "on the rivet," an ancient phrase meaning sitting on the rivet at the front of your Brooks saddle.'

I'm never on the rivet, but my shorts sometimes get snagged there.

Strangely, english-style horse saddles--please note the word 'saddle'--also have a 'rivet' (although it's actually a special type of screw, since it can be undone and redone) at the front of the saddle on each side. There's a strong possibility that 'on the rivet' can be ultimately traced to horseracing.

Note to self: research *after* the Tour de France

Never heard that one before? He uses that a lot. That's an old-school one there! I'm old enough to have been on the rivet myself. Only a couple of times, though - then I got a new saddle. Those things were freakin' uncomfortable. Supposedly if you rode long enough on it it'd get broken in and get super comfortable. But I was a kid and couldn't take it and cried until my Dad bought me a Bernard Hinault model Selle Italia Turbo saddle. That thing was a rock too but what a relief after that darn Brooks.

Sorry for the trip down memory lane......

They had a rivet right at the tip of the saddle, and if you notice people tend to slide forward on the saddle when struggling or going really hard. So that's when you end up "on the rivet".

All saddles made back then used copper rivets, not just Brooks.
Boonen and Bettini still use copper rivet saddles from Selle San Marco.

Phil and Paul are kinda out of it when it comes to technology -they once commented that modern tires run at 110psi and were amazed.

Really? Doesn't look like Boonen was running it for the Dauphine......

https://www.cyclingnews.com/tech.php?...rks_Tarmac_SL2

Look closer, that's a Selle San Marco Regal...which has rivets along the back. They might not be brass, but their there.


Also, this is what a Brooks Swallow looks like:

I think Dagna is right - I used to work with a Brit who said "on the rivet" a lot to mean working hard or working fast. "They must've been on the rivet all morning to get this done." He knew almost nothing about bike racing, but rode horses and talked about horse racing all the time.

Phil's been using that one as long as he's been calling races.