Categories: Anatomy of a Photo

Anatomy of a Photo: Chuck a Dead Animal Over Your Shoulder

Let me open this by stating that I firmly believe that Animals should be treated with dignity and respect, and should be given the right to live a wholesome and fulfilling life. Chickens should be allowed to preen and pluck proudly; cows the right to socialize as amicably as cows can, and pigs should be allowed to delight in their own filth. Right up until we slaughter them to either eat them or wear them, or some unconventional combination of the two – depending on your preference.

I wanted to get that out of the way before I subject you all to a picture of Young Frank – much closer to Peaking than Old Frank – engaging in a game of “God Mag ‘t Weten” with his Cycling Sensei (his dad) after a 10 hour day riding singletrack in Alta, Wyoming. After all, if there isn’t a better way of saying, “We put it in the Big Ring today, Son” than chucking a dead sheep around your shoulders and calling it a ‘vest’, I don’t know what is.

frank

The founder of Velominati and curator of The Rules, Frank was born in the Dutch colonies of Minnesota. His boundless physical talents are carefully canceled out by his equally boundless enthusiasm for drinking. Coffee, beer, wine, if it’s in a container, he will enjoy it, a lot of it. He currently lives in Seattle. He loves riding in the rain and scheduling visits with the Man with the Hammer just to be reminded of the privilege it is to feel completely depleted. He holds down a technology job the description of which no-one really understands and his interests outside of Cycling and drinking are Cycling and drinking. As devoted aesthete, the only thing more important to him than riding a bike well is looking good doing it. Frank is co-author along with the other Keepers of the Cog of the popular book, The Rules, The Way of the Cycling Disciple and also writes a monthly column for the magazine, Cyclist. He is also currently working on the first follow-up to The Rules, tentatively entitled The Hardmen. Email him directly at rouleur@velominati.com.

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View Comments

Omar says:

Dec 14 2010 at 11:11 pm

Too many kinds of awesome to count.
Steampunk says:

Dec 14 2010 at 11:34 pm

Yep: I'm pretty much speechless, too.
Joe says:

Dec 15 2010 at 2:49 am

Looks like a still from an unreleased Terry Gilliam flick, flying through space on a curious cosmic sleighride. What's with the magic carpet background and what the hell is the upturned porthole that your old chap is staring at so intently? Double rollneck, velveteen and dead animal, though. Definitely a win.
Ron says:

Dec 15 2010 at 3:35 am

I enjoy the combination of reading glasses with that crazy vest. Refined on the one hand, yet caveman-like on the other. Nice.

I think I need your sweater; it's damn cold out.
Musket says:

Dec 15 2010 at 3:51 am

I like that the 'vest' has pockets, in which you can store the dried meat products salvaged from the beast which you now wear.
Marko says:

Dec 15 2010 at 4:55 am

The zebra pelt in the back has faces on it.
3cross says:

Dec 15 2010 at 5:45 am

Is that your man bag on the table next to you?
Steampunk says:

Dec 15 2010 at 7:08 am

...and the coke. That table is overflowing with nose candy, isn't it?
pakrat says:

Dec 15 2010 at 7:31 am

A purse, zebra pelt, a porthole...... are you sure this is in Wyoming? Also, was it the babe in the dolphin shorts that you were staring at?
Jeff in PetroMetro says:

Dec 15 2010 at 7:38 am

@Steampunk
That's what I was thinking! There's this "Pablo Escobar and Son" vibe. Like a baker and his son up early to make bread for sale. Only they're making a giant party platter of blow. And Pablo Sr. gets to wear the pimpin' fur 'cause he's El Patron.