Anatomy of a Photo: Just Go Faster

Phil Anderson does the Cipolini "Where are you guys?"

This photo of Phil Anderson’s genuine surprise at the gap between himself and the guy who won at losing reminds me of a story my dad tells of a crewmate from his boat at Laga. My dad was the stroke in a boatful of guys who went on to the compete in several World Championships and the Olympics, some of whom actually won medals there.

Two of the guys even became World Champion in the double one year, winning the race by a few boat lengths. During his post-race interview, one of the two was asked what the secret was to their dominating win. In all seriousness, he responded as follows:

For an important race like this, I’m a little surprised the other guys didn’t pull on the oars harder.

I loves me a good, Stead Up with More Speed Paradox.

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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scaler911 says:

Oct 5 2011 at 8:55 pm

@frank

1989 had to be one of Phils best years. Sure, no Yellow Jerseys, but no illusions of grandeur, either. Just raced like a badass. To @Steampunk's point, a lot like Gobbles this year, except Gobbles won nearly every monument.
But scanning through the book that I shot that pic out of (WInning's Legends of Cycling 1989 - I'll get the full title later today) has him ripping it up all year long.

I hope the bottom one is the same race as the main shot, or else he had a systemic problem getting his cap to stay on right over his hairnet. Same color rims on his Oakleys, too. Studying the pic, I don't see much evidence that it's not the same race.

The first photo is great. Check out the slammed stem. Phil is in the bottom of the drops, bunch of chain slack in the big ring, just one bidon in the cages. Fuckin drilling it! (sorry 'the baron'). and I love the sausage helmet. Wonder if a guy could still get his hands on one. Totally useless in a wreck, but I'd rock one of those on a century or something.
RedRanger says:

Oct 5 2011 at 9:05 pm

@scaler911
http://stores.ebay.com/MARIOs-CYCLING-PARTS-SHOP/helmets-/_i.html?_fsub=5189221
Oli says:

Oct 5 2011 at 11:44 pm

@scaler911
The stem isn't slammed, it's at least an inch above the headset locknut!

SUSS me out.
mouse says:

Oct 6 2011 at 12:09 am

@Oli

@scaler911
The stem isn't slammed, it's at least an inch above the headset locknut!
SUSS me out.

Phil's stem if not slammed, is veerry close. On my old steel framed Concorde with a super record headset, I could not drop my forged Cinelli stem much lower than what you see in the picture.
It was either down to the dwarf sized head tube, or the the shape of the casting.
Whatever the discussion of the stem, it doesn't change the fact that that photo oozes pure power.
It's a beautiful thing.
Oli says:

Oct 6 2011 at 12:50 am

Good grief. What is this weird obsession all about?
Minion says:

Oct 6 2011 at 2:14 am

That's a good question. I blame Zipp.

There, fuck it I said it. Any more sacred cows out there?

Riders who pay thousands to maximise the aero think riding with spacers = wasted aero opportunity.
Oli says:

Oct 6 2011 at 3:25 am

Spacers = no chance of beating Tony Martin?
Steampunk says:

Oct 6 2011 at 5:15 am

@Oli

Spacers = no chance of beating Tony Martin?

Well, now that's my excuse.
Ron says:

Oct 6 2011 at 5:37 am

Damn, that's a nice Zullo he's on! Love the top tube paint madness, the aero Campa post, the thin-tubed steel with the low profile rims. Oh boy.
frank says:

Oct 6 2011 at 6:50 am

@scaler911

@Oli

@wiscot
That's Remig Stumpf of Toshiba. This was Anderson's stage 2 win into Liverpool in the 1989 Kellog's Tour of Britain.

I've got an idea for the site. It's called "Stump Oli". We submit photos of obscure pro races from antiquity and Oli figures out the Who, Where, When. Somebody stumps him and Frank sends them a sticker (probably should check with Frank first. Ha!).

Ha! I'll gladly stake a sticker, its not like I'll ever have to pay out.