Anatomy of a Photo: Laurent Fignon, 1989 Tour de France

I know the feeling, Laurent. Sometimes I just want to give the cross winds a big, “Fuck You”, too.

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.

Next Haleakala, Rematch: Some People Just Don't Learn »

Previous « Velominati Super Prestige: 2011 Eneco Tour

View Comments

frank says:

Aug 9 2011 at 11:25 am

@James

Did Pinarello make those funny bikes for Raleigh? Man, what I'd give for one with the double discs. Anyhow, here's an old TT frame from that era that's in the project queue. The geometry makes me wince every time I look at it. :)

OUTSTANDING! Are those double chainstays? Loves me straight-bladed chrome fork, too. You'll have to keep us posted on your build.

@scaler911

Very cool. Can't wait to get my Viner TT funny bike done. Hopefully be done correctly this winter.

Pictures, please.
frank says:

Aug 9 2011 at 11:32 am

@Marko, @Steampunk, @Jeff in PetroMetro
Even if I'd gone to the top, it wasn't a real ride since I'd started from the house, not the base. I'm also definitely not peaking yet. Also, the reconn ride was done without any horse anabolics or food, and I just carried plain water. Everyone knows that's no way to ride a volcano.

But, to the point, yes, there is a fuckton of wind out here right now; the trade winds are really blowing. Going up the mountain you don't feel it too much, though, thank Merkcx. Once you get up past 8000' or so, though, it's blowing hard no matter what direction you're pointing in. However that works. But we all know it does.

Summit bid will be later this week or next; not sure yet exactly when, but lest assured all you assholes will know about it and have plenty of time to guess my time and pile on heaps of additional pressure.
Cyclops says:

Aug 9 2011 at 11:41 am

So when are we going to start talking about what a monster of a team that BMC is becoming now that they have Thor and are going after Gilbert?
michael says:

Aug 9 2011 at 11:48 am

@James

Did Pinarello make those funny bikes for Raleigh? Man, what I'd give for one with the double discs. Anyhow, here's an old TT frame from that era that's in the project queue. The geometry makes me wince every time I look at it. :)

This one you ride with the larger wheel in the front so you could actually have your back flat instead of sloping down. They were able to fit it in the small forks because it had what they labeled as a "dynamic off-center axle" at the time.
mcsqueak says:

Aug 9 2011 at 12:06 pm

@frank

Summit bid will be later this week or next; not sure yet exactly when, but lest assured all you assholes will know about it and have plenty of time to guess my time and pile on heaps of additional pressure.

VSP! VSP! VSP!
scaler911 says:

Aug 9 2011 at 12:24 pm

This is way off topic for this post, but I've been out in the mountains getting my forest roads on. Anyway, ya'll seen this link:
http://www.thesufferfest.com/uncategorized/the-book-of-suffering-now-available-and-free/

I have mixed feelings about it. Is it a VM ripoff, or something cool? Same mixed emotions I have about Pharmmy at '93 Worlds vs '10 TdF.
Direction on this one please.
scaler911 says:

Aug 9 2011 at 12:27 pm

Paging through it, I think the whole thing could be summed up and fixed with Rule V. As in yes, it's supposed to hurt, now Harden The Fuck Up.
James says:

Aug 9 2011 at 12:47 pm

@frank
Yes, the chainstays are double tubes brazed together with metal sheeting. The Carrera team of Urs Zimmermann and Stephen Roche rode these back in the day.

1987 TdF Final Time Trial
Pedale.Forchetta says:

Aug 9 2011 at 1:15 pm

Great photos, great frames, great comments...
eightace says:

Aug 9 2011 at 1:37 pm

Fignon is Pro personified and he was absolutely right when he said he was one of the last of a generation. My life has been far richer for that generation and the racing and personalities it produced. I wouldn't still be nuts about the bike 25 years later if it wasn't for that era.