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.

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Xponti says:

Aug 9 2011 at 7:36 pm

@frank

.....using a term we made up here (first loser)

I'm sure that this term has been used elsewhere before this blog. I have been using it for years, but can't remember where I heard it.

But anyway I'm with you Frank. Lets all lighten up and not take the comments so seriously. The banter that I have come to love on this site gives me a good laugh and provides me with a bit of joy in an otherwise frightening world. At least we are not inciting riots (or is that to come....:P)

By the way. We have just had our Census here down under, and I marked my religion as "Velominati". What did you put down @marcus
Xponti says:

Aug 9 2011 at 7:38 pm

@michael

I just happen to have enough respect for him to wait until he couldn't read my posts to berate him.

Lol....That's the laugh I am talking about....
michael says:

Aug 9 2011 at 7:39 pm

Poor George if he ever lands here.
Xponti says:

Aug 9 2011 at 7:53 pm

@michael
I actually think Shoecovers is alright. He protected Cuddles for the majority of the #TdF and managed to get him into position for some of the ascents. Did better than some of the other "so called" Super Domestiques
Steampunk says:

Aug 9 2011 at 7:54 pm

@Marcus
Love it! With a name like Hoser, I'm surprised he's not Canadian...
scaler911 says:

Aug 9 2011 at 7:57 pm

@frank

@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.

Here ya go. It's in sad shape right now, but I do know a couple things about it: It was used by one of the members of the US '84 Olympic team. It's a 56cm (probably Ron Kiefel), and it has serial #69 on the bottom. I've contacted Viner, and while they have been nice, they are not helpful about it's original kit.
Any help would be nice. I've found someone to paint it and have replacement decals. Oli? Frank?
scaler911 says:

Aug 9 2011 at 8:02 pm

Fuck, why didn't the photo upload??
scaler911 says:

Aug 9 2011 at 8:05 pm

arraghhhhhhh!!!!!!!
minion says:

Aug 9 2011 at 8:09 pm

@Xponti

@G'phant

@minionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godwin's_law

Touche

If I ever meet whatshisname Goodwin I'm gonna do something unpleasant to something he owns while he's not looking. Smart arse bastard.
minion says:

Aug 9 2011 at 8:13 pm

@Marcus
Funny, I was about to characterise my dealings with Australians to shaking a snake in a sack - you wanna do it to get them riled up, but if they bite you it's your own fault. And you're fucked.

@michael
Shame on us indeed.