Anatomy of a Photo: Greg LeMan

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• @Oli Brooke-White, @Jeff in PetroMetro
  One word, "Magnifique!!!!!"

  Also, that pic makes you the opposite of a wanker, it makes you a Velominatus.

• Chur!

• The z-kit, it brings out his quads;)

• Nate :
  @Marko , @frank , @Buck Rogers I am thinking of frank's photo. As for the first, there doesn't seem to be enough background in the frame to make a determination, but don't let that stop you, Buck.

  So, I finally finshed watching the 2005 Paris-Roubaix DVD, the new Lombardia DVD that arrived with my renewal of Cyclesport and got around to watching the 1990 WCP Tour De France DVD today on my early morning trainer ride.

  Great DVD overall. So many parts of the DVD are worth mentioning and discussing in detail, but the original question of when the photo was taken is still not clear in my mind, even after watching the video. But, if I had to make an educated guess, I would bet that it was taken before he had the puncture on the descent after the Marie-Blanque. There is a fleeting shot of him in the DVD prior to the puncture on that stage that looks soooo much like the above photo.

  Most interestingly, and a bonus for me riding 100 minutes this morning, is that in the end credits of the DVD there is almost the exact same shot of him riding as above.

  I need to write a guest article about the DVD and that race. From Lemond mispronouncing Chiappucci's name so badly throughout to Lemon's wry smile as he is asked if he made anyone hurt that day, so many cool sections.

• btw, here is a SUPER link on the '90 tdf, including the original "chaingate" a la Cuntador and Brother Grimpeur the Younger with the puncture on stage 17.

  http://www.cyclesportmag.com/features/classic-races-1990-tour-de-france/

• @frank

  By the way, that picture is everything cool about cycling. That is not a Lemond frame, despite the logs. It's a TVT. Those lugs, the Deltas, the scott drop-ins, the fucking bomb-diggity. The benoto tape (which you can get at Excel Sports now, by the way, although it's an order of magnitude more expensive now).
  I loved those drop-ins.

  Holy Merckx's cock. I loved those Scott bars. Roomy in college knew the guy that developed them. Had one of the first pairs. But, probably a beer can now........

• @Jeff in PetroMetro

  It's the white lever hoods. It's the pearl white Benotto tape. It's all the shiny bits. It's the stem. It's the round, deep bars. It's the glint from the summer sun on the DT spokes and box rims. It's the 53 x 11. It's the Number 1 on his rainbow jersey. It's the violet Avocet and Z's. It's the fork rake. It's the bidons that say, "American Caffeine and Sugar. Serve it ice cold. Bitches." It's the blue iridium Oakley Razor Blades that we wish we still had and could wear just one more time. It's riding without a helmet and not giving it a thought. It's descending at 80kph with more than enough cool to flash us a smile.
  That was twenty years ago. I remember it so clearly, like it was this afternoon.
  That's Greg LeMond. That's my hero.

  I agree completely. This is why I love the bike.

• Those hoods, while comfortable and substantial to hold onto, especially out of the saddle, were really difficult for me to brake effectively from the hoods position. The springs were overly stiff for my taste, and the bend of the lever was awkwardly low.

• @Calmante

  Those hoods, while comfortable and substantial to hold onto, especially out of the saddle, were really difficult for me to brake effectively from the hoods position. The springs were overly stiff for my taste, and the bend of the lever was awkwardly low.

  Maybe. But I'm sure they were laterally stiff and vertically compliant. No?

• What a photo.

  Just maybe it's that the cycle computer matches the 'Z' on his kit. So subtle that it almost unnoticeable but, somewhere in your subconscious switches are flicked and triggers released that sends chemicals around your body. These chemicals, switched and triggers leave you with only one conclusion and that is this photo is the embodiment of what it is to ride a bike. The Rules have been distilled and triple filtered through charcoal and poured over ice - this photo is the result.

  Is that a Cartier watch? Dang!!!