Categories: Anatomy of a PhotoDefining MomentsNostalgia

Anatomy of a Photo: Campagnolo Candy Van

Every night I pray to Merckx that in the morning when I wake up I’ll have a Campagnolo Free Candy Van with a Super Dome.

And every morning, its a fresh disappointment that it didn’t come true.

This photo also serves as further evidence that Cool peaked some time around the summer of 1977.

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 Truth and Reconciliation »

Previous « V Day

View Comments

Carl says:

Feb 17 2013 at 11:33 am

@Jim - Bill was in and out of Boulder a lot in those days (Red Zinger etc). I went to a party he was at once and met the guy but don't remember all that much more about it or him (it WAS the '70's, if ya know what I mean).
the Engine says:

Feb 17 2013 at 12:46 pm

@Harminator

Its not right to celebrate the 70"²s without mentioning Bon. Nearly 33 years to the day. Ride On:

From Kirriemuir he was - "the self styled flu capital of Scotland"
Chris says:

Feb 17 2013 at 2:30 pm

@the Engine, @Harminator, @ChrisO Surely this was the perfect antidote to Abba for a ten year old in Australia in '76.

It was my first album and there are still bits of it that'll lift a hair or two on the back of my neck.
frank says:

Feb 17 2013 at 3:12 pm

@ PeakInTwoYears

Love Neil Young. Still don't quite get why people are so in love with hating Santana. Is it some sort of "I'm not gay" thing?

I don't know about anyone else, but for me its just that all he does is play leads over songs non-stop. We get it. Play a chord occasionally.
Chris says:

Feb 17 2013 at 3:37 pm

@G'rilla

Let's get BACK ON TOPIC.

This photo.

Why is there a spoiler on the front of the van?

Why a bubble? Did riders stand up to look out the top?

Was the spoiler to deflect the airflow over the bubble to prevent it collapsing into the van at speed which would have displace the air inside the van with sufficient force to pop the windscreen and windows out?
harminator says:

Feb 17 2013 at 4:24 pm

@Chris
The spoiler is just there to throw the Shimano guys off track.

Note Mr brown slacks - that's the Shimano R & D guy heading over to take some snaps of it.

That spoiler is what caused Shimano to resolve to only ever compete with Campag on price - because they could never match on cool.
harminator says:

Feb 17 2013 at 4:29 pm

@Chris

@the Engine, @Harminator, @ChrisO Surely this was the perfect antidote to Abba for a ten year old in Australia in '76.

It was my first album and there are still bits of it that'll lift a hair or two on the back of my neck.

I got several chills looking on youtube for a live clip of Ride On. Couldn't find one but there's plenty of other gold on there. Some of the stadiums shows they played in the late 70's look insane. USA, Europe, Australia. So raw.
El Mateo says:

Feb 17 2013 at 9:17 pm

What a sweet ride. I suppose every decade can claim coolness on some level but the 70's is clearly the peak. Take the the Campy Candy Van for instance. That aint happenning in 1987 or 1965 or 2002 Because that is a 70's Chevy Van. 1000's of tricked out vans roamed the streets then sporting shag carpet and blaring 8 track music. If you were alive during that time you know what i'm saying. If you were born post 70's watch some Scooby Doo to get the Vibe. Now that van probably wasn't as much fun as your big brother's Good Times Van (unless you were a bike nerd) but damn it looks good.

if we're talking music, its a no brainer. The 70's was so talent rich. The list of kick ass bands is long but Led Zep was the shizzle through the decade With 1977 being their biggest, baddest tour.
Pedale.Forchetta says:

Feb 17 2013 at 10:19 pm

@frank Ahah! I'm too into the club!
936adl says:

Feb 18 2013 at 12:07 am

Love it!

in what can only be described as a huge coincidence I was on the M6 yesterday near Preston and we passed a lovely old VW panel van painted up with Campag logos. Very nice indeed!