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.

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Sauterelle says:

Feb 16 2013 at 6:19 am

@markpa

@PeakInTwoYears

@Sauterelle

HUGE BeBop Deluxe fan here! Bill Nelson was amazing, way ahead of his time.

This makes me happy. The owner of the head shop slash record store who sold me their LPs in the backwoods of Oregon, USA in the mid-70s is the only other person I've ever heard from who has ever heard of them.

His playing on "Adventures in a Yorkshire Landscape" on Live! In the Air Age can still reduce me to tears, sentimental idiot that I am.

So gents, do you dream in colour?

I'm not a gent. Never was crazy about that song either.

We need a random/no topic section here!
DerHoggz says:

Feb 16 2013 at 7:32 am

@unversio

Their shorts have officially reached ridiculous lengths. Might as well wear baggies. This season is looking to be entertaining.
DerHoggz says:

Feb 16 2013 at 8:40 am

Half of that entertainment will probably come from the ongoing Schleck antics. Can Andy finish a race?
PeakInTwoYears says:

Feb 16 2013 at 9:46 am

@Sauterelle

Looks like a fun event. Did you see the guitars he painted? Very cool. I read that he wanted to be a painter when he was young.
frank says:

Feb 16 2013 at 10:02 am

@DrewG

@Pedale.Forchetta

I like/want everything plus this buckle, 1975 circa.

They also made commemorative belt buckles for Tullio Campagnolo's 80th birthday...

I could rock the one on bottom left. Its all about having the right 'tude.
JohnB says:

Feb 16 2013 at 10:53 am

@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?

My theory for the bubble. An always up, aero version of the pop up roof on the ubiquitous VW camper van. Occupants could stand up in that section while cooking or as has been pointed out, being cooked. It was probably considered space age at the time. I'm a teenager of the 70's but I don't recall a vehicle like this or liking much music of that era at all save a bit of punk and Queen. Then Debbie Harry and Blondie came long. Class.
Skip says:

Feb 16 2013 at 11:39 am

@frank

I could rock the one on bottom left. Its all about having the right 'tude.

Can you rock it like she can?

(Form CampyOnly)
Russ says:

Feb 16 2013 at 1:05 pm

@Skip Nothing against frank but id rather just keep the image above as it is. +1
G'rilla says:

Feb 16 2013 at 3:58 pm

Wow...riding Campa doesn't guarantee that you have style in any other regard.

http://www.campyonly.com/

Or maybe they designed the site in 1995 and haven't touched it since?
Jay says:

Feb 16 2013 at 5:12 pm

The guy in the orange with the white cap. Definition of "casually deliberate."