Anatomy Of A Photo: Where Do We Go From Here?

Hincapie, Kaufman, Armstrong, McRae, Julich. 1989

A great unknown awaits the young men, bound by a common entity of steel, flesh and passion rolled together. Do they contemplate the future, or are they so encapsulated in the here and now that anything beyond the finish line seems like it could only be for old people? Have they any inkling which path they will take, or be guided towards? Maybe the only thing on their mind is just how badass their eyewear is.

What ambition burns within, do they believe they will be, or even seek to be, a cycling superstar; which of them knows it? Maybe ambition isn’t considered, not part of the equation. The simple act of pedalling a bicycle may remain one of joy, of freedom, or become a mistress so harsh that she is eventually despised, and thrown aside, banished to but a bitter memory of a time better forgotten. Who will be remembered, and who will even want to remember?

When a pastime becomes a job a certain element, that of detachment, is lost forever. Making your passion your profession is fraught with risk, and the balance of work/play becomes ever more critical to cultivating satisfaction within, lest you be eternally damned to harming the very thing once loved more than anything else. Keeping things Casually Deliberate is a failsafe, a safety net below the trapeze on which the real world swings precariously.

Stay passionate. Rock cool shit and ride your bike like it’s your lover. Everything will be alright.

Brett

Don't blame me

View Comments

  • @rfreese888

    Pharmstrong just looks deliberate - no casual going on there.

    This. and what @Gianni said about trying to get him to be a team player. Shades, shorts, gripshift - deliberately chosen points of difference..?

  • I think COTHO has a look of "I wish I had worn darker shades that might have dimmed the spectacle of Dr. Phil's soiled, bulging Mom jeans." He certainly looks a little queasy . . .

  • @unversio

    @frank

    More images of those Rotundos mounted ?? Specifically the wing section ??

    You can't hide your gear selection from the DTs.  Somebody had to shift to the little ring/big cog to get that shot right.

  • @wiscot

    Easy now big man, easy. Go for a nice bike ride and get calm. Avoid coffee and other stimulants too. Can't let a tri person get to you. I'm assuming you didn't get into a discussion of clothing and style? You'd have won that round easy. I mean, who wears arm warmers with a sleeveless top FFS? Who nestles into their tribars when they're doing 13 mph? Tri-athletes do.

    You and @Buck Rogers need to watch your language.  They're called TriGEEKS, do not insult athletes or persons by putting the word tri in front of those words.

    Come to think of it, this is insulting geeks at the same time, but I think they've survived enough bullying that they can handle a little more.  Harder than the triwads at least.  I thought that was a key reason for hating "Pharmy"; because of his love for all thing tri.

  • Ah, fleeting youth.  That picture conjures the bittersweet memories of yore.  Dopers?  Frank Shorter and Bill Rogers were Runners' World  advocates of blood doping.  We marathoners thought nothing of it in the 80's.  But the Keepers of the Cogs take umbrage.  So be it.

  • @antihero

    @unversio

    @frank

    More images of those Rotundos mounted ?? Specifically the wing section ??

    You can't hide your gear selection from the DTs. Somebody had to shift to the little ring/big cog to get that shot right.

    Uh Frank ?? Frank ?

  • @frank

    Hit the road yesterday on the dt steel and Eyeshades, just for fun.

    What angle are your Rotundos mounted ?? Are the ramps steep ??

  •  I thought that was a key reason for hating "Pharmy"; because of his love for all thing tri.

    That, and he looks like suck a prick even in this photo. I raced the Hotter than Hell 100 in 1989 and he was there then, same prick.

  • I know the boys where on some good juice but whats the go with the "hover" bike in the background.  Or is it on some weird catamaran outrigger.  Im looking at it from South Australia so Im a fair way away.

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Brett

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