Categories: Anatomy of a PhotoThe Rules

Anatomy of a Photo: Cycling-Specific Eyewear

Don’t be distracted by the sweatband or the lame Bolle sunglasses; this man is a stud. He came from a different time, a time when suffering was a more visceral experience than it is these days. It permeated everything a professional rider did. The bike were heavier, the equipment less efficient, the travel to races more grueling, accommodations more humble, and paychecks were smaller.

But Davis Phinney was one of the foreign riders who took it all in stride, going to bed every night after taking a beating in the European pro ranks only to get up the next morning and say, “Thank you sir, may I have another?” Here was a man just as happy slogging it out on the front as a domestique as he was racing for the win, bumping shoulders with the likes of the Badger and Greg LeMan. Here was a man who, should the opportunity present itself, would punch his head through a car window just to add an extra dose of The V to the afternoon. Even his son appears to be a budding young stud.

Indeed, we can say a lot about Davis Phinney and his entire generation of fellow Americans who ventured into territory unknown to race in Europe. One thing we can not say, however, is that they wore cool sunglasses.

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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eddyboy's gyrl says:

Nov 3 2010 at 8:14 pm

And you are how young? Forever the styles that protect and hide our eyes from glaring UV rays
are changing. Remember if you will, I believe Davis lived in Boulder. those cool glasses from the 70's and early 80's are true high altitude ski shades. they were some of the in vougue shades of the day.
But, the only other really cool glasses back then that I knew were glacier glasses from france.
michael says:

Nov 3 2010 at 9:59 pm
Brett says:

Nov 4 2010 at 12:18 am

pakrat:
He sure had some meat on the uppers compared to todays peloton. However, the gent w/the cycling cap in the background does seem to have already gone down the path of RAS-MISSIN.

I do believe the gent in the Gewiss kit could be our friend Mr Ugrumov.
Markp says:

Nov 4 2010 at 12:31 am

Another day, another headset, another pose.......
Oli Brooke-White says:

Nov 4 2010 at 2:01 am

Brett:

pakrat:
He sure had some meat on the uppers compared to todays peloton. However, the gent w/the cycling cap in the background does seem to have already gone down the path of RAS-MISSIN.

I do believe the gent in the Gewiss kit could be our friend Mr Ugrumov.

No, it isn't him. Not sure who it is, but that first incarnation of Gewiss kit existed only until 1988 - Ugrumov only turned pro for Alfa-Lum in '89 and didn't ride for the 90s Gewiss until after 1994.
Oli Brooke-White says:

Nov 4 2010 at 2:52 am

Actually, looking at the Bianchis I am pretty sure that pic was taken in 1987...
Nof Landrien says:

Nov 4 2010 at 5:00 am

I have a pair of Rudy Project Tayos (eidzione Mapei, natch). http://www.flickr.com/photos/72602548@N00/558276115 Like nvvelominati, they serve as safety glasses.
Cyclops says:

Nov 4 2010 at 8:09 am

What's the deal with the "Roller Rent" on the trailer in the article photo? Could you go in there and warm up before the race - for a small fee?
sgt says:

Nov 4 2010 at 9:24 am

@Cyclops
You could warm up on a wheel of delicious grana...

Mangia!
Souleur says:

Nov 4 2010 at 9:25 am

If I could find a 7-11 bike still right today, in its downtube shifting form, I would ride that donned in the 7-Eleven kit, Oakleys and all, even if it violated the Rule. I love everything 7-Eleven gave to us as American cyclists. It was right then, and is right today, but you can't half-ass it, its all or none.