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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View Comments

dago says:

Nov 4 2010 at 9:40 am

Ron:
"
I'm like Kool Moe Dee on a bicycle.

you just don't get enough Kool Moe Dee references these days, well played sir
frank says:

Nov 4 2010 at 10:04 am

This whole stream is cracking me up.

@Souleur
That reminds me of this 7-Eleven build.

@all
My favorite is the guy standing teapot with the camera slung over his shoulder. What could he possibly be studying that's making him so angry at a bike race?
sgt says:

Nov 4 2010 at 11:03 am

@frank
He's trying to figure out how to sneak into that trailer... Never underestimate the gravitational force of formaggio... Seriously, if you've ever had a true, Italian pizza made with grana and bresaola, you'll understand. Shit, now I'm REALLY hungry.
sgt says:

Nov 4 2010 at 11:07 am

Like this...
michael says:

Nov 4 2010 at 11:20 am

@sgt is that a US national team/champ jersey in the background ?
sgt says:

Nov 4 2010 at 12:35 pm

@michael
No idea, I plucked that pic from the inter webs... I'm starting to feel guilty about thread hijacking, tho... Back to eyewear, folks!
Gianni says:

Nov 4 2010 at 1:19 pm

He still looks cool winning at the Tour, even with the glasses.
michael says:

Nov 4 2010 at 1:19 pm

@sgt

Well now this really makes me curious as to why there might be a random national jersey behind that pizza.
Gianni says:

Nov 4 2010 at 1:22 pm

Or you go with the Guido Bontempi look. He looks mean.
michael says:

Nov 4 2010 at 3:22 pm

Now hold on a minute. Other than leg position, this is the same person. They even have the SAME curl of HAIR on the forehead!