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.
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@michael
It's the sprinter's Elvis curl. Rarely and only seen on the victor's head, notice a vanquished Kelly behind GB. No curl.
@frank, now that bike is right!
Back in the mid- late 1990's I worked in a bike shop with a bakery behind it. Eddy was the owner of the bakery and was a former racer in the war years. He used to bring me eclaires filled with custered that he made for himself instead of the whip cream filled ones for the customers. Fuck they were good. He was born in Dieppe and raced the Tour of Mexico and that's where he met his wife. He did say that he got altitude sickness and had to be taken down from elevation. His bike was beautiful. Name painted on the top tube. The big thing about this fitting in this posting was his riding glasses. The arms entered the frames at the bottom, so the glasses had the appearance of sitting slightly higher than his eyes. When bent over pedalling he could see up the road with his eyes protected. I tried to find pics in old photos on line, couldn't. Anyway, really cool, never seen anything like it. Anyone else?
This post brings me back to Rule 37, it's probably been discussed at length, but I, for one, coming from an age where helmets weren't required or in good style, ALWAYS remove my helmet before my glasses (actually the helmet comes off first of anything but the housekey). Call me silly, but I believe I'm just not likely to trip and smash my head in as soon as I dismount my bike. Helmet comes off first. Glasses have to go under the straps, It's a single smooth clip and toss motion, otherwise it's a stupid move of pull the glasses, pull the helmet, don the glasses again. I'll always be in violation of this rule until someone pays me to display my glass brand over my helmet strap.
A Friday beer, some google searching on the mystery Gewiss man and...
Perhaps Ennio Salvador
1989 Gewiss - Bianchi (Italy)
1988 Gewiss - Bianchi (Italy)
Lanterne Rouge Tour de France 1986 (Gis Gelati (Italy)
@nvvelominati
The glasses with the arms entering the frame towards the bottom may have been invented by Dennis Taylor (1985 World Snooker Champion)...
@McTyke
Except Eddie was cool. The glasses were more aviator style verses dork. In his 80's his legs were still absolutely sculpted. His calves were calved from granite you could say. Anyway, the glasses were riding specific, but this is the right idea. I thought of this too, I just wanted to honour one of the sports early hardmen.
@Markp
Nicely done! That is also one of my favorite Bianchi's, the one with the black chrome...what a sight! I guess that relates to the conversation on the In Memoriam on gleaming bits, but that was a very unique look at the time.
Those Campy brakes were the most beautiful bike part ever built. So what if they didn't stop your bike? That was just Campy's way of saying, "Brakes are for sissies."
Greg LeMan inspired me to save up my meager allowance, beg, borrow, and steal to get my first pair of Oakleys. Blue. Conspicuous foam pad to keep the sweat from my eyes. I still have them in a drawer next to a bunch of remnants of past bikes, etc.
Look at Davis harms
That's why they call him Thor...