I found this image recently in the slowtwitch archives and pose the question:
Who is this mystery QR athlete behind that QR titanium bike, wearing very fancy Oakley shades, a very suave haircut and a QR Quickjohn wetsuit?
First one to correctly answer, can expect a QR T-shirt from me.
Cheers,
Herbert
QR / Litespeed
Lance Armstrong.
If I’m not mistaken, that is the bike that Lance rode to victory at the 1990 Sprint Nationals race down in Aventura, FL.
Slowman - would this be correct?
Hmmm, those oakley’s look to be 94-95’s maybe and that wetsuit looks like one from the mid-90’s.
I’m not sure AArmstrong ever had that much hair.
What year did QR start making Titanium frames? If I had to guess I’d sya that it’s to new to be armstrong and Herb boy doctored the pic to make it look a little older.
Call me crazy, but that isn’t Spencer is it?
Actually I take that back, look’s like Hincapie.
Naw - it’s LA for sure. I worked at the host bike shop for the Miami USTS and National races and I saw a few titanium Roo’s back in the early 90’s. Lance was racing as an amateur for Subaru Montgomery in those years but he never raced a tri in S.FL. on his team issued Merlin! He was always on some type of phantom Roo…
the pinkie ring is cute!
Here’s a later link to Lance actually racing on his road bike in a duathlon:
http://homepage.mac.com/richcruse/PhotoAlbum3.html
Still sporting the Oakley Mumbos.
Let me just assure you, nothing was doctored, it is just a bad scan. As for the bike in question, Litespeed actually built bikes for Slowman and some of his QR athletes waaaaay back.
As for the correct answer, I will confirm before the weekend is over.
Any more guesses?
Cheers
Herbert
QR / Litespeed
Yeah, that’s true about the Boca races and Triathlete cover. Good call on that one! I also remember a USTS Miami race where LA was up front and flatted… then flung the Kestrel that he was riding on across the road into oncoming traffic. That one I remember for sure!
BK rode on an SR the year that he won Sprint Nat’s if I’m not mistaken.
I have it on good authority, your mystery athlete is the Bay Area’s Tim Sheeper.
Great, now my mystery source is guessing Andy Garcia. I can’t be too rough on my mystery source, he’s turning 40 on Saturday and his days of living the pro life in San Diego are but a memory.
Isn’t it Monty?
clm
It’s Jimmy Riccitello
.
My guess…skid aka SM.
Dave
I’m with Tex. I vote Brad Kearns.
Definetly not shimano components.
Those are pretty skinny pedal for Look (if that’s what they are.)
The bike is set-up pretty steep. (Saddle nose is over the bottom bracket.)
650 wheels. No aero rims.
Maybe it’s Herb all along?
Looks like a young Brad Beven
.
can’t be Tibbs…the gear is all brand new
.
Those rims were considered aero for the era. Likely something like the Saavadra rim at 245g each. I’ve got an old 24 hole set in the garage built around Bullseye hubs. The front wheel still gets used on hilly road races. Circa 94/95 Dan was on a kick to eliminate front chainrings and all the weight with it. I think he even convinced a few pros to run a large freewheel with a single ring. Might be a Suntour Superbe derailuer.
C’mon… spill the beans. Who is the athlete?
I’ll say andrew mcnaughton andy kelsey or brett rose
.
I can’t tell if it’s Tres or George…