Moustaches in cycling; It goes well beyond the handlebar.
When one thinks of moustaches, the connection to the world of cycling might not be the first thing to come to mind, but upon further inspection, there is in fact a long and very esteemed list.
The top of which would undoubtedly be occupied by none other then Ned "The Lung (Flanders)" Overend.
A near second to 'The Lung' would obviously be Tom Ritchey (as well as many other of our mountain biking forefathers.) If any of you ever happen to ride the trails in Occidental California, rumor has it that part of Toms Moustache is still attached to a tree he crashed into at the second of the legendary Ring of Fire races.
Jason Lowetz is another, pictured here with Fritz Bottger and Ned, sans cockbroom. The torch obviously had to be passed at some point.
And of course our boy Travis aint skeered-
Everyone watched in astonishment as Adam Craig rocked one at the SSWC last year, and proceeded to whoop up on everybody with the grace and courage only a man in an acid washed denim one piece could .
But being the professional that Adam is, he proved to the nay sayers that he wasnt just wearing a moustache for ironies sake, as he continued wearing one for no other reason than simply because he wanted to.
When compiling a partial index of the men whove proudly flown the freak flag, the world class bad ass that is Urs Freuler should never be excluded.
The jack of almost all disciplines of cycling, Mark Weir has a long and tumultuous relationship with his moustache, though it never seems to slow him down.
Floyd may have had one, or it just could have been just a little bit of dirt on his lip.
Another vaguetry in the world of professional road cycling was cry baby Laurent Fignon. Due to his hair shade of clear, and through there were suspicions, no one was ever able to substantiate whether or not Mr. Fignon actually had a moustache.
Of course this list wouldnt be complete without the inclusion of Slipstream/Chipotles Dave Zabriskie, and Steven Cozza.
Not all of the action is in front of the camera however, as proven by this candid snap shot of one of the photographers present at last years six day track event in Stuttgart Germany.
You cant broach the subject of moustaches and bikes without including some of BMXs most historically significant characters.
Scott "OM" Breithaupt not only helped define BMX as a cultural phenomenon, but he got hooked on coke, and developed into one of the scariest looking individuals to ever ride a wheelie on a set of rollers.
Like his fair haired road riding counterpart Fignon, Stu Thompson ruled the track with a wispy dash of blond across his face.
A funny thing about the BMX of the 80s was the number of fresh faced young men who would attempt to pull off a moustache. Like GTs Tommy Brackens, or Diamond Backs Harry Leary for example.
What you see here is Mike Buff jumping the Porsche owned by Oakleys 'Duke'. What you dont see, is that they both had moustaches.
Just as he was on a bike, 'Hollywood' Mike Miranda was no joke in the moustache department ether.
So were not mistaken, moustaches arent necessarily exclusive to gender. Cases in point, Missy 'The Missile' Giove,
and most def, Tammy Thomas.
Now then- even though this shot of Bob Roll taking the hard line at The Roubaix doesnt show him with a hairy lip, you know he sports one from time to time.
And secondly, regardless of the fact that this photo of Curtis and Big Dave depicts a moustache on nether man, Curtis has the balls to wear this tour de force, and Big Dave wears one on the regular as well. Like The Skipper is fond of saying "The moustaches roots are less on the face then they are in the heart."
And as long as were mentioning folks from The Bay Area, we cant neglect papa Joe, and his DFL team.
Along with all of the aforementioned greats of the cycling world, there are those down here in the trenches. The unsung heros, if you will, fighting the good fight not for fame or glory but for something less easily defined.
Such as Tarik,
Hurl, and all of his visors,
The Unibomber. I mean Zeke,
Or this guy, shot by this guy, though Id be a liar if I said the nipple ring didnt give me some creeps of epic proportions.
Anyway, Im proud as hell to find myself within these elite ranks, and though my skills and strength on the bike may pale in comparison to many of my compatriots, what I lack on two wheels, Id like to think I more than make up for within the realm of follicle fortitude.
Next week, well talk about the inextricable link between baseball, moustaches, and the mullet.. Its it really business up front and a party in the back, or perhaps the other way around?
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Comments
Started a flick group: pelostaches
Posted by: DL Byron | April 30, 2008 10:58 AM
BITD every male off-roader who could grow one had one, the modified Fu-Manchu being the popular style.
Joe Breeze, Gary Fisher, Tom Ritchey, and myself all sported them, as did virtually everyone shown in the film "Klunkerz."
Since that time I have given up shaving entirely, so now I look more like an aging Hell's Angel. Tom's 'stache is a trademark, so he's stuck with it. Joe looks pretty normal these days, and Gary grows an assortment of facial decorations depending on his mood.
Charlie Kelly
Posted by: Repack Rider | March 16, 2008 12:59 AM
I don't think seeing mustaches and cycling together is a coincidence. Faster Mustache has been proving that they are inseperable for three years! Go to http://fastermustache.org and see for yourself. I think you'll agree, cycling and mustaches are about as right for each other as fish and chips.
Posted by: x-topher | March 15, 2008 03:10 AM
i kinda had a crush on the indian guy.
did you know the cop guy who started the band was a homeless lower haight st. crack head. i used to see him all the time.
Posted by: dflbrad | March 14, 2008 06:22 AM
Stevil,
what about that 1985 mtb star Daryl Licht??? I mean it was a full on beard that included a pretty sizeable 'tache.
wombat
Posted by: wombat | March 14, 2008 03:41 AM
Hay Caramba!!! You forgot Moustachio'd Cycling legends Zapata and Villa. Have you not seen photos of the first NACHO (Nacionalistas Americas Cycling Hermanos de la Oposici) meeting? See http://www.flickr.com/photos/vict0r420/395087496/
Though their cycling skills have gone unfairly undocumented their 'stache skills were clearly unparalled and worthy of inclusion.
Posted by: Anonymous | March 14, 2008 01:13 AM
Rod Beck is the man... When he was with the Giants.... Lights out !!!! A true gun slinger....
Posted by: rik van hooydawg | March 12, 2008 12:46 AM
Hey Stevil, are you ready for the wave of BSNYC-ers that are gonna be migrating to your site all week? Whoa!
Posted by: Johnny | March 11, 2008 10:00 PM
Hey, love your site.. don't want to make a big fuss out of this, but thought the comment about missy was a little off.. She's definetly alternative and fully badass, but just becuase she's gay doens't mean she's manly or got a 'stash.. no? maybe i'm missing the humor. Love everything else you post though.. Thanks!
Posted by: Walbert | March 11, 2008 11:53 AM
Stevil,
You have validated what previously was my shame. Your words have inspired me to drop my guard and embrace my fuzzy lip friend. Bless you and your hirsute ways.
Posted by: The moustache rider. | March 11, 2008 11:06 AM
Nathan Rennie UCI world DH Champ / contender / bridesmaid AND furhterest jump on a MTB (even if it was a tow in). Not a Euro, not Candian or American.
Posted by: mudrat | March 11, 2008 10:12 AM
Bike Beards!
Posted by: DL Byron | March 11, 2008 07:48 AM
RIP Rod Beck. He's a throwback to when the only drugs players did were booze, coke, and weed. Man, I miss those days.
Posted by: El Pirate Grande | March 11, 2008 05:28 AM
Hey, how can you leave out mah man, Vladi Karpets? He rocks a mullet plus either a goatee, or moustache plus soul patch. No offense to Zabriskie, but we expect a kid from Utah to be able to do facial hair. Given that Karpets is an actual full time ProTour rider, and Euro, he deserves double extra bonus points for pulling it off pretty credibly. And a bitchin' Camaro.
Posted by: Jim | March 11, 2008 03:25 AM
huge bump from bikesnob stevil.
Posted by: Cary | March 11, 2008 02:09 AM
God, my friend. this is an extremely touching and well-rounded post. to look back on decades of cycling and see the bar sweeping manmuffs of years past really does bring a tear to my eye. perhaps with the recent hammer gel scandal and its subsequent effect on products of a similar ilk, we'll see more of our heros sporting the bumper skirt. energy gel has hindered the popularity of a man's beauty for far too long, no?
Posted by: s.Hawk | March 11, 2008 12:54 AM
man Curtis is ROCKIN the Donegal beard needs to get his ass down to Shamrock Texass and claim yet another laurel
Posted by: irishpunk59 | March 11, 2008 12:32 AM
TJ O'pootertoots!
Posted by: aaron | March 10, 2008 11:39 PM
I think that guy with the nipple ring is Ben Stiller, a.k.a. White Goodman!!
Posted by: Russell | March 10, 2008 10:11 PM
Brother I think this needs to keep going with some viewer content. I’d like to propose a post dedicated to moustaches of fans of HTATBL, on or off the bike. Think of the collection. I’ll start it off with my wedding pic from 20 years ago, check your inbox.
Posted by: Cary | March 10, 2008 08:14 PM
Oh, and there really should be Greg Hill and Perry Kramer 'staches up in this bitch.
Posted by: Duncan | March 10, 2008 02:25 PM
The connection: cycling is for fags, and are moustaches. Right?
What do I win?
Props to the OM, Stu, and Hollywood Mike Miranda 'staches.
Hearts and flowers,
Your friend on a little purple bike.
Posted by: Duncan | March 10, 2008 02:23 PM
Have you considered growing your thatch out the full 10 inches required for Locks of Love? If anyone can do it, you can.
Posted by: Punkass CG | March 10, 2008 09:58 AM
you my friend have inspired me to let the upper lip go,
we'll send ya a pic from pv in a few weeks... hopefully I can get the same flair as my good buddies Zeke in kc, or Mod in Omahole are raging...
Posted by: cvo | March 10, 2008 06:29 AM
Dobie, you are absolutely correct, and my oversight has been corrected.
S.K.
Posted by: Stevil | March 10, 2008 02:48 AM
How could you forget your roots?...some of our forefathers have sported some great staches. Including the great Tom Ritchey (http://image.blog.livedoor.jp/chiromaro/imgs/c/2/c21c5d45.jpg) , who still has one, Gary Klein and Charlie Kelly, to name a few. I mean just look at this rag-tag bunch...must be something in the air at Mt. Tam http://sonic.net/~ckelly/Seekay/1977lineup.jpg
Posted by: Dobie | March 10, 2008 02:36 AM
Stevil,
Thanks pal. Although I can grow a mustache, I can't do it in 2.5 days like you.
Don't forget Ant Bike Mike who has been waxing and extending as he welds flawlessly out there in Mass.
Laters
Tarik
Posted by: Tarik Saleh | March 10, 2008 02:30 AM
Wow...I haven't seen Missy The Missile in forever. She kind of looks like Little Bow Bow, but grown up with some lil boobies. Or maybe it is my computer screen or maybe I should shut up.
Posted by: Matt | March 10, 2008 02:07 AM
visors & visine, never leave home without 'em. BTW, that 'shot' is from last year's Slick 50, of which the same, 2008 version, will take place this Saturday, 15 March. Breakfast starts at 10 am at the Triple Rock. From there, it's 50+ miles of pain. And if you don't know, now you know, ninja...
Posted by: Pinto | March 10, 2008 01:04 AM