Cycling is a mighty sport with a rich and complex history. Every company, racer, piece of kit, and component has a legend, a story behind it; in many cases it also has a personal and nostalgic connection to our lives. While this particular sport is steeped in tradition, it is also fiercely modern, a fact that serves only to deepen its complexity.
All these factors combine to provide an unique atmosphere and breeds devoted and loyal disciples of our great sport. We are of a peculiar nature; we seek out the highest mountains and the roughest roads on which to worship at the altar of the Man with the Hammer. Our legs are what propel us; our minds are what drive us. We refer to our shaved legs in the third person – the legs – and speak of distance in kilometres and measure sizes in centimetres regardless of what country we are in. We adhere strictly to the Canon of Cycling’s Etiquette: The Rules.
A Velominatus is a disciple of the highest order. We spend our days poring over the very essence of what makes ours such a special sport and how that essence fits into Cycling’s colorful fabric. This is the Velominati’s raison d’être. This is where the Velominati can be ourselves. This is our agony – our badge of honor – our sin.
I have a unique way of looking at bicycles. A good bicycle and it’s components are beautiful things to me. I’m not just talking about appearance, but also how the frame and components show the dreams of those who made them.
– Gianni Bugno, Hardman and Italian cycling legend
Perhaps we are too wrapped up in the past, but the Velominati don’t believe that to be the case. After all, the greatest lessons can be learned from the past and those lessons can then be applied to the present and may then allow us to more fully experience the future.
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Velominati.com is less about the articles and more about the conversation. Those of you who read more and poster more, become an integral part of the discussion and help carry the momentum forward. There are several levels of Velominatus*:
Level 4 Velominatus: The casual observer and occasional poster.
Level 3 Velominatus: The regular reader and casual poster.
Level 2 Velominatus: The devoted reader and regular poster.
Level 1 Velominatus: The most committed of reader and poster.
Gray, Black, and Orange Order Velominatus: Once having passed Level 1, the inducted among the Order wear three color badges, based on their rank.
We strive to foster an open, fun, critical, and censure-free environment. Any criticism of our writing, spelling, grammar, or intelligence is welcome and nothing said will ever get you suspended from the site. That said, the code of conduct is governed by Rule #43 and the Piti Principle. Members consistently exhibiting behavior that falls outside these parameters will be warned to check themselves; should warnings go unheeded, we may elect to issue a suspension. The first offense will result in a one-week suspension, the second in a two week suspension, and the third in a three week suspension. A fourth offense will result in a lifetime ban.
Velominati reserves the right to edit posts with the express interest to preserve the spirit of the conversation and the community. Regarding posts that address a grammatical or typographical error, Velominati may elect to take their input, correct the error in the articles where appropriate, and editing posts that point them out. This editorial action is not to serve as a censure entity, but to preserve the spirit of the conversation. That said, we endeavor to only edit those posts that point out a minor issue and only in the event that we make the edit before the post has yielded further discussion. Furthermore, when possible, we will strive to acknowledge said poster for their correction.
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*Levels are calculated based on the previous year’s activity.
View Comments
@eightzero
noooooo - help keep the flame alive!
@ChrisO
Any news? This site I have been promoting enthusiastically for several years (7?) to my many cycling compatriots, only to find that you ChrisO, Gianni, Brett and others are in distress if not completely V-ed Over by the Big COTHO. A frank (sorry for the pun) explanation is way overdue........
My best,
David
West Hartford, CT USA
Campy Colnagos: 1976/84; 2003; 2010/2015. Tange Track 1978. Mercian 1975. Raleigh Supercourses 1972, 1975. Dunelt Sturmey-Archer w/9-speed conversion. Banana-seat Purple 5-speed chopper. And so many others: n+infinity!
@David Booth Beers
errrr - if you've been around here for 7 years you might have picked up that ChrisO was never a Keeper and never had anything to do with running the site!
There is just a small core of us trying to keep something alive in the hope that it will rekindle.
Stupid we may be, stubborn we are.
Indeed. I've even resorted to writing a letter (you know, the old fashioned way with pen, paper, stamps etc. Kids these days......) to Frank hoping against hope that that may jog him into "handing over the keys" while he sorts himself out. No idea if it reached him mind. I'll end up emailing a scanned copy no doubt!"
He always claimed this site was a community and not a personal blog. It's time he helped prove that.
David
@davidlhill
The weirdest thing Frank did was turning up after a long silence, writing an article about Peter Sagan's socks (http://www.velominati.com/2018/01/anatomy-of-a-photo-sock-shoe-game/) and then fucking off into the ether again.
@RobSandy
I think the only reason this site is still up is that Frank uses it as a basis for other activities based on The Rules etc. It gives those other activities (guest articles, columns, etc) credibility. If this site goes, then where's his foundation?
Might be nice if he got involved again those and made some amends to those who build and sustain the site.
It does appear that there is bad blood between Frank and the other keepers, I don't know if it's beyond repair. I'd still like to see all of them back.
@MangoDave
That's an understatement!
All it really needs is for Frank to handover the keys to allow new articles to be posted weekly. A handful of regulars could act as quality control, and once more the chat will start.
@wiscot
^^^
All of this
@wiscot
Currently true for book sales, but I'm not sure about other outlets: as far as I've seen, Frank hasn't published anything anywhere in over a year – here, nor his previously-regular columns/blogs etc.
It makes me sad that this community collapsed in on itself so spectacularly.