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
@mulebeatsdrums
Same.
What made it tick was the weekly/bi-weekly articles that would provide a topic for discussion which sucked in many contributers. Who could then post on the Bikes, or the rides etc.
But without the ability to add a new article that chat has gone, so we're the equivalent of a group of people in a bar with nothing to talk about.
If Frank would allow us access to the website it'll flourish again.
What I loved about this forum was that was that we could have healthly civilized chat without the petty trolling most other forums seem to attract. I regularly look at ybw.com/forum and the level of bile bewteen posters is insane.
Sure I can remember Tattoogate from several years ago, but that's the only example I can really think of where things descended into personal attacks.
Frank - hear us!
@davidlhill
Agreed. There was an snarky edge in The Rules and other writings on here, but it was clearly meant to be tongue-in-cheek (I always chuckled when people would register on the site just so they could scream "THIS IS ELITIST BULLSHIT"). It genuinely caught me off-guard when real rifts appeared.
I have heard about this, but I missed it when it happened, I don't have the time or patience to trawl back through and find that thread. I assume that it started with Wiggo's right arm…
Amerckx to that!
@davidlhill
What was that? It seems likely I was involved but for the life of me I can't remember.
I do remember having a big bust up because I questioned the commercial aspects of things which were reviewed.
And I'm claiming prophetic vision on that one because the commercialisation of the ethos is to a very large extent what caused rifts and destroyed the site.
@ChrisO
I don't remember Tattoogate either. The most acrimonious discussion I remember was a one over helmets. I can't imagine that you would have been involved in that one...
As for personal attacks, there was @Marcus and @Minion's long running mud slinging but that was more akin to boys pulling girls' hair in primary school because they don't know how to tell them that they really quite like them.
@chris
@ChrisO
@mulebeatsdrums
@davidlhill
http://www.velominati.com/2015/10/guest-article-tattoo-you/
It was the usual discussion, some people saying they liked it, some saying they didn't, but some people weren't very polite about it.
I haven't re-red but I seem to recall Oli being particularly outspoken about some people's manners and causing offence himself.
I deliberately didn't post on that article at the time and I'm not taking sides now!
if this is the most radical and divisive thing ever to occur, here, god bless the bicycle!
@RobSandy
I do remember it now. It did get a bit heated.
@chris
I don't think it was the nature of the debate that caused the issue it was that people took it very personally.
But I can understand why you'd be a bit sensitive if you'd just got a big tattoo like that. Perhaps not the best thing to post on a forum where people are known for freely speaking their minds?
The tattoo thing did get a bit personal, but the cohesion of the Velominati was quite to the fore over the Specialized - Roubaix issue, where a Velominatus got sued by Spesh for using the name Roubaix on some wheels. That was quite the thread.
Agreed though. Compared to other sites, the discourse on here was really quite civilized and the Marcus/Minion stuff was just hilarious. You want trolls? Look no further than cyclingnews.
@RobSandy
I immediately recalled the article that was referenced, because although I do not have tats myself (only temp ones!) nor plan to take any, the one that was on the article was one of a kind. I think the tattooist should have paid stampduty for using the IP of the V-cog! But EPMS/helmet/socklength banter is what usually went down best on this site. And like mentioned above, I still route people to take a look at the Rules and newbies usually do not know about the current state of affairs. And I still do not feel like an old fart hanging in a bar with nothing to talk about: it's all about the BIKE fcol.