The Keepers
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.
The Keepers:
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The Community:
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.
Conduct:
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.
Want to contribute a story to the Velominati? Tell us why.
*Levels are calculated based on the previous year’s activity.
@Dr C
@Harminator… the 695 is much more bike than I need, BUT at some point you have to ask yourself “If not now, when?” Given my advancing years and limited time left to compete at a reasonable level I sad “screw it” I’m gonna buy me a brand new hot rod. All the other road bikes have been second hand so getting something truly new is going to be cool (even if some of the bits- saddle and wheelset are going to come out of my garage).
@Anjin-san
Nice work. A beautiful velo.
I have a 595 with Dura-Ace (after being a Campaphile for the previous 12 years) so don’t get worried about that.
Throughout the ages, the French have shown remarkable alacrity in swapping their international alliances. Accordingly here is no shame in combining France with Japan as opposed to Italy.
@Anjin-san
That’s a dream of a bike for sure. You gonna write an article about her?
@RedRanger
@Marcus- very true about the French. I call that being “pragmatic”, but others have more creative terms for their political behavior, but all is fair in love and war.
That’s a really good idea… article on the first ride or, maybe better, first race on the new steed. Crits start here in March so I should be able to get her sorted by then. I am a little disappointed about not going with Campa, but I had blown my budget so thoroughly I couldn’t, even in my new bike euphoria, go there. As it stands, I am neglecting all household and work related duties dreaming about the first pedal strokes on the new bike. In fact, I almost rode bike #1 off the road today daydreaming about the Look, but I don’t think it was me. I think bike #1 knows it is about to become bike #2 and it is pissed…
What do you say Frank? Article on my feeble attempt to gain glory on a 695?
I have no idea where to put this so feel free Keepers to move it. It’s for @ Fronk because there was a long fingered glove discussion going on, so also for anyone else interested, I just purchased a pair of Castelli Lightness gloves. Rode with ’em today. Beautiful, warm ( it was only 40 though, thats about as cold as it gets in LA ) light, long cuff like the aero race and no padding. Just nice grip in the guize of a scorpion.
Excellent glove!
@Frank – On the bottom of the homepage, Joe Parkin’s 6 years in a raincape site is deader than a doornail.
Just thought you would like to know.
Love this picture.
@RedRanger
Now that’s a man with confidence in his wheelbuilder!
@Bianchi Denti
Maybe he’s realised what his bike looks like and is trying to break it.
Pink frame… maybe. Pink frame with tan wall tyres? No. Just no.
@Spearfish
To say nothing of the white skinsuit. I can’t understand how anyone (UCI, sponsors, DS, riders) thinks they look anything other than just plain wrong.
@Bianchi Denti
So true, matching your shoes, socks, helmet, bar tape and saddle as well doesn’t help.
In my neck of the woods, if we really have to do jumps, this is how we roll…
I’m behind the camera for this one, the rider is the youngest member of our team, Jordan. The annoyingly talented youth (he also races 4x, bmx and rides road) pulled this off on the last lap of a 24 hour, 4 man team, xc race.
@Spearfish
Apparently it’s a tribute to one of the original Specialized mountain bikes, which was also pink in the team version. Article here.
@G’rilla
Thanks for postin that. I was trying to figure out why the bike pink.
@RedRanger
Breast cancer awareness. I think it looks awesome, like an old Gan Mercier. Tan sidewalls and all…
@Oli
Shut up, you idiot, it’s a tribute to one of the original Specialized mountain bikes. :blush:
I still think it looks awesome.
@Oli
Haha. I agree it looks pretty good. And I’m a big fan of the guy.
@Oli
I like the tan sidewalls as well. How do the tan sidewalled Evo Corsas look on a road bike?
@Anjin-san
I ran the gumwall Corsa SCs this summer on my Wilier. They looked terrific.
@RedRanger
Ok. Whoever is worried about anything about this photo is missing an important point. That is a man who is very close to death and absolutely 100% Casually Deliberate.
I, for one, admire anyone who can have any of their appendages leave the ground and remain graceful. Shit, I struggle with grace with all fucking four feet on the ground. Merckx.
@Oli
It appears we have merged into one personality. It was inevitable, I suppose. On the plus side, I guess you’re going to Keepers Tour!
@G’rilla
You have come far, Pedalwan. Nice work.
@Anjin-san
Tan sidewalls are ALWAYS cool, just like DT shifters. Period. I love that Rabobank are the only team riding them consistently. Also wondering what tire sponsor they have, but have never bothered looking.
@frank
Vittoria
@frank
Fucking well said.
@RedRanger
Nice! He does it quite often. there is even a game on his official website: Jump Styby Jump! you have to take a picture of him doing a jump and you can win his jersey…
@Loenhout (28 December 2011)
he doesn’t quite have it yet….
@silkrider
there was supposed to ba a picture with that last comment
The Onion takes a jab at Cycling
@JC Belgium
That is a sweet pic!
Catching air on a road bike can be scary. I have zero mountain bike, CX, or BMX experience, and last fall I was cruising at a rather good clip down a slight hill (probably -2 or 3% grade max, just a normal city street), when I came across these wide, gentle “speed bumps” that are popular here.
They are probably a meter in length and only rise a few inches, so they are not harsh at all – you can hit them at speed and not worry about anything. I started pulling up slightly when going over them, then I came to the last one and combined that with an actual bunny hop and actually caught some air for a few feet.
It sort of scared the crap out of me – I wasn’t expecting to become airborne, and I went further than I thought I would, and was going at a decent speed too (~30 kph) – I’m just glad I landed OK and didn’t make myself crash, as that would have been really embarrassing, to say the least.
@mcsqueak
I started bmx from the moment I could ride a bike, although we played MX including helmets, shirts and boots. My cousins-neighbours and me made a track around their house, which was there for 3 years – uncle was not to happy. there is still some track left now, but it became a jungle. then mountainbike when I was 8-9 (with small wheels + 5 speed) and road when I was 14. that s how I learned my bike handling skills, and I can say it s really a big help when unexpected things like that happen. but when I go mountainbiking with my cousin, he is scaring the shhh out of me when we go downhill…
All this talk of air makes me think this is the time to break my Vow of Velosilence and make my first post. Getting in and out of my road involves going through a dip with three speed bumps. Despite my short time on a road bike, these are hopped at 40kph on the drops. I blame my misspent youth (and adulthood) on fat tires, but thanks to the Velominati I gave seen the light and roll on something far more elegant.
Better late than never, eh?
Novice Fausto
@Frank , sorry if this has been through before but now I have a gravatar account how do I use it as my avatar?
@Maximilian
It takes about a night for the servers to refresh, so once you’ve uploaded an image and selected it as default, it should show up tomorrow.
I just downloaded the Jens Voigt Soundbar app. Best .99 cents I ever spent.
Can’t understand work, but a nice wee piece just for the folks going o the Keeper’s tour: http://www.sporza.be/cm/sporza/videozone/MG_programmas/MG_sportweekend_GNMA/MG_SPWKND_26_02/2.11423/1.1231343
@Fausto
Absolutely! I occasionally (ok- a lot) violate the rules and ride something where the tire width is measured in inches (like 2.2 or 2.4) and find that the bike handling skills developed on the road are useful in the dirt and vice-versa. Makes you a better all around rider… especially when a route takes you onto gravel when I on your skinny tire machine!
@all
On a more serious note, please spare a thought for our fellow Velominati in the Midewestern United States; horrible weather and deaths are always a scary thing. The most severe tornadoes ever recorded, if I’ve understood correctly.
@frank
I’ll second that.
Hello all higher order velominatus, I humbly offer my services as a dedicated domestique until { may prove worthy and earn my spot in the peleton
Like Nelson Mandela after an unjust exile, I’m back to lead my followers to a new day. Initially, I was going to just stay away, but after reading some fan mail and being reminded of the constant elitist jibberish being spouted on here and how that might affect the impressionable minds of younger riders who might stumble onto this site… I knew I must return. The job is to big and the responsibility too great for @Oli alone.
You may be wondering; Gee, what has Calmante been doing during his incarceration? Well, the 6′ x 6′ room that @frank had me in was damp and musty, with only a set of rollers and a wifi connection to keep me busy. As I had smuggled my iPad (don’t ask how), I was able to continue reading this site in between conjugal visits from my wife. Mostly, however, I just watched this video over and over again:
I had entertained invitations to seek asylum in my native land of Zimbabwe, but in the end, I decided to stay here.
So… Fuck you bitches, I’m back!
@Calmante
I dunno if comparing yourself to Mandela is the best way to break back into the conversation … but … Ummm … ahhh …
Damn. That video is mesmerizing. What was I saying again…?
@Calmante
Seriously? Mandela? Narccicus would be more like it.
@Marko
Narcissus was never exiled… But he was gorgeous.
@Calmante
So basically you’ve returned just so you can be an asshole? Hate to tell you this, but you weren’t missed . . .
@wiscot
Totally agree.
@wiscot
@RedRanger
Hey, he brought us that video… be grateful.
@Calmante
Keep up the good work!
Her neighbours must fucking love her…
@wiscot
Chapeaux…
I’ve watched it several times now but I still can’t see the bike!
@Chris
I’ve got your chapeau right here… But seriously, I don’t know hire anything gets done in that neighborhood. You should check out the rest of her submissions. Jeez.
@Calmante
Buying us off with hotel soft porn. Clever. Welcome out of the basement. *Meh*
@scaler911
*Meh*? That’s all she gets? We’re waiting for pictures of your sexy-stew, by the way…