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.
The current state of this website makes me sad.
@eightzero
Yep.
I’ve no idea what’s going on in Frank’s life that he couldn’t come here over a year ago and say “guys, I need to take a break, here’s the keys to the site, look after it, and I’ll be back sometime”.
@davidlhill
Yeah, that puzzles me too.
His single post in January this year as if nothing had changed before vanishing again just makes me more confused.
@eightzero
Have V T-shirt, not sure to wear “proudly” out. Also as supplier of the V Cuff-Links, do I remove them from my steads? BTW The Lion of Flanders has V-plugs on the end of his bars.
Recently ended up rolling along with this bunch – aka Rule #5, with my Rule #19 done, I asked what was Rule #5 all about. Comrade started to explain about the V Site and The Rules.
As I rode with the Rule #5 bunch I observed and asked about the violations of Rule #1, #2, #3 29, 33, 41, 45, 74.
Agree, The current state of this website makes me sad.
Wish the Keepers/Founder would roll with Rule V!
too true – a distinct lack of Rule V application!
I wonder if it is the money, the kit order? From my perspective I was (more or less) happy to write it off as the site had/has given me way more than USD130 worth of pleasure. But with Frank’s general COTHO behaviour I’m getting pissed off it’s efectively been stolen.
I still wear the V Kit – I have to confess it’s the best looking piece of kit I have!
@davidlhill
Ditto. It was out in the sunshine this morning.
@sthilzy
If you still have cufflinks, pls let me know. They were part of the last order that never came. Still me needs 3 pairs: 2 black and 1 white.
who made the name decals and the caps?
@davidlhill
i don’t really know anybody involved with this debacle, and i didn’t order any kit, so i reserved my opinion on the matter until around the time the post showed up asking for donations to bail Frank out of the kit mess, last fall. i thought it was a bit tacky to ask for money to bail Frank out, when the people that were missing the order were the ones in need of redress. sure enough, that was a bad omen, things fell completely apart shortly thereafter. it is a shame, after having obviously expended SO much effort, and had such good results, that he just walked away and let things die on the vine, so to speak. it would have been better if he had just cut the site off. no matter how much fun we that remain are having hanging out, here, it makes the whole thing look messy and sad, by contast.
@davidlhill
Gianni and I have tried everything over the last year or more, we don’t even get replies to emails. Not even a “sorry I’ve spent all your book royalties and all the kit order money”. Embarrassing for us to be associated with the site and brand when we all get lumped in with his doings. We’re sorry to everyone who got fucked, we know how it feels too.
@Brett
Any thoughts to you and Gianni starting up a new site? I am sure the community would follow you. I can’t imaging this site will stay up indefinitely – in fact I thought it was dead a few days ago. It would be nice to have the same type of forum and even allow for new content as opposed to just reposting old articles.
@Brett
I don’t know the story behind the royalties, what happened to the kit money or why Frank’s dropped of the face of the internet but as far as I’m concerned you and Gianni don’t have anything to be apologising for.
With any luck we’ll still bump into each other outside a beer tent on a hill in Flanders or on the cobbles somewhere. I’m not sure what the plan is for next year, the lad wants do do Flanders again but I fancy Roubaix. Maybe both with William and Alex.
@KogaLover
The caps were made by Apis, the Italian firm that produces caps for a lot of the pro teams. I looked into them for our club last year but from memory it was a minimum order of 300.
@davidlhill
It’s great looking kit but mine is only used on the turbo these days out of fear of a Rule #53 violation.
Despite what anyone thinks for the rules these days, that’s one that stands the test of time and should never be violated.
@chris
Neither do I!
It’s always a pleasure mate, I’m sure there will be future Flandrian meetings.
@davidlhill
As do I, from time to time, in fact when out in the first rain in 4 weeks last week. That’s a rarity in Scotland.
Perhaps someone should write a letter to Cyclist magazine asking for @Franks opinion on a mate who fucked over his close mates and clubmates and run off with all the club funds?
@Teocalli
Alas I never got my hands on a set. When I first joined in on here I was a student, then an unemployed graduate, and by the time I had any money coming in, the Troubles had started and it’s not the cheapest kit around, even before the gambling on it ever arriving was factored in. It’s a real pity, because I was going to go the whole hog and get the full set.
@Brett
Don’t worry yourself Brett. My opinion remains unchanged. I considered you and Gianni to be a couple of cunts way before Frank did anything untoward.
@JohnB
LOL
@JohnB
Imagine my dilemma -I have a V Jersey and it actually used to belong to Frank. We did an international size swap after the last round of kit deliveries.
I wear it fairly proudly. The V is bigger than one person or one website. However cuntish.
@Brett
@Gianni, @Brett you guys have fuck all to apologise for.
@davidlhill
I’ll second that.
….aaaand we’re done here. So long, cruel VVorld. Was fun while it lasted – thanks for the memories.
@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.
@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.
I love that The Rules have permeated the pro ranks as well as just we mere mortals (citation: Katy Archibald, who in my mind is a cycling rockstar https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/latest-news/katie-archibald-column-ironman-tattoo-361038)
We’ll always have that, even if the deeper state of affairs is less pleasant.
@RobSandy
Just having a look. Yikes, that escalated quickly! I’ve never had any personal backlash about my tattoos; I’m surprised that people in this day and age still have such strong feelings against them.
@Del’s was a little gnarlier than anything I’d go for myself, but to each their own. But yeah, wow, that is some serious vitriol. “I won’t ride with anyone showing ink” – just wow!
@mulebeatsdrums
Ah, right… I was showing some rare restraint there, particularly given my own inked-up status.
I’ve always thought that people who say ‘You’ll regret that later’ just don’t understand why people get tattoos.
But on the other hand it’s also why I would never get one of a person or brand. Maybe Frank is keeping the site live so Del doesn’t feel bad.
@ChrisO
I’m sure I’m in the ‘don’t understand’ camp but each to their own.
I was just thinking, where is Del now?
@mulebeatsdrums
Katy Achibald is one of us, no doubt. She’s a fucking legend.
World Champion 3 times, Olympic champ, Commonwealth champ and national champ in too many disciplines to count.
I love it when she turns up at a Road Race and puts the hurt on the whole peloton.
If there was a way to remember something I have to do!
i LOVE Jan Ullrich. there, but for the grace of god, go i:
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/jan-ullrich-pens-open-letter-about-his-substance-abuse-and-road-to-recovery/
@sthilzy
remember = http://www.velominati.com/2016/09/the-justifier/comment-page-2/#comment-911751