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.
Figures Ron isnt around to accept his award. good on you Ron.
This week’s +1 award goes to Minion, for his continued good humor and, though it technically was posted last week and not this week, this photo he posted is just too rad to ignore.
Wa hay! Thanks, I’ve never been in such illustrious company before! (With a frenchman and a dodgy old bike mechanic!) Cheers!
@Minion
Right on, Minion. And, yes, that photo is boss!
@Minion
good job. now cough over the source to those comics!
Yeah that image may possibly have become my phone’s wallpaper…
A day behind again, but @Cyclops gets the A+1 badge for taking second place in the Cyclops VSP in the Fucking V-Kit. Excellent work.
Dear Keepers,
David Harmon, sitting next to Sean Kelly, just apologized to you, TWICE, for crashing velominati.com while providing commentary for the TOUR.DE.FRANCE!!!!
What a day.
A-Merckx.
Oh, and it was on some local TV station. Pretty small, I understand. I think it’s called EUROSPORT. ;)
@Jeff in PetroMetro
Yeah I mentioned that. The also had a link on their twitter feed.
@Jeff in PetroMetro
@RedRanger
Seriously?
@Marko
For sure. Big time now mates.
@Marko
@RedRanger
Yep. I was in the kitchen firing up the espresso, sort of listening to the Eurosport coverage, when I heard something about “crashing the velominati website”. I tried to get on velominati.com, but I couldn’t. So I emailed Frank. Then David Harmon apologized AGAIN. So I emailed Frank again. (My apologies, Frank, for yelling in my emails. Just too excited.) Finally I was able to get on.
I’m a bit breathless. And really, really happy for all the Velominati, especially the Keepers. You have made it a truly great global community. Chapeau.
Their twitter feed said “so true…(link to the rules)”
@Jeff in PetroMetro
Holy cats! That is very cool that the site was even mentioned in the same room that Sean Kelly was in, let alone during live coverage of the tour. Over on friendface some peeps were saying they were talking about Rule #27.
Thanks for the kudos. As we all know, the lion’s share of the work and vision around here fall to frank and Brett. I continue to be humbled by you all and thankful for being asked to play a part. But thanks.
@RedRanger
Ok. I’m a bit of a Luddite. I tried to sign up for Twitter, but it said the site was a bit overwhelmed at the time and I should try back later. I’ve never signed up for anything like Twitface or Twitspace or whatever the hot new social media thingy is today. I guess I gotta now.
So, my question is, can I go into Twitter and look up the specific tweet that referenced velominati.com? And if I join one or all of the social media sites, will I immediately be put on an FBI watchlist and have my phone hacked by Rupert Murdoch?
@ all
Perhaps its not only Eurosport that have been reading. Check this article out from Cycling News
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/gilbert-puts-panache-first-in-tour-de-france
Wasn’t Marko calling for more panache in his intro to the TDF VSP?
@Jeff in PetroMetro
Yes.
@all
Free V-Pint to whomever gets us a recording of those guys talking about us. Very cool. Humbled to say the least.
@Jeff in PetroMetro
Ha. You you have to sign up. And it was David Harman(?) who tweeted it. His twitter name is spokesmen. I’m at work only have my phone to check out twitter.
Oh so true….velominati.com/the-rules/ #esptdf #tdf
I can just picture Frank celebrating this glorious day by getting all liquored up tonight, lushing around on his V-Hottie “I love you , man” and then trying to ride his rollers in the basement and crashing into the hot water tank and waking up tomorrow wondering where all his Campy white lithium grease went.
@Cyclops
++1
Wow, that mention is awesome! Way to go guys! Quite the community that has developed here over the past year or so, I must say.
I’m going camping today through Sunday, so catching up on 30 hours of missed tour coverage is going to be fun/difficult when I get back.
Holy shit!
It’s thanks to you guys that this community rocks!
@frank
While I can’t get it to download here at work (frackin’ IS here runs a pretty tight ship even on the public wi-fi), goto Itunes podcast and search: David Harmon Tour de France. There’s two different ones from today that I’m guessing will have what you’re after. I’ll try again when I get home. Or:
http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/stage-11-preview-tarbes-to/id163781510?i=8289561
http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/stage-11-tarbes-to-val-daran/id163781510?i=8303599
@Marko
Oh crap. I didn’t give a shout-out to Mr Kelly in “Obey the Rules”, and now that David has told him about the site he’s bound to find out. You think it’s scary being on Rupert Murdoch’s FBI watchlist? Hah. Try living with the thought that you may’ve offended Mr Kelly. I may have to go underground for a while – move my family to another country, change my name to Salman Rushdie or something, that kind of thing. Sorry, Mr Kelly. It’s really Brett’s fault…
On a brighter note, most outstanding that the site’s hit the big time. Well done to y’all – but especially to the Keepers.
@all
@all – with all this press, just wait for onslaught of Adrians.
They will come.
I’m happy to deal with a couple Adrians for the Alpins and Pedales that might find the site and get it.
@Minion
A+1
Would like to give you all 2 thumbs up! Only just recently discovered your site and I have to say: GOLD!
Although I am guilty of breaking The Rules, I have seen the light! Halleluiah! Amen brothers.
@mattb
Er … cough … I think you meant A-Merckz.
@G’phant
I mean A-Merckx.
@G’phant
Do I hear a remix on the horizon? Or maybe a follow-up, folksy single all about Kelly…
@Jeff in PetroMetro
@scaler911
@mcsqueak
Was that stage 11 the guys on Eurosport were talking about the rules? I may have a way to get that to you guys, I hope.
@G’phant
I stand corrected!
A-Merckx indeed.
The Keepers are everywhere. Caught Oli on the Rouleur blog.
That was that other Oli…
@redranger
It was July 13th. By my 3 beer, late night math, that would have been Stage 11.
This week’s Plus One badge goes to @Marcus for his consistent good humour, insightfulness, and almost giddy disbelief that Cadel was riding into Paris in Yellow.
My only question is: will the PM suggest a national holiday for this as well?
Well done Marcus.
@frank
shucks thanks Frank. Just when I think Cadel’s victory couldn’t get any better, you go and do this. Its at times like these I really need to acknowledge my team, the Adrians, Leroys, Slashes and others just like them. If it wasn’t for you guys giving me lead outs by way of opportunities to hang shit on you, then I know I wouldn’t be here.
This award on this day is just another sign of the close symbiotic relationship shared by Cadel and I. I mean, we are about the same height, age (if he was six years older) and weight (if he was carrying both of our bikes). I am sure we could be really good friends. I write him letters e-mails and tweets all the time but he never answers – except the time he tried to play a trick on me by pretending he was the police. But I know it was him. I will just keep trying to catch up with him down at Barwon Heads this summer by living in my car outside his house. Am sure things will sort themselves out.
@Marcus
Gold. That’s a strong team you’ve got there.
So I was reading an article on VN about Cadel racing in the US this month. First comment is a bitchy comment about Tyler and Lance and boom it’s a pedantic flamefest. Took two pages before someone mentions the point of the article. Reminds me that I only go to CN forums when I want a rage-fix, much like watching tabloid TV at about 6.30pm in Australia.
So – thanks to you guys for keeping such a great community here. This site is sooooo
…much better than anything else I’ve seen out there. It’s positive, friendly, funny and welcoming. And noone acts like they’re all that.
Kudos and thanks, guys.
@Blah
Actually, I am all that. I mean, Cyclops has me making the podium tomorrow at San Sebastian, though I’m a little hurt he sees me only making the little step, especially since he plans on sucking my wheel until the final sprint. So, I’m a pretty big deal and would be grateful to be treated as such from here on out.
@Blah
I’m all that AND a bag of chips.
I ranted about VN not too long ago. Sgt gently asked me to come down off the ledge. I’m kinda glad you noticed the flamethrowers at VN. Fucking mouth breathers and droolers. By the way, the Grand Poobah Editor, Ben Delaney, just left VN. Changes are afoot. Hope the first thing the new editor does is get rid of the Comments section. Then I MIGHT go back.
@Steampunk
@Jeff in PetroMetro
You’re both all that? And a side of fries, with a dipping sauce?
Until I see a Reverence article citing you both, I refuse to believe it.
Besides, I started a CN forums thread saying you were all that and peeps there disagreed. Then debated chain-gate.
@Jeff in PetroMetro
At high school if you thought a girl was all that, your mate would ask you if you’d let her piss on your fish and chips. (We set the bar high) While I like you JPM, there’s no fucking way you’re pissing on my fish and chips.