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.
BTW, there should be a section “The RIDES” on velominati.com. Each country/region has some special, “velominati-worthy” rides to offer. And there sould be a place to collect those.
@grumbledook
yeah that would be a great idea :O)… Frank….?
@grumbledook
nice idea dude – mine involves getting a ferry from Rosslare to Cherbourg and then thrashing it up the Mur de Bretagne, via pipedreamsville
@scaler911
Yeah I did a shorter out and back version of that weekend before last – started in carson, up wind river road to the end of the 30, along the gravel for a couple of miles, then turned back, slight diversion on the road to ape cave to add some mileage and then a fun descent and back to carson.
@grumbledook
Yeah, second the moniton. Frank? Be cool to be able to classify them as well: “Grimply” “Thorworthy” “SpanishBeeferiffic” and of course the HC version: “Merckxian.”
@eightzero
+1. And let’s not forget ‘rainbow turd special’.
@ Grumbledook et al
A rides section is a fantastic idea. I’ve signed up to Ride with GPS to plot routes (no Garmin for me though) and that has a feature to export a link to the rides, presumably other sites are similar. It also has a photo and notes section for each ride so it could almost be ride blog.
For those in the USA, I take it you’ve seen the Rapha Continental pages? The Movie alone is worth a look too.
@scaler911 @mcsqueak
Great stuff – the PNW looks like a beautiful part of the world. (We Kiwis feel right at home in beautiful hilly places with lots of rain …)
@Jonny
I use Ride with GPS too, even though I haven’t got a Garmin. The ability to draw maps and view the elevations etc is useful for planning rides.
@scaler911
Excellent suggestion, all. Will get the gears turning on this straight away.
@Jonny
First I’ve seen the movie. Brought tears to this poor aspiring velominatus’ eyes. A-Merckx!
@eightzero
Yeah, it did the same to me. It manages to capture many of the elements of what we talk about on here. Beautifully shot with and awesome soundtrack too.
Yeah, Rapha has some cool videos and rides reports. They did a ride here to benefit the Japanese earthquake victims, and I didn’t participate that day because I was still about Eight Months from Peaking and the route was hilly as fuck, but now that I’m a mere Two-and-a-Half Months from Peaking seeing their site reminded me to look up the cue sheet and check it out.
Not sure where to post this great clip I saw today from Drunk Cyclist but you’ve got to check it out. About the 1962 Tour and directed by Louis Malle it is an absolute classic.
Vive le tour! from Bear Thunder on Vimeo.
@Oli
Wonderful Oli!
I was in a trance watching it, and all of a sudden I can see where the romance you guys enjoy with the pre-helmet years emanates from
It is amazing how much the helmets have sterilised the intimacy of bike racing – and the organisation seems to have diluted somewhat, the human aspect of it all (though it is still the best TV sport by a mile) – seeing the faces more clearly makes it so much more of a human endeavour
The bikes are truly beautiful, in a way I have not noticed before (I’m a bit of a CF junkie – maybe it was the superb film quality?) – really part of the rider, and with their straight tubes and almost fragile looking structure, share the vulnerability the riders exhibit
Maybe why this film works so well is it shows all the bits the TV doesn’t show – the riders chasing into the bar to get their lunch and a few gargles, the pissed bike riders with no helmets, the spectators pushing the riders up the hill with their spare tubes, the piss stops, and pissing on the run, the heat exhaution and poor nutrition, the squeaky brakes on the descent and poor old number 20 – I hope he survived
I think the penny may have finally dropped for me now!
Thanks!!
+1 @Oli
@Oli
A heartfelt Thanks!
I’ve never watched any racing from that era. What a fantastic film!
@Oli
Thank you for posting that – was brilliant.
@Oli
Restec – p Oli, good find.
Yeah, thanks Oli. Really enjoyed that. (Laid up with the lurg this weekend, not riding, so this film was very welcome.)
Some pictures I took yesterday that would fit nicely into the new “The Rides” section:
@grumbledook
Very very nice! Is that you on the Cervelo? Those red Chris King’s are super nice looking. Only thing is that the European man satchel is blocking half the view.
No, it’s not me. And the red hubs are Mavic’s Ksyrium ES :) (My CK’s are green or black.)
@all
We’ve had the +1 badge disappear for a while, but it’s back and it goes to JiPM for most vocally keeping the lid on the Denim Discussion.
Wow, grumble, just seeing those photos. Awesome shots! I want to ride there someday.
Jeff, congratulations! Strong work.
Nice work, enjoy the +1, pal!
@Ron
The award would not have been possible without your provocation, good sir!
@frank Thank you for the award.
@Ron Thank you for the lead out.
@Nate Thank you for the hand up.
I like to think that all Velominati pulled together to banish, once and for all, the Denim Shit kit.
This weeks’ +1 Badge goes to Scaler911 for providing a nearly endless stream of fun after calling a dude a chick and getting all riled up.
I firmly believe that if we stopped acting like children, we’d stop having fun. Chapeau.
@frank
Thank you sir. Without any shame at all, I think I’ve earned it. Even my ‘gays’ think so. @all, thank you for being understanding with my dilemma. **Snark**
@scaler911
Honey, that jersey looks AbFab on you! Wear it with pride!
@Jeff in PetroMetro
Wait, is this the rainbow jersey or the +1 jersey?
@frank
Rad! And Agree. Too many uptight frou frou jackasses ride bikes like they’re all that, if you’re gonna go ride for a bunch of hours you may as well have fun doing it. Too many people at my place of work cultivate an air of applied misery that I can’t wait to get the hell away from them and onto something where you’re allowed to enjoy yourself.
@Minion
Agreed. I work with doctors, and some (not all mind you) are like that. Fun (and PRO) is the way.
@scaler911
The male nurse thing along with your response to that picture is golden.
@Buck Rogers
Exactly.
So is anyone else going to be in Las Vegas for Interbike next week? I’ll buy the first round for any Velominati in attendance…
Many thanks to Jeff in PetroMetro for giving me a nudge ( see “kick in the pants”) to this site. I look forward to reading and learning more from the many Sensi here. Grazzie!!!
Long time lurker, first time poster, this seems to appropriate place to introduce myself. I live in North Vancouver, full time husband & father of two year old twin girls, part time cyclist (mainly commuting with sporadic weekend rides), keen follower of the rules and a fan of good hoppy west coast IPA’s. There are some of you on the strava site that will see me spamming up club feed with my daily commute, I try to put the conditions in the my ride name so you can get a sense of what the ride is like.
Without a doubt following the rules has made me a better cyclist and I in turn will continue to spread the word and try to keep the splendor, camaraderie and humour that this community has created.
Cheers,
@urbanwhitetrash
Welcome aboard. Man, you should have caught a ride with @Drew and made it to the Seattle cogal. Lots of IPA was flowing at the Strackhouse.
@Cyclops
I’m still in the dog house from my last American sojourn, a Mt. Baker classic starting north of the border including a loop around silver lake, which found me returning home some 4hrs past my ETA.
Although on more than one occasion that Saturday I caught myself thinking about the cogal and the amazing weather Merckx had bestowed upon you all.
@Dr C
Fantastic film…. inspirational in the extreme.
Number 20 was Giuseppe Zorzi who abandoned during stage 6, presumably what we see in the film…
http://www.letour.fr/HISTO/fr/TDF/1962/coureurs/20.html
Would like to talk to Frank. Frank if you could, could you please email me at maskew6@yhoo.com. Thank You. Mitchell Askew (Cyclist from Savannah, Ga)
Any Velominati in/around Ridgewood, NJ?
@Marko
Brooklyn is about 30 miles away as the crow flies, air traffic control permitting.
@xyxax
Crows use New York Center? You in Brooklyn?
@Marko
Ever since Bloomberg announced he had his own army and implied he could shoot down rogue aircraft, even the crows are careful.
Yes, Brooklyn, south of the park. Invasive species.
Not sure where else to say this, but I just wanted to thank Frank, Brett and The Keepers for this great meeting place they’ve created for like minds to congregate. Thanks also to the congregation who make it lively and fun to hang out in. Keep up the great work all, and I hope everyone has a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous New Year. Cheers!
@Oli
A+1
Well put – sentiments shared here.
@Oli
Hear, hear, Oli. Another grand year of cycling communion. Thanks, Keepers and community. Felice navidad.
@Oli
Thanks for articulating what I was meaning to say as well.
@Frank and the rest of the keepers; Thanks for making such an awesome site.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all!