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:
[authorbox author_id=2/]
[authorbox author_id=3/]
[authorbox author_id=5/]
[authorbox author_id=26/]
[authorbox author_id=4/]
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.
@DerHoggz
@Steampunk
No rumble strips yesterday, but lots of cattle guards. Very dicey at speed, especially if taken leaned over or at an angle other than 90 degrees. Re speed wobble, tucking a knee against the top tube can really help prevent AND control this frightening phenomenon. Luckily the Wilier has shown no signs of it up to 82kph… beyond that, I’m not sure I want to know.
@Buck Rogers
Ah, the dreaded speed wobble.
There’s an interesting article about it (with accompanying video) on Cycling Tips blog here:
@mouse
It was interesting because 70 kph really is not that fast. I have hit much higher on this bike before. I figure it had to do with the combo of slightly under inflated tube with the slow leak and the chip seal with grooving. The thing that was so scary was the harmonic effect in the bike that made it get worse and worse by the second until I was really looking for a spot to take it into the woods. Really crazy. I have gone close to 100 kph in a group racing down the back side of Smugglers Notch (Rob knows the place!) but never was as nervous or close to really getting hurt on a decent as yesterday.
And I know right where I caused my flat as well.m a few k earlier I hit a hell of a hole in the road and had been watching the wheels for a bit but the leak was really pretty slow.
Pretty crazy but I still love descending and will be back there in the next few weeks so will check it out with full tire pressure and see how it goes. But I will definitely be careful as well.
So here’s a question for the KoC…
Friends of mine were counting their 2011 mileage. Some argued that “miles” on the indoor trainer should count. Some of of scoffed at such a ridiculous notion, but some, even those who live by Rule #5, said indoor miles count.
I’ve since disregarded them as riding partners, but what do the Velominati say about indoor miles counting toward an overall mileage count? My take is unless it’s a mile that actually passes under the bike, outside, it doesn’t count as “mileage.”
@CBontheMV
Amazingly this question doesn’t seem to have come up in the Indoors article a few months back… even more amazingly I spent ten minutes trawling through to check.
My tuppence worth… your former friends are wrong and you are right.
There is no doubt riding on trainers/rollers is hard, mentally and physically, and may even constitute an act worthy of Rule #5.
But they are not miles and you are right to disassociate yourself from anyone who regards them as such, particularly if they do so in comparison to people who have actually ridden all the miles they logged in wind, rain, snow, heat etc.
In that case you may need to take further action such as writing to their employers or informing their families that they have been placed on a register – you need not be specific about which one.
@ChrisO
I totally agree. Furthermore, typically peeps measure trainer effort in time, not distance.
@CBontheMV; @ChrisO; & @marko:
The fact that we’re measuring in miles makes it very clear that these don’t count. End of.
@Steampunk@marko@ChrisO
I think measuring all training in time is the way to go. Distance and speed mean nothing alone. then there is the matter of Rule #68
@CBontheMV, @ChrisO, @marko, @Steampunk
I’m going to disagree to a certain extent and suggest that if you spend much time riding your bike indoors a tally of road kilometres ridden and total kilometres ridden should be kept. There is certainly a need for the road kilometres to be counted on their own and there should be no attempt to compare roller miles with road miles but when I ride the rollers I’m not just spending time sat on my bike. The effort might be a bit different, it’s easier to turn the pedal to get Xkmh than it is on the road, granted, but I feel so much more pain over an equivalent amount of time on the road.
Similarly, the effect on the bike, trundling along in it’s own little alkaline rain shower isn’t the equivalent of having done zero km.
@RedRanger
Good point but taking Rule #68 further, measurements in time would themselves hold little meaning without an indication of effort in the same way that “a flat ride of 150km at 23kmh is not something that should be discussed in an open forum” might not be viewed as an epic ride*. If we’re to get into quantification, there needs to be at least three dimensions, Speed, Distance and Gradient and that’s before you factor in weather and the like. Rule #5 x Rule #9 x Rule #10 would be the way to go but we’d all measure it differently, it’d be like mixing km and miles without noting the units.
*I’d suggest that the sentiment contained within that part of the rule is misguided as it makes no account of the particular rider, to some, 150km at 23kmh might summon up every last once of Rule #5.
@CBontheMV
“Count” … count for what? Time in the saddle? Definitely counts. Time riding outside, obviously not. Time toward fitness–oh yeah.
I can tell you that it “counts” for something.
If you are worried about a special number of kilometers achieved, then do whatever you want, but if you are measuring in “V” units, rollers/trainers definitely count in my opinion.
Am I one of us yet?
@Oli
Very nice! That’s motivating to find a spot on each of the bikes for my name. I have a long name and not much blank space to work with.
@Oli
Nice one Oli, I must check to see if there is space on mine.
@Oli
You know what Groucho Marx said about clubs, right?
I wore my V Tshirt to my Dad’s place and he said “Is that a club?”
I had to think a bit before replying “No. Its more like a cult.” Cue awkward silence…
@Harminator
Yeah, I think cult is a better description than club.
@Oli
Nice old man. Which bike is that? Not sure I’ve seen it.
@G’rilla
You can always just go with your moniker here.
Which reminds me I need to order up a badge/symbol pack for my ALAN. I don’t think I’ll soil the Colnago with any though, that’s got enough going on already.
Looks sharp Harminator. So much LOOK wood going on around here.
@Harminator
Good looking rig. How do you like the 585? I have a serious case of the “wants” for a 695, but I am having a hard time justifying the expense. Hmmm, braces for the eldest kid or a new bike… shouldn’t be that hard a decision right?
@Oli
Sweet- those little bastards are hard to apply! It took me several attempts to get all pieces of all letters to adhere to the bike and a very patient peeling process on the backsheet. Even then, mine didn’t come out as well as yours did. Great color on the frame.
@Anjin-san
I think the secret is to make sure he area that will receive he decal is clean and grease-free. Then apply and rub down with the back of a spoon or an old plastic look cleat. Give it a serious going over then slowly peel back. At the first sign of the decal not transferring, put he decal back down and rub some more. We do similar stuff at work and it’s all in the prep and rubbing down.
@wiscot
Gracias.
It is Marco Pantani’s birthday today. May he rest in peace. He would have been 40; its easy to forget how young he died.
[dmalbum: path=”/velominati.com/wp-content/uploads/readers/frank/2012.01.13.17.35.29/”/]
Actually, he would have been the Answer to Life, The Universe and Everything – he was born in 1970. Still too young, RIP…
@frank
So many tragic figures in cycling.
When I think of Marco Pantani I always feel so sad for what happened but so in awe of all the races he made.
Those crucifixion photos are some of the most impassioned photos I have ever seen in cycling.
BRR also have a very poignant photo and message today.
@Oli
Ah. Yes. 42. 1970, wow. Much, much too young. Can you believe I one of my majors was Math?
@Buck Rogers
It was BRR who reminded me – and apparently he even did the Math for me but I still fucked it up. On a lighter note:
I may never look at the prophet the same way.
Frank!
That’s not right.
Tucking your shirt into your nix is so wrong.
You’d make it a Rule except that that it falls into the “captain obvious” category…
@harminator
It’s what they did for track racing, although usually it would be a silk jersey being tucked in – this would have been a carnival of some kind, I expect.
This shot reminds that there used to be a time when there was no such thing as bibshorts! How would I have survived??
This is a commonly misunderstood picture. We talk of channeling the V – Chrono and The Prophet are literally doing this. Note the crossed arms in the center. Classified documents reveal that the magnetic poles of the earth were about to reverse again so they were asked to channel a Rule #5 beat down to the iron core, thereby inventing titanium and relegating iron to a domestique. An interesting side effect of the pure burst of V2 was the instant incineration of jerseys at any point where the jerseys overlapped black material.
@Oli
@Harminator
Fuck me, I need to get a Symbol Pack on order.
Back in my youth we called these kind of stickers/decals “rub-ons” as @wiscot says the key is surface prep and to rub them on hard, I used the surface of a finger nail.
@sgt
Nothing says “I’m a little insane about this shit!” better than a symbol pack.
Great tips about applying said stickers. I had a bit of an epic but will be better next time.
@Oli.
Rick Astley was at the cutting edge for a moment in time too. But the test of time is set by a harsh examiner.
@Anjin-san
The 585 is a little gem. I’m still tweaking the setup – stem is probably 20mm long for me. But its really light, stiff and corners like senna…
@harminator
I pulled the trigger on a left over 2011 695 iPack yesterday from my LBS! Got it in the Light Black and after a lot of deliberation and introspection I chose to outfit it with Dura Ace (gasp). I was really leaning towards Super Record, but couldn’t justify the added expense and interchangeability issues it would cause with my wheelsets. Should have it all ready to go in about 10 days. Will post picture… I feel like an 8 year old on Christmas morning!
@frank
my twin girls share a birthday with Pantani… I posted a couple of months ago that they have always been super competitive with each other on the bike (one “attacks” the other at the base of a climb- bravo!). Now I know why… January the 13th! They turned 11 yesterday and I think it’s time to get them proper road bikes this spring.
@Anjin-san
Good idea for an app… What pro cyclist do I share my birthday with – accompanied by some photos and a little biog and palmares.
Over to you Frank. Tell me when the royalties are enough to buy a roll of bar tape.
@harminator, @Oli
I also think they did that for the contra la montre. As for the track, some riders are still doing it currently. I’ve seen pictures of Paolo Bettini in that configuration and I agree that while it looks shit, its not unusual on the track. But then, in a sport committed to turning left, its only normal that there would be other lapses of judgement.
Some crappy photos I found…
@Anjin-san
Excellent demonstration of Rule #11 compliance! Daughters’ birthday…think I’ll buy myself a bike. Excellent work!
@itburns
Nice catch with the hidden “V” in the photo. Kind of like trying to find the bunny on the cover of Playboy (not that I have ever looked inside on, you know).
@frank
Yes, but I was thinking of which bike to buy THEM while I was there… best of both worlds. I was Rule #11 compliant and a caring dad ; ) As much as it pains me to say it, I think Trek makes a pretty decent entry level womens specific design bike that they fit on. Anyone have any recommendations for a relatively inexpensive entry level road bike for an 11 year old girl who is about 4’11” tall?
What’s wrong with Rick Astley???
@sgt
Great picture – The V is positively pishing out of you @Sgt – amazing how the essence of V, so Casually and Deliberately positioned, has forced the bikes on either side into a V bow of respect – strong stuff – I sense the next picture would have had the rides either side of you toppling like a set of dominos?? Now that would have been comical
@Oli
….where does one begin?
Probably a good cyclist, and a beast on the hills, so perhaps best to say no more
@Buck Rogers
There’s a bunny? Is that a euphemism?
@frank
That jersey looks like a silk jersey which might not have the same elastic properties as lycra (though I don’t know why an elastic waistband wouldn’t work) or wool, especially after a few rides. I don’t know if there’s a rule about skinsuits in mass start events on the track or it might just be the way it’s done at the sixes, but given how anal riders get about having an aero advantage, I think it’s a nice throwback.
@Minion
You are saying that tongue-in-cheek, no?
If not (and forgive me, sarcasm escapes me) they hide a small playboy bunny symbol on the cover of every issue. Sometimes it is hidden in the hair, or the clothes, etc.
But I bet you already know that and I have once again made an ass out of myself!
@Oli
Marcus seems to be away so I’ll field this one on his behalf.
This may come a shock to you Oli but Rick Astley’s career as a pop heart-throb is over. There are as yet undiscovered tribes in the New Guinea highlands who already know this. Please pass this on to the rest of New Zealand when you think they can handle it. The rest of the planet has moved on from the 1980’s into another century. Quite a while ago now. The Berlin Wall is down. Mandela is out of prison. An Australian man has won the Tour…
@Anjin-san
Wow. That is one shit hot piece of kit you’ve got yourself. Congrats. Very jealous. Only nine more sleeps…
@harminator
You lie!
@harminator
Rick Who?
@Buck Rogers
That I did not know. TBH I’m not exactly sure if that would be something I’d notice even if I was looking (hurk!)
@Anjin-san
I pulled the trigger on a left over 2011 695 iPack yesterday from my LBS!….
what the…..another one!
pics please
I was talking to the guy who talked me into road riding last Christmas, and when he told me he had a Look 695 as his #1, I think he expected me to have no idea what he was talking about – when we both spontaneously and synchronously came, in a tantric sense, I think he was delighted