Categories: Anatomy of a PhotoLa Vie Velominatus

Anatomy of a Photo: Bike Love

The look, of love... Photo via Oli's Tumblr

I got new wheels last week and got them mounted with tires by the weekend. Then @Haldy had to help me with a clearance problem on Sunday (27mm FMB Paris-Roubaix’s get to be more like 29mm tires after Francois finishes his lunchtime bottle of wine). When I wasn’t looking, @Haldy put orange cable ends on all the cables. A Velominatus can’t resist doing that sort of thing, you see.

Between the new wheels and orange bits, I feel like I have a new bike. I brought her up into the dining room and have spent yesterday evening and today morning working from the dining room table so I can gaze at her while “thinking”.

I’m tempted to bring her to work today, but I’ve got a few client meetings and I’m afraid my customers might think it a bit strange if I walk into the conference room wheeling my bike. The key thing that separates us from the rest of the world is that we think its normal to stare lovingly at an inanimate object.

We are Cyclists; the rest of the world merely rides a bike. Vive la Vie Velominatus.

frank

The founder of Velominati and curator of The Rules, Frank was born in the Dutch colonies of Minnesota. His boundless physical talents are carefully canceled out by his equally boundless enthusiasm for drinking. Coffee, beer, wine, if it’s in a container, he will enjoy it, a lot of it. He currently lives in Seattle. He loves riding in the rain and scheduling visits with the Man with the Hammer just to be reminded of the privilege it is to feel completely depleted. He holds down a technology job the description of which no-one really understands and his interests outside of Cycling and drinking are Cycling and drinking. As devoted aesthete, the only thing more important to him than riding a bike well is looking good doing it. Frank is co-author along with the other Keepers of the Cog of the popular book, The Rules, The Way of the Cycling Disciple and also writes a monthly column for the magazine, Cyclist. He is also currently working on the first follow-up to The Rules, tentatively entitled The Hardmen. Email him directly at rouleur@velominati.com.

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View Comments

wiscot says:

Apr 1 2015 at 5:23 am

@KogaLover

Fortunately I have a picture of my bike as desktop wallpaper, so I can still stare at it while at work.

Btw: does anyone know where to get orange spacers to match the black V-cuffs? I tried a couple of LBS’s but none of them have them (not even in the Netherlands!). Any online site?

I just went to a hobby supply store and bought some orange paint. Usually take a few coats but looks just fine when done.
scaler911 says:

Apr 1 2015 at 5:46 am

@KogaLover

Here: they have whatever you need. https://www.purelycustom.com/c-86-headset-spacers.aspx
wilburrox says:

Apr 1 2015 at 6:08 am

@RobSandy

@wilburrox

I have NO IDEA where to post this… PLEASE TELL ME THIS IS SOME KIND OF APRIL FOOLS JOKE. Early this am I receive an email from Trek saying they’ve teamed up with Fabian to create Monument, a grand show of olfactory prestige, with top notes of Arenberg cobblestone. Years of development. A new fragrance for champions. I’ve waited all week for right time to use the word of the week: FUCKBALLS. If this is a real deal then wha la, Spartacus, he just jumped the shark ! If it’s an April Fools thing? Friggen classic. >>> Whether you’re laying down the hammer in the boardroom or on the Paterberg, Monument is the way to ensure your decisive victory <<< Oh man, please, please, please let this be an April Fools joke. It could be a really good one.

Obviously.

http://www.bikeradar.com/road/news/article/april-fools-day-cycling-round-up-43963/

What a hoot. And a video too ! 1st class effort on Trek's part. And the s-works selfie stick ? Another classic. The cycling industry/community takes 1 April to another level. Why not? It's all about riding bikes and how can that be taken too seriously? This is good stuff. What a fun day. Cheers
RobSandy says:

Apr 1 2015 at 6:16 am

@wilburrox

@RobSandy

@wilburrox

I have NO IDEA where to post this… PLEASE TELL ME THIS IS SOME KIND OF APRIL FOOLS JOKE. Early this am I receive an email from Trek saying they’ve teamed up with Fabian to create Monument, a grand show of olfactory prestige, with top notes of Arenberg cobblestone. Years of development. A new fragrance for champions. I’ve waited all week for right time to use the word of the week: FUCKBALLS. If this is a real deal then wha la, Spartacus, he just jumped the shark ! If it’s an April Fools thing? Friggen classic. >>> Whether you’re laying down the hammer in the boardroom or on the Paterberg, Monument is the way to ensure your decisive victory <<< Oh man, please, please, please let this be an April Fools joke. It could be a really good one.

Obviously.

http://www.bikeradar.com/road/news/article/april-fools-day-cycling-round-up-43963/

What a hoot. And a video too ! 1st class effort on Trek’s part. And the s-works selfie stick ? Another classic. The cycling industry/community takes 1 April to another level. Why not? It’s all about riding bikes and how can that be taken too seriously? This is good stuff. What a fun day. Cheers

I'm a bit pissed off. All I've ever wanted is to smell like Faboo.
VeloSix says:

Apr 1 2015 at 6:34 am

@frank

These little hunies have had my mind spinning all week.

I wouldn't get any work done... at all.....
wiscot says:

Apr 1 2015 at 7:29 am

@wilburrox

@RobSandy

@wilburrox

I have NO IDEA where to post this… PLEASE TELL ME THIS IS SOME KIND OF APRIL FOOLS JOKE. Early this am I receive an email from Trek saying they’ve teamed up with Fabian to create Monument, a grand show of olfactory prestige, with top notes of Arenberg cobblestone. Years of development. A new fragrance for champions. I’ve waited all week for right time to use the word of the week: FUCKBALLS. If this is a real deal then wha la, Spartacus, he just jumped the shark ! If it’s an April Fools thing? Friggen classic. >>> Whether you’re laying down the hammer in the boardroom or on the Paterberg, Monument is the way to ensure your decisive victory <<< Oh man, please, please, please let this be an April Fools joke. It could be a really good one.

Obviously.

http://www.bikeradar.com/road/news/article/april-fools-day-cycling-round-up-43963/

What a hoot. And a video too ! 1st class effort on Trek’s part. And the s-works selfie stick ? Another classic. The cycling industry/community takes 1 April to another level. Why not? It’s all about riding bikes and how can that be taken too seriously? This is good stuff. What a fun day. Cheers

Would Monument be regarded as a "Classic" fragrance?

I'll get my coat . . .
PeakInTwoYears says:

Apr 1 2015 at 8:03 am

@Haldy

@PeakInTwoYears

@Haldy

I’d be grateful to know where you source the housing. I found one source of orange housing, but I’m just an ignorant git.

Are you referring to the brand of housing or which vendor? I have 3 or 4 different vendors to get orange housing from.

All I found was Shimano PTFE shift and brake cable and housing *sets* on Amazon. I'm curious to know what you'd use.
max columbus says:

Apr 1 2015 at 8:19 am

I do this all the time, which proves to be a huge distraction as well as making me late for where ever I am supposed to be. I looked up from my morning coffee a few hundred times to longingly admire my gleaming Hampsten MAX. Today is a good day...
wiscot says:

Apr 1 2015 at 9:08 am

@max columbus

I do this all the time, which proves to be a huge distraction as well as making me late for where ever I am supposed to be. I looked up from my morning coffee a few hundred times to longingly admire my gleaming Hampsten MAX. Today is a good day…

Every day you have that bike is a good day. What a stunner!
Ron says:

Apr 1 2015 at 9:42 am

I had forgotten what day it was when I got that email from Trek. I knew it was BS right away though, then I remembered it's 4/1.

The selfie stick from Specialized...sorry, that whole craze is so fucking stupid I don't even have the energy to laugh. Obesity and narcissism are going to be the modern health plagues that kill off humans in large numbers.