Categories: La Vie VelominatusMusings from the V-Bunker

Merckxy Christmas and Coppi New Year!

We wish you a Merckxy Christmas and a Coppi New Year!

Another year come and gone, another pile of New Year’s resolutions out the door, done and dusted. It’s a good thing I don’t recall what they were; I have a feeling this period of reflection might loom a bit darker if I was in a position to appreciate just how short I’ve come up on them.

I’m spending more time with young kids these days, and the Holiday Season is an entirely different experience when viewed within their context. To begin with, at my age I hardly notice the passing of the years. This itself is a paradox; as a Cyclist we are perhaps more aware of the passing seasons than anyone else, yet the years themselves manage to slip by without notice; for a kid, one year is a significant portion of their life and each one is remembered in astonishing (if inaccurate) detail.

Personally, it’s been a mixed year for me; the highest highs offset with some low lows, but if we are to experience life’s greatest moments, we have to be willing to walk the valleys between the peaks an for certain its been the singularly greatest year in terms of personal growth. I haven’t spent as much time on Velominati and with you, the community, as I would have liked in 2016; still for 2017 we have many exciting things lurking, all thanks to you who have kept the passion flowing through the community. We laugh, we quarrel, we reconnect. This is the beauty of Cycling and the charm of you, the Velominati community.

So here’s to you, your family’s and loved ones, and to 2017. On behalf of the Keepers, we wish you a Merckxy Christmas and a Coppi New Year!

And yes, it’s time for me to make a fresh batch of Cyclist Gingerbread cookies.

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

RobSandy says:

Dec 24 2016 at 2:10 pm

Merry Christmas all. Thanks for another great year motivating me to get out there on my bike and pedal til I hurt.
Randy C says:

Dec 24 2016 at 3:06 pm

@chuckp

Merry Christmas to all! My and the rest of the PEZ Crew’s holiday musings.

http://www.pezcyclingnews.com/features/seasons-greetings-from-the-pez-crew-6/#.WF1LxrGZPdQ

Cheers to ya and just for a point of I know where you are coming from; the young lady of our house has taken to following my wheel up a hill before attacking and… well, not much I can do. BUT, she cannot beat me at golf ! Just don't tell me yours is driving the ball further than you, you young man! And it was sometime this good year that I had my first Negroni thanks to you and your PEZ crew. All best, Randy C
Teocalli says:

Dec 25 2016 at 1:39 am

Merry Christmas and wishing everyone a great 2017
chuckp says:

Dec 25 2016 at 5:51 am

@Randy C

@chuckp

Merry Christmas to all! My and the rest of the PEZ Crew’s holiday musings.

http://www.pezcyclingnews.com/features/seasons-greetings-from-the-pez-crew-6/#.WF1LxrGZPdQ

Cheers to ya and just for a point of I know where you are coming from; the young lady of our house has taken to following my wheel up a hill before attacking and… well, not much I can do. BUT, she cannot beat me at golf ! Just don’t tell me yours is driving the ball further than you, you young man! And it was sometime this good year that I had my first Negroni thanks to you and your PEZ crew. All best, Randy C

Randy - I can still hit the ball further than my daughter. She just hits it consistently straighter and in the fairway. Plus from her tees, more times than not she's actually longer in the fairway. Such is my lot in life. :-) My approach game is probably still better, but that's only because I can modulate my wedges. But her short game and putting really took a big step forward this last year. So I'm doomed, but happy to have a golf buddy for life. And once you've had one Negroni, you never go back. Welcome to the club! Cheers, Chuck
Jay says:

Dec 26 2016 at 3:54 pm

I hope that everyone had a Happy Christmas or Hanukkah, and hoping that we all have happy and healthy New Years, both on and off of the bikes!
RobSandy says:

Dec 27 2016 at 7:25 am

You know you're a cyclist when the presents which give you the most joy are Fignon's autobiography and a new coffee maker.
Teocalli says:

Dec 27 2016 at 10:11 am

Well Rollers work up a sweat in the way a Turbo does not in like for like pedalling. Must be getting better as the motion detector (or lack of) in the conservatory turned the lights off...........
wiscot says:

Dec 27 2016 at 11:56 am

@RobSandy

You know you’re a cyclist when the presents which give you the most joy are Fignon’s autobiography and a new coffee maker.

Indeed. I picked up the 7-11 book, one called Wheelmen (about COTHO's scam) and one on the hstory of the Tour (clearly written before COTHO's fall from grace) and a charity store in Madison for $6 for all three. Merry Christmas to me! Coffee makers I have: stovetop espresson, french press and big ass coffeemaker.

What gifts, pray tell, gave you the least joy?
wiscot says:

Dec 27 2016 at 11:59 am

@Teocalli

Well Rollers work up a sweat in the way a Turbo does not in like for like pedalling. Must be getting better as the motion detector (or lack of) in the conservatory turned the lights off………..

I'm getting better each time I ride them, but can only do 20 minutes before I need to get off and give my ass a break. Next up, riding out of the saddle. I hear a big gear is the secret to this. Any input from fellow roller users?

BTW, posting that Slade vid shows both your age and nationality! I say that because I remember it all too well too. Thursday night, BBC!, 7pm. ToTP. The original "must-see-TV."
Kerry says:

Dec 27 2016 at 9:36 pm

@wiscot

"What gifts, pray tell, gave you the least joy?"

My mother, bless her lovely 83 year old heart gave me something I cannot wear... I told her I needed a gilet.. she got confused and bought me a god-awful florescent yellow specialized triathlete sleeveless jersey.. . It is a thing of horror and I can not throw it out since it was a gift yet it gives me distress knowing that it's even living in the same drawer as my other cycling attire..