Anatomy of a Photos: This Is How It’s Done

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• @AshburnMike

  I came upon this site about six months ago, and am very happy that I did.. The people who post here have a vast pool of knowledge and experiences, and are generous in their sharing of them. What a pleasant thing to stumble on.

  The people who post here also have a large variety of interests. Some like the history of (and current state of) our Sport, to include riders, teams, races, and courses. Personally, I love this. Others are equipment junkies, and will happily spend hours discoursing on the relative merits of Shimano and Campagnolo gear. This I find less interesting (this is a personal choice and a matter of taste; no judgment intended). I love anything @frank writes about the experience of being a cyclist – the thoughts that cross through your head before, during and after your ride.

  The good news, at the risk of stating the obvious, is that when the conversation goes in a direction that I don’t really care for, I don’t have to read it. I’ll just check back in in a day or two to see what else has been posted. And while I understand the desire to get the UCI to allow black bib shorts, I also think that Peter and Lizzie make the white shorts look damn good.

  The people who post here, from what I can tell, seem to understand that they are the inheritors of a wonderful tradition in our Sport, and to accept the accompanying responsibility to uphold that tradition for its transmission to the next generation. Our Sport is truly fascinating. Its manifest destiny (in my opinion) is to grow in popularity and understanding (at least, in the English speaking world from which I hail). Communities like this are a big part of making that happen. I can only hope that, over time, my contribution to the community is a positive one.

  Nice one! And you're right, it is OUR sport. Many or most of us have raced/are racing/will race. We also own more than one bike, we eat, sleep and breathe OUR sport. We're not passive observers. We can appreciate what the pros do even if we'll never emulate it. We enjoy the heritage of the sport as well as what's happening now.

  And you're also right that not every article will appeal. Just look at the number of posts. My history articles rarely get more than a couple of dozen replies/quotes. An article on the merits of helmets, sock length or how to tape handlebars gets hundreds. That's fine (well, not really as it sends me into a deep depression every time, banned emoticon). No-one reads every article in a magazine or newspaper, at Velominati there just 2-3 articles a week. Some you like, some not so much. But stick around and add your ten cents when you feel compelled.

• @frank

  @mouse, @chris

  The world is full of people who loved a little indie band and then hated the band for the crime of becoming popular, which is something I don’t understand in the slightest, assuming you liked the band for their music.

  @Mouse, ignoring the fact that you contradict yourself several times, and @Chris – this isn’t the first time I’ve heard this, and you’re not the first community member to leave. Ultimately, Velominati isn’t any of those things you describe – those things you believe are missing are just things you saw in what we do like meaning you might find in a painting. To that point, I get many kind notes from people who are newer to the site who express happiness at finding exactly what you describe to be missing.

  We didn’t build Velominati to be a popular site or a community, we just started writing about the things we love (we have always held firm to certain views – particularly on aesthetics – and maintained a strict (ir)reverence for the history and culture of Cycling). And it appealed to you, the readers, for whatever reason. The community is something we’ve helped foster and we’ve put mechanisms in place to promote its growth, but it has only ever come from you, the readers, and it hinges on the blend of voices that comes from those who decide to speak up for whatever reason. (And is usually driven by some degree of narcissism.)

  I find it very interesting, then, that instead of repaying the community for what they gave you by sticking around and trying to help shape and influence the spirit that brought you here in the first place, that you instead leave the conversation and consider yourself to be above it all. (Also probably driven by some degree of narcissism.)

  The reports of my departure have been greatly exaggerated.

  I missed this until just now. First up I never said that I was leaving or had left. I doubt that I'll ever do that as Velominati has been an important part of the way in which I see myself as a cyclist and oddly enough there really are a few people on here that I'd consider to be friends.

  I think, maybe, I wasn't particularly clear and you've mistaken my mention of having spent less time on the site recently and that it'd changed with my leaving.

  I've been a less frequent participant over the last eighteen months largely due to pressures of a new job.

  As for the change, I wasn't referring to the article content (which I do read) but a shift/evolution in the feel of the population (the flippant easy banter between Marcus, Minion and Brett and ChrisO's helmet wars) but you're probably not wrong when you say "...those things you believe are missing..."

  You won't get rid of me that easily.

• Il Campionissimo. Back when shorts were black.

• @chuckp

  Il Campionissimo. Back when shorts were black.

  I love the tag line of "The magazine for the young from 7 to 77". (At least I think that's how it translates!)

• @Oli

  He’ll be back. They all come back.

  @frank   +1 badge me thinks right there !

• For those who want Sagan to wear black.

• He’ll be back. They all come back.

  Well, after a busy few months moving from Germany to the US (Port Townsend, a couple hours north-west of Seattle), I know I'm back, even if my No.1 is still on its way over.  Just been catching up on a few weeks or months worth of posts here and discovering the roads on the Olympic Peninsula.

• @KogaLover

  From today’s Cyclingnews.com

  >The decision to match white shorts with the rainbow jersey sparked much debate on social media but the Tinkoff-Saxo team and clothing supplier Sportful had to respect the strict UCI rules governing the design of the rainbow jersey or risk a 10,000 Swiss Franc fine. The rules allow either team issue shorts or white shorts and so Sagan opted for an all-white look rather than combining the standard yellow and blue Tinkoff-Saxo colours.

  Sagan revealed that he is no fan of white shorts and is hoping to add some black panels as soon as possible. The design of the 2016 team kit may also change to help Sagan avoid a fashion disaster next season.

  “The rules about it are strict and all the world is controlled by rules. We’ve got to accept them,” Sagan said. “We’ve asked for permission to have a black inner part of the shorts but we haven’t had a response from the UCI yet.”<

  So true: the Rules about it are strict and all the world is controlled by the Rules

  From Sagan's FB profile:

  My new 2016 team race kit. Obviously I will wear the rainbow jersey in the next season, but for a little Sagan touch I preferred to change the color of the bib. What do you think?

• @Pali65

  Faban=Rule #14

  Well done for him!

• @Pali65

  @KogaLover

  From today’s Cyclingnews.com

  >The decision to match white shorts with the rainbow jersey sparked much debate on social media but the Tinkoff-Saxo team and clothing supplier Sportful had to respect the strict UCI rules governing the design of the rainbow jersey or risk a 10,000 Swiss Franc fine. The rules allow either team issue shorts or white shorts and so Sagan opted for an all-white look rather than combining the standard yellow and blue Tinkoff-Saxo colours.

  Sagan revealed that he is no fan of white shorts and is hoping to add some black panels as soon as possible. The design of the 2016 team kit may also change to help Sagan avoid a fashion disaster next season.

  “The rules about it are strict and all the world is controlled by rules. We’ve got to accept them,” Sagan said. “We’ve asked for permission to have a black inner part of the shorts but we haven’t had a response from the UCI yet.”<

  So true: the Rules about it are strict and all the world is controlled by the Rules

  From Sagan’s FB profile:

  My new 2016 team race kit. Obviously I will wear the rainbow jersey in the next season, but for a little Sagan touch I preferred to change the color of the bib. What do you think?

  Great move by Sagan! Hopefully the UCI will just let this issue rest and get on with more important things within the sport. Also, by today's standards, those are quite short shorts. Mo betta for showing off the guns!