Categories: Defining MomentsInterviewsLa Vie VelominatusThe Rules

From Café To Roubaix

Frank’s favorite-ever wheels, the Café Roubaix Arenbergs.

Assuming you ride somewhere outside the borders of Antarctica, you have likely already heard about the injustice being imposed on our friend and fellow Velominatus, Dan Richter who goes around these parts as @Dan_R.

I’ve been riding Dan’s wheels for a bit over a year, and they are the best I’ve ever had. After hearing about the suit a few months back, I was proud to help him brainstorm some ways he might be able to salvage his brand or come up with a new one while admitting the court battle was out of reach.

But when the article broke in the Calgary Herald this weekend, all hell broke loose. It goes without saying the pride I feel whenever our community here at Velominati comes together for a good cause, but what went on over the last 48 hours was an unbelievable coming-together of not just us, but the Cycling community as a whole. Regardless of the final result, this past weekend made me proud to call myself a Cyclist more than ever, for we proved we not only love riding our bikes, but that we as a worldwide community have each other’s collective backs.

I had an article planned for today, one taking the piss out of ourselves and everyone else as we usually do. But it just didn’t feel right. Instead, I thought we’d post the Packfiller podcast from Bulger Media. This is my fourth time on the show, but this time Patrick (@packfiller) was able to get Dan on the call with us. It was fantastic to hear Dan still has his sense of humor and it was a pleasure share a good laugh with him.

Here’s hoping Specialized comes to their senses, observes Rule #43, and drops the suit. If not, we’ll stand in solidarity, never buying another Specialized product again. The good news is that either way, Dan will rebuild his brand and his shop will live on, stronger than ever. (Insert Shakespeare quote about names here.)

Its a long listen, but we cover the important Café Roubaix stuff early on. Enjoy. And 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

VeloVita says:

Dec 11 2013 at 7:21 am

@Bespoke

@frank

No one should feel bad for having bought a Spesh in the past. What you do in the future is up to how this event affected you.

Nonetheless, it was pretty easy to cut away the branded label from a couple of pieces of kit.

I 'debadged' my Romin saddles a couple months ago with a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser

@Buck Rogers

@sthilzy

This time last year: http://www.velominati.com/evanescent-riders/2012-anti-v-moment-of-the-year-bullies-are-really-just-pussies/

Are you suggesting Shitialized for The Anti-V moment of the year? Good call if so!!!

This one is pretty much a slam dunk in my opinion. Nice work Specialized!
Mike_P says:

Dec 11 2013 at 7:33 am

@DCR

@Buck Rogers

@sthilzy

This time last year: http://www.velominati.com/evanescent-riders/2012-anti-v-moment-of-the-year-bullies-are-really-just-pussies/

Are you suggesting Shitialized for The Anti-V moment of the year? Good call if so!!!

I second the movement for The Anti-V moment of the year.

A big +1 from me.
Bespoke says:

Dec 11 2013 at 8:27 am

@VeloVita

@Bespoke

@frank

No one should feel bad for having bought a Spesh in the past. What you do in the future is up to how this event affected you.

Nonetheless, it was pretty easy to cut away the branded label from a couple of pieces of kit.

I 'debadged' my Romin saddles a couple months ago with a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser

Thanks, I'll try that next (on my Avatar saddle).
ChrisO says:

Dec 11 2013 at 8:52 am

Well apparently there's been a similar row in the world of yoga... who'd have imagined.

Some company in the US filed, and has been granted, a patent on a style of filming yoga and exercise classes. It involves filming the instructor from the back of the class so that participants in the class are also visible at the side, as if from the point of view of someone in the class.

The initial application was rejected but then approved when they added "from a height of about three feet". And they've been throwing out cease and desist letters to people who have shot classes in a similar way.

If any group of people was likely to get their knickers in a twist...

What do these people think they're doing. Either the application for or the granting of patents on perfectly obvious or commonplace things.
Teocalli says:

Dec 11 2013 at 9:18 am

@Bespoke

@frank

No one should feel bad for having bought a Spesh in the past. What you do in the future is up to how this event affected you.

Nonetheless, it was pretty easy to cut away the branded label from a couple of pieces of kit.

How about a Black on Black and White on White (Gloss/Matt) Velominati Decal that just happens to be the same size as most S downtube decals?
Teocalli says:

Dec 11 2013 at 9:24 am

@ChrisO

Well apparently there's been a similar row in the world of yoga... who'd have imagined.

Some company in the US filed, and has been granted, a patent on a style of filming yoga and exercise classes. It involves filming the instructor from the back of the class so that participants in the class are also visible at the side, as if from the point of view of someone in the class.

The initial application was rejected but then approved when they added "from a height of about three feet". And they've been throwing out cease and desist letters to people who have shot classes in a similar way.

If any group of people was likely to get their knickers in a twist...

What do these people think they're doing. Either the application for or the granting of patents on perfectly obvious or commonplace things.

Unnbbeelliieevvaabbllee! Surely there must be sufficient 70s yoga/exercise video around to find examples to show prior use anyway.
Teocalli says:

Dec 11 2013 at 9:44 am

@Teocalli

@Bespoke

@frank

No one should feel bad for having bought a Spesh in the past. What you do in the future is up to how this event affected you.

Nonetheless, it was pretty easy to cut away the branded label from a couple of pieces of kit.

How about a Black on Black and White on White (Gloss/Matt) Velominati Decal that just happens to be the same size as most S downtube decals?

Something like.........
RoubaixInTwoYears says:

Dec 11 2013 at 10:04 am

@Teocalli

I'd hit that for my mtb in a hot second.
frank says:

Dec 11 2013 at 10:08 am

@ChrisO

Well apparently there's been a similar row in the world of yoga... who'd have imagined.

Some company in the US filed, and has been granted, a patent on a style of filming yoga and exercise classes. It involves filming the instructor from the back of the class so that participants in the class are also visible at the side, as if from the point of view of someone in the class.

The initial application was rejected but then approved when they added "from a height of about three feet". And they've been throwing out cease and desist letters to people who have shot classes in a similar way.

If any group of people was likely to get their knickers in a twist...

What do these people think they're doing. Either the application for or the granting of patents on perfectly obvious or commonplace things.

There's a company out here in Seattle - I forget the name - whose sole business model is to buy up obscure patents, and then has a team of lawyers who go around suing people who are innocently violating them.

If ever there was a vile business, that is one of them. Maybe its owned by Sinyard?
Teocalli says:

Dec 11 2013 at 10:27 am

@frank Sadly there's a whole host of them around the world and the owners have made fortunes. I don't have a problem with the other folk who search patents for things that could not be made or had no use at the time the patent was taken but which can now be produced/used as that still involves some acumen to produce and market the resultant goods.