Mr Strack, Mr Merckx and The Rules
How did we get to here? Here is Frank, the founder of Velominati, standing next to Eddy Merckx. Eddy is looking at The Rules, in Rouleur’s book-zine format. Frank is in his best button down sweater, trying to keep his shit together. And it is not easy for him to do this as Rouleur has invited him to London and now he is showing The Rules to Eddy Merckx.
The first time I met Frank he was wearing a Rouleur cycling cap (in a pre-Rules world, so no foul). The Velominati website is directly inspired by Rouleur magazine. Rouleur is a big, dense tome (or book-zine) of the best cycling writing and photography one can buy. It’s not cheap but why should excellence come cheap?
That Frank (or Velominati-The Rules, his billing on the invite) was invited to London to partake in this festivus is due to his persistence and unfiltered love of all things Cycling. A less persistent person would have told all of us to sod off and stopped paying the site’s hosting bills years ago. That Velominati is still here is because there are enough cycling fanatics out there who participate on the site and are not put off by everyone else’s dickish comments. We are amused by each other’s dickish comments. Personally I live for them. The Rules might be what gets the site notoriety but for those that enjoy the site frequently, it’s the daily surprises and humor that keep us coming back.
We should all take pride and pleasure that Frank is over there, representing all of us, having a laugh with Cipo, Fabian, David Millar and especially Eddy. Viva La Vie Velominatus.
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Awesome @Frank, it's been said, never meet your hero. This photograph kicks that into touch. I hope Eddy marked it an A+.
Did he proffer any wisdom for a Rule #96?
I should have ditched work and my plans for the weekend to make it down to the Rouleur Classic.
@brett
Quite possibly, as would many of us in the same situation!
Chapeau to you @frank and to the rest of the Keepers! What has certainly been a labor of love has surely reaped a plentiful harvest for you folks. I think I can speak for all of us here when I say your work here at Velominati can be described in one word- Priceless. Thanks to you and the boys, this middle-aged Midwestern fat boy is not just another knob riding a bicycle, but is inspired and engaged in cycling at a level above the crowd. Well done, I'm certain you were brimming with pride as well as humbled to be standing next to Merckx while he thumbed through the pages. I know I'd be beside myself if I were in your shoes. Fine Work!
Jeeze ,Not getting any younger are we.
Good talk yesterday Frank. Hope you enjoyed it all as much as I did!
p.s. Is there a rule about not turning up for your slot because you are in bed with a hooker? Not you Frank !
@CycleChick
So if Eddy ever makes his way to Winnipeg, here're some questions you can ask him
1) What is the correct length for cycling socks?
2) Where should I go for a cycling holiday?
3) What is your favourite colour?
@Major VVald
And note the detail: bottom button of the cardigan open. Casually deliberate!
@Teocalli
No way, me and Mrs Sandy were in Saundersfoot all weekend. Did you see the weather on Saturday? The rain, cold, wind, hail...yes, we were out riding in that. Had a lovely ride on Sunday though and finished at Wright's Cafe near Camarthen. Great times.
So, I've been exchanging emails with Frank regarding a V-Jersey, in which he was complaining about being 'busy with work', and the next thing I know there's a photographic evidence all he's been doing is hanging out with the Prophet. Some people.