Velominati Photo Contest: Season 2012
Truth be told, how many of us can resist a photo of ourselves Looking Fantastic on the bike? How many of us can resist the temptation of taking our eyes off the road and stealing a glimpse of ourselves in a shop window as we pass by? Not me, but then again a strong case could be made for my being a narcissist and I freely admit that I love looking at photos of myself riding, though this is mostly because they take me back to the experience I was having at the time.
This time of year has us looking back at the season past and getting nostalgic about the best rides and moments of the year. In the coming Holiday week, the Keepers will be naming The V Moment and the Anti-V Moment of the year, but we thought we’d give the community an opportunity to get a bit narcissistic and share our favorite photos from 2012.
With that, we announce the first annual Velominati Photo Contest. To enter, post your favorite photo(s) from 2012 below and The Keepers will monitor the conversation and use our judgement to name a winner on January 1st, 2013. The winner will receive a free pair of Witte V-Socks (available in the first quarter of next year) and the top three photos will be offered as VVallpapers. Just as with the VSP, The Keepers can post photos and are eligible to win, of course, but we are excluded from the prizes.
Even as I write this I know we won’t be able to resist posting photos of ourselves laying down The V; I already did it in the lead photo of this article. Nevertheless, the photos don’t have to be of yourself, they can be of anything so long as you took the photo or you have permission from the photographer to share it.
Have at it and so far so good on the world not ending.
This is my favourite of the year. A friend of mine, Kane Walker at the Tour of Borneo. It was just a blood nose caused by the heat, but he drove on the front for his team with blood streaming everywhere. That’s laying down the V!
Eightzero on Bobcat Pass, New Mexico.
@Xyverz
Great photos ………. looks like a great ride ……… but ……… couldnt help noticing the reference to Rule #42 …. on the jersey sleeves …..
Pardon my sarcasm … its all I got …
Le Man’s Rapha kit looking very pro
@G’rilla
Anyone know when the Ride the Hurricane event is in 2013? Me and MrsDr Eightzero are planning on it.
@eightzero
Who is in the background reviewing the massive time gap you put on the rest of the group?
Actually Lance, this year it WAS about the bike.
Ah, Les Alpes……..
@rastuscat
Stelvio?
@EricW
Winner Winner, chicken dinner
@rastuscat
Shit, another winner , how many winners can there be ?? great shot
@itburns I was in such a hurry to get the pic I didn’t take the time to shift out of the little ring/ big cog.
@cal
Holy pituitaries, Cal-man.
Why we ride
@asyax
Shit, Shit, spoke to soon …
Waitpinga Hill climb – Victor Harbor – South Australia
@roger Love the 4th image in your group up there! Is that NH?
@EricW that’s money. Awesome shot!
@mcsqueak
True story!
@asyax Beautiful!
@eightzero
Don’t know. I suspect early August again. The upside of doing it on the day of the organized event is that they close the road. But we could run a cogal some other day if people can’t make it and just deal with the cars. It’s good road.
@asyax
Another front-runner. Did you do that with an iPhone 5?
@the Engine
drive side facing up = check. good on your missus…
but please don’t say your first response was to tell her it’s easier to get the bike into the car rear wheel first……
@mcsqueak
Hear Hear.
@asyax That is a gorgeous shot.
@itburns Those Specialized wingbars must generate a LOT of lift!
@frank – No, little Pentax Optio compact – pretty hard to take a bad shot up there – Lac du Moiry, Valais, Switzerland
Hi, new to the site. My name is Todd. The shots below were taken before I got my new V-kit from Frank (Thanks btw!).
Sunset on the local loop through LAX.
How I spent my 5 year anniversary with the VMH: Wawona to Glacier point – 43km, 1500m.
I shoot a lot of cyclocross races – have found it less painful then actually racing cyclocross. I might be bending the rules, but here’s three of ’em from this ‘cross season in the Seattle area. I have zillions of shots, picked these to spotlight junior and women racers.
First shot is Theo, fast high school aged racer on my son’s team. Second shot is my son Ian, 13 years old. Last shot is Kari Studley, 2012 Woman singlepeed ‘cross national champion.
Bike in the bathtub after my first roadbike race. 134 kms and it was raining.
My good friend Mark and I at the Autodrome in Dubai!
Jeff in Petro Metro and Darche in Dubai on our last Houston ride.
I have enjoyed this review of the year… So much V and awesomeness. Keep it comming!
@Pedal.Forchette, as always, @ Rastuscats beauty and the snow shots as well as all of the others taking us around the world on 2 wheels with class and style. This must become an annual year end ritual.
My thanks too to all my cogal friends from 100 on 200 and West Point… both were a great time and sooo memorable. My best to all of you.
I look forward to what next year will bring And to all of us and the keepers peace, joy and safe riding!
My offering: (All photos from 2012 TdF end stage 4 start of stage 5 – Rouen)
Every Deakus periodically needs recharging….sometimes even mid-ride!
Faboo asserts his dominance
@Deakus
I remember her – mesmerised I was. I wonder how many weeks in it was before the novelty began to wear off…
@Deakus
Entirely off topic but did you see that ‘helpful’ write up I posted about rustic bike hire in the Pyrenees?
@the Engine
No mate sorry I’ve had a couple of weeks of working away so have been a bit absent…I’ll check it out. Thinking of a trip to Carcasonne this summer and whilst the VMH works on her tan, my plan is to work on my tan lines!
@Deakus
Let me know your dates – I feel a Cogal coming on around Foix
Long time lurker, first time poster.
Yes, multiple rule infractions (#18, 37, 50). In my defense however, I was compliant with many more than I broke..
Anyway, this is the closing kilometers on day 7 of a 7 day stage race…roadie at heart and in practice, this race was literally in my back yard – so I had to do it.
Great idea. We will be planning.booking ferrys etc late Jan. First year down that neck of the woods, some friends have just moved out there. Will be there about a week and the plan is definitely for me to hire a bike for at least a few days whilst out there so a Cogal could well be in order. Only issue is whether or not I do it with a Gitanes permanently out the corner of my mouth and string of onions and garlic round my neck….reminder, must get myself a traditional Marseille shirt!
@stu
Great sense of movement in that shot…great first post!
Jesus, Frank… Asking me to choose my best photo of 2012 is like asking which of my children do I love the most… Impossible. Unlike you, I loathe any photos with me in them (apart from Jessie’s one, which you’ve already posted) as how cameras generally see me on a bike doesn’t necessarily gel with the self-image I have of myself in RoadslaveWorld. I’m glad the one of you on the Kapelmuur is your second favourite… You and I both know that the ‘in the big ring’ shot was staged… It’s ok, I’m not going to tell anyone though. Here’s an amended version of that shot
Trying this out to see if possible to post photos from an iPad… If not, I sadly won’t be able to contribute (sob) as am away from home over holidays
Hasn’t worked, sadly… Happy Crimble everyone. All the best for 2013. Ride strong, ride safe.
VLVV
Fantastic posts here. The shots are great and exemplify why we ride. I just want to wish all Velominati safe and happy holidays and hopefully Santa stopped by the LBS to get all your presents. Here’s to plenty of great rides in 2013. Cheers!
@Dan O
Fantastic shots, Dan! We may have nearly crossed paths at some of those races. Your son looks the business – strong work!
@Adrian That first shot is fantastic! Love the mist in the valley.
@all
It is going to be tough to pick a winner out of this bunch!
One of the most awesome rides of the year was when I (tried) to ride a local hil up to a monestary. It’s not that high, this Col de Feredeu, but it is agonising. It’s switchbacks go way over 25% and it’s one of the hardest things I’ve ever tried. I haven’t managed to yet, I don’t roll with a compact, and by jove I’ll do it with my 39-26 even if it kills me (which it might).
On this day I like to think I faled because one of my cleats broke off my foot, and not due to any other reason like being ”too fat to climb”. My lack of bike did give me the ocassion to get some photos done of my friends on the grueling bends.
This is Dan, he breaks few rules:
Here is a photo of me from the Centurion Cycling Race, Lake George NY, 2012.
@Paul Moore
Excellent form!
Taken today – Christmas Eve 2012 by the West Pier on Brighton beach which is on my normal ride home from work.
I just love seeing where everyone cycles…..thats what is so great about cycling…who you do it with and what you get to see along the way!