The Velominati Super Prestige has historically been the work of professional bike races. We focus on the Pro races for a simple reason: we know the races and riders, so Schleculating on where our favorite riders will finish becomes a left-brain/right-brain kind of confused mess that ends with our picks looking more Picasso than they do Rembrandt.
With that, we have our first VSP event for a community member’s race as Cyclops subjects himself to your predictions for where he will finish in Saturday’s race. Assuming you don’t know any of the other racers riding in the Allan Butler Memorial Critierium, we’re focussed on only one rider: Cyclops; enter his name into whichever place in the top five you think he’ll finish. Points are awarded as usual, with 5 for first, 4 for second, 3 for third, 2 for fourth, and 1 for fifth, with a point going to anyone who gets him in the top five but not in the right place.
As for any other community members who have a race coming up and are willing to add the pressure of meeting the expectations of our community to that you already have of validating your family’s love by meeting their expectations; send us the details about your event and, depending on the timing, we’ll run a VSP for you as well.
Yours in Cycling,
Frank
—
I guess since I’m the most masochistic (actually I think narcissistic is probably closer to the truth) of the Velominati and enjoy putting myself out there for public berating, Frank thought a Super Prestige with a twist might be in order. This coming July 9th is our local downtown criterium. The Allan Butler Memorial Criterium was started after a local racer was struck and killed by a taxi while crossing the street in Las Vegas at the Interbike show a few years ago.
The Cyclops VSP will consist of merely trying to guess what place I will finish in the event. To help you make a semi-informed guess I’ll give you a little background on me and my racing.
So there you have it. Good Luck!
*Not counting a DNF at last year’s Boise Twilight Criterium when my rear wheel was hit from behind and had half its spokes ripped out.
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@Cyclops
I also notice you're rocking the Canondale. Didn't want to risk your new ride on a crash-prone race?
@mcsqueak
Can you blame him? Awesome job rocking the V kit. How did your team feel about that?
@mcsqueak
Exactly! I had my Zipps as back up wheels but I didn't want to put them in harm's way either. I hadn't ridden the C-dale in a few months and when I got on it I was like "Wow, this is actually a really nice bike... ...but it's still a Cannondale."
@RedRanger
We're just a cycling club so I don't think they care one way or the other.
@RedRanger @Cyclops
Ha, no I don't blame him at all. But maybe the LOOK would been so frickin' awesome he would have zoomed past the Cat 1 for the first place finish. How much ahead did that dork finish over you?
Here is a photo from a local crit that I watched last year (photo is not mine, no idea who the photographer is, sorry):
I don't think I'd risk my new six grand baby either.
@mcsqueak
My wife said he finished about 22 seconds ahead of us but I'm sure he just got a lead and then cruised around.
@Cyclops
I dunno. Maybe I'm just sticking up for my own ride, but Cannondale make some pretty fast and functional bikes. In their respective price brackets, some of their line is as fast as you'll get. You may be long departed from the Velominatus Budgettightass ranks, but when I bought my CAAD9, I tried just about everything in town under $2000. I was never able to justify the extra cash for anything that was priced higher than the CAAD9. It might be a little stiffer than I'd need, but the bike just flies. Sure, it lacks the panache of a sleek Italian frame (or decal), but (even as a Canadian) I like the "Made in the USA" decal.
@Steampunk
It's just one of those things. I've never been a big Cannondale or Specialized fan and about the only Trek I could see myself on would be a vintage 950 with a C-Record gruppo. It's not based on anything objective really, just that little voice down deep that tells you that "Brand X" while being able to hold its own just doesn't have, as you say, "the panache" of other storied brands of a Eurosnob nature. People see my LOOK and ask what I did with the C-Dale? "Oh, it just my crappy rain bike now." My crappy, worth about $3500, 7.5kg, rain bike that's nicer than most of the bikes I see on the road. I'm just one of those wannabe arrogant roadies that likes to look down his nose and over his fat belly at "common" bikes.
Just like I'd rather drive a Mopar than a GM or Ford. Same thing.
It's all good though.
@Cyclops
I hear you. Although I always ranked Cannondale somewhat below Trek, Specialized, and Giant on the "big brands that suck out your soul" chart. I hold a general disdain for the big three. What I like about Cannondale (apart from the objective quality of the bike) is that it's not one of the big three (and Canadian owned, by the way) and less overtly "arrogant roadie" than some of the carbone bikes around.
But I'm a function first kind of guy: recently traded in a 22-year-old Volvo for a Saab. Swedes: meatballs, furniture, social welfare, and cars (and I've got a bit of a hankering for a Lapierre...).
@Steampunk
My LBS is going to give me employee purchase privileges for doing a website for them and since Seattle Bike Supply is the U.S. distributor for Lapierre I could probably get you one pretty cheap. :)