Velominati Super Prestige:
Giro D'Italia 2013
Velominati Community Profile Archive

Velominatus: Calmante

Order: Level 4 Velominatus

He was a good guy. We hardly knew him before he left.

@Calmante's activity:

2012 Anti-V Moment of the Year: Bullies are really just pussies

As referenced in the 2012 V-Moment of the year article and ensuing discussion, it was a most Vawesome year for cycling. It’s been hypothesized here and on cycling sites with more integrity that the fantastic racing of 2012 may be, at least in part, attributed to a cleaner peloton. Unless you watched the Tour de France you’d think the da...

@Calmante's posts:

  1. Next up: Bradley Wiggins and Team Sky. What’s the over/under on how long it takes to nab them? »

Merckxy Christmas, and a Coppi New Year

It has been a crazy year, this, with our first annual Keepers Tour sorted, partnerships with the industry’s leading icons including Johan Museeuw, Pavé Cycling Classics, DeFeet, fi'zi:k, and Lezyne – and a book deal to boot (deadline looming large on January 1st). We couldn’t have asked for a better year, and would like to remind...

@Calmante's posts:

  1. Hope everyone had a good Christmas. Happy New Year, as well. »

Look Pro: Souplesse

Souplesse. Only the French would have such a word; one you can sink your teeth into, chew on. It begs to be spoken over a plate of assorted cheeses and a bottle of vin rouge. Its exact definition is unimportant; such things conjure up an image in our minds that is cheapened by words. Souplesse is the ideal, sought by all and obtained only by The F...

@Calmante's posts:

  1. @Barracuda You could care less, huh? Do you care a lot? That’s a lot of room for caring less. »

The Rules

We are the Keepers of the Cog.  In so being, we also maintain the sacred text wherein lie the simple truths of cycling etiquette known as The Rules. It is in our trust to maintain and endorse this list.See also The Prophet’s Prayer. Continue reading...

@Calmante's posts:

  1. @Bird On A Bike I like you. »

Velominati Super Prestige: Giro d’Italia 2012 Stage 20

See that huge mountain over there? The one with the steep, twisty road going up it? The one that is often covered in snow this time of year? Right, race ya to the top.I don’t know what more there is to say about this year’s Giro; four days from the end, with two of the biggest mountain stages yet to come and the G.C., Mountains, and P...

@Calmante's posts:

  1. VSP PICKS: 1. Hesjedal 2. Basso 3. Rodriguez 4. Scarponi 5. Pozzovivo »

Rule 43: Don’t be a Jackass

Not being a jackass seems simple enough in spirit but can be difficult to operationalize. Waving to another cyclist because they are on a bike and not ‘the right’ kind of bike reduces your jackassness. But what if that cyclist is clearly riding his daughter’s bike to work because he probably got a third DUI? Taking the time to at...

@Calmante's posts:

  1. Nice job, Marko. Good read. »

The Rule #5 Talk

Have a look around to see who you find occupying your immediate vicinity. Presently, I am surrounded by a pleasant-seeming bunch. Some are even going so far as to appear happy or at least not displeased; all of them are pale and none of them fit. My attention is drawn, however, to a a portly mustached gentleman who strode into the hotel lobby with...

@Calmante's posts:

  1. @Oli Oli, you are ~hands down~ my favorite poster on this site. …all I can say. »

  2. I’m finding that it’s more fun to observe this place than throw my hat in the ring at times. What a show. »

The Rules

We are the Keepers of the Cog.  In so being, we also maintain the sacred text wherein lie the simple truths of cycling etiquette known as The Rules. It is in our trust to maintain and endorse this list.See also The Prophet’s Prayer. Continue reading...

@Calmante's posts:

  1. I just. Don’t . Know. »

Velominati Super Prestige: Giro d’Italia 2012

After a winter of long training rides that offered more in the way of numb extremities than it did in acute enjoyment, I have to say that the warming of the air and brightening of the skies have served to remind me that while I love riding in bad weather, I certainly don’t have anything against riding when its nice out.But dont think for...

@Calmante's posts:

  1. Love this guy. First met Davis at the Killington Stage Race. Can’t wait to see what Taylor can do! »

Guest Article: The Fine Art of Pedaling

Keeper Jim and I came across Meg Fisher during an icy-rain Rule #9 training ride on Mercer Island in March. The first thing that struck us was that there was a good rider up the road, one of the few braving those cold, wet, early morning hours. It wasn’t until we caught up to her that we realized she was riding with a prosthetic leg.The thr...

@Calmante's posts:

  1. Thanks for the excellent article, Meg! »

Velominati Super Prestige: Giro d’Italia 2012

After a winter of long training rides that offered more in the way of numb extremities than it did in acute enjoyment, I have to say that the warming of the air and brightening of the skies have served to remind me that while I love riding in bad weather, I certainly don’t have anything against riding when its nice out.But dont think for...

@Calmante's posts:

  1. VSP PICKS: 1. M. Scarponi 2. I. Basso 3. R. Kreuziger 4. F. Schleck 5. J. Rujano »

The Bikes

The Bike. It is the central tool in pursuit of our craft. A Velominatus meticulously maintains their bicycles and adorns them with the essential, yet minimal, accoutrement. The Rules specify the principles of good taste in configuration and setup of our machines, but within those principles lies almost infinite room for personal taste.It seems in s...

@Calmante's posts:

  1. @Oli Wow, so nice, Oli. Tangentially; wow, you’re tall. »

The Rules

We are the Keepers of the Cog.  In so being, we also maintain the sacred text wherein lie the simple truths of cycling etiquette known as The Rules. It is in our trust to maintain and endorse this list.See also The Prophet’s Prayer. Continue reading...

@Calmante's posts:

  1. I understand the veneration for Campagnolo, and it’s totally deserved, but that 11s Dura-Ace is a prototype. If you’ve had the chance to see prototypes on pro-tour bikes, they are usually rough, with sharp edges. I’m sure the final product will be pretty … »

  2. @ChrisO I agree with you for the most part. The rail camera that was used on the Champs Élysées last year was very cool. »

  3. @Daccordi Rider Do you ride a frame that isn’t made by Giant, Daccordi? »

  4. @norbs, your nemesis Norbs, I feel ya. I have the same misgivings about the rules. I happen to not break many of them, but it’s not because I follow them. The people who take part in this community, though, are better than the average cycling community a… »

Velominati Super Prestige: Luik-Bastenaken-Luik 2012

I thought I’d take this opportunity to move en danseuse on Rule #89 and to refer to Liege-Bastogne-Liege by its less-common Flemish name. It also draws into sharp relief that fact that while Dutch may be every bit as expressive and subtle as French, it certainly sounds less sexy.Some races seem to foster a romanticism that other races of e...

@Calmante's posts:

  1. VSP PICKS: 1. Philippe Gilbert 2. Damiano Cunego 3. Joaquim Rodriguez 4. Samuel Sanchez 5. Alejandro Valverde »

The Bikes

The Bike. It is the central tool in pursuit of our craft. A Velominatus meticulously maintains their bicycles and adorns them with the essential, yet minimal, accoutrement. The Rules specify the principles of good taste in configuration and setup of our machines, but within those principles lies almost infinite room for personal taste.It seems in s...

@Calmante's posts:

  1. @The Oracle Yep. I have been humbled. I have been riding the trails this week and am absolutely wrecked. XC is a non-stop fight against things that I never think twice about on the road. I hurt in places that I didn’t know existed. This will make me a … »

Velominati Super Prestige: La Fleche Wallonne 2012

I just had to use this pic of Tom Simpson in 1965 wearing the Peugeot kit as the title pic for this year’s VSP for La Fleche Wallonne. Rigid hooked himself up on the Keepers Tour with the same kit he purchased at the Flanders Cycling Museum and it’s Grade A nipple lube. Although victory eluded Simpson in this Classic he still looked dam...

@Calmante's posts:

  1. I don’t even get a shout out for being on the podium… It’s alright. I’m gonna own this shit. »

Velominati Super Prestige: Flèche Wallonne Femmes 2012

During the Ronde von Vlaanderen, we of the 2012 Keeper’s Spring Classic Tour were right on the Oude Kwaremont climb as the women big-ringed it up the cobbles. Kristin Armstrong (US Women’s Team) was burying herself to get on Judith Arndt’s (Greenedge) wheel. It looked like the winning break was going right in front of our eyes. Se...

@Calmante's posts:

  1. @Marcus Nope. May as well be a lawn-dart tournament in Antarctica for all the information we get on the participants. »

Velominati Super Prestige: La Fleche Wallonne 2012

I just had to use this pic of Tom Simpson in 1965 wearing the Peugeot kit as the title pic for this year’s VSP for La Fleche Wallonne. Rigid hooked himself up on the Keepers Tour with the same kit he purchased at the Flanders Cycling Museum and it’s Grade A nipple lube. Although victory eluded Simpson in this Classic he still looked dam...

@Calmante's posts:

  1. VSP PICKS: 1. Joaquin Rodriguez 2. Jelle Vanendert 3. Philippe Gilbert 4. Alejandro Valverde 5. Igor Anton »

Velominati Super Prestige: Flèche Wallonne Femmes 2012

During the Ronde von Vlaanderen, we of the 2012 Keeper’s Spring Classic Tour were right on the Oude Kwaremont climb as the women big-ringed it up the cobbles. Kristin Armstrong (US Women’s Team) was burying herself to get on Judith Arndt’s (Greenedge) wheel. It looked like the winning break was going right in front of our eyes. Se...

@Calmante's posts:

  1. Really don’t care. This takes the fun out of the VSP. VSP PICKS: 1. Marianne Vos 2. Judith Arndt 3. Emma Johansson 4. Nicole Cooke 5. Emma Pooley »

Velominati Super Prestige: La Fleche Wallonne 2012

I just had to use this pic of Tom Simpson in 1965 wearing the Peugeot kit as the title pic for this year’s VSP for La Fleche Wallonne. Rigid hooked himself up on the Keepers Tour with the same kit he purchased at the Flanders Cycling Museum and it’s Grade A nipple lube. Although victory eluded Simpson in this Classic he still looked dam...

@Calmante's posts:

  1. VSP PICKS: 1. Joaquin Rodriguez 2. Jelle Vanendert 3. Philippe Gilbert 4. Alejandro Valverde 5. Ignore Anton »

The Bikes

The Bike. It is the central tool in pursuit of our craft. A Velominatus meticulously maintains their bicycles and adorns them with the essential, yet minimal, accoutrement. The Rules specify the principles of good taste in configuration and setup of our machines, but within those principles lies almost infinite room for personal taste.It seems in s...

@Calmante's posts:

  1. @frank I’ve never taken recalls seriously… until now. »