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

Velominatus: Cyclops

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@Cyclops's activity:

La Vie Velominatus: A Rule #25 Reasoned Decision

There was no clear indication that Rick’s car had actually come to a complete stop. It wasn’t that the car hadn’t stopped its forward trajectory – it had – it was just that the car hadn’t actually stopped moving. Long after the vehicle had come to rest in what could only be considered a legitimate parking spot by...

@Cyclops's posts:

  1. It was a dark and stormy night, er, umm, day…  …as Frank is putting Cyclops’ $10,000 bike on the roof rack of his Range Roamer… Cyclops: I hate having my bike outside the vehicle. Frank:  Really?  That’s weird. Moments later His Fronkness proceed… »

Velominati Super Prestige: L’Eroica/Strade Bianche 2013

Until the 70′s it was common to race on gravel roads, but the Paving of the Planet has led to nearly every road being graced by smooth, black tarmac. As is the case with most things, once we are shown the easy path, it is difficult to return to more arduous ways. So it is with gravel roads; we take measures to avoid unpaved roads and in doi...

@Cyclops's posts:

  1. VSP PICKS: 1. Francesco Reda 2. Greg Van Avermaet 3. Sparticus 4. The Tourminator 5. Cuddles »

Velominati Super Prestige: Omloop Het Nieuwsblad Women 2013

Finally, some cold nasty Belgian one day racing. Oman, Qatar, does anyone brag about winning those stage races? Yes, they might but really, it’s a tune up for the real season which finally begins this Saturday. Will racing in China or Oman grow the sport? Will there be a new wave of inspired young racers from these countries. Does professiona...

@Cyclops's posts:

  1.   VSP PICKS: 1. Johansson 2. Stevens 3. Armistead 4. Olds 5. Longo-Borghini »

Velominati Super Prestige: Omloop Het Nieuwsblad 2013

Outside my window, its pouring rain. My bike is leaning agains the wall in my office, covered in grim and grit from the ride in, which was characterized by equal parts cold, wind, and rain. The spot in the locker room where I changed before my shower was marked by sand and mud, and when I walked to the shower, I left a trail of dirty footprints.It...

@Cyclops's posts:

  1.   VSP PICKS: 1. Filippo Pozzato 2. Greg Van Avermaet 3. Jurgen Roelandts 4. Niki Terpstra 5. Nick Nuyens »

Sur La Plaque: Café Roubaix Haleakala Climbing Wheels

I’m not going to lie to you, friction is an asshole. In the bottom bracket, in the bending of every single link in your chain as it rolls over the cogs and threads its way through the rear derailleur, and in the pulleys themselves, the devils. I cleaned out my rain bike last weekend after a few rides where I was forced to neglect my usual dai...

@Cyclops's posts:

  1. Those are some pretty sexy wheels Fronk (Dan).  I’ve really had a Carbone for murdered out wheels lately.  Black rims, hubs, spokes, nipples, sidewalls, etc.   »

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...

@Cyclops's posts:

  1. @napolinige I like the way BMCs look with the lower stays and it gave me an opportunity to do some filet brazing and try some intricate work.  I figure since it’s a Cross rig I have a little more leeway to deviate from traditional road bike looks. He… »

  2. @RedRanger It is if you’re a fat cow like me.   »

  3. Here’s a better shot (the right color) and it’s all done except for the chain.   »

  4. BTW,  I don’t know why it looks so orange in the photos.  It’s VERY red.  Ritchey “Wet Red” actually. »

  5. Deacon #1 should be done tomorrow. Slideshow: Fullscreen: Download: Powered by DM Albums™ »

Guest Article: Urs Freuler- The Ultimate Cyclo-tash

Somehow Movember and Vajanuary have slipped out of our grasp without too much fanfare. It’s never too late to pay homage to a ‘stash and a rider such as Urs Freuler. Our trusty cycling historian @wiscot has once again stepped up and delivered, many thanks. Yours in Cycling, Gianni…...

@Cyclops's posts:

  1. He doesn’t have a beard but he’s awesome. http://www.wimp.com/boyspeech/ »

The Phoenix

As a dyed-in-the-wool Northerner, my time living in the South was a mixed bag. Southerners think differently, speak differently, eat differently, and prioritize life differently than do Yankees. In many ways, I became a better person during my time in the South, learning to relax a little bit and stop chasing my tail over everything all the time...

@Cyclops's posts:

  1. I was freaking 90 minutes away from Louisville for a whole week the week before the Worlds.  I really wish I was there for the event.   However, Merckx willing, I will be moving to Lexington, KY in the near future and will be CXin’ up a storm in years to … »

On Rule #64: The Sudden Drop

The severity of a crash exists on two planes, the physical and psychological. The physical is the most obvious and one we busy ourselves with in the immediate vicinity of coming down. Our bodies need time to heal, our kits may need replacing or mending, and our bicycles may need repair work. For weeks and sometimes months, we may carry with us t...

@Cyclops's posts:

  1. I hope you like it. »

Reverence: Campagnolo Tools

Exposure to religion in my youth was by way of a brief dose of sunday school at the local Unitarian church. The point there, evidently, was to learn about other religions and turtles. If a point was being made, I missed it. When Catholic friends of mine came over for the weekend I would accompany them to the closest Catholic church and we would end...

@Cyclops's posts:

  1. BTW, since you mentioned steel frame building I just sent the first Deacon to the painter yesterday so as soon as I get it back I’ll be building ‘er up and posting an article on “Bike #2″. »

  2. @Gianni I would definitely consider breaking out the Visa for one. »

  3. I wish I had the full Campag tool set.  I remember back in the late ’80s the went for about $1500 (wholesale). »

Portrait of a Hardwoman: Nicole Cooke

Cycling is hard; I’m not leaking any trade secrets with that statement, but it feels good to say it anyway. No Cyclist avoids suffering, but of those who venture into our world, there are some who seek to limit it while others choose to embrace it. Then we have a handful of characters who consider playing Whack-a-Mole with the Man with the Ha...

@Cyclops's posts:

  1. Speaking of Hard Men – you guys do realize that I have just as many Tours wins and twice as many balls as Lance Armstrong don’t you? »

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...

@Cyclops's posts:

  1. This is one of the coolest things I ever seen.  I wonder if it is a Campag cork screw? »

Guest Anatomy of a Photo: Here We Rest

@steampunk dropped this beauty of a photo on us. Volumes being spoken here, none of which makes being a pro look so great. Thanks Steamy.VLVV, Gianni…...

@Cyclops's posts:

  1. “We Are the Robots…” »

  2. I can relate to this photo.  We Velominati obsess with the desire to “look pro” and yet when we return from a ride where copious amounts of V were sprayed about we, or should I say “I”, usually dismount the bike, kick off the Pepe Le Pews, take off the je… »

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...

@Cyclops's posts:

  1. OK, since we got some nit-pickers here (me being #1)  I added the race number and I figured out how to get the shadow on the ground a lot better looking… »

  2. This one might be a little better. »

  3. This is definitely the winner! »

  4. Me (#205) looking marvelous at this years Allan Butler Memorial Crit. »

Confessions of a Keeper: Descension

The only thing worse than being two months from peaking and Too Fat To Climb is being two months past peaking and in the middle of the season of rapid weight gain. At least with the former there is something to look forward to as you measure the incremental gains of your training as the almost daily rides of the season accumulate on your Strava pro...

@Cyclops's posts:

  1. @Carpy @Carpy Hangs head in shame. »

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