Velominati Community Profile Archive

Velominatus: wiscot

Order: Guest Contributor

Location: West Bend, Wisconsin

I got my first bike at age 2 and have always had one since. My first real bike was a massive steel blue Peugeot at the age of 14. Subsequently replaced by a red Holdsworth, a team-colors Raleigh and a ruby-red Colnago, the latter joined by a neon-pink Cougar TT bike, a metallic green Brian Rouke winter bike and a blue Specialized mountain bike. All steel and all gone to new homes now. I joined the Johnstone Wheelers Cycling Club at 18 and became a dedicated time triallist, riding 30-50 club and open races a year. In 1989/90 I was a founding member of the short-lived VC d"Or which included velominatus and short-lived COTHO teammate Brian Smith. I also raced regularly against another real Velominatus - Graeme Obree - in the 1980s and beat him twice - once in a 10 and once in a 50. Rumors that he stopped to have a drum up at the turn are probably true. Moved to the US in 1990. Buggered up my back (working for a bike shop ironically) in 1993. Took several years off. Back riding since 2006 in Wisconsin and logging 8000+ kilometers each of the last three years.

@wiscot's activity:

Twiggo is dreaming of a Giro-Tour double. He has sent out mixed messages about his Tour ambitions. Will he use the Giro as the ultimate Tour preparation or will be burn all his matches in May and hope he can find another pack for July? He has abandoned his successful 2012 Tour run-up strategy of winning every stage race he entered the previous spri...

@wiscot's posts:

  1. @Mikael Liddy I think from now on, Duarte should be called Senor Creosote. »

  2. @brett Hey, you can only compete against those who show up or stay until the end. Too many coulda, woulda, shouldas if you start saying, “we;ll, if Wiggins haad stayed in” if Contador/Froome/etc was riding” As unhappy as I am about it, Oscar Pereiro won… »

  3. Anyone else noticed the new “thing” on the podium – draping oneself in the respective rider’s flag? What’s up with that? I can’t imagine sponsors are too pleased as the flag often obscures logos/names etc. Kinda like Jordon draping the US flag over the no… »

  4. @frank I too would appreciate Wee Scarpo falling to fifth as it looks like that’s my only realistic change of getting any of the top 5 right. Looks like Evans had a bad day which I was sad to see – I think he’s ridden a great race. OTOH, his low finish … »

In most situations, silence is an ominous thing that signals impending doom. Having never been in any danger myself, I base this largely on my experience watching box-office movies. As a general rule, I use Hollywood as the principal source of information on all subjects as they relate to doom and politics, principally because I’m loath t...

@wiscot's posts:

  1. Can’t believe no-one’s posted this yet: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hUy9ePyo6Q »

  2. @unversio No, in front of her wrist. »

  3. @frank Ok, I don’t want to come across as too pervy (but given some of the issues covered on this site, that’s unlikely),, Ms Blue Slacks is of an undetermimed age, but look next to her left wrist; is she showing excitement at The Prophet’s exertions? »

  4. @frank Well that makes me feel a wee bit better. It was pretty warm here on Saturday when I did the 7 hours. Started off cloudy at 11am but warmed up fast. I was overdressed. And, as you know, SE WI isn’t flat. My route was perpetually lumpy. I needed … »

  5. @frank I agree with all of this except your food intake. My 7 hour ride was about 190kms. If I hadn’t eaten I’d be dead by the side of the road. There’s something great about committing yourself to be so far from home knowing that there’s only one way b… »

  6. @Chris One of the reasons I do mostly solo is so I can set my own pace and schedule. In other words, stops at gas stations for liquids are as short as they need to be. Even when I do organized rides, I stop, piss, eat, refill pockets and leave. No hang… »

Bicycles and automobiles- can’t we all just get along? @Kah writes about this universal (do aliens have this issue also?) problem of us co-existing with humans in cars. We all drive cars too and have cursed the occasional cyclists for some good reason. Cars are our greatest threat. We can crawl away from our own bicycle crashes, thanks very m...

@wiscot's posts:

  1. @sthilzy Don’t let those lights hit those Gaerne shoes. Folks will be permanently blinded FFS. »

In most situations, silence is an ominous thing that signals impending doom. Having never been in any danger myself, I base this largely on my experience watching box-office movies. As a general rule, I use Hollywood as the principal source of information on all subjects as they relate to doom and politics, principally because I’m loath t...

@wiscot's posts:

  1. @Ron Dear Ron, I hear you. Long rides require almost as much metal prep as physical prep.I did 7 hours on Saturday. It was very good and I knew I could do it as I did just over 6 he previous week in much harsher conditions. It’s all in the build-up. … »

  2. #1 and #3 are silent at the moment. Last night I realized #2 needs some TLC. I’ll get on that this week. I have a pair of Diadoras that are not conforming. Not sure if it’s the cleat, the straps or what. It’s driving me nuts. »

Bicycles and automobiles- can’t we all just get along? @Kah writes about this universal (do aliens have this issue also?) problem of us co-existing with humans in cars. We all drive cars too and have cursed the occasional cyclists for some good reason. Cars are our greatest threat. We can crawl away from our own bicycle crashes, thanks very m...

@wiscot's posts:

  1. @ped Christ! A little heads-up might have been goo there! I close my eyes and all I see are bright bolts of light! »

  2. @xced Alas, she’ll probably get a warning. Of course, she’s so stupid she can’t conceive that cyclists might own cars too. Bring back publiic stocks for thiis kind of idiocy. »

  3. @strathlubnaig Ugly beyond belief. Either wear an appropriate jacket or do what we ddid back in the day – stick a plastic bag up he front of your jersey. »

  4. @scaler911 This helmet is much better looking than those new Giro aero helmets. »

  5. “So, like, my Mom’s picking me up in five minutes. What time does your Mom pick you up?” »

  6. Notice how the YJA’s gather together for safety. Even off the bike they congregate lest something terrible happen. Club-kit boys seem to be off to the side. »

Twiggo is dreaming of a Giro-Tour double. He has sent out mixed messages about his Tour ambitions. Will he use the Giro as the ultimate Tour preparation or will be burn all his matches in May and hope he can find another pack for July? He has abandoned his successful 2012 Tour run-up strategy of winning every stage race he entered the previous spri...

@wiscot's posts:

  1. @Ron Commissaires are usually pretty quick to sanction, but maybe Cav’s getting a break this year. The boy dug deep today as he had no help at the end. He pretty much collapsed after crossing the line. He’s gotta be dreading the next few mountain stages… »

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...

@wiscot's posts:

  1. @DocBrian They give out medals to less brave souls than you. Good luck. »

Twiggo is dreaming of a Giro-Tour double. He has sent out mixed messages about his Tour ambitions. Will he use the Giro as the ultimate Tour preparation or will be burn all his matches in May and hope he can find another pack for July? He has abandoned his successful 2012 Tour run-up strategy of winning every stage race he entered the previous spri...

@wiscot's posts:

  1. @ChrisO Co-leaders? 100% guarantee of unpleasantness. Has never worked and sure won’t this time. A pity because being from the UK I grew up watching British riders get shelled in the pro game with very rare exceptions. I remember the ANC debacle, but I… »

  2. What’s going to be interesting is if Wiggo wants a crack at the Tour. Clearly there are ill feelings in the Sky camp and remarks from Uran et al during the week that “”we’re not Froome” testify to that. I’d imagine Froome is counting the days until he can… »

We close out the 6 Days of the Giro with our sixth and final installment.A body at rest, stays at rest. A body in motion, stays in motion. Things get a bit more ambiguous when it comes to a body on a bicycle tearing down a twisty mountain descent at speed, particularly in the rain. But it is here, on the boundary between clarity and ambiguity, wher...

@wiscot's posts:

  1. @Nate The commentary leaves a lot to be desired too. »

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...

@wiscot's posts:

  1. @nkanafani I’m doing the UPAF (United Performing Arts Fund) ride in Milwaukee soon. I shall do my best to ignore rule violators as there will be too many. Actually, that’s rather unfair as you can’t obey the rules if you’ve never heard of them and for m… »