Velominati Community Profile Archive

Velominatus: Ankush

Order: Level 3 Velominatus

Social: Website

Single Male living in Mumbai. Crazy about cycling and football. Likes to boot around in Trek 1.2 or 4300. Feeds on specially treated Spanish and Texan meat.

@Ankush's activity:

Velominati Super Prestige: Paris Tours 2012

The final race of the 2012 Velominati Super Prestige season is upon us. It’s not the most inspiring race, supposedly a race for the sprinters. The long straight final run in to the finish line begs for a mass sprint. It should be called Châteauneuf-en-Thymerais-Tours. The route is 235.5 km of small rollers through the French countryside. The...

@Ankush's posts:

  1. VSP PICKS: 1. Degenkolb 2. Blythe 3. Boom 4. Petit 5. Ciolek »

Velominati Super Prestige: Giro di Lombardia 2012

Il Grillo gives it some stick in 06. Photo: actionplus sports images[/caption]Lombardia is a beautiful race. Taking in the majestic shoreline of Lake Como and climbing past the shrine to the Madonna del Ghisallo, its stunning Italian-ness bookends the Monuments along with Milan-San Remo which started them way back in March. And it’s a coming...

@Ankush's posts:

  1. VSP PICKS: 1. Purito 2. Gilbert 3. Betancur 4. Lars Petter Nordhaug 5. Dan Martin »

Velominati Super Prestige: Mens World Championship Road Race 2012

I’m quite upset about it, actually, all this racing that’s been going on in perfectly good weather. Vlaanderen, dry. Roubaix, dry. We were nearly guaranteed shit weather with the Olympics in London, but even then, only the women got to get all Rule #9 on our asses – and only for one race. Damnit, I want Epic, and if we keep insis...

@Ankush's posts:

  1. Just waiting to watch Sagan smoke others for the World title. Only Boonen could upset him. VSP PICKS: 1. Sagan 2. Boonen 3. Gerrans 4. Nibali 5. Valverde »

Velominati Super Prestige: Women’s Road Championship 2012

It seems like just weeks ago that Cav won his rainbow stripes, things were said, umbrage was taken. Luckily we have found more umbrage so we are good to go. This course is not like last year. It’s not exactly a sprinters finish. It’s a 128 km rumble in Valkenberg and the Dutch team is there for Marianne Vos. She has finished second in...

@Ankush's posts:

  1. VSP PICKS: 1. Vos 2. Olds 3. Pooley 4. Bronzini 5. Teutenberg »

One-Eyed Wonder: CX-V

What I have always loved about Mountain Biking is the immersion into the woods; the sense of solitude that comes in the wilderness that is lost entirely in the convenience and hustle of the cities I’ve always lived in. What I always hated about Mountain Biking is that my mountain bike never feels enough like my road bike.I was but a budding...

@Ankush's posts:

  1. wow, this bike is beautiful. Congrats on setting up a great ride. »

Velominati Super Prestige: Grand Prix Cycliste de Montreal 2012

Ok, as some of you have been reminding us, this one slipped off the radar last year, and threatened to do the same again this time. Is it because it’s held in Canada? That despite a quality field and only two weeks away from the Worlds, it’s in Canada? That even though the course is a perfect template for riders who hold hopes for earni...

@Ankush's posts:

  1. VSP PICKS: 1. Sagan 2. Boasson Hagen 3. Gerrans 4. Van Avermaet 5. Rui Costa »

Velominati Super Prestige: Vuelta a España 2012

One of the loveliest things about the Grand Tours is that you get a feel, by the nature of the route, of the country’s landscape and physical qualities. Italy is littered with mountains and coasts, France is bordered by mountains with large swaths of open landscape throughout, and Spain is like Tatooine; mostly desert with some rocky outcropp...

@Ankush's posts:

  1. And why are people crying out for Ryder, he’s not even riding the Vuelta. Movistar also have a very strong team and this Vuelta could be a watershed in Quintana’s career. VSP PICKS: 1. Contador 2. Purito 3. Froomedog 4. Anton 5. Valverde »

Reverence: Speedplay Pedals

I’m old as dirt. My first two race bikes employed toe clips and toe straps and that set-up was bad. For many reasons it was bad and any retro-hipster who thinks otherwise is wrong. When Lemond and Hinault started racing on the white Look clipless pedals, everyone but Sean Kelly quickly switched. Talk about a quantum improvement, it was long o...

@Ankush's posts:

  1. I can certainly live without that creaking noise of Shimano SPDs but the cost of Speedplay pedals was a big impediment in the switch. I hope to cut down on my food intake and save some money from my measly graduate school stipend for these babies. »

Reverence: DeFeet Un-D-Shurt and Un-D-Lite

As indispensable and overlooked as the gilet, the undervest is the only piece of cycling kit that comes with me on every single ride, year round, in hot, in cold, in wet, or in dry. While one could be forgiven for assuming an undervest lives out its life as an insulation layer, the undervest serves a critical, more fundamental purpose: as a wic...

@Ankush's posts:

  1. I’ve always looked at undershirt with some suspicion, doubting it’s benefit. May be it’s time for me to pick one and enjoy a comfortable ride in the sticky weather »

Velominati Super Prestige: Women’s Olympic Road Race 2012

What a difference four years can make. In Beijing, Nicole Cooke was the dominant rider in Women’s Cycling, taking wins in every important race on the Women’s calendar for several years running. Fast finish, good in the hills, good against the clock, she helped give context to what we mean by the term “all rounder”.Four year...

@Ankush's posts:

  1. All the ladies did send their worst photos for Olympics. I will re-quote San Tonio “I mean the DMV can take a better photo for crying out loud.” Emma Pooley mentioned that team GB is united and will be going for Lizzie. But then Bronzini is super cunnin… »

Velominati Super Prestige: Men’s Olympic Road Race 2012

You can all wave “goodbye” to your Post GT Depression Syndrome, because the Men’s Olympic Road Race is only three days yonder. I don’t typically give two shits about this particular event; while contested by national teams, unlike the Worlds it appears as just another one-day race on a calendar filled with events that carry...

@Ankush's posts:

  1. I just love writing Lulu’s name in full. I think Cav will take the sprint by a mile, Sagan is too busy mopping up criterium money, that maverick. VSP PICKS: 1. Cavendish 2. Sagan 3. EBH 4. Gerrans 5. Luis Leon Sanchez »

La Vie Velominatus: Optimism

If I were a pessimist, or a realist for that matter, I wonder if I might have started any of the various activities which have brought me the most pleasure and satisfaction. Though I have Cycling in my mind when I make that statement, this principle expands beyond the vast and il-defined borders of La Vie Velominatus: everything worth doing takes t...

@Ankush's posts:

  1. This post justifies my decision to quit job and enroll for a PhD. One positive thing which has already happened is that I took up cycling during my first year. Thanks for the post Frank, it will help us attack that hill with more determination. »

Velominati Super Prestige: Tour de France 2012, Stage 16

Which bold rider has this stage circled in their tour bible? Wednesday July 18th, Stage 16, 197 km. The day after a the final rest day. A climbing day with two HC climbs followed by two Category 1 climbs and a serious descent toward the finish. The Aubisque, Tourmalet, Aspin and Peyresourde: you better be a fearless climber and a good descender, bu...

@Ankush's posts:

  1. Hope Stage 16 doesn’t let us down in terms of GC drama. I think Cadel will keep his powder dry for the next day but and Nibbles will only be able to attack on the descent. On a killer stage such as this, Rolland and Pinot won’t be allowed to go in the br… »

Velominati Super Prestige: Tour de France 2012, Stage 11

During the 1969 Tour de France, Felice Gimondi and Ray Poulidor were fined for taking a ride from a lorry up the Tourmalet. What about Merkcx? Well, he was towing the lorry.Its an old joke, but like any good joke, it stays funny no matter how many times you hear it. I bet it’s even funnier if you know what a lorry is. I knew a girl named Lori...

@Ankush's posts:

  1. those are some sweet goodies on offer. I hope to see Cuddles in the lead at the end of Stage 11 but it won’t be enough stop Wiggins from winning the GC. VSP PICKS: 1. Froome 2. Cuddles 3. JVDB 4. Wiggins 5. Nibali »

Velominati Super Prestige: Giro d’Italia Internazionale Femminile 2012

It seems a disservice to start the Women’s Giro right before the Tour de France. Even at Velominati’s main bunker HQ, the new TdF VSP sponsorship excitement has overshadowed this race. But at least it is starting (the race and the VSP), nine stages, a time trial, some sprinting, some climbing and some serious transfers. The race starts...

@Ankush's posts:

  1. VSP PICKS: 1. Vos 2. Pooley 3. Arndt 4. Emma Johansson 5. Tatiana Guderzo »

Velominati Super Prestige: Tour de France 2012

We are proud to announce a change to the Velominati Super Prestige moving forward: sponsorship. We are delighted (if a little surprised) at the interest our partners showed in this endeavor, despite the short notice we gave them. Four sponsors will be gracing the sides of our team bus for this year’s race: fi’zi:k is our Super Domesti...

@Ankush's posts:

  1. VSP PICKS: 1. Wiggo 2. Cuddles 3. Hesjedal 4. Leipheimer 5. Van Den Broeck »

Velominati Super Prestige: Tour de Suisse 2012

This is an exciting time of year. The Giro is in the books, the Tour is firmly in everyone’s sights, and those of us with the vaguest idea of how the big race will unfold are prognosticating the loudest as we use races that are proven to reveal fuck-all about what will happen at the Tour to predict what will happen at the Tour.With the Dauphi...

@Ankush's posts:

  1. Tour de Suisse is pretty tough one to call given the quality of the field. Almost all the GC contenders are polishing their guns at Dauphine and what we have here are “outsiders.” I will be lucky if end up getting any VSP points from this race. VSP PICKS… »

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...

@Ankush's posts:

  1. I bloody hate Frank for leaving mid-race. Bollocks to his shoulder injury VSP PICKS: 1. Pozzovivo 2. Basso 3. Hesjedal 4. Uran 5. Scarponi »

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...

@Ankush's posts:

  1. I slightly fear going with Frank for top 5 as he could possibly throw a tantrum midrace VSP PICKS: 1. Scarponi 2. Basso 3. Kreuziger 4. Frank 5. Hesjedal »

La Vie Velominatus: The Goldilocks Principle

The Rules are about cultivating a passion for riding our bikes to gain the maximum enjoyment possible. This requires humility, for one thing, and devotion, for another. It requires a balance between focusing on progress and enjoying the journey. It demands a reverence for our history paired with a hunger for evolution. The Rules teach us balance, t...

@Ankush's posts:

  1. There’s nothing like a well researched article. Loved it »

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...

@Ankush's posts:

  1. VSP PICKS: 1. Gilbert 2. Purito 3. Dan Martin 4. Valverde 5. Cunego »

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...

@Ankush's posts:

  1. VSP PICKS: 1. Vanendert 2. Sanchez 3. Rodriguez 4. Gilbert 5. Sagan »

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...

@Ankush's posts:

  1. VSP PICKS: 1. Vos 2. Pooley 3. Arndt 4. Johansson 5. Cooke »

Velominati Super Prestige: Amstel Gold Race 2012

When people think of the The Netherlands, they generally think of flat lands, windmills, and a topography where people claim to “live at elevation” when their home on the third floor of a building. Never the less, this is not entirely true as The Motherland does, in its most southern reaches, boast quite hilly terrain; the province of...

@Ankush's posts:

  1. Gilbert is having a real poop this spring. I’m sure he’ll give a mighty push this Sunday but it won’t be enough VSP PICKS: 1. Sagan 2. Purito 3. Valverde 4. Nibbles 5. Gerro »

Velominati Super Prestige: Paris-Roubaix 2012

We rode the Pavé of Roubaix in the dry, and any comforting feelings we might have been carrying about with us that suggested we had somehow prepared for them were summarily vaporized as we hit the first secteur. Riding together in a group, unable to reach for the brakes or the shifters, we all were hit with the same realization: these aren’...

@Ankush's posts:

  1. damn it, Sagan is not riding on Sunday VSP PICKS: 1. Boonen 2. Ballan 3. Pozzato 4. EBH 5. Chavanel »