Velominati Community Profile Archive

Velominatus: Barracuda

Order: Gray Order Velominatus

Location: Fleurieu Peninsula - South Australia

Self diagnosed Jack of all trades and master of None.... Champagne tastes but a beer budget .... Dreams of a trip to Roubaix ..... reality is a trip to gravel road on outskirts of town.

@Barracuda's activity:

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...

@Barracuda's posts:

  1. @scmtns    OK you got me, I will also take the bait, Im currently rocking the full Rapha kit, cap and all, the Oakley Radarlocks etc etc and an N1 that is far too good for me, my main rides are on the weekend, so, hence, I would classify myself as a weeke… »

On Rule #43: Notes for Bike Inspectors

This week’s Guest Article comes from our friend, @blacktoolpower (l) and our editor Drummond Moir (r). In anticipation of our book’s imminent release, these two donned their lab coats and headed out to the streets of London to assess the state of Rule Compliance in the city’s commuter crowd. Always remember: leave this kind of ins...

@Barracuda's posts:

  1. @frank … make the cards available ……   would be quite amusing to whack some on some bikes post ride at coffee stop here »

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...

@Barracuda's posts:

  1. @Marcus While we are on the subject, I recently changed from a Selle Italia to a Specialized Romin , also much better for both bike and extra curricular activities. »

The Keepers

Cycling is a mighty sport with a rich and complex history. Every company, racer, piece of kit, and component has a legend, a story behind it; in many cases it also has a personal and nostalgic connection to our lives.  While this particular sport is steeped in tradition, it is also fiercely modern, a fact that serves only to deepen its complexity...

@Barracuda's posts:

  1. @meursault Aaahhhhh  incredibly humorous.  You forgot to mention disinfectant, large garbage bags and a red billiard ball.    Can I bring the wife, she loves to watch »

  2. Grey (Gray) Order now, feel honoured and a little nervous with the perceived power of wearing the coloured badge. »

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...

@Barracuda's posts:

  1. @Mikael Liddy Having said that @Mikael Liddy, I would generally agree with you given your from my neck of the woods, but, If you look at the curve from the top of the bars it seems to flow nicely into the curve of the hoods, BUGGER the function, I rec… »

On Rule #12: Graveur Robber

I find it interesting to observe the chasm between parties engaged in a conversation, particularly in response to questions being asked. I’m thinking, at present, of the question, “How many bikes do you have?” My feelings in response are nothing short of complex and maybe a bit confused; reservation that I feel I should have a mo...

@Barracuda's posts:

  1. @chipomarc A couple of things if i may :- 1)  Have you read the other posts on this site regarding the bike in general ? B) One black bike is not the same as another and further more, surely you jest. »

The Gear

Our products represent the spirit of Velominati; every product we offer is made with the utmost attention to detail – no compromises were made in their selection or design. Whenever possible, our products are made my small, locally-owned businesses who share our passion for quality and we make every effort to ensure they are made in an enviro...

@Barracuda's posts:

  1. The “V” “eagle” has landed »

  2. »

The Way of the Cycling Disciple: Publication & e-Book Sampler

Every once in a while, you stumble across a quote that changes your outlook on how you approach life. Of course, this requires that one does a good deal of “reading”, which is a problem for me, as reading anything that isn’t Cycling-related feels the same as doing “work”. I do the odd bit of it nevertheless, and in a r...

@Barracuda's posts:

  1. @strathlubnaig Your post was my desired result, well done and thanks for playing ! »

  2. @strathlubnaig Can someone tell me why “The Rules” is in the Fiction section in the first place ??? »

The Gear

Our products represent the spirit of Velominati; every product we offer is made with the utmost attention to detail – no compromises were made in their selection or design. Whenever possible, our products are made my small, locally-owned businesses who share our passion for quality and we make every effort to ensure they are made in an enviro...

@Barracuda's posts:

  1. @the Engine Absolutely , and I may have to own up to some plagiarism from the brand mentioned, but you get my drift. When the post bag was opened there was also the sounds of trumpets and angels singing. V Cuff links now on the bike and on Sunday in … »

La Fleur de V

We have the kind of poor judgement that allows us to have a puppy. She’s half pit, half something, and half something else and boasts a lilliputian-sized head. As her Life Coach, I’ve instructed her to focus on growing her head because, as her Uncle Gianni says, no one gets anywhere in this world with a tiny head. But she’s a g...

@Barracuda's posts:

  1. @Mikael Liddy Well played, yep the “tin lids” smash up a fair amount of time, Ive got two and you soon learn to get your rides in wherever you can, more often than not they are solo rides, thank Merckx for Ay-Ups and bright falshy red things ….  Thats… »

  2. @Mikael Liddy As a famous penguin actor in madagascar 3 said ” I think we all know the right thing to do here ….”    And the right thing to do would be to shun the group into oblivion ….. ” Its easier”  WTF.   Is this your usual group ride or in yo… »

  3. @RedRanger Nobody has cats, cats have (own) people, get a dog, youll thank me »

The Way of the Cycling Disciple: Publication & e-Book Sampler

Every once in a while, you stumble across a quote that changes your outlook on how you approach life. Of course, this requires that one does a good deal of “reading”, which is a problem for me, as reading anything that isn’t Cycling-related feels the same as doing “work”. I do the odd bit of it nevertheless, and in a r...

@Barracuda's posts:

  1. That was just the easiest sale/purchase any one ever made,   didnt even look at the cost when I hit the preorder button. All ordered and awaiting postage, one thinks one should now go back and see how much it cost me ……  oops »

The Gear

Our products represent the spirit of Velominati; every product we offer is made with the utmost attention to detail – no compromises were made in their selection or design. Whenever possible, our products are made my small, locally-owned businesses who share our passion for quality and we make every effort to ensure they are made in an enviro...

@Barracuda's posts:

  1. Well, today is a truly wonderous day, arrived in post was a nondescript brown package, which when opened the smell of the Alpes and the pyrenees wafted across the office and once unveiled revealed two awesome V cufflinks …..   Time in the shed tonight w… »

Pink or Yellow?

We’re into day four of the Six Days of the Giro series, let’s talk trash. Yes the Tour de France started a few years before the Giro and has always been credited as The Tour to win. You win the Giro, you are a stud. Win the Tour and you are a stud for life. Why is that? Is the Tour longer, tougher, more murderous, more beautiful? In the 20...

@Barracuda's posts:

  1. The Giro, by a long way ! Looking from a far in my airconditioned office in Oz, the Giro has that air of mystery and legend.  The Tifosi and the rampant nature of the racing appears much more adhoc than the Tour. The Tour “feels” more contrived and cont… »

Velominati Super Prestige: Giro d’Italia 2013, Stage 10

Day 5 of the Six Days of the Giro continues with an impromptu VSP event.Lets have a look at where we are in the 2013 Giro. Wiggins must have spent time training in Luxembourg because he’s been descending like a Schleck when things get dodgy before disappearing into the team van to have a cry about it. Hesjedal has put in some good moves and...

@Barracuda's posts:

  1. VSP PICKS: 1. Nibali 2. Evans 3. Wiggins 4. Santambrogio 5. Henao »

Velominati Kit Redesign: Half Turbine, Half Hazard

Change creeps in slowly, it has a way of taking the seemingly immutable and eroding it over time. It’s inevitable; if the great canyons were carved from the solid rock of Mount Velomis by such a soft thing as water, then it should come as no surprise that the Velominati V-Kit would also change with time. As David St. Hubbins says, “Th...

@Barracuda's posts:

  1. Oooooh , thats nice, whats the damage on the new kit ?   Or are the The gear prices updated with old photos? Was tossing up more Rapha but, me thinks im liking the new stuff here also,  mmmmm,  ouch »

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...

@Barracuda's posts:

  1. @Buck Rogers And Sagan’s mother, by the looks on the riders faces ! »

  2. @Benno Move along, nothing to see here, these are not the “rules” you are looking for. »

The Works

La Vie Velominatus. It is the life we, as Velominati, lead.  It is life as a disciple of cycling, of the greater meaning the bike holds and the lessons it teaches us. Along the path, one of our great duties is the wholesale consumption of the great Works related to our sport. From periodicals to books to films, herin lies the list of works consi...

@Barracuda's posts:

  1. Just finished reading David Walsh’s book about Mr Armstrong – captivating read and well written, wanted to put it down because didnt like what I was reading but found myself turning to the next page, and the next and the next etc. Two enthusiastic thumbs… »

Cogal Report – TDU Cogadelaide 2013

While the Northern Hemisphere Velominati were busy arguing about who injected what in the old races they’d been using to distract themselves during their indoor torture sessions, down South a bunch of like minded strangers from the internet decided that coffee, hills, sunshine & beer seemed like a great excuse to meet up for a ride̷...

@Barracuda's posts:

  1. @Daccordi Rider   given I was unable to make it on the day, what a great report this is ! However your quoted as saying ” At the top we turned right , as the pros will do next Saturday and tracked across the top of the Range ” Pardon my smart arse natur… »

Cultural Immersion

I’ve been lucky enough to do quite a bit of travelling in my life. As a family, we travelled all over Europe when I was just a lad, and recently I’ve had the opportunity to visit more exotic places like India and Hawaii. What I’ve learned from my travels is that the key to a great experience is to leave your predispositions on t...

@Barracuda's posts:

  1. @Dan_R Yes »

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