Velominatus: Harminator
Order: Gray Order Velominatus
"We used to live in a rolled up newspaper in a septic tank." Found the bike relatively late in life after a mis-spent youth. Now cured, living northern Sydney, soaking up the serenity and agony of the local gorges... Married, 2 kids, school teacher (design & tech) renovating the house and running the school MTB program.
@Harminator's activity:
@Harminator's posts:
@Harminator's posts:
@strathlubnaig Love it. Just waiting for the “my rivals must have hacked my wireless shifting” excuse from someone now. »
@Harminator's posts:
This just in. A man in a brown jumper stole a power bar and electrolyte drink from the feed station during today’s Critical Mass event. Witnesses say he attempted a cunning disguise by pulling his trousers up to the knee and pointing his knees outwards. … »
@brett Yellow Back Pack Cover Atrocities? …because there’s nothing worse than your YJA being obscured by something not Y. »
@Harminator's posts:
@Harminator's posts:
VSP PICKS: 1. pozzovivo 2. santambrogio 3. scarponi 4. nibbles 5. Good Cadel »
@Harminator's posts:
@Asyax Don’t listen to @mcsqueak or @piwakawaka. The standard is “You’re shaving your legs. Stop where your legs stop”. Shave more if it floats your boat but such endeavours have nothing to do with #33. Do not stop just above the tan line. This results… »
@Harminator's posts:
Too much TTT and ITT for Nibs… VSP PICKS: 1. Jolly Naughty Wiggins 2. Nibbles 3. Hey Jadal 4. Santa mbrogio 5. Scared Pony »
@Harminator's posts:
@DocBrian - Maybe…(yes, they’re transparent!) »
@Harminator's posts:
Yup VSP PICKS: 1. Giblets 2. Valverde 3. Gerro 4. Nibbles 5. Kwiatkowski »
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VSP PICKS: 1. Gilbert 2. Albasini 3. Fingerbang 4. Valverde 5. Jelle »
@Harminator's posts:
I wanted to upload some pics but I’m on an iPad…meh. VSP PICKS: 1. Cromwell 2. Vos 3. Armistead 4. Kitchen 5. Van Dijk »
@Harminator's posts:
I have some first hand experience on the mur de Huy from my ‘weepers tour’ this time last year. It makes the Cauberg look like a false flat. Low down its manageable but somewhere in the lower third you get kicked up the cluster and then out of the saddle…. »
@Harminator's posts:
@Harminator's posts:
@asyax Also apologies from me asyax – I’ve confused you with xyxax from the beginning – silly me! (If you two had a lovechild it’d be worth heaps in scrabble!) »
Wow. Fluked that DM albums thing! Vivid memories of a hard, hot day. Thanks everyone! »
Slideshow: Fullscreen: Download: Powered by DM Albums™ »
@Harminator's posts:
@asyax Ooh, nothing (except 2000 odd calories of beer)! Tops edition. Fabs deserved his win – strong & smart. Nextt year we need Boonen V Fabs showdown. Please book the beds William! »
So who can suck Fab’s wheel best? Langeveld looks the goods. »
Fabs has the yips and will repeat his cornering form from London…Once he’s gapped, the rest of the field will ride like nutbags trying to seize the day… VSP PICKS: 1. Hayman 2. Chav 3. Turgot 4. Roelandts 5. Durbo »
@Harminator's posts:
March 29, 2013 – April 8, 2013 // Lille, France // Event Details // Book Now
The Hardmen. They inspire us; we aspire to be one among them. They are the solitary voice among the thousands in our heads that tell us to keep pushing when all the others tell us to stop. Their long shadows look on in approval as we pull on our cold and wet weather gear and head out into the elements to ride.
Every serious Cyclist is a hard man or woman; it comes with the territory. But to be given the title of Hardman, one must be more than just tough. The Hardmen stand out among the rest as the ones who ride over the savage, jagged cobblestones of Northern Europe with a souplesse that is possessed only by those riders who thrive in the most torturous of road cycling’s domains: The Cobbled Classics of Northern Europe.
Velominati has partnered up with Pavé Cycling Classics, based in Northern France, to offer the chance to walk where Giants tread and pedal through the trench of Arenberg and up the devastating cobbled steeps of the Koppenberg and Kapelmuur. To pedal with the Pros during their reconnaissance of the Paris-Roubaix route.
As if that isn’t good enough, we offer the opportunity to do all this with Johan Museeuw, the last Lion of Flanders.
Velominati’s Keepers Tour: Cobbled Classics 2013 will be hosted and guided by the Velominati Keepers in partnership with Pavé Cycling Classics over nine days in April during the most sacred time of the season, the week when de Ronde van Vlaanderen and Paris Roubaix are held. The trip is all-inclusive and covers lodging, meals, energy drink, energy bars, and sag support. Bikes are available and included in the price should you wish not to bring your own.
The friendships forged over the 2012 edition of Keepers Tour with 9 days of riding the cobbles of Flanders and Northern France, drinking the best of Belgian beer, and eating the finest French cuisine leave an indelible mark on not only the Keepers, but all those who attend. Cycling has that ability to bring people together, and we count ourselves very blessed to have met such a great bunch of souls who we are proud to call our mates.
For 2013, we have trimmed the fat and added a bunch of amazing treats for you. Not only will we be riding the Pavé du Nord, the steeps of Liége and the Kasseien of Flanders, we will be doing it with a very special guest; The Lion of Flanders himself, Johan Museeuw. Last year we had the pleasure of an afternoon with Johan, riding some of the Gent-Wevelgem route and enjoying a few beers after. This time, you can witness firsthand how to float across the stones of Arenberg and charge up the Kapelmuur from the master… how many cyclists are able to say that?
Take this unique opportunity to be part of an experience that everyone attending will never forget, or regret.
Provisional Itinerary
- Friday : Pick up midday, travel to gite and get bikes setup
- Saturday : Paris-Roubaix with Johan Museeuw (last 150km)
- Sunday : Watch de Ronde van Vlaanderen at the Oude Kwaremont
- Monday: Visit the Roeselare National Bicycle Museum & go for an easy ride around Kemmel
- Tuesday: Liège-Bastogne- Liège with Johan Museeuw
- Wednesday: Track riding at the Eddy Merckx Velodrome in Gent then watch the GP Escault (Scheldeprijs) pro race
- Thursday: Paris Roubaix reconaissance ride with the Pros
- Friday: Brunehaut brewery visit and meet with Pro Team (Omega-Pharma Quickstep or AG2R)
- Saturday: Ronde Van Vlaanderen with Johan Museeuw (150km)
- Sunday: Watch Paris Roubaix at three secteurs (Valenciennes, Arenberg, l’Arbre); optional stay at gite on Sunday night
Price: 3990€, All inclusive price includes rides with Johan Museeuw, accommodation for 9 nights, breakfast, lunch, dinner, beer, wine, insurance coverage, sag support, Pavé’s custom Cyfac rental bikes (upon request), exclusive V-Lion V-Shirts, exclusive Keepers Tour V-Pint, exclusive V-Mussette, and Pavé Cycling Classics jersey. Plus swag from our sponsors.
At this time we are accepting reservations for the full Keepers Tour, and now we also include weekend and daily packages. Once the reservation is confirmed, we will collect a 20% deposit with the balance due upon arrival in Lille.
Attendees should be comfortable riding in groups and be able to ride 150km several times in a week at a 28-30kph pace; some groups may elect to go faster but these are non-competitive rides. There will be lots of cobbles, and lots of short, steep climbs – sometimes both at the same time, so prepare yourself accordingly. We will usually have sag support, and riders who are unable to keep up may be asked to climb in the car. Or to Survive on V.
Booking
There is a problem with our booking form; please email tours@velominati.com to register.
Bookings
Bookings are closed for this event.
Event Details
Loading Map....Date/Time
Date - March 29, 2013 - April 07, 2013
12:00 AM - 12:00 AMLocation
Gare de Lille FlandresCogal Details
Route Details
Ride Classification
@Harminator's posts:
Meh. What’s so hard about the double. I did two in my lounge chair during the Flanders race. A little like this one… »
@VanBrudenrijden +1. Very good. No angel greater than a mongrel. »