Velominati Community Profile Archive

Velominatus: Spicy McHaggis

Order: Level 4 Velominatus

@Spicy McHaggis's activity:

Best Kit Ever?

What is the best pro team kit ever? I’m talking team kit only, not a leader’s jersey, national team jersey or the national champion jersey. Not the worst either, for those are legion and worthy of a much longer article than this. @wiscot and I exchanged emails about Urs Freuler and the fantastic Atala kit which led to quick discussion o...

@Spicy McHaggis's posts:

  1. @Souleur Amen! »

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...

@Spicy McHaggis's posts:

  1. VSP PICKS: 1. Hesjedal 2. Kreuziger 3. Basso 4. Belletti 5. Possovivo »

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’...

@Spicy McHaggis's posts:

  1. VSP PICKS: 1. Chavanel 2. Boonen 3. Thor 4. Steegmans 5. Ballan »

Velominati Super Prestige: Ronde van Vlaanderen 2012

The Keepers and Rigid rolled into a region in France called Flandres which, without doing any further research into the matter, we assume is the coloquial French term for this region of the world. If its anything like the other regions in Europe, these places have roots that extend way past any modern country’s border and situate themselves i...

@Spicy McHaggis's posts:

  1. I’m right. VSP PICKS: 1. Boonen 2. Sagan 3. Chavanel 4. Boom goes the dynamite 5. Cancellara »

Velominati Super Prestige: Gent-Wevelgem 2012

Gent conjures up images of the quintessential Flemish city. Age-old medieval architecture rising from the river’s edge is classically Belgian. Gent is also firmly tied to Belgium’s greatest gift to the world, cycling tradition. Many a pro-expat cyclist has relocated to Gent with the hope of testing their mettle in the seat of cycling...

@Spicy McHaggis's posts:

  1. VSP PICKS: 1. Boonen 2. THOR! 3. Cav 4. Gilbert 5. Fabulous Fabian »

Velominati Super Prestige: Milano San-Remo 2012

The Poggio. It’s probably one of the most famous easy climbs in the world; going through old cycling photographs, I rarely come across one where the leaders haven’t moved Sur La Plaque. It has a reputation, however, for being a real leg breaker, mostly because any climb is a big climb once you cross its summit after a paltry 291 kilomet...

@Spicy McHaggis's posts:

  1. VSP PICKS: 1. Thor 2. Cav 3. Cancellara 4. Boonen 5. Bennati »

Velominati Super Prestige: Giro di Lombardia

No event of the year is more likely to provide piles of Rule #9 in the Five and Dime than il Giro di Lombardia. A hilly circuit around Lake Como ensures lots of climbing and that the bunch is blown to bits before the finish. Add to that its position as the last classic of the season, nestled in amongst the falling leaves of mid-October, and you...

@Spicy McHaggis's posts:

  1. VSP PICKS: 1. Gilbert 2. Roche 3. Sammy Sanchez 4. Voeckler 5. Conego »

Velominati Super Prestige: 2011 Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal

Americans love making fun of Canada. I suppose that even the very fact that we call ourselves “American’s” and not “United Statesians” is a bit of a slap in Canada’s face, but the fact of the matter is that, apart from their odd unit of measure and equally odd postal system, there isn’t much wrong with Ca...

@Spicy McHaggis's posts:

  1. VSP PICKS: 1. Hesjedal 2. Leipheimer 3. Phil Liggett 4. Tommy D 5. Gilbert »

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...

@Spicy McHaggis's posts:

  1. So if I go out for a ride tomorrow, I assume Rules #5 and #9 will apply…? (I live just NW of the “L 958″, underneath the two X’s). »

Where Angels Fly

When you’re digging deeper into Rock and Roll, you’re on a freight train headed straight for the blues. - Jack WhiteThe analog for this in Cycling is that as we dig deeper into cycling, we’re headed for The Mountains. Suffering is the altar of our sport, and Rule VV emphasizes the experience: the pain never lessens; the only indication we hav...

@Spicy McHaggis's posts:

  1. @VeloVita Cleveland isn’t THAT bad for road riding…is it…? Is it??? Looks like I’m moving there next year… »

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...

@Spicy McHaggis's posts:

  1. Do the rules address being chased by Kodiak brown bears? Today was the first day in my 8 years on this island that I can say that that happened. Fortunately there was a pickup truck behind me that most likely saved my a$$. Looking at my computer data s… »

Paul Sherwen

Paul Sherwen is generally seen as Phil Liggett’s counter-point, dutifully keeping the iconic duo’s race commentary on course, helping to convey to the English-speaking world the sport of Professional Cycling. Liggett, of course, has undeniably helped shape this great sport  for Anglophones across the globe, having been the English voic...

@Spicy McHaggis's posts:

  1. Many of todays riders could learn a few things from Paul. Wish I could have seen him ride in person. »