Velominatus: frank
Order: Keeper of the Cog
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A lifelong Velominatus, the history and culture within cycling fascinates Frank (pronounced in Dutch and Flemish as “Fränk”) and, if given even the vaguest of excuses, will discuss it ad nausium. A devoted cycling aesthete, the only thing more important to him than riding a bike well is looking good doing it. Question? Email me.
@frank's activity:
@frank's posts:
@frank's posts:
@mouse Did you know that word is derived from the Dutch work for butt, kont? You’re welcome. @RedRanger Wow, that kind of climb is right up my alley. »
@frank's posts:
Big shakeup; we lost Santambrogio and after the second rest day swaps, our standings have shifted. Provisional Race Results 1. NIBALI Vincenzo 2. EVANS Cadel 3. URAN URAN Rigoberto 4. SCARPONI Michele 5. NIEMIEC Przemyslaw Provisional VSP Standings … »
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@thebaron Me too. Having a old loyal mutt myself, this brings a tear to my eye. Awesome. »
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@mouse Lets see here, we’ve got a TDF winner and (presumptive) two-time Giro runner-up against a talented kid who won a second-rate one-week stage race. Brainstorm! Lets put the rookie in! »
@frank's posts:
@mcsqueak Check the spokes, as @paolo suggests, but also the skewers and the spacers between cogs, though those generally seem to emanate as creaks more than clicks. The skewers are a deadly thing as well; they can really creak, especially after a rainy … »
@paolo Absolutely right, matey. Silently suffering together, it is a beautiful thing. The fact is, Cycling is beautiful in all its forms, except recumbentism. »
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@mouse I’ll wait at the top of a good descent if I think there’s a car within reach on the way down. A motorcycle I can follow, a car? No fucking way. Especially in the PNW, where we have drivers from British Columbia and Oregon fighting it out for the… »
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@Ron Everyone gets bored on a long, solo ride. The trick is not minding that it hurts. Training alone is about exploring the darkest corners of yourself. On a 12 hour solo ride, things get very musty in the ol’ mind. Doubt, obsession on the inconsequenti… »
@wiscot East Maui Loop; 170km, 2200km. Bidons: 2. Food: none. Pace: moderate. Lost one bidon on the bumpy section but did refill the other one once. That’s training. »
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@PT Sorry to seem obsessive, but tall guys is my specialty and I’m hugely invested in understanding what/how they ride. I am only about 6’4″ but have the inseam of a guy much taller. We tall guys are fucked as far as center of mass goes, and we have comp… »
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@VanBrudenrijden Thats the fucking spirit, mate, except that its covered under Steerectile Dysfunction. »
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@RedRanger Yeah, that’s Ryder’s bike – I was wondering about a source for JVS riding a 56. But talk about slammed – no head set top cap to get the bars low enough! »
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@brett Seconded. That thing is ridiculous. Wear arm warmers or a jacket like the rest of us. @ChrisO Hee-hee. »
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No change to the GC today. Here’s hoping the racing kicks up a bit again; that was an awfully large group to finish together on such a big climb. »
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@PT Do you know where you found that? Modern tall Pros do ride relatively smaller frames for reasons I’ve written about many times, but Hesj is closer to 6’2 and might ride a 56; JVS rides a 61cm, as far as I know. That ain’t no 56. »
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@frank's posts:
Despite the weather and several riders losing time, there was not much change to the GC; Gesink dropped out of contention and Scarples fell further back as well, but the only big change to the overall is that Santambrogio took Gesink’s spot in fourth. … »
@wiscot To be fair, I brought cliff bars and shots, but didn’t want to use them unless I had to. I wouldn’t normally do that, but for a long winter training ride, it is a great way to lose weight. Wouldn’t dream of that in the summer. People disagree … »
@mcsqueak Only when pedaling? Take the cassette off, clean it, grease all the spacers, and put it back on, tight. Oh, and whatever you try, just try ONE THING AT A TIME. Don’t change too many variables at once. »
@Chris This is correct; hub noise is not included, though it can be annoying. I happen to like the nice, crisp click of a hub, and both my Royce and Hope hubs have this characteristic. I base this on spinning the wheel in the VVorkshop, as I don’t sto… »
@Bespoke I’ve never stopped pedaling, so I’ve never noticed the sound of my freehub. »
@the Engine Start with solid foods, but as you carry on, you can switch to gels. Find some with less sugar but not chewing helps a lot. Plus, on a ride that long, chewing starts to be too energy-intensive anyway. I’ve been so burned that chewing caused… »
@ChrisO Spot on, replenish afterwards but consuming muscle is, in my opinion, a modern myth by hobby nutritionists. I’m sure at some point you can start to consume muscle, but not so long as you are fit enough that you body knows HOW to burn fat and tha… »
@Blah And what about the kid in the jump suit? Re-posting because it got buried. I have a feeling blue pants has some sweet shades on. »
@Deakus There is a guy Rob who does what he calls “The Corkscrew”, which is to then ride up Haleakala after doing the East Maui loop. That’s a real ride. Did it for his 50th birthday this year. The Volcano on the west side doesn’t have a road up it, b… »