Velominati Community Profile Archive

Velominatus: michael

Order: Level 4 Velominatus

Recovering from a broken back. You should see the other guy.

@michael's activity:

If I spent half a summer riding with one hand on the tops and one on the hoods, I spent the other half riding with each hand deliberately gripping the hoods differently. As any young Cyclist growing up in the United States in the late 80s, I had a major thing for Greg LeMond.I imagined Greg to be the perfect Cyclist, as youth often does of their...

@michael's posts:

  1. Interesting bit of trivia. When talking to my friend who has been fitting riders/racers for years and now teaches fitting, he noted that if anyone puts their hands on the brake hoods any differently than just hooking the thumbs over them with the fingers… »

Truth be told, how many of us can resist a photo of ourselves Looking Fantastic on the bike? How many of us can resist the temptation of taking our eyes off the road and stealing a glimpse of ourselves in a shop window as we pass by? Not me, but then again a strong case could be made for my being a narcissist and I freely admit that I love looking...

@michael's posts:

  1. This is me winning a race in October 1984.  Somewhere near Wheeling WV. I just found it and scanned it a few days ago.  It was shot with a point and shoot on film, I think by my sister.  I was 16 years old.  One of the benefits of having a father who was… »

Eight point V bar. From the moment I bought my first set of high quality road clinchers, I’ve ridden at that pressure. I started with that number because that’s the pressure the sidewall told me to pump them up to; I didn’t yet understand much about balancing the benefits of high and low pressures to optimize comfort and friction;...

@michael's posts:

  1. I experimented with this extensively over the last year.  I basically pumped my tires up to 120 and then didn’t add air until I would occasionally feel the rim hit the ground on bumps.     Results: I did this for a year and have nothing to add to the conv… »

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...

@michael's posts:

  1. I meant to write “donned, doffed, and adjusted”.  Of course you leave your house fully clothed, I’m talking about any changes that need to be made mid-ride. »

  2. If it hasn’t been mentioned, I believe it should be taken into serious consideration, especially in light of some of the newer rules.  Actually I can’t believe it isn’t a rule already. I believe that all clothing and accessories, including glasses, helme… »

I’ve said it once before, but it bears repeating now: adherence to Rule #29 carries with it the ultimate mission of the aspiring Velominatus, which is to geek out endlessly over the minimum amount of gear which yields maximum security in the event of a mechanical incident while riding.The goal here is twofold. First, with no European Poste...

@michael's posts:

  1. I think you guys aren’t thinking about this the right way.  Pump in the winter to keep me warm, chuck in the summer to keep me cool. I sewed myself a small bag out of some scrap Cordura, tube, chuck, 2 carts, park patch kit, tire lever (not for me, I use… »

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...

@michael's posts:

  1. Um you guys asleep? The UCI has a sock length rule now. This is just about the only rule that they have that makes any sense whatsoever. »

The very first time I ever pulled a tire and tube off of a rim it made an impression on me and it still does. I’m not sure I expected to find anything other than the tube between the rim and tire but there it was, some sort of tape. The French words, “Fond de Jante” and latin “Velox”, written in blue, lightly stamped u...

@michael's posts:

  1. Does anyone else make rim tape? »

There was a time when bicycles were lovingly handmade by artisans who themselves loved the sport more than those for whom they built the machines. Lugs were filed to become Luggs; chain and seat stays were beautifully chromed for durability despite the grams it added to the frame’s final weight; spokes were chosen for their purpose and lace...

@michael's posts:

  1. Schwinn Approved »

It’s no secret that the cobbles are the domain of the big men. Look through the list of winners in Flanders and Roubaix, and you won’t find any flyweights, grimpeurs or probably anyone under 80kg. Ok, maybe lighter than that, but more likely the weight will be compacted in muscle and distributed over a shorter body than Jolly Naughty Wi...

@michael's posts:

  1. @wiscot Best explanation yet. »

  2. If you haven’t seen the video, just Google UC Davis pepper spray or something like that. Then move on to a Google images search. »

  3. No message, just spreading a meme. »

  4. »

Rule #28: “White is old school cool. Black is cool too, but were given a bad image by a Texan whose were too long.  If you feel you must go colored, make sure they damn well match your kit.”You bet white is old school and for good reason, it is the only color of cycling socks that is truly acceptable. Ladies and gentlemen of the jury,...

@michael's posts:

  1. @frank For a man who can afford a Cervelo rain bike, I’m gonna go out on a limb and say you can afford another Planet Bike light. Now I don’t mean to go on about it, but I had the red/white and I guess it’s on the smashed bike which the sheriff still ha… »

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...

@michael's posts:

  1. @itburns Give it a chance and try it out on fresh chip seal. The Clarence (sic) between the tire and the seat tube is gonna cause failures unless someone devises a scraper that fits in between the brake and the brake fastener bit (you attach the brake … »

Rule #28: “White is old school cool. Black is cool too, but were given a bad image by a Texan whose were too long.  If you feel you must go colored, make sure they damn well match your kit.”You bet white is old school and for good reason, it is the only color of cycling socks that is truly acceptable. Ladies and gentlemen of the jury,...

@michael's posts:

  1. @frank I can’t imagine needing more than that one Planet Bike light on the rear. I mean have you ever followed someone using one? »

  2. However looking at the photo, I think he was using it to signal the following heli. »

  3. @Steampunk You damn well need a light on the bike in the PNW on a rainy day. The light levels are very low. However I would go with the white/black version of that light instead of the red/white. It looks the same from behind but looks much better fro… »

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...

@michael's posts:

  1. @DerHoggz This is for people who hold the bottle inverted. »

  2. S5 is gonna get holes in the seat tube on the first chip seal ride. »

Rule #28: “White is old school cool. Black is cool too, but were given a bad image by a Texan whose were too long.  If you feel you must go colored, make sure they damn well match your kit.”You bet white is old school and for good reason, it is the only color of cycling socks that is truly acceptable. Ladies and gentlemen of the jury,...

@michael's posts:

  1. I’ve never understood the practice of blurring out a license plate on the internet or tv. I mean if you are worried about people figuring out who you are and where you live, maybe you should keep the license plate covered up while you drive the car. I m… »

  2. @paolo Cat. »

  3. Shall we discuss this photo gentlemen? »

  4. @paolo Well then let them go to waste in your drawer then. I have a pair of blue DeFeet XL gloves which I won in a race that sit in the back of my drawer that I’d be willing to trade for your useless DeFeet shoe covers »

  5. @paolo I’ll take your DeFeets off your hands. »