The VVallpapers
For those of us whose lot it is to carry out our days lit by the pale light of a computer screen, the desktop wallpaper represents an important choice. More so that the framed photos upon our desks of our loved ones, or the inspirational posters hung upon our walls, our desktop wallpaper says something about us that nothing else does; it describes in no uncertain terms the place to where our minds drift during each stolen moment throughout our days.
Regrettably, most of us are destined to spend large amounts of time not upon our bikes. The next ride, however, is never far from our consciousness, and a cycling-related wallpaper can do wonders to carry us from one ride to the next. We have carefully selected wallpapers that speak to La Vie Velominatus; indeed, these are not just wallpapers. No, these are VVallpapers.
All VVallpers were taken either by the Keepers or have graciously been contributed by members of the community; if you have a photo you’d like to submit, please email it to us for review.
[wallpaper title=”Vlaams Ambrosio” url=”http://velominati.com/wp-content/uploads/readers/frank/2014.01.27.14.35.09/1//frank-2014.01.27.14.35.09-1-VlaamsAmbrosio.png” contributor=”” location=”Vlaanderen, Belgïe”]
Ambrosios with FMB’s glued on can only be made more beautiful by becoming covered in Flemish mud after riding the route of De Ronde.
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[wallpaper title=”Campa Record Hub” url=”http://velominati.com/content/Photo Galleries/[email protected]/VVallpapers/RecordHub.png”]
The gleam of light from the polished aluminum on Campagnolo’s older freehubs is like none other. The hub sweeps from the drive side towards the quick-release lever in a characteristically sensual curve and is polished to the Campa-only luster to provide a hypnotic glow as the hub spins.
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[wallpaper title=”Campa Skewer” url=”http://velominati.com/content/Photo Galleries/[email protected]/VVallpapers/CampaSkewer.png”]
There is no component that speaks more clearly to the history of our sport than a Campagnlogo Quick-Release, invented out of frustration by Tullio Campagnolo in 1927.
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[wallpaper title=”Royce Front Hub (with Golden Ticket)” url=”http://velominati.com/wp-content/uploads/readers/frank/2012.02.02.22.25.08/Royce-Front-GoldenTicket.png”]
Gleaming metal bits speak to the days when cycling components were made with care and gleamed in the sunlight. The tradition is kept alive at Royce UK.
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[wallpaper title=”Royce Rear Hub” url=”http://velominati.com/wp-content/uploads/readers/frank/2012.02.02.22.25.08/Royce-Rear.png”]
Gleaming metal bits speak to the days when cycling components were made with care and gleamed in the sunlight. The tradition is kept alive at Royce UK.
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[wallpaper title=”Royce Front Hub” url=”http://velominati.com/wp-content/uploads/readers/frank/2012.02.02.22.25.08/Royce-Valve-Hole.png”]
Wheels must always be built such that the hub’s emblem may be read when sighted through the valve hole.
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[wallpaper title=”Col du Tourmalet” url=”http://velominati.com/content/Photo Galleries/[email protected]/VVallpapers/ColduTourmalet.png” contributor=”” location=”Luz-Saint-Sauveur, France”]
The west slopes of the fearsome Col du Tourmalet in the heart of the Pyrenees, approaching from Luz Saint-Sauveur, France.
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[wallpaper title=”Luz Ardiden” url=”http://velominati.com/content/Photo Galleries/[email protected]/VVallpapers/LuzArdiden.png” contributor=”” location=”Luz-Saint-Sauveur, France”]
This narrow ribon of asphalt that makes up the road to Luz Ardiden looks as theough it was carelessly cast onto the mountainside by an disinterested deity.
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[wallpaper title=”Mont Ventoux” url=”http://velominati.com/content/Photo Galleries/[email protected]/VVallpapers/MontVentoux.png” contributor=”@roadslave” location=”Mont Ventoux, France”]
Clouds hang heavy on the barren slops of the Mont Ventoux, making the already intimidating peak even more mysterious.
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[wallpaper title=”Sa Clobra” url=”http://velominati.com/content/Photo Galleries/[email protected]/VVallpapers/SaCalobra.png” contributor=”@roadslave” location=”Sa Calobra, Mallorca”]
In the words of @roadslave:
Anyone who has ridden this climb will tell you just how emotionally tumescent this climb/descent makes you feel…. like some road engineer has taken a silver ribbon and tossed it carelessly and flamboyantly on the hillside to create a path down to the bay. If you weigh 65kg and you can generate 370w at threshold it should take you 28 minutes. I, of course, don’t, can’t and it didn’t.
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[wallpaper title=”Beartooth Pass Snowbanks” url=”http://velominati.com/content/Photo Galleries/[email protected]/VVallpapers/BeartoothPass_Snowbanks.png” location=”Red Lodge, Montana”]
The Beartooth Pass is a must-climb pass that lies on the border between Montana and Wyoming near Yellowstone Park. Even in the middle of summer, snowbanks stand high on the upper slopes.
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[wallpaper title=”Beartooth Pass” url=”http://velominati.com/content/Photo Galleries/[email protected]/VVallpapers/BeartoothPass.png” location=”Cooke City, Montana”]
Climbing the Beartooth Pass from Cooke City, the switchbacks towards the top remind one of how high the road has climbed.
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[wallpaper title=”Passo Giau” url=”http://velominati.com/content/Photo Galleries/[email protected]/VVallpapers/Giau.png” location=”Belluno, Italy” contributor=”Anno Pieterse” contributorurl=”http://www.annophoto.com/”]
Climbing up the Giau from Cortina on a rainy day, the clouds opened a little on the summit. Heroes come and heroes go, but the mountain remains.
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[wallpaper title=”Passo Giau Descent” url=”http://velominati.com/content/Photo Galleries/[email protected]/VVallpapers/Giau%20Descent.png” location=”Belluno, Italy” contributor=”Anno Pieterse” contributorurl=”http://www.annophoto.com/”]
The sensation of flight while descending the Passo Giau inspires chills; the cold weather together with the great curves and satisfaction of the accomplished ride.
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[wallpaper title=”Velominati Logo” url=”http://velominati.com/content/Photo Galleries/[email protected]/VVallpapers/Velominati_Logo.png”]
Meditate on The V. Contemplate its simple symmetry and its occurrence everywhere in the sport, from the parting of the water spray on a Rule #9 ride, to the shape of well-toned muscles. The V is everywhere.
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[wallpaper title=”Logo/Hardman (iPhone)” url_lock=”http://velominati.com/wp-content/uploads/readers/frank/2014.01.27.14.35.09/2/frank-2014.01.27.14.35.09-2-ios_logo_lockscreen.png” url_home=”http://velominati.com/wp-content/uploads/readers/frank/2015.09.25.02.33.59/1/frank-2015.09.25.02.33.59-1-ios_kt_homescreen.png” type=”phone”]
The Velominati Logo lock screen paired to pavé.
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[wallpaper title=”1986 Tour de France/Hardman (iPhone)” url_lock=”http://velominati.com/wp-content/uploads/readers/frank/2015.09.25.02.33.59/2/frank-2015.09.25.02.33.59-2-ios_1989TDF_lockscreen.png” url_home=”http://velominati.com/wp-content/uploads/readers/frank/2015.09.25.02.33.59/1/frank-2015.09.25.02.33.59-1-ios_kt_homescreen.png” type=”phone”]
A photograph taken of a spread from Rouleur’s 1989 Tour de France comic illustrated by the great Richard Mitchelson, paired to pavé.
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Very nice. How about a simple V cog logo as well.
What, no “Frank Vs The Volcano”?
Nice work Roadslave. Proud to have ridden at your rules compliant side when you took the Ventoux shots!
Oh my Merckx – I’ve never seen Luz Ardiden like that before – Holy Crap, I’ll never get up that, even I fit a triple – sheeite!
@Roadslave – you just swung it for me as to whether I do a few days of our club tour to Mallorca next Spring!!
@Dr C
If you need some great routes to take in Mallorca, I can drop you an email via Frank with some links… Sa Calobra is the highlight, but there be great roads for riding.
@roadslave
Cool – we have about 70 going, and split into 4 runs each day, so any info on which run. Is which would be great
These are great. I love the Luz Ardiden photo. Can’t wait for more.
JoD
Would definitely like to see the V logo as a wallpaper but these are gorgeous.
@frank
There’s a stunning black and white photo titled The Hidden Alps on the Rapha site. They might not like the purveyors of sartorially superior kit lifting it for use on their website but it would make a great vvallpaper
@Chris: I posted this on Frank’s ‘New Features’ post, but it truthfully belongs here. Like your Rapha site, Mavic has a good one here as well – not sure if they would like it grabbed or not, but it is there for the taking. Fucking aVVesome photo and there is even a V or two in there given the photo’s orientation. I tried to find who to give credit to for the shot, but no luck. Any ideas as to which climb this is?
@ Frank: I love this concept as I can’t find many cycling wallpapers that suit me as I tend to shy away from the ones with actual people in them. If only I could get hi-res wallpaper of Pellos’ drawings or put my bike in a photo booth for some pro shots.
@All Screensaver compilations should be able to go here as well perhaps as I am sure a few of us here make our own.
Rule compliant, hell no!! Fun picture though, hell Yes!!
@huffalotpuffalot
Nice. I’m not sure that it can be considered as breaching any rules though. It appears to be of a age that might be considered as BM, before Merckx, and as such the rider is at the very least a pioneer and possibly an inhabitant of Mount Velomis. Eitherway, such an impossible angle on skinny tires, no brakes, sketchy surface all at what appears to be a huge speed. There’s a lot of V going on there.
Along with documented tales of Englishmen dragging early bicycles over the lumpier bits of the Lake District this makes a bit of a mockery of Gary Fisher and the like claiming to have invented mountain biking in California
@Chris
Those are some sweet-ass goggles. I were to ever compete in a rainy P-R (which, of course, I will not), I would love to pull up to the start line with those babies on my noggin. Doesn’t matter that they won’t fit in my helmet – those are stupendous.
BTW – not sure why my links earlier did not work. If you want the photo, let me know.
I always had a bit of a chip on my shoulder regarding mountain bikes – as far as I was concerned they were just BMX Cruisers, nothing new really. Even today when I see guys on mountain bikes styling jumps I don’t think they look as good as BMXers doing jumps.
I promise not to mention BMX again unless someone else starts it!
@huffalotpuffalot
Nothing there but some flahute laying down the V on gravel in the drops. Badass pic.
@huffalotpuffalot , @Marko
Crazy countersteering going on there. Totally rad.
@Nate, @Marko, @huffalotpuffalot
I’ve always wondered: is that photo real, or is it posed? Anyone know?
@frank
I want to believe.
Two wallpapers added. Also getting some feedback that the logo on the wallpapers are being obscured by task bars etc. Are people having trouble with that? If so, I’ll tweak them.
@frank
Logo is holding down the lower right in full OCD compliance on my screen. Using Luz Ardiden.
for those who love looking at twisting tarmac, this will fill you with 1m 48s of joy
Sa Calobra Mallorca
tarmac art
actually, best whizz to 1min on that vid for tarmac shots – theme tune makes it, if not for whackiness!
Anyone ridden his set of ribbons below??
@frank
It’s true. Top right corner will probably be better. Or just further up from its current placement.
Also, the campy stuff makes me sad because I can’t afford it. I can’ justify the extra 500 dollars over Ultegra, when Ultegra is such a great groupset. I cant afford a bike with sora right now.
@Dr C… Is that the St. Gotthard Pass, Switzerland? cobbled virages all the way… cars pass through the tunnel, so noone else other than bikes? am I close?
@roadslave
Nice one!!
It s indeed – I think it is the old road before the tunnel was built – love the ramparts that the hairpins are stacked on – you’re in top form this week, unstoppable!
@King Clydesdale
Funny you say that. I got a full Record 10 speed group on eBay for much less than Chorus was selling. I think it has to do with the fact that loads of people buying Record are after the latest and greatest and when 11spd came out, they dumped the 10spd and went for 11. Chorus owners, on the other hand, just want a good groupo and are a bit more pragmatic.
The result was that the Chorus stuff was in demand and there was a surplus of Record. I paid in the neighborhood of $400 US for the Record group and the wheels pictured in the photos were purchased for $190.
@all
Two sets of iPhone wallpapers added; each set has both a lock screen and home screen wallpaper.
@frank
I currently have the original Rouleur one as my home screen. I really like it.
Check out this website for photos (Scroll to the bottom for the archives):
http://www.sirotti.it/default.asp
I’ve ridden the first three cols pictured – everyone who climbs Luz Ardiden is obliged to snap that photo. It’s a great climb, and a rip-roaring descent.
That shot of the Tourmalet is classic, and no matter what anyone else says, the climb from Luz Saint Sauveur to the summit is far mightier than the climb from the North (Bagneres de Bigorre).
Mount Ventoux is odd – it’s not particularly steep, but it is LONG, and the winds near the top can knock you off your bike if you’re not paying attention. Additionally, when you (finally) reach the top, you’re not only rewarded with panoramic views of Provence – you have the bonus of multiple vendors selling locally produced cheese and sausage. Mmm…sausage…
@Tartan1749
LOVE IT! The idea of lining up next to Boonen and Thor and Cancellara with those goggles on, kills me to think about it! Too funny!
Does anyone recognise this? Unfortunately I can’t take credit for this picture … it currently appears in the ‘Mountains’ theme of the new version of Gmail.
Fantastic photo.
@Mark1
I am trying to figure out the same thing. It popped up as my background today and its a stunner.
Wow, nice. I’ll have to switch my theme, I currently have it on the space one.
PS, I keep forgetting to bring my files home from work so I can finish rebuilding the Obi Wan Merckx at a higher reolution. Sorry Frank, I know you were bugging me for that over a month ago. I’ll try and remember next week!
@snoov
I’ve felt awful about this post for months although I’m relieved that I did write it in the past tense because the chip thing was when I was a 9 to 14 year old.
Nowadays I’m gobsmacked when I see those MBers flying down mountains or through Peruvian villages and the bikes are awesome. I still think the BMXers look better but it’s my stylistic preference only. Sorry for any misunderstandings.
@Mark1
Pretty sure that’s Mt Zoncolan. 10k at an average of a touch under 12%.
@harminator
Ouch- beautiful and painful! Great combination in roads and women…
@Mark1
man alive, can’t you just feel the air in your nostrils riding that road early in the morning – please make this a wallpaper (or send us the link for it and we can upload it ourselves – the light and colour is just spectacular – ethereal
@Dr C
I’ve extracted the full image from the Gmail theme. It’s not very big at around 1mb but I have it as a desktop on a 22 inch monitor an dit looks very nice. If you want it you can download from here. Just be aware that it is most likely copy protected and I don’t have the photographer’s name to credit.
@Mark1
Wow – I really wish we knew where that photo came from, because it is a stunner. Without knowing who’s shot that is, I can’t put it on the VVallpapers – but I might be able to post the template we use so you can make one yourself for personal use. Alternatively, I may dig around for the user agreement on GMail themes – that artwork might be public since the service is free and publicly available.
Hi all! Long time lurker here. Very much enjoy the site and the banter. I believe the photo above is of the Passo dello Stelvio.
@frank
Let me know if you need the file. I have it on my pc.
@all
Four new VVallpapers added.
Two from the Beartooth Pass (snowbanks and switchbacks) taken by @Marko, as well as two of Passo Giau, one of the climb and one of the descent, contributed by community member Anno Pieterse.
Passo Dello Stelvio.
Three new VVallpapers added.
@frank
Ha! Nice set o wheels sir. Whatcha riding for the Cogal?
@scaler911
Damn. No more procrastinating, the downhill bike goes on ebay this weekend!