We Wish You a Merckxy Christmas, and a Coppi New Year
From the bottom of our hearts, and on behalf of everyone at Velominati, we wish you a very Happy Holidays and as such issue a temporary suspension of Rule #11.
I’d like to thank everyone for coming around to our little corner of the world to spend your valuable time as part of the community; without you, none of this works. Thanks for helping to make 2011 a success. Here’s to 2012.
We wish you a Merckxy Christmas, and a Coppi New Year.
Happy Holidays and may 2012 be a year full of good rides!
Thanks to you guys for providing a worthwhile place to spend some time. The second best thing to cycling is talking about cycling, and being able to do that here out of the wind of the rest of the internet is a blessing indeed.
The fact it’s Christmas and nearly 2012 warms my heart, because that means the start of the season is almost within reach of my T-Rex arms. Bring on the Aus Champs, TDU, Omloop, M-SR….
*cold shower*
As our Christmas draws to an end on the other side. of the planet, to all of the keepers – happy coppidays and thanks for everything cycling related throughout the past year.
To all of the Velominati, may Santa bring you lots of shiny bits or wrapped in carbon.
And frank, the best gingerbread men ever!
Merry Christmas all!
And don’t each TOO much, the Keepers’ Tour is only 3 months away and the 200-on-100 is only six months away! :)
@rhys
Double +1!
To Frank, the Keepers and to all either just starting your race/riding season (you lucky dogs) or those of us rubbing the frost off the window, wondering if we should obey Rule #9 or have another Bad Ass Gingerbread cookie – All the best for 2012, every one ride well and safe.
Merry Christmas to you guys as well! Hope Santa brought you plenty of cycling goodies!
I got a gift card to the LBS and My New Kit.
Santa’s little pirates are selling a print-out poster of the “Rules” for 110 kroner, which is like $4000 US.
(from a link here)
So what bike-related pressies did Santa bring…
For me, a subscription to Rouleur.
And I treated myself to a workstand.
Bought my wife an Ortlieb pannier for her school/shopping run bike, and Son No.1 a Specialised Sirrus hybrid for riding to swim training.
@ChrisO
I think there may be a rule against grown men calling presents “pressies”…!
So far, it’s a gift certificate to the LBS from the inlaws and a purchase of the V-Kit for myself. But I just woke, and getting ready to go over to me mum’s house, so we’ll see if I got onto the good list any further.
No bike purchased for anyone else. My VMH’s dad cycles to work 5 days a week, but he can basically buy himself anything he needs (trying to talk hIm into treating himself to a custom titanium bike at the moment).
My dearest gifts were from my wife: a merino wool base layer and some Craft summer bibs.
And most lavishly, from myself: Kreitler 2.25 rollers arriving this week!
Merry Christmas to all Velominati!
PS I got some black and white shoes! Yep, R3 Fizik!
Is there a prouder day as a cyclist (apart from winning a monument, or a grand tour, obviously) than watching your son take his first teetering revolutions on his first bike that you’ve just given him for Christmas (a steel Raleigh, no stabilisers)? Particularly when he completes his loop, comes back to you, beaming, and utters the immortal words “daddy, it’s my guns that are shot today”. Bless him… He will be dropping me from his back wheel in no time, but for the time being… With suspension of Rule #11 in place… The little guy is a champion
Happy Christmas one and all.
@Roadslave
The answer is: no.
Congratulations to you and your son!
Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, Happy holidays to all Velominati.
@il ciclista medio
I totally second that. They are cool like the other side of the pillow.
@ChrisO
Wow! Such a SCORE right there, mate!!!
My beautiful VMH bought me a Castelli Pazzo Cold weather jacket! SOOOOO LOVELY (I have coveted one since I saw JiPM’s at the Austin Cogal:)
@xyxax
Wow again! Nice kit and the rollers will make you such a stronger, better rider! At least, I think they are making me a lot stronger and better?!?! I guess the proof will be in the pudding!
@Roadslave
So very excellent. Best gift by far!!!
Time for me to go for a ride with my son on his brand new mountain bike that I just bought him for Christmas (yeah, he’s 10 and really wanted a mtn bike and did not want a road bike–oh well, whatever gets him out there riding, esp if he is willing to go with me!)
@Buck Rogers
The important thing is he is out there pedaling. Once he is hooked, he will be drafting off you and then pulling you before you know it.
@Roadslave
Damn straight!
A+1 to that little man.
I scored Castelli vest and knee warmers and some glueless patches. Stoked.
Oh Blimey, after my first year of cycling hard, my body has properly rejected the Day’s over indulgence….
Merry Mmas to yall
Merckxy Xmas to all you dear bastardos. You ARE my cycling community and I truly appreciate all your insights, challenges, and wit. You are all much appreciated. Thank you for making this all a true joy and putting up with my half-wit writing.
Santa brought me cyclopedia and a frame for the start of n+1. COPPI NEW YEAR.
@xyxax
There will be an investigation.
Jingle Beltran, Jingle Beltran, Jingle alpe dhuez…
@marko
Did Marko win the bidding on ebay? I hope so.
Happy Holidays to all you cycling fools. Roll on into 2012.
I got 50km in with 22 degree weather. Love SoCal X-Mas!
PS CA Cogal article in is in the queue (hint, hint, Keepers!).
@sgt
I got 10 km in with son #1 today on his new bike. One of the best rides all year. 10 degrees C with a good wind. A lot of telling him about head winds/tail winds drafting and freezing!!! We both had such a good time!
I received a Park Tool repair stand today as well – finally I can give my bike as much love as it deserves.
@marko
What type of frame? Gin and Trombone or whatever you, Frank and G’Rilla were geeking out over at the Cogal?
Thanks to everyone – from the bottom of my Spinal Tap Black heart – for coming by and being part of our world. Let 2012 begin; I predict a totally unpredictable year. A year for the unknown!
As for Keepers Tour – I’ve got my wheels sorted:
Royce hubs, and two sets of FMB Paris-Roubaix tubbies (being hand-made presently) and I’m ready to build me wheels this week. Merckxy Christmas indeed.
And in other news, @Marko found out today that he’s joining Keepers Tour 2012: Cobbled Classics. That’s four – FOUR – Keepers on KT2012. The B&B we’re staying in will be opening just in time for us to stay there, and I have a feeling they will resign from the hotel bidniz when we’re done. That, and the brewery who is hosting us and letting us drink for free will also never make that mistake again.
Cheers.
@mcsqueak, @RedRanger, @ChrisO, @King Clydesdale
Nice!
@Roadslave
Now, that’s conditioning!! How many times has he heard you say that as you roll home? Oh, to be a kid. You know that’s it, now, right? The rest of his life he’ll be like us. Lucky fuckin’ kid.
@all
Thanks for the great year. The Keepers will be taking the week off and we’ll be riding on the wheels of some of the great guest articles we’ve got piled up in the queue. Please sit back and enjoy the coming week of back-to-back articles from the community. A-Merckx.
I’m a new guy and have been enjoying the site for about a month. Looking forward to the new year and a possible 200 on 100 appearance. Merckxy Christmas!
@Buck Rogers
Thanks BR. Your advice sealed the deal for me.
Did you say there’s more pudding?!
Gift to self:
Bike #2 is a De Rosa Team alu frame built up with Rival and Ultegra wheelset. Assorted Deda stuff as finishing gear.
This will be the bike that stays at home in Melbourne for the ten-odd weeks a year I’m here and away from the Addict R2 in Singapore.
Yay me.
Saw it heavily discounted in a LBS just before Christmas and lasted a few days before asking them to change the wheelset they had on it (heavy crap) for the Ultegras, also discounted, then pulled the trigger.
Chuffed.
NB> Yes, I know the crank arms are at a far from compliant angle for photography.
@Skinnyphat
Welcome, and Merckxy Christmas to all the community… you all make this site what it is.
@Marko
Yeah boi, that’s awesome news that you’re joining us! I hope your VMH got you a ticket to Amsterdam for the pre-tour training camp…
@frank
Those Royce hubs look sweet! Just lovely!
Happy Christmas to all!
@Skinnyphat
Welcome and here’s to hoping you join up at the 200 on 100 – the more the merrier!
@Keepers and all the other VMH: Merry Festivus and thanks for allowing me to hang around here and flip out/ have gender identity issues and for everything that I learn.
A bunch of great friends most of whom I’ve never met in person (save McSqueek and Gaswepass). Look forward to to coming year around here, and the chance to make a run at the VSP title.
Cheers!!
Interpret my dream: I had a dream this morning that I saw a nice bike on a rack on the back of a car so I stopped to check it out and then I noticed a girl in the car changing into cycling kit and she was putting on a Velominati jersey. She got a little spooked when I rode up to the side of the car but then I showed her the Velominati “decal” on my bike and she settled down. I tried talking to her but she had a speech impediment and I couldn’t understand anything she was saying. Then I woke up.
@Marko
Hozanna in the highest – such a privilege to look forward to sharing the same rarified airspace as four of ye now – awesome!
@Blah
Nice work Santa
merry xmas, hope you all got the goods you wanted
nice goods for you too frank, nice!
@cyclops: thats a true keepers dream
for souleur: my VMH left it up to me to pick the goods up, she says I am too particular, so she just procurs the habit
its 25* here in the ozarks, sleeting and i am getting donned for a ride out, not sure what to get, maybe 50k or so
fat tyres, knobbies and short gears
happy new year to all
A happy NEW YEAR of riding to all Velominati and thanks to the Founders and Keepers for a great website and community.
Elder sister bought me an Amazon voucher so spent it on “Italian Racing Bicycles: The People, the Products, the Passion” by Guido P. Rubino. Published by VeloPress in Hardcover (all your great cycling books should be hardbacks !).
Not received it yet but from the write up and reviews it sounds great. Covers just about every italian marque I know plus some I have never heard of. A future WORK ?
@Roadslave
Great moment! I won’t compete, but will offer the following from yesterday morning. From the littlest Steampunk: “Dad, can we take a break from opening presents? I want to go out and ride my bike.”
A mild day in the south of England. Would have been nice to go for a ride but I needed to move a large pile of bricks.
Very aerobic and exercised muscles I do not much use when cycling so should be good for me, but suspect I shall spend the rest of the week with a bad back.
…and Season’s best to one and all””thank you all for such great camaraderie in 2011. No sugar plums dancing, but visions of Wisconsin, Ontario, and 200 on 100 cogals instead. 2012 will be a good year.
A very merry Christmas and happy new year to all Velominati!
Very thankful to have discovered this place. Thank you for all your hard work. It’s a rare day I don’t find myself here reading and being completely entertained!