Cycling is a mighty sport with a rich and complex history. Every company, racer, piece of kit, and component has a legend, a story behind it; in many cases it also has a personal and nostalgic connection to our lives. While this particular sport is steeped in tradition, it is also fiercely modern, a fact that serves only to deepen its complexity.
All these factors combine to provide an unique atmosphere and breeds devoted and loyal disciples of our great sport. We are of a peculiar nature; we seek out the highest mountains and the roughest roads on which to worship at the altar of the Man with the Hammer. Our legs are what propel us; our minds are what drive us. We refer to our shaved legs in the third person – the legs – and speak of distance in kilometres and measure sizes in centimetres regardless of what country we are in. We adhere strictly to the Canon of Cycling’s Etiquette: The Rules.
A Velominatus is a disciple of the highest order. We spend our days poring over the very essence of what makes ours such a special sport and how that essence fits into Cycling’s colorful fabric. This is the Velominati’s raison d’être. This is where the Velominati can be ourselves. This is our agony – our badge of honor – our sin.
I have a unique way of looking at bicycles. A good bicycle and it’s components are beautiful things to me. I’m not just talking about appearance, but also how the frame and components show the dreams of those who made them.
– Gianni Bugno, Hardman and Italian cycling legend
Perhaps we are too wrapped up in the past, but the Velominati don’t believe that to be the case. After all, the greatest lessons can be learned from the past and those lessons can then be applied to the present and may then allow us to more fully experience the future.
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Velominati.com is less about the articles and more about the conversation. Those of you who read more and poster more, become an integral part of the discussion and help carry the momentum forward. There are several levels of Velominatus*:
Level 4 Velominatus: The casual observer and occasional poster.
Level 3 Velominatus: The regular reader and casual poster.
Level 2 Velominatus: The devoted reader and regular poster.
Level 1 Velominatus: The most committed of reader and poster.
Gray, Black, and Orange Order Velominatus: Once having passed Level 1, the inducted among the Order wear three color badges, based on their rank.
We strive to foster an open, fun, critical, and censure-free environment. Any criticism of our writing, spelling, grammar, or intelligence is welcome and nothing said will ever get you suspended from the site. That said, the code of conduct is governed by Rule #43 and the Piti Principle. Members consistently exhibiting behavior that falls outside these parameters will be warned to check themselves; should warnings go unheeded, we may elect to issue a suspension. The first offense will result in a one-week suspension, the second in a two week suspension, and the third in a three week suspension. A fourth offense will result in a lifetime ban.
Velominati reserves the right to edit posts with the express interest to preserve the spirit of the conversation and the community. Regarding posts that address a grammatical or typographical error, Velominati may elect to take their input, correct the error in the articles where appropriate, and editing posts that point them out. This editorial action is not to serve as a censure entity, but to preserve the spirit of the conversation. That said, we endeavor to only edit those posts that point out a minor issue and only in the event that we make the edit before the post has yielded further discussion. Furthermore, when possible, we will strive to acknowledge said poster for their correction.
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*Levels are calculated based on the previous year’s activity.
View Comments
Just back from two weeks holiday so thought I'd best check I can still get on to the community and through the security. I've got to say, two weeks with maybe 30 minutes total internet access has been almost as liberating as riding my bike.
Oh, hurrah... while I'm on site can I issue a plea for help @Frank.
I don't know what's going on but frequently I'm unable to post. I submit and they just disappear, and it seems to be random. I post OK and then an hour later, it's not OK.
Not that anyone would be missing my words of wisdom but it happens often enough that on a number of occasions I've been going to reply to something and have decided not to bother because I can't be arsed writing a post which goes nowhere.
I'm sure it must be affecting other people too. Without doing a longitudinal analysis it seems to me that the number of replies and comments on articles is lower and slower than in the past.
@ChrisO
I think the posts are bring moderated at the moment because of the amount of spammers. It could be that your references to Viagra, Penus Extension Pills, Lottery Wins in Nigeria and Tax Refunds are getting caught in all the other guff that is coming through these days.....?
@Deakus
Yes but they never appear, so it isn't being held in a moderation queue and then approved. Unless the moderators are mortally offended by my opinions on latex tubes.
Did I mention that my sister makes five hundred dollars a day working from home?
@ChrisO
She have any jobs going?!! (I would insert an emoticon here but @frank would order a mini pump lashing!)
@Deakus
@Deakus Not sure why @ChrisO brought this up?? but I'm sure you could do the same from your house, just the other way round, if you know what I mean. Frank might lend you his mini pump, you know how those things excite the lassies?
Kennaugh in the breakaway, it will be really good to see what it can do..
@ChrisO
I found two of your posts in Spam queue, how many went missing? If you've been flag (by accident) as a spammer that would doom you for certain.
Also as a point of clarification on an earlier post; once you have one post approved you can post ad nauseum. Its only newcomers with no previous posts that hit the moderation queue. Its actually kind of nice doing it this way as now I get to recognize who the first-time posters are.
Handbag fight on a bike going uphill...well that is one way to get the viewing figures up!
@Deakus
it! I meant HE!