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.
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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.
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Hey guys, I'm exhausted. 18+ years, somewhere between 7000 and 8000 classes. I'm Spun out. I thought we'd own that shite by now. Oh well, it is after all synthetic cycling. Spinning/Indooor Cycling I'm talking about. A field of ninnies, off-ended by the latest "hey look at me" movement. Something about Soul or Fly or whatever the latest uncredible idea of "fun" on a stationary bike. I've held fast to the theories laid down after the due diligence of preparation for such a franchise. After all, how could a group of Master's Degrees and PhD's, in different forms of exercise physiology, release, with their name attached something that would be unsafe for anyone.
Ah, how fast the time goes. The certification passes 3 hours or a day, like a blink, and off they go. "None are as righteous as the newly converted" a wise man once said. With their "passioned" inspirational language in tow, they really should wear helmets. For where they go is into this dark roomed, rave like, bumping and thumping of music, They're all so enthralled by the "Master Instructors" qualified by who knows what. Some self appointed at the credibility of their own education offerings. CEU's after all are not even necessary in the Fitness Industry. There are but a few Gym Management( and I use that term loosely) that even sit in on a class to see what's going on. Like some sort of Night Club owner afraid to find illicit drugs or sex happening. What a forecast Chris Meadows made of the "sport" in that skit from SNL. One instructor, in passing conversation, pink hair, pierced nose and easily 45 years and a mother. She had just been to a concert by the "artist" Pink. I asked what she thought of the memo from the Vice President of the company, that held many points of safety and company policy. "I don't read any of those. I've been doing this so long, I don't need any of their information". My mouth fell open, ready for flies, and the words flew out instead "Unbelievable". "What?" she said " you think I should read that stuff?" Again, as if once wasn't enough and my filter of kindness shut down by shock, "Unbelievable". I turned and walked out of the "studio" and up toward the front of the gym. Feeling dumfoundedly drunk and amazed at what I had just seen. I went to the chap, the GM of the facility and begged his ear for a moment. Not as a report, but just to share what I had just witnessed. I explained to the young college man, what had just occurred, only after securing the confidentiality of it only being to converse, not to report. He replied with steady head, chin up, by saying "Oh, isn't she really pretty?" "Well, yes." I replied. "And isn't she really nice too?". "Yes, she's very nice" I said. To which he replied "Oh, okay." And turned and walked away.
I guess I shouldn't be surprised, and am not, as much as I'm concerned for the world that I live in, when Managers of Exercise Facilities are so focused on sales that the actual safety of the customer is second to the bottom line. "Unbelievable".
So, after the time that I have spent, sincere in focus of safe, as it is no coincidence that is where the results are. Body mechanics is a priority for performance and training. The bike must be adjusted to be within the tolerance of stress/workload being directed into the muscle, as that is where we are meant to deal with physical stress.
Bipedalism. What a great word. Simply put, stop leaning on your hands. Instead, as any good biped, lean in to bring the canti-lever of your upper body, to the feet.
Leaning on the hands, typically with hyper-extended wrists, locked out elbows, protracted shoulders and rounded back, is so unnatural and puts stress into the connective tissue like cartilage and tendons. Burn calories, not cartilage. Sub acute pain is a drain of energy and repetitive stress injury is a slow, silent killer of an active lifestyle.
Longevity needs to be the focus, only distracted by success in performance where aero supercedes body mechanics (shoulders).
It takes a bit to harness, if you're not familiar. Give it time, be patient with yourself. It's a change in postural dynamic of 180 degrees.
The true potential is to find a full chain of muscle availability from hands, through the shoulders, through the core and obviously the legs to the feet.
When you get it, you'll be relieved of the distraction of sub acute pain in all of the classic pain locations, typical with many cyclists.
A flat spine is a healthy, long lasting spine. Retracted shoulders to enable muscle and protect connective tissue. Same for unlocked elbows. And wrists should never fold back. Straight out of the forearms to enable the full chain starting with the forearms.
As it is in any sport or activity, we lean in to bring the leverage of the upper body to the feet. Without the interference of the arms. Instead, the arms poised and ready to draw on the upper body in support of the legs as they squat against more effort and held in place with the backboard of the upper body.
The root of the pedalstroke, is the hands.
Try to sprint or climb sitting without it. And then try with it. More power, strength and endurance.
It is not wasted energy. It is all 8 cyclinders, applied.
Lean, through your core, to your feet. Don't lean on your hands. Not any more.
Perhaps this could be a rule. If I might request it be held until #97 as that would be a nice thing for me.
Bipedalism. Stop leaning on your arms and hands. It has no benefit, but instead risk. Burn calories, not cartilage.
Merci beaucoup.
@Frank Not a complaint here but has anyone else had the following? I can post no problem fro my iPhone but since the site upgrade I can't post from PC. In the dialogue box I have no visible cursor, yet if I take my time and write a post, even though I can't see it, when I press submit it appears! I'm on Explorer.
It all works fine here on Chrome.
@gilly
In my experience, any issue with the site is usually solved by clearing the cache in your browser.
@Frank
A question. It's no biggie, and a mere curiosity thing, but 3 months ago I was Grey. Then after the website update I was pegged back to Level 1. Then yesterday, I was Grey again. And today Level 1. My wife is just as fickle with her moods, and I think I've cracked how to please her now.
Hi guys, I'm not sure if this is the correct place to post this, so please feel free to move it if you so wish.
Is there anyone on this fine forum that resides in/near Hunters Creek in Florida?
I'm visiting my in-laws there in mid to end of September and I've been trying to find out if there is a local cycling club or chain gang that I could tag along with....or just individuals would be fine.
I'd also need to hire a decent road bike - so any advice afforded to this would be most appreciated.
Kind regards,
Paul
@Welsh Paul
Try posting it in 'the rides' or 'the bikes' section. There is always lots of readers there who are very helpful folk who might be able to answer your questions.
Hi Keepers, any idea when V Winter Jerseys will be back in stock? Don't want to look unprofessional come the autumn.
Hello Keepers,
I want to order two Name Badges but I don't get any result when using the shipping calculator (for Netherlands), and so I'm not able to place my order. Please help
@Karel Delvoye
Hi Karel - shipping is free for the name badges, so you shouldn't need to do anything for that...