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
@Chris When were thebWelshnatbTwickenham?
@RedRanger Again, thank you. I seem to have had success in transmitting the photo. No comments on it, but since I see it on the site I assume it has gone through successfully
@DocBrian pretty sure most of us are just jealous...
@DocBrian You spotted the deliberate mistake although is more than likely that there was a party or two in Twickenham that felt decidedly pissed upon.
@DocBrian
Apart from sounding like another bitter convict - the Jonny and Jonno Show was 10 years ago, get over it, we have - you need to get to grips with you ipad. You come across as suggesting that Balmain Bugs and shark get worse with Aussie wine.
I'd agree that the majority Aussie wine that makes it to the northern hemisphere is distinctly average but that doesn't register on the give-a-fuck-o-meter when I crack open a bottle of Bordeaux or Madiran.
@Chris Jacob's Creek and some of the other plonk we sell to unsuspecting and unschooled British guzzlers are OK. Probably cheaper there than here. Go well with gray cooked british beef that have a slight dose of mad cow disease. On the upside, there's a surprising supply of very good Aussie wines, especially South Aust reds available for under $15 at home. We keep them for ourselves to enjoy with our magnificent grain fed beef or Cowra lamb.
Balmain bugs are always good, but Aussie lobsters are great. At Sorrento (Victoria) for the $5 cost of a two day fishing license, you can catch your own....if you can dive to 25 or 35 meters in the shipping lanes.
Will post photo of my #1 bike when I get back from today's ride. Starting late because it is unseasonably cold, today. 15degrees, but then it is nearly winter here and that is about the max summertime temp over there.
@Chris I apologies for the misleading typo in my message. I did not want to say that bugs and shark SUCK. The worth that was changed by the rampant spell checker was to be SUCH AS.
Just watched the South African win. Recorded it last night. Great finish, but as Basil said: "Don't mention the war!"
As requested, as a "newbie," I submit my #1 for critique.
It is a Jamis Zenith Di2. Has American Classic 420 Aero 3 wheels, SDhimano Di2, FSA SLK Light hollow carbon cranks. I've put Schwalbe Ultremo tyres and a Specialized Rubino Evo Comp Gel saddle on it. I've taken the pump off and installed a carrier with two gas cyclinders, as required by the blessed Rules.
For today's riode In have a GoPro installed, but usually don't carry that. I must admit to using a Garmin, but it is useful to monitor cadence and heartrate. If my heartrate exceeds 170, I stop before my heart stops.
Notice that this beautiful machine has been honoured with its very own cedar clad shed, where it resides with all the accoutriments that are needed to support it.
Brian.
@DocBrian
Well you know what's coming I hope...
Rule #26 - bidons, valve stems, pedal cranks
Rule #29 - there's a growth under your saddle
Rule #30 - so you've removed the frame-mounted pump, and replaced it with canister mounts. You what ? Canisters are carried in jersey pockets.
Rule #40 - valve stem and label ?
Rule #41 - QR not rear of front fork, or bisecting seat/chain stays at rear.
Rule #44 - 4cm minimum drop saddle to bars ? Judging by the lines on the shed it looks nearly level.
Rule #45 - May be hard to see in the photo but I can't spot a spacer above the stem and the stack is way over regulation.
Rule #74 - There isn't actually a rule about GoPros. I don't suppose anyone ever thought there would need to be. You have now digitally recorded it sitting on your bike like a snow-plough and posted a picture which will live forever on the internet. If your bike was a living thing it would die of shame, or run away and hide behind the aforementioned shed.
Apart from that, nice ;-) Like the wheels too.
Chris O,
Forgive me, for I have sinned.
Hail,Merckx, full of wheels,
The pedal is thy shepherd,
Thou shall not want,
For the hills are awaiting,
Your high cadence grace.
I fully expected that some of my transgressions would not slip by unnoticed, and I am sure that other mistakes will catch the eyes of The keepers of the Faith. I pledge to try to correct my sinful ways, and now will execute a decade of the rosary chain. That's an lot of kinks.