Anatomy of a Photo: V-Bank Line of Credit

Greg LeMan’s bike has a rest.

Economics, in its most simple form, follows the Conservation of Mass as defined in physics. Basically, everything goes according to plan so long as outflow is less than or equal to inflow. Failing that, the balance is upset and things start getting complicated. Before long, the calculus starts revolving around “imaginary numbers” (like eleven-teen and thirty-twelve) and people making statements like “less is more”.

Similarly, the problem with having a line of credit on the V-Bank is that when you go on a spending spree, your bike will occasionally need to lay down for a rest.

frank

The founder of Velominati and curator of The Rules, Frank was born in the Dutch colonies of Minnesota. His boundless physical talents are carefully canceled out by his equally boundless enthusiasm for drinking. Coffee, beer, wine, if it’s in a container, he will enjoy it, a lot of it. He currently lives in Seattle. He loves riding in the rain and scheduling visits with the Man with the Hammer just to be reminded of the privilege it is to feel completely depleted. He holds down a technology job the description of which no-one really understands and his interests outside of Cycling and drinking are Cycling and drinking. As devoted aesthete, the only thing more important to him than riding a bike well is looking good doing it. Frank is co-author along with the other Keepers of the Cog of the popular book, The Rules, The Way of the Cycling Disciple and also writes a monthly column for the magazine, Cyclist. He is also currently working on the first follow-up to The Rules, tentatively entitled The Hardmen. Email him directly at rouleur@velominati.com.

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View Comments

Winelli says:

Nov 22 2012 at 2:23 pm

Those Guns. Wow.
Gianni says:

Nov 22 2012 at 5:50 pm

@roadslave525

@frank Off topic, mate, but I'm kind of getting bored of the blatant commercialism of you folk at Velominati... every time I open bike porn, there you are, ahem, knocking me off my stride: first, the column and then 'agony aunt Q&A' in Cyclist #1 and #3; and then the advert for the Keepers Tour 2013 in Rouleur #36 (which, by the way, has a photo that has me in it... if you look really, really, carefully... under bright lights... with a scanning electron microscope... SO exciting... always told my friends - both of them - that one day I'd look pro enough to be in Rouleur).

Chapeau, old friend.... but don't go jumping the shark, or nuking the fridge, or whatever it is called these days... soon, you'll be having to change your address from 'Velominati Centre for World Domination' to 'Velominati, Global Seat of Power'.

You are finally in Rouler! Congratulations. That should impress the wife. You can blame that ad on the PavÃ© boys. We didn't have the imagination for that sort of heads up business acumen. We are still busy floundering in the red. World domination is still a ways off. Maybe Frank is going to do this on his own, he would be wise to cut us off. Soon he will appear on Oprah, jumping up and down on the couch, giggling about the Rules.
Kyle says:

Nov 22 2012 at 7:01 pm

@Gianni

Frank giggles?
The Grande Fondue says:

Nov 22 2012 at 9:22 pm

Unrelated, but I came across an interview with Brad McGee about Jens:

"I remember in the Tour of Germany one year, we were coming up to a cat-one or HC climb. He was leading on GC but there were eight or nine climbing specialists who were snapping around looking for his leader's jersey. He was riding along just talking to himself, just saying, "Yes Jensie! You are strong enough Jensie! You can do this Jensie! You can do this!' He's talking to himself in the third-person and was absolutely freaking the hell out of the whole group that was around him but he didn't give a shit. He was doing whatever he had to do to get himself ready to get up this hill and keep the lead. And he did. He held on. He did enough to win the race. He's an extraordinary bike rider."

http://www.ridemedia.com.au/?p=7621
AirlessWing says:

Nov 22 2012 at 9:36 pm

@The Grande Fondue

That is the quintessence of Rule #6.
Deakus says:

Nov 23 2012 at 12:24 am

@Ron

@Duende

Perhaps that is what it is to ride Gangnam style.

I have no idea what this means & I couldn't be happier about it! I know it's some 'net crazy but I'm overjoyed at my ignorance. I like being out of touch with what's in, when we aren't talkin' 'bout bikes.

Allow me to enlighten. Er actually I think that is the wrong word. Explain for you. Gangnam is an area/district of Seoul. It is south of the Han river and is one of the most exclusive areas of the city full of party places and bars. In Korea there is a culture for the uber rich and professionals to "pay for company", not necessarily sexual but a bit like paying for a best buddy by the hour in some of the bars and meeting places. Gangnam style is an extension/marketing trick to get people to buy a crap record from a person (I cannot bring myself to use the word artist) who cannot sing, has no talent and hails from another country where people think differently about friendship and socialising (it is just and extension of business).

The whole thing will pass within a few weeks and never be heard of again if we are lucky. Actually my dad said that when I put my Prince Purple Rain poster on my bedroom wall in 1984...I think his words were "He is small and wears high heels and sings like a muppet...he will be gone by Christmas!".....go figure....
Deakus says:

Nov 23 2012 at 12:32 am

@The Grande Fondue

Unrelated, but I came across an interview with Brad McGee about Jens:

"I remember in the Tour of Germany one year, we were coming up to a cat-one or HC climb. He was leading on GC but there were eight or nine climbing specialists who were snapping around looking for his leader's jersey. He was riding along just talking to himself, just saying, "Yes Jensie! You are strong enough Jensie! You can do this Jensie! You can do this!' He's talking to himself in the third-person and was absolutely freaking the hell out of the whole group that was around him but he didn't give a shit. He was doing whatever he had to do to get himself ready to get up this hill and keep the lead. And he did. He held on. He did enough to win the race. He's an extraordinary bike rider."

http://www.ridemedia.com.au/?p=7621

Personally I think Jens is probably descended from this dude!
Ron says:

Nov 23 2012 at 4:53 am

@Deakus

@Ron

@Duende

Perhaps that is what it is to ride Gangnam style.

I have no idea what this means & I couldn't be happier about it! I know it's some 'net crazy but I'm overjoyed at my ignorance. I like being out of touch with what's in, when we aren't talkin' 'bout bikes.

Allow me to enlighten. Er actually I think that is the wrong word. Explain for you. Gangnam is an area/district of Seoul. It is south of the Han river and is one of the most exclusive areas of the city full of party places and bars. In Korea there is a culture for the uber rich and professionals to "pay for company", not necessarily sexual but a bit like paying for a best buddy by the hour in some of the bars and meeting places. Gangnam style is an extension/marketing trick to get people to buy a crap record from a person (I cannot bring myself to use the word artist) who cannot sing, has no talent and hails from another country where people think differently about friendship and socialising (it is just and extension of business).

The whole thing will pass within a few weeks and never be heard of again if we are lucky. Actually my dad said that when I put my Prince Purple Rain poster on my bedroom wall in 1984...I think his words were "He is small and wears high heels and sings like a muppet...he will be gone by Christmas!".....go figure....

Alright, so I skipped that first paragraph but in the second one...ya got me listenin'! I love Prince, I love the color purple, I have a purple bicycle named Purple Rain, as it was my rain bike, and Prince and I share the same birth date, June 7th. He's incredible. I always tell people that he packs more style, talent, & sexual energy into a 165 cm body than anyone who has ever walked the Earth.
Ron says:

Nov 23 2012 at 5:01 am

Wow, I haven't been riding enough lately & now on the road for the turkey day festivities. Just decided to watch Paris-Nice Stage 6 finish with Jens & LL after reading the above about him talking to himself.

All I need to do to restore my passion for being on a bike & turning the cranks is watch a few minutes of PROs riding so smoothly and awesomely. "GOD! I want to be back on a bike! I want to be back in top form so I can ride my best!" It's incredible how easily that passion and those feelings return!

Work on your Italian!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KdhQurmhvZU&feature=relmfu
Rob says:

Nov 23 2012 at 5:18 am

Hope all the Yanks are happily stuffed!

On my way to our feed we went to a part of the Catskills mountains I had never been and we were driving on an unbelievably beautiful road, curvey, short sharp rollers and a surface like glass, plus the day was crystal clear, warm and there was a stuning setting sun. I was just thinking to myself that I wished I could be on the bike instead of driving to the pig trough... and what do you know coming the other direction a guy in immaculate Pro kit looking like he was having the best time. It was like a knife in the back and I had to keep my mouth shut, didn't even point him out!

And since I am completely off topic I will leave with a quote I just ran across -

Quote:

"As you know, Phil, it is difficult for one Dutchman to outfox another Dutchman"
Paul Sherwin