Study of a Madman: Riding in the Rain
I awoke Sunday morning to the sound of the driving rain on the windows, buffeted by gusts of wind. I got up, made myself a…
Velominati Super Prestige
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Reverence: Dumonde Tech BCL
We met by chance, or so it seems. I suppose there really is no such thing as “chance”. I was ready for it, and it…
Defining Moments: Radio Silence
Robots. Automatons. Modern professional cyclists. I am tempted to say these three terms are interchangeable, but I know that’s not right because a “robot” endeavors to…
Six Days of the Worlds – Anatomy of a Photo: Paolo Shoots to Kill
I remember two principle things from the 2007 Men’s Elite Road Race. First, my favorite rider at the time, Danilo Di Luca, was barred from…
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Racing
Six Days Of The Worlds – Pharmacology
Americans, I think, generally feel they play just on the far side of the boundaries; that perhaps history doesn’t apply to us. We are quick…
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Folklore
In Memoriam: The Cycling Cap
We gather here today to pay our respects to one of the icons of our great sport, the cycling cap. The perfect union of form…
Universal Message: Metal Horns = Awesome!
It’s funny how malleable our definition of “local” becomes when emotion gets involved. Seattle is a fiercely independent town where “local” is meant to imply your immediate neighborhood and we struggle…
The Rhythm of the Stones
This picture makes me think, “There’s a right way to ride the cobbles, and a wrong way.” Those riders who have raced on the cobbles…
Reverence: Inhaling a Wasp
I have to admit, until BigRingRiding bestowed upon us the honor of gracing their site with our humble image, I had never heard the term “Inhaling…
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Timing is Everything: Ole Ritter
For Danish cycling, before Bjarne Riis, there was Rolf Sørensen*. Before Rolf Sørensen, there was Ole Ritter. Ritter was a badass, a champion, rode Bianchis…
Monikers of the Giants
It only takes the most cursory glance through the Lexicon to realize that we have a special love for nicknames here at Velominati. I’m not…
Study of a Toolbag: The Assos Guy
Until I started wearing the sacred threads of the V-Kit, I believed firmly that Assos produced the finest clothes in cycling. Their winter clothes are…
Laurent Fignon: 1960 – 2010
Laurent Fignon passed away today at the age of 50, after suffering from cancer for several years. Fignon was an amazing rider, and a true…
Defining Moments: 1990 Luz Ardiden
There are several moments in my childhood when I realized the bike held a more meaningful place in my life than the other fancies and…
Anatomy of a Photo: Greg LeMelvis and Tom Ritchey
Brett’s article on the the 1995 Worlds set the standard of quality in our fledgling Anatomy of a Photo series. The great tale he had to tell…
Know Your Limitations
I always strongly consider observations from anyone willing to wave a 44 Magnum in people’s faces. As such, I’ve always appreciated Dirty Harry‘s recommendation that a…
Doping: The Acceptability of a Method
Performance-enhancing methods. This is a term we hear so often in cycling; it refers to the practice of using products or processes that elevate your…
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Racing
The Pain Pool: Wading in Above the Waist
Posting on the Tour de Blast, Bob asked if any of us were doing the Climb of Death up Cougar Mountain in Issaquah, WA, a climb…
Reverence: Helmet Vents
Helmets became mandatory in professional road racing in 2003, following the tragic death of Andei Kivilev from head injuries sustained in a fall during Paris-Nice.…
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General
Ultimate Indulgence: The Simplicity of Pain
It’s a good question, this: who in their right mind would willfully hurt themselves doing something they “enjoy”? I’m guessing psychologists have a word for…