Categories: General

Equinox: The Cyclist’s New Years Day

Sunset on the Equinox

For me, the day we adjust for Daylight Savings Time marks the official start of the cycling season. The reason I choose this day and not some other day (like MSR) is mostly a pragmatic one; before DLS goes into effect, the winter days are too short to allow for training outside after work during the week. Not that the days suddenly become long enough to train right, but at least we’re headed in the right direction. (I also know that technically the Equinox and DLS are not on the same day like I’m implying with the title, but not being a Hippie means I get to paint with a broad stroke in this matter and lump the two together. It gets too confusing for me otherwise.)

Every year, depending on what transpired over the winter, I generally make some symbolic gesture that marks the start of the season. One year, I shaved the beard I (rather unsuccessfully) had been growing over the winter months. Other years, if I’ve skied more than I’ve ridden, I undertake the inaugural leg-shaving of the season. Still others, (like this one) I acknowledge with regret the weight I’ve gained and resolve to loose it.

This year has a new milestone: we present to you the new look of Velominati. Bear with us over the coming weeks as we smooth out the final ripples in the fabric after go-live last night. Other upcoming changes to keep your eye out for include official Velominati gear including T-Shirts, stickers, and our custom cycling kit made by Castelli.

A special thanks goes out to KRX10 for postponing the launch of their own site in order to design ours.

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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wiscot says:

Mar 6 2012 at 9:33 am

Hallelujah! Daylight savings time kicks in this weekend! It'll be light out till around 7pm. Throw on a couple of lights and it's time to hit the road after work. With a freaky mild winter here in WI, I'm ahead of last year in fitness and with 50s today and tomorrow, I'm scooting out a bit early to take advantage of it. While we're not completely out of the winter season here, that hour shift means a lot to all of us (in the northern hemisphere.)