It is dark now when I rise. It is dark when I return home from the office. Leaves crunch under the soles of my shoes as I walk in the city. The rides that once occupied a devoted period of each day have now become stolen indulgences of either serendipity or careful planning.
The rain falls more regularly now; the Rain Bike is in top circulation. Bikes #1 and #2 hang from the wall, sparkling still from their last cleaning, now several weeks ago. The Rain Bike is covered in grime more often than it is clean. Cornering is a practice undertaken with great care as the leaves and their rotting remnants provide an abject reminder of Rule #64.
It is easy for the mind to forget it is a cyclist when the days are short and cold. Ritual becomes an increasingly important factor to keeping the cyclist’s rhythm in the body. This is why I continue to shave my legs throughout the winter even though they are covered when I ride. This is why I walk down to the basement to visit my bikes every day, even though I may not ride them. Such things remind us to keep living La Vie Velominatus.
A few months ago, Gianni mailed me his old Super Record front downtube shifter. It mesmerized me. It is a tool from an era long past, but echos in every piece of modern kit we use today. Designed firstly to serve a purpose and secondly to be gorgeous, it represents the duality of uncompromising function and unyielding beauty that fills every recess of cycling.
I carefully polished it and slipped it onto my keychain. Its gleaming form reminds me every day of the grace an elegance that punctuates our amazing sport.
Grazie, Gianni.
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Caviarboy - sweet looking ride - far too clean though.
@caviarboy
YEAH! Dirty that fucker up! I hear a lot of shit about "dirt" and "snow" and whatever, but I see no fucking "dirt" or "snow" on that bike. Also your drop is not in compliance. Get on it. Nice wheels, by the way.
I have had this Suntour shift lever as a WTF kinda funny for the past umpteen years.
This is another key ring. My buddy back Christmas 2000 gave me this saying, "The only Ti bike you'll ever own bitch. So you can try and be cool like me." Thanks Brian.
You know, with technology the way it is, he's right. Carbon everywhere.
@nvvelominati
Fucking GOLD. Actually, Suntour is the perfect example of how something functional and amazingly good just slips under the radar because it's not sexy. That shit was magic, and didn't sell.
It looks fucking beat up; polish it, show it some love. That is a gem - if you ask me.
@Xponti
Actaully, without getting to far up my ass, what inspired this post was one of my favorite bits from my favorite band, Big Head Todd and the Monsters:
The snow falls dirty,
We watch our blue TVs
Educated in Monotony
Todd Park Mohr, the worlds most under-rated guitarist and lyricist.
mike, best of luck with the lottery! (I mean it, we all deserve such a gruppo)
Frank, any talk of a Velominati "phone book"? It might allow us to just directly ask another a question and not muck up a good article with shop talk. And if it has some info (that people willing share) maybe some of us could meet up in person, if one is maybe on a trip to a city where another V Clubber lives.
Just an idea. Like a self-reporting contact info. page, in case, you know I want to check in on you and make sure you aren't riding in sandals & wool socks...
I hope all of you get a pedal in tomorrow, holiday or not.
Today encapsulated why I ride. A nice tour through Jerseyville, Harrisburg, and Orkney, before returning for an espresso at my local coffee haven. Not a car to be seen anywhere along the route, through rolling and twisting roads. Sun. Below zero. No need for longing just yet, although snow is in the forecast...
@Ron
First off, we love the questions and the side-tracking of conversations. In my opinion, is's one of the best aspects of this place. We just take the conversation where it goes. No threads, no rules. Just The Rules, of course.
But, yeah, we're chucking the idea about of adding a member's and social networking aspect to the site that would allow that kind of thing. We'd love to do it, it will take some time. We have lots of ideas and very few arms to work. If anyone wants to help out on the programming for that stuff, contact us via the contribute address. It would be a great thing to roll out for January 2011.
Also, another idea we're kicking around is the creation of Cogals. The Illuminati had Cabals and one of the things we'd like to organize are Cogals, which would be local chapters of the Velominati where you could connect and ride with people locally. Obviously, that would also need volunteers. Contact us at the same address to let us know if you want to be involved.
@frank
I went into that pharmacy in Wallingford and they had just stopped carrying Baxter's. Add that together with the other three or four (discontinued) items I was shopping for that day and it's tough to support the local bike/beer/book store.
Maybe you can convince Speedy Reedy to start a Velominati Corner with all the good stuff.
@Frank
Cool keychain piece. My first real road bike sported those shifters in the early '80s.
As others mentioned - get out there on a 'cross or mountain bike for winter fun. I had a blast on my 29er in the woods yesterday. The snow conditions were perfect - compact and dry. Fast and fun. And here in the Seattle area, not common. It's usually wet, heavy crap.
Gotta enjoy it while you can.