enjoying reading this.  doublegod

“My Serena?” My Sharona! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78hagv86L3c

Serena and Venus? Really. Oh yeah.

As I proposed to a co-worker (Big fan of Amurican football) the other day, in defense of doping controls in cycling, “Do you really think those guys get that big (or cut) by working out in the gym every day, eating steak for breakfast, and drinking a sports shake?”

@Ron

My educashun taught me the two key rules.

1. If you break the rules, don’t get caught.

2. If you get caught, take your punishment without complaining.

As a corollary, from the cut throat competition found in officer’s candidate school; “Admit nothing, deny everything, make counter accusations.” Words to live by.

Elitist Jerks

Or is it the wrong game?

Third time’s the charm.

Beautiful.  Proof that it is the way to greatness:

Rules I, V, and X are important, perhaps, but in the big picture isn’t it more important to simply enjoy riding your bike?

@Gianni

No, not exactly. It is a reference to the character Walter, played by John Goodman in The Big Lebowski, from which the whole Dudeism thing originates.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGiZVqrNnsg

This is an awesome clip.  Does anyone care about the rules?  I do, to a point.  I won’t obey a rule that I deem silly.

VLV

….. in Glasgow this fall anyways so it will all go together like peas and carrots–although I fuckin hate carrots!)

Up there more likely like Chips and Gravy if not Mars Bar and a Deep Fat Fryer.

Brown shirts only at the grocery store? Run for office @Ron, you’ve got a winning platform there. Or standards, or shit, or something…

Uhhh, not sure what you are talking, I simply prefer to not see someone’s ass hanging out of their Sponge Bob pajama bottoms at the grocery.

My political platform is simple: I’d ban cell phones while driving at the Federal level & I’d enforce traffic laws like speed limits, lights on when raining, and using indicators when leaving parking spots, turning, and changing lanes.

@Buck Rogers

@wiscot

There used to be a shop on Glasgow’s Dumbarton Road called “Fags and Mags.” Newsagents apparently.

Glasgow! I have been trying to call there the last few days working on getting a wheelset built by Big Al! Bloody cell phone is giving me fits. Anyways, I spoke with Big Al yesterday and he is AWESOME. By far the best phone conversation I have had in ages. Very excited to have him put a set of wheels together for me. (As for why have them built in Scotland???–I will not have enough money to get them built until this late fall and I am moving to Europe this July so I went with a UK builder. I am planning on visiting @the engine in Glasgow this fall anyways so it will all go together like peas and carrots–although I fuckin hate carrots!)

Hey, I’m likely taking a trip to Scotland this July/August. I think we should get together in Glasgow for some pre-ride recovery ales. I know a few good places and no doubt the Engine does too. Let’s keep in touch.

Sounds good but we’ll not be there until OCT/NOV timeframe!  We do not even land in Germany until late July!

@wiscot

There used to be a shop on Glasgow’s Dumbarton Road called “Fags and Mags.” Newsagents apparently.

Glasgow! I have been trying to call there the last few days working on getting a wheelset built by Big Al! Bloody cell phone is giving me fits. Anyways, I spoke with Big Al yesterday and he is AWESOME. By far the best phone conversation I have had in ages. Very excited to have him put a set of wheels together for me. (As for why have them built in Scotland???–I will not have enough money to get them built until this late fall and I am moving to Europe this July so I went with a UK builder. I am planning on visiting @the engine in Glasgow this fall anyways so it will all go together like peas and carrots–although I fuckin hate carrots!)

Hey, I’m likely taking a trip to Scotland this July/August. I think we should get together in Glasgow for some pre-ride recovery ales. I know a few good places and no doubt the Engine does too. Let’s keep in touch.

There used to be a shop on Glasgow’s Dumbarton Road called “Fags and Mags.” Newsagents apparently.

Glasgow!  I have been trying to call there the last few days working on getting a wheelset built by Big Al!  Bloody cell phone is giving me fits.  Anyways, I spoke with Big Al yesterday and he is AWESOME.  By far the best phone conversation I have had in ages.  Very excited to have him put a set of wheels together for me.  (As for why have them built in Scotland???–I will not have enough money to get them built until this late fall and I am moving to Europe this July so I went with a UK builder. I am planning on visiting @the engine in Glasgow this fall anyways so it will all go together like peas and carrots–although I fuckin hate carrots!)

Formally the system had been abolished but that didn’t mean it had stopped. It was a good school but it wasn’t particularly posh. Scottish farmers and expat kids rather than royalty, the political elite and middle eastern princes.

In third form I was a fag and then when I was a prefect I had a fag.

I didn’t get any particularly harsh treatment as a fag although that may have been down to the fact that I was large for my age and good enough at sport that I was already beginning to enjoy a certain level of protection the school’s sporting elite (sporting prowess trumped all else). I’d had harsher treatment during my first two years in the junior house from kids my own age or the year above.

By the time I’d become a prefect, the system was was dying out and apart from ritually buggering my fag with a poker if my toast wasn’t just so, I don’t think I was anymore of a shit to him than I was to anyone else in the prep room.

In my case it had been abolished where I went by the time I went through the system.  Given @chris is a wee bit younger then if he did experience it he clearly went to one of the very posh ones that still practiced it!

@Teocalli

@Neil

@frank

@chris

@gianni perhaps we should have a rule requiring us to all head off to the woods for a sneaky fag when it all gets too serious…

That doesn’t sound right when read in American English.

‘Smokin’ a fag’ even less so. Two nations divided by a common language…

and of course there is bumming a fag………

Having been to a British boarding school, I’d like to categorically state that I have never bummed a fag.

So were you fagged in school or did you have someone younger fag for you? Did you encounter any particularly harsh fagging?

Ditto.  Even in English English that one is ambiguous – and both counts were against the rules.  Though I was guilty on the “cadge a cig” count but obeyed my Rule #1 and did not get caught.

Haha! I was thinking along the same Godwin’s lines…

Purity of Essence.  

Seems like a fitting concept in discussing The Rules.

Anyway, I like the Rules and I have a whole set of rules I follow on my own, because I have standards and give a shit. From using phones at inappropriate times to wearing your pajamas to the grocery store, most Americans need MORE rules.

Brown shirts only at the grocery store? Run for office @Ron, you’ve got a winning platform there. Or standards, or shit, or something…

Calvinball inspired us to evolve the game by playing it on bikes. The local LBS loved the trade that resulted from it.

@chris

@gianni perhaps we should have a rule requiring us to all head off to the woods for a sneaky fag when it all gets too serious…

That doesn’t sound right when read in American English.

Having had my wrists slapped for calling you a lanky poof, I would only use that in the context of smoking. (The American dictionary would seem to be a bit light on the various uses of the word. Also see below)

Perhaps I should have phrased it as “requiring us to all head off into the woods for a sly smoko” as that should cover most peoples tastes.

@Teocalli

@Neil

@frank

@chris

@gianni perhaps we should have a rule requiring us to all head off to the woods for a sneaky fag when it all gets too serious…

That doesn’t sound right when read in American English.

‘Smokin’ a fag’ even less so. Two nations divided by a common language…

and of course there is bumming a fag………

Having been to a British boarding school, I’d like to categorically state that I have never bummed a fag.

@Stephen

@Gianni

No, not exactly. It is a reference to the character Walter, played by John Goodman in The Big Lebowski, from which the whole Dudeism thing originates.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGiZVqrNnsg

“You brought the fuckin’ Pomeranian bowling?”

@Ron

@wiscot

@Ron

@Teocalli

@Ron

My educashun taught me the two key rules.

1. If you break the rules, don’t get caught.

2. If you get caught, take your punishment without complaining.

That keeps things simple! Nice way to go about things.

I think your #2 point should be sent to Maria Sharapova! It’s one thing getting busted, but when the governing body give your repeated notices 4 months before something goes on the banned list and you and your entourage all fail to pay attention, then you get what you deserve. Maybe she thought she was too big to fail, too pretty to dump. Must be a lot of tennis players scanning that list right now.

Hey, c’mon…a drug given to soldiers in Afghanistan to help with fight/walking at elevation…what good would that do someone sprinting around a tennis court?

And, the walking HGH borg Serena has come to her defense, even pointing out her courage in admitting it!

Easy laddie. Serena an HGH borg? My Serena? She likes the gym, FFS!

Maybe we can get tennis to replace cycling as the dirtiest sport in the mind of the public?

“My Serena?”  My Sharona! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78hagv86L3c

Ha!  Within seconds of each other!

@Stephen

But really, the only person who gives a sh*te about the rules is an aging, Vietnam vet tasked with caring for his ex-wife’s dog.

Please explain. Is this a literary reference I should know and don’t because I’m an illiterate Rouler reading cycling droogy?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-z0Pm7tccvc

Oh Gianni, and here I actually used to have a bit of respect for you.  Time for another (or perhaps your first???) viewing of a movie every bit as awesome as Dr Strangelove.

No, not exactly. It is a reference to the character Walter, played by John Goodman in The Big Lebowski, from which the whole Dudeism thing originates.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGiZVqrNnsg

and of course there is bumming a fag………

OK, you get a badge too.

@frank

@chris

@gianni perhaps we should have a rule requiring us to all head off to the woods for a sneaky fag when it all gets too serious…

That doesn’t sound right when read in American English.

‘Smokin’ a fag’ even less so. Two nations divided by a common language…

heheheee. +1 badge right there!

@wiscot

@Ron

@Teocalli

@Ron

My educashun taught me the two key rules.

1. If you break the rules, don’t get caught.

2. If you get caught, take your punishment without complaining.

That keeps things simple! Nice way to go about things.

I think your #2 point should be sent to Maria Sharapova! It’s one thing getting busted, but when the governing body give your repeated notices 4 months before something goes on the banned list and you and your entourage all fail to pay attention, then you get what you deserve. Maybe she thought she was too big to fail, too pretty to dump. Must be a lot of tennis players scanning that list right now.

Hey, c’mon…a drug given to soldiers in Afghanistan to help with fight/walking at elevation…what good would that do someone sprinting around a tennis court?

And, the walking HGH borg Serena has come to her defense, even pointing out her courage in admitting it!

Easy laddie. Serena an HGH borg? My Serena? She likes the gym, FFS!

Maybe we can get tennis to replace cycling as the dirtiest sport in the mind of the public?

But really, the only person who gives a sh*te about the rules is an aging, Vietnam vet tasked with caring for his ex-wife’s dog.

Please explain. Is this a literary reference I should know and don’t because I’m an illiterate Rouler reading cycling droogy?

@frank

@chris

@gianni perhaps we should have a rule requiring us to all head off to the woods for a sneaky fag when it all gets too serious…

That doesn’t sound right when read in American English.

‘Smokin’ a fag’ even less so. Two nations divided by a common language…

and of course there is bumming a fag………

@chris

@gianni perhaps we should have a rule requiring us to all head off to the woods for a sneaky fag when it all gets too serious…

That doesn’t sound right when read in American English.

‘Smokin’ a fag’ even less so. Two nations divided by a common language…

@gianni perhaps we should have a rule requiring us to all head off to the woods for a sneaky fag when it all gets too serious…

That doesn’t sound right when read in American English.

At least we will be able to watch the tennis without turning the sound down.

I think of it this way though, if I’m walking down the street in my regular clothes, and someone I have never met comes up to me and chastises me for breaking some kind of rule I have never heard of. Fuck them, they are a total jackass. Save it for your mates I reckon.

I just use them to hurl abuse about his sock height being an insult to my buddy as he passes me on a hill, don’t even mention a rule number, because who cares about a rule number, except V.

Its for a laugh after all, innit.

@wiscot

@Ron

@Teocalli

@Ron

My educashun taught me the two key rules.

1. If you break the rules, don’t get caught.

2. If you get caught, take your punishment without complaining.

That keeps things simple! Nice way to go about things.

I think your #2 point should be sent to Maria Sharapova! It’s one thing getting busted, but when the governing body give your repeated notices 4 months before something goes on the banned list and you and your entourage all fail to pay attention, then you get what you deserve. Maybe she thought she was too big to fail, too pretty to dump. Must be a lot of tennis players scanning that list right now.

Hey, c’mon…a drug given to soldiers in Afghanistan to help with fight/walking at elevation…what good would that do someone sprinting around a tennis court?

And, the walking HGH borg Serena has come to her defense, even pointing out her courage in admitting it!

Maybe we can get tennis to replace cycling as the dirtiest sport in the mind of the public?

I’ve give the grunting Russian one brownie point for not denying it. Part of her defense is that she didn’t open the attachment with the new list of banned drugs. As someone said, when you have someone like Sharapova who makes so much money and had trainers, managers, agents etc on her payroll and doing nicely, don’t you think someone might pay attention to make sure the gravy train was legal? Incompetence, arrogance, stupidity, take your pick. Her career is over I think but she’s set for life.

Apparently there were a few tennis players implicated in Operation Puerto, but that all got hushed up. Cycling has a bad rap because it actually tests. Football, baseball, basketball, soccer, tennis and on and on. If they tested the athletes from these sports as often and as extensively as cyclists, there would be hell to pay and they’d be bringing in ringers from the lower leagues to fill the spots left vacant by people serving bans. .

@Ron

@Teocalli

@Ron

My educashun taught me the two key rules.

1. If you break the rules, don’t get caught.

2. If you get caught, take your punishment without complaining.

That keeps things simple! Nice way to go about things.

I think your #2 point should be sent to Maria Sharapova! It’s one thing getting busted, but when the governing body give your repeated notices 4 months before something goes on the banned list and you and your entourage all fail to pay attention, then you get what you deserve. Maybe she thought she was too big to fail, too pretty to dump. Must be a lot of tennis players scanning that list right now.

Hey, c’mon…a drug given to soldiers in Afghanistan to help with fight/walking at elevation…what good would that do someone sprinting around a tennis court?

And, the walking HGH borg Serena has come to her defense, even pointing out her courage in admitting it!

Maybe we can get tennis to replace cycling as the dirtiest sport in the mind of the public?

@Buck Rogers

@wiscot

More old school rules right here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MgMYKNoCXFs

And remember kids: “Riding without holding the handlebars is about as clever as giving a balloon to a hedgehog”

Hell, that was awesome!

As for Gianni’s ramblings … Spot on. Too often if someone sees me in the V kit and they are cyclists, they go off on how the site is so stupid and Nazi, etc. All they know are “The Rules” and they hate them and the idea of them.

Of course, less than 1% have actually hung around the site, checked out a few articles and realized that at its heart, it is all about reverence for the bike and the history of this glorious sport.

No I am not a complete heretic, I am not going all Martin Luther in the 16th century, but it does seem like a good idea to somehow propagate the true mission of the site; the love of the bike and other Velominatus, and get pass the Rules-centric thoughts.

So go forth and spread the V, not The Rules, eh?

Hear hear! You’re right, the uninitiated hear “Velominati” and think Rule Nazis. You’d think you had to take some kind of oath to be allowed to register or something.

Without rules you have chaos and anarchy. That applies to all aspects of life and not just the bike. I think it’s quite simple: the rules just help you become a better cyclist and, by extension, a better person.

without the Bible…

@wiscot

More old school rules right here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MgMYKNoCXFs

And remember kids: “Riding without holding the handlebars is about as clever as giving a balloon to a hedgehog”

Hell, that was awesome!

As for Gianni’s ramblings … Spot on. Too often if someone sees me in the V kit and they are cyclists, they go off on how the site is so stupid and Nazi, etc. All they know are “The Rules” and they hate them and the idea of them.

Of course, less than 1% have actually hung around the site, checked out a few articles and realized that at its heart, it is all about reverence for the bike and the history of this glorious sport.

No I am not a complete heretic, I am not going all Martin Luther in the 16th century, but it does seem like a good idea to somehow propagate the true mission of the site; the love of the bike and other Velominatus, and get pass the Rules-centric thoughts.

So go forth and spread the V, not The Rules, eh?

Hear hear! You’re right, the uninitiated hear “Velominati” and think Rule Nazis. You’d think you had to take some kind of oath to be allowed to register or something.

Without rules you have chaos and anarchy. That applies to all aspects of life and not just the bike. I think it’s quite simple: the rules just help you become a better cyclist and, by extension, a better person.

@Teocalli

@Ron

My educashun taught me the two key rules.

1. If you break the rules, don’t get caught.

2. If you get caught, take your punishment without complaining.

That keeps things simple! Nice way to go about things.

I think your #2 point should be sent to Maria Sharapova! It’s one thing getting busted, but when the governing body give your repeated notices 4 months before something goes on the banned list and you and your entourage all fail to pay attention, then you get what you deserve. Maybe she thought she was too big to fail, too pretty to dump. Must be a lot of tennis players scanning that list right now.

@Neil

“I first became aware of it Mandrake during the physical act of love…”

Tremendous.

This movie has so many funny lines in it and that is one of them. Mandrake/Peter Sellers absorbing that madman’s story, it’s pure genius. I have probably put too many links to Dr Strangelove on this site but Frank loves the movie too so I’m safe.

Yes!  This movie is pure-fuckin-genius.  I own it and I have been debating how old the velominippers have to be before I can show it to them and have them appreciate it.  content be damned, not worried about that, I just do not want to show it to them and have them go, “Ah, that was boring,weird shit” and not GET the movie.  Brilliant stuff!

More old school rules right here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MgMYKNoCXFs

And remember kids: “Riding without holding the handlebars is about as clever as giving a balloon to a hedgehog”

Hell, that was awesome!

As for Gianni’s ramblings … Spot on.  Too often if someone sees me in the V kit and they are cyclists, they go off on how the site is so stupid and Nazi, etc.  All they know are “The Rules” and they hate them and the idea of them.

Of course, less than 1% have actually hung around the site, checked out a few articles and realized that at its heart, it is all about reverence for the bike and the history of this glorious sport.

No I am not a complete heretic, I am not going all Martin Luther in the 16th century, but it does seem like a good idea to somehow propagate the true mission of the site; the love of the bike and other Velominatus, and get pass the Rules-centric thoughts.

So go forth and spread the V, not The Rules, eh?

@Ron

My educashun taught me the two key rules.

1. If you break the rules, don’t get caught.

2. If you get caught, take your punishment without complaining.

That keeps things simple! Nice way to go about things.

Fine piece of musing there, Gianni. Personally, as I get older, I find myself striving (and occasionally succeeding) to take things LESS seriously. If, as you say, your inability to take things seriously is brought up a bit too often, you’re doing it right. Feel free to inform your antagonists that a tall, opinionated, Dutch cyclist said so… (They may get it wrong after all, and think you’re referring to Frank)

The jury is still out on my ‘taking things less seriously’ has been a good idea. It’s no way to build a career unless one is a comedian, which I’m not. And yes, I’ll tell people my tall opinionated Dutch cycling friends back me up on this. That should end most discussions.

“I first became aware of it Mandrake during the physical act of love…”

Tremendous.

This movie has so many funny lines in it and that is one of them. Mandrake/Peter Sellers absorbing that madman’s story, it’s pure genius. I have probably put too many links to Dr Strangelove on this site but Frank loves the movie too so I’m safe.

…whew. I was afraid to open Velominati after writing that post for fear of the dreaded ‘no comments’ after being posted for a day. Bless you all. Father Gianni

With this lot? You were really worried?

And remember kids: “Riding without holding the handlebars is about as clever as giving a balloon to a hedgehog”

@Owen

Good point, and did you notice what Faboo did just after the finish? A flagrant violation of Rule #49. But then again, he being Spartacus and all, that probably means this rule should be redefined. So much for the rules…

Sparty bought off a lot of violations when he used a chair to knock the cap off a beer bottle, then drain it after winning The Ronde in 2014. What a man.

Tremendous.

My educashun taught me the two key rules.

1.  If you break the rules, don’t get caught.

2.  If you get caught, take your punishment without complaining.

The bite in one’s behavior should be in direct proportion with the amount of time you spend together. Long time teammates and competitors? Talk the trash. Lapping a novice rider at a charity event? Be polite, encouraging, and set a quiet example.

One group comes to mind that I don’t ride with due to violations of Rule #43 and the above corollary, even though not directed at me. Worst was an insult shouted at a farmer passing by on a tractor.

Wow! Yelling insults at a farmer? Seriously? If I ever rode with anyone that did that, it would be the last time. That’s 100% unacceptable unless the farmewr was trying to run you off the road with some big ass piece of equipment. I take the friendly, cheery wave approach and often I’m the one responding to the initial wave from a motorist, person in their yard, farmer, etc.

@RobSandy

@Slowtrane

@Owen

Good point, and did you notice what Faboo did just after the finish? A flagrant violation of Rule #49. But then again, he being Spartacus and all, that probably means this rule should be redefined. So much for the rules…

Just because the pros sometimes don’t follow the Rules doesn’t mean the Rules are wrong. It often prove the point of the Rule, like when Wiggo was told to pick up his bike after smashing the Hour he looked really embarrassed and awkward about it.

It looks shit, no-one should do it, even Cancellar.

Not so much shit as preposterous, I think. Wonder where the urge to do that comes from. Is it copying musicians who tend to do that with their instruments (trumpet players mainly, piano players less so)?

I’m going to give Sparty a pass on this one. It’s his last season, a race he loves, it was pure emotion. He hasn’t done it in the past and hopefully not again.

Growing up, the way my friends and I stayed entertained and lively was to come up with rules about all sorts of largely meaningless shite. Some of it had meaning, other stuff was just plain BS. But, it provided us with a method to have fun, to hold one another accountable, and, most importantly, to issue demerits. That then led us to a hierarchy of painful enforcement for accumulated demerits.

And, of course, the beauty of the Rules is finding a community of folks who give a shit, whether about bikes or style or aesthetics or language. Or leading a healthy life. Or treating their bodies right. Or sleeping & eating right. Or freeing their minds daily so they can succeed at work. Or just cycling to be happy. Sure, we shouldn’t take life too seriously, especially if we are living on Easy Street. But, for me, why bother getting out of bed if you don’t deeply care about things? Part of the cancer of too many idiots having hand-held computers is that no one gives a shit anymore, in my experience. All sorts of behavior that would have recently provoked serious reactions is now overlooked. Yawn, I have another text to read/reply.

Anyway, I like the Rules and I have a whole set of rules I follow on my own, because I have standards and give a shit. From using phones at inappropriate times to wearing your pajamas to the grocery store, most Americans need MORE rules. People now spend so much of their lives in a virtual world that nobody will stand up and say something when someone is out of line in daily life. It’s weird. Overly vocal online, but total timidity in daily life. (and I won’t go there…but I seriously think the threat of goddamn concealed weapons has made people very reluctant to say Excuse me, will you please not do that?)

I’m never a jerk to folks riding bikes. But, I like the Rules and espouse them by living them. VLVV.

@Owen

In terms of the original post, what’s the ruling on good natured ribbing of tri geeks?

If a tryathlete feels the ribbin’ it will end up nasty. They really are a most serious bunch trying hard not to be about their sports.

A sense of humor is not an ingredient in that lot of folks. Thankfully, I haven’t met many but…it’s amazing how little they’ve known about bikes and riding them despite owning a very $$ one.

@Slowtrane

@Owen

Good point, and did you notice what Faboo did just after the finish? A flagrant violation of Rule #49. But then again, he being Spartacus and all, that probably means this rule should be redefined. So much for the rules…

Just because the pros sometimes don’t follow the Rules doesn’t mean the Rules are wrong. It often prove the point of the Rule, like when Wiggo was told to pick up his bike after smashing the Hour he looked really embarrassed and awkward about it.

It looks shit, no-one should do it, even Cancellar.

Not so much shit as preposterous, I think. Wonder where the urge to do that comes from. Is it copying musicians who tend to do that with their instruments (trumpet players mainly, piano players less so)?

One group comes to mind that I don’t ride with due to violations of Rule #43 and the above corollary, even though not directed at me.  Worst was an insult shouted at a farmer passing by on a tractor.

@Owen

Good point, and did you notice what Faboo did just after the finish? A flagrant violation of Rule #49. But then again, he being Spartacus and all, that probably means this rule should be redefined. So much for the rules…

Just because the pros sometimes don’t follow the Rules doesn’t mean the Rules are wrong. It often prove the point of the Rule, like when Wiggo was told to pick up his bike after smashing the Hour he looked really embarrassed and awkward about it.

It looks shit, no-one should do it, even Cancellar.

I know I know… badges, rules, whatev… I just couldn’t help but think of this good ol’ good ol’ when I read the article. Uhhhh, did I just admit to reading an article ? Before posting ? Cheers all

In terms of the original post, what’s the ruling on good natured ribbing of tri geeks?

If a tryathlete feels the ribbin’ it will end up nasty. They really are a most serious bunch trying hard not to be about their sports.

The rules could all be reduced to the following two:

‘You shall love your bike with all your heart, with all your soul and your mind and love your fellow velominatus as yourself’

Although don’t be a jackass still seems more elegant

I see what you did there, we will call it “Gianni 22:37-38”.

Good point, and did you notice what Faboo did just after the finish? A flagrant violation of Rule #49. But then again, he being Spartacus and all, that probably means this rule should be redefined. So much for the rules…

‘You shall love your bike with all your heart, with all your soul and your mind and love your fellow velominatus as yourself’

Although don’t be a jackass still seems more elegant

On a related note, this past weekend’s Strade Bianche validated one of Greg LeMan’s rules from the Foreward. His Rule #10: The race is never over until the finish line.

I was yelling at the screen for the kid to find one last drop in the tank, but when Faboo and the defending champ are chasing you down there isn’t much hope.

In both cases there seems to be a perception that in spite of everything that either is truly about, unless you are following the rules or doctrine you’re not doing it right. And also in both cases, the true ethos can be summed up as just taking it easy. In the non-pedaling sense. But really, the only person who gives a sh*te about the rules is an aging, Vietnam vet tasked with caring for his ex-wife’s dog.

To get back to my point, the whole idea of just taking it easy really is what it is all about. Rule #6. Don’t overthink things. Just let things be as they are. And if you get hung up on something, let the rules/doctrine/cannon be your guide. They are simply guide posts. Or Dan Henrys,

Third time’s the charm.

@gianni perhaps we should have a rule requiring us to all head off to the woods for a sneaky fag when it all gets too serious…

I’ve always been a fan of drinking in the woods instead of smoking, but to each his own.

But smoking in the woods better look Goddamn Fantastic.

@Barracuda

@Gianni What rules ?

Apparently it’s that wee tab at the top between the Gear and the Lexicon. Me? I just come for the comments and pictures.

I cant read so it’s the pictures for me.

@Gianni What rules ?

Apparently it’s that wee tab at the top between the Gear and the Lexicon. Me? I just come for the comments and pictures.

He and I have a rule where we encourage anyone out exercising (even if they’re doing something stupid like running). They get a lot of thumb’s up and waves- that sort of stuff. But if we get in close with these folks and have a chat, sometimes they just gotta know how to go about things the right way, especially if a bike is involved. Thank Merckx for the codification of the rules.