@eightzero

My vote for V-moment of the year – Boonen’s 50km + solo ride to victory.

Amen to that one.  For pure guts and pain, othing else this year matches what Boonen did in Roubaix.

My vote for V-moment of the year – Boonen’s 50km + solo ride to victory.

@Buck Rogers

@Ron

And I’d just like to say that the time has come for everyone to put the hackneyed jokes about Boonen & cocaine to rest. They’re not funny & really never were. The guy had a few nights of fun, let it go. There are athletes and people in general who drink or pill pop an entire LIFE away. The guy had some fun, strayed a bit, and now has returned with a laser focus.

I find it pretty silly that cyclists, a group who have and continue to ingest all sorts of wacky things to up performance, are so outraged & shocked by a dude taking a (mostly) natural substance on a weekend off. So what! The guy was having some fun.

Anyway, I was tired a few years ago of coke jokes. Now they’re just old & lame. I think what really bothers me about it is that behind the jokes are fear-mongering & judgments based on a lingering “war on drugs” attitude. Many Americans walk around like zombies, hopped up on legal drugs like pills and booze. And the hard-drinking, hard-partying athletes are seen as cool. But someone does a drug not deemed okay and everyone can’t shut up about it.

Living like a monk, working like a dog. Party how you want to party when you do it once a year.

Let it go already.

Wow, where’d this come from? I mean, come on, the guy has been immortilized in the lexicon as Blownen, not to mention She’s legal in Amsterdam? Next you’ll want to throw out Veino and Roid Lanids, or even LeMelvis.

You’re talking about the site’s heritage for Lord’s sake!

I’d differentiate between Veino and Roid Landis and Boonen. The first two guys were caught with full-on doping products and denied using them in competition. Tommeke used some recreational drug while not competing and, if I remember rightly, didn’t deny it. BIG difference.

And lest we forget Jan’s off season imbibing in raves and good ol’ “e”. Whatever the guys do during their off season time means nothing to me, tho I’d hope whatever they do isn’t ‘PED’. Otherwise, smoke a bowl, do a line, whatever. Just race clean.

@Ron

And I’d just like to say that the time has come for everyone to put the hackneyed jokes about Boonen & cocaine to rest. They’re not funny & really never were. The guy had a few nights of fun, let it go. There are athletes and people in general who drink or pill pop an entire LIFE away. The guy had some fun, strayed a bit, and now has returned with a laser focus.

I find it pretty silly that cyclists, a group who have and continue to ingest all sorts of wacky things to up performance, are so outraged & shocked by a dude taking a (mostly) natural substance on a weekend off. So what! The guy was having some fun.

Anyway, I was tired a few years ago of coke jokes. Now they’re just old & lame. I think what really bothers me about it is that behind the jokes are fear-mongering & judgments based on a lingering “war on drugs” attitude. Many Americans walk around like zombies, hopped up on legal drugs like pills and booze. And the hard-drinking, hard-partying athletes are seen as cool. But someone does a drug not deemed okay and everyone can’t shut up about it.

Living like a monk, working like a dog. Party how you want to party when you do it once a year.

Let it go already.

Wow, where’d this come from? I mean, come on, the guy has been immortilized in the lexicon as Blownen, not to mention She’s legal in Amsterdam? Next you’ll want to throw out Veino and Roid Lanids, or even LeMelvis.

You’re talking about the site’s heritage for Lord’s sake!

I’d differentiate between Veino and Roid Landis and Boonen. The first two guys were caught with full-on doping products and denied using them in competition. Tommeke used some recreational drug while not competing and, if I remember rightly, didn’t deny it. BIG difference.

And I’d just like to say that the time has come for everyone to put the hackneyed jokes about Boonen & cocaine to rest. They’re not funny & really never were. The guy had a few nights of fun, let it go. There are athletes and people in general who drink or pill pop an entire LIFE away. The guy had some fun, strayed a bit, and now has returned with a laser focus.

I find it pretty silly that cyclists, a group who have and continue to ingest all sorts of wacky things to up performance, are so outraged & shocked by a dude taking a (mostly) natural substance on a weekend off. So what! The guy was having some fun.

Anyway, I was tired a few years ago of coke jokes. Now they’re just old & lame. I think what really bothers me about it is that behind the jokes are fear-mongering & judgments based on a lingering “war on drugs” attitude. Many Americans walk around like zombies, hopped up on legal drugs like pills and booze. And the hard-drinking, hard-partying athletes are seen as cool. But someone does a drug not deemed okay and everyone can’t shut up about it.

Living like a monk, working like a dog. Party how you want to party when you do it once a year.

Let it go already.

Wow, where’d this come from? I mean, come on, the guy has been immortilized in the lexicon as Blownen, not to mention She’s legal in Amsterdam? Next you’ll want to throw out Veino and Roid Lanids, or even LeMelvis.

You’re talking about the site’s heritage for Lord’s sake!

Solo wins appear to be the in thing at the moment. Voeckler is at it as well.

Saw that. I wonder how he will fair over the week in the Ardennes? Going to be some tough VSP picks for those three races.

I find it pretty silly that cyclists, a group who have and continue to ingest all sorts of wacky things to up performance, are so outraged & shocked by a dude taking a (mostly) natural substance on a weekend off. So what! The guy was having some fun.

Anyway, I was tired a few years ago of coke jokes. Now they’re just old & lame. I think what really bothers me about it is that behind the jokes are fear-mongering & judgments based on a lingering “war on drugs” attitude. Many Americans walk around like zombies, hopped up on legal drugs like pills and booze. And the hard-drinking, hard-partying athletes are seen as cool. But someone does a drug not deemed okay and everyone can’t shut up about it.

Living like a monk, working like a dog. Party how you want to party when you do it once a year.

Let it go already.

Either way, to come from that far back for 2nd required some serious V-effort.

Ha, that photo is awesome. “Hey, who are those tall, skinny blokes running across that field with the funny flag?” Oh, that’s the Velominati!

And nice work on the roadside wear. I’m going to have to say you looked sharper than the Cyclingtips guys.

@teleguy57

How many wheels could Boonen possibly need from neutral support?

As many as he would like, apparently…

How many wheels could Boonen possibly need from neutral support?

I was doing my blog post and cross-threaded videos.

Here it is: http://www.cyclingfans.com/node/4427

Just getting home, reading through the posts and dumping photos. Gonna be a long couple of weeks…

The V-flag made the French News at about 1:26

Paris-Rubaix Fans

Is this a time warp thing? i knew that the Keepers tour was about as good as it could get but did you guys actually go back in time to the 2010 RVV as well?

The V-flag made the French News at about 1:26

Paris-Rubaix Fans

The wife is thinking I am obsessing a bit on finding the Keepers in the footage, until I showed her the photos above. Now at least I am obsessing with others.

My wife caught me uploading them last night. When I explained to her what I was doing, she was very succinct: “You took pictures of the TV. Of strangers from the internet. You’re bizarre.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=wSSvQXeqYTM&feature=endscreen

wow. what a day! my 12th wedding anniversary & a great morning spent drinking coffee & watching w/my gracious wife!

Boonen is fantastic, did you see the size of his triceps?

Couldn’t miss them. Every cut shot to him (and there were a lot) I thought, shit he’s got some big arms. I suppose if you want to keep your bike pointed straight on the cobbles, that’s how it has to be!

@JIPM (and with my sincerest apologies to the women folk around here, really); Happy Birthday!

Bike Porn (NSFW)

Thanks keepers for fixing that to a link!

@JIPM (and with my sincerest apologies to the women folk around here, really); Happy Birthday!

Bike Porn (NSFW)

Fucking hell!! That is one fucking sexy frame.

[dmalbum: path=”/velominati.com/wp-content/uploads/readers/The Oracle/2012.04.09.03.56.37/”/]

@JIPM (and with my sincerest apologies to the women folk around here, really); Happy Birthday!

Bike Porn (NSFW)

Nipple lube?

@The Oracle

The Veatles.

Or AbbVy Road.

Thought the same!

@Buck Rogers

@xyxax

Sorry gents but Upstate Starts north of I-84. :)

Hey Buck, how about a Central Park or West Point Cogal after the move? I live in Central PA now but grew up east of Albany. But the significant other will be living and working in Manhattan this summer, so I’ll be up there a plenty.

Are you kidding? I’m stuck in southern bloody Texas here! Anything north of the Mason Dixon line is north to me!!! I also ave a good friend in PA. We’ll all have to find a good meeting up point for a Cogal ths fall.

Bike Porn (NSFW)

@minion
They kinda look like the Beatles crossing Abby Road. Is that Brett running without his shoes?

Awesome analogy! Well played!

Boonen is fantastic, did you see the size of his triceps?

Terpstra probably couldn’t keep up because of the shoe covers without warmers. Besides Boonen being amazing of course.

The Veatles.

Or AbbVy Road.

Robbed this one from Cyclingtips, if it hasn’t already been put up here.

@xyxax

Sorry gents but Upstate Starts north of I-84. :)

Hey Buck, how about a Central Park or West Point Cogal after the move? I live in Central PA now but grew up east of Albany. But the significant other will be living and working in Manhattan this summer, so I’ll be up there a plenty.

@Buck Rogers
Metro North train is 70 minutes from Garrison to Grand Central. It’s on the other side of the river, though, so you’ll need to drive across the bridge or set up a special ops zip line. It’s beautiful up there. Hills and dales.
With @Rob, @Sauterelle, and @Mikeweb, it’s the makings of a cogal.

Excellent! We’ll have to set a date for later this year and hope for an Indian Summer!

FRONK!!!

I think I wanna know what Frank’s blood alcohol level was about then.

@Blah
harsh

Yep.
Jokes, though.
Mend fast, mate. Hope you’re okay.

Would you guys consider Boonen now took the role “Patron du Peloton” from Cancelara’s shoulders

For a complete green-as-a-north face-wind-cheater newbie to the world of cycling, who has just watched his very first PR … horrifying I know … I am four things today:
A. Rendered utterly speechless by what Boonen achieved / is / can do – watching him destroy the field and the course and make it look easy like that will live with me forever;
B. more deeply engrossed and lost to this culture and sport than ever – and proud to be amongst it all;
C. Well chuffed with my 8 points …….!
D. Rabidly looking forward to my 90k Akuna bay / west head cycle today to channel my inner TB. What a hero.

You picked a hell of a day to start watching cycling!!! That was a one-in-a- million ride today!!! Welcome to the fold, there’s no going back!

@Buck Rogers
Great. I made it about 3/4 of the way to Highland Park on my ride yesterday. You’ll be able to bring me oxygen.

Realistically, how far will i be from you? I hear that there is a train that takes around 1 hour to get to the city? Even though I am from VT I have never stopped in NYC before. The VMH and I are REALLY looking forward to coming down and seeing some broadway shows and Met operas!

chuffed with my 12 points in the VSP.

boonen is the don.

JiPM – wow! What a birthday win & gift – a newspaper & a cobble next to your name. Who said life doesn’t get better ever year? Congratulations.

The VMH watched the final 65 kms with me, screaming at Boonen the whole time. She told me we needed to have a little toast & cheer when Boonen’s lead went out to exactly 1 minute. And here I was thinking she’s a Cavendish fan! Oh, and she also spotted the V-Flag! I missed it.

Great support, Frank! I still can’t really believe you lads were on the sidelines for that today.

And what shows just how dominant Boonen’s ride was – Terpstra couldn’t even stick to his wheel yet still pulled off a 5th. Talk about in another league!

@Buck Rogers

@Jeff in PetroMetro
Jeff you awesome Dude! Congrats on the cobblestone and on sharing a birthday with my beautiful VMH!!! Love your tradition! Might have to try to invoke it, although with moving to upstate NY this fall and my birthday being 9 JAN, it might be hard!

I’m in Syracuse and a guy I know rides his bike to work year round. Studded tires!

Guess I’ll need to HTFU, eh?

@Buck Rogers
Hey, where upstate? Yonkers?

Highland Falls/ I’ll be working at West Point. Cannot WAIT to get back to the NorthEast!!!

@Jeff in PetroMetro
Jeff you awesome Dude! Congrats on the cobblestone and on sharing a birthday with my beautiful VMH!!! Love your tradition! Might have to try to invoke it, although with moving to upstate NY this fall and my birthday being 9 JAN, it might be hard!

I’m in Syracuse and a guy I know rides his bike to work year round. Studded tires!

To add awesomeness to victory, today is my 45th birthday. I will head out shortly to ride (at least) more than 72.5kms (45 miles). It is now and forever will be a steadfast tradition that I ride at least as many miles as I am old on my birthday. That way, when I’m 90, I will be a badass.

Although I watched P-R live, I also recorded it to make sure I can see the V-flag flying high. I was pretty sure I saw it. I want to go back in slow motion and watch it fligh over and over and over.

What a great KT this has been. Although I wasn’t there, I have had such an awesome time following along. Today’s race caps it.

You are all my Brothers and Sisters of the Cog.

VLVV!!!

That was absolutely incredible. More later, but JiPM took an outstandingly close win in this event and gets the newspaper with the race coverage tomorrow as well as the cobblestone commenting badge. Exceptionally strong work.

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Something like that which could mean you’re imagining it, the distance from top of seat to BB centre is the same, it’s the frame that is different.

I also read that when riding the cobbles it can be good to not have all your weight on the seat, use your legs to kind of take the pressure off and kind of hover gently over the seat while still maintaining contact (for this technique it could make sense to have the set a wee bit lower).