@velonews

The Zombie Journal of Competitive Cycling. Not affiliated with Outside or other "Velo-" related brands or publications.

Joined June 2023
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12Media
We aspire to make this second-greatest comeback in cycling history—WADA-permitting, of course. (cartoon by @maddogmedia, August 6, 1990)
"Praise Be! Halleleujah!" shouts a roadside fan holding a sign reading "Behold he is Risen" in this Patrick O'Grady cartoon. As he continues "Yea, though he rode through the valley of the shadow of…", a rider in the foreground asks "Jesus Freak?" Another rider replies "LeMond Fan."

ALT "Praise Be! Halleleujah!" shouts a roadside fan holding a sign reading "Behold he is Risen" in this Patrick O'Grady cartoon. As he continues "Yea, though he rode through the valley of the shadow of…", a rider in the foreground asks "Jesus Freak?" Another rider replies "LeMond Fan."

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The last time a Spaniard won a #TourDeFrance stage, we didn't mention it--or any of the competitive action from the event--in print. But a few months later, we did run a cover feature on how the Tour was in trouble. Now we're zombies.
"Is the Tour in Trouble? The new challenges facing cycling's greatest race" reads the cover of the Sept/October 2018 issue of velonews.

ALT "Is the Tour in Trouble? The new challenges facing cycling's greatest race" reads the cover of the Sept/October 2018 issue of velonews.

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Taking a moment to look back on our thoughts the last time the #TourDeFrance took on the upcoming Puy de Dome. It's apparent we--and nearly everyone else--dealt with doping a little differently in those days.
excerpt from VeloNews, Vol 17, Num 12, August 12, 1988 "Hopes rekindled Up on the Puy de Dome, an extinct volcano towering 3,000 ft above the city of Clermont-Ferrand, Delgado's hopes of final victory were rekindled. A rumor spread through the caravan that his second drug analysis had proved negative. As if in celebration, Delgado put in yet another virtuoso climbing show to add 52 seconds to his lead over Rooks."

ALT excerpt from VeloNews, Vol 17, Num 12, August 12, 1988 "Hopes rekindled Up on the Puy de Dome, an extinct volcano towering 3,000 ft above the city of Clermont-Ferrand, Delgado's hopes of final victory were rekindled. A rumor spread through the caravan that his second drug analysis had proved negative. As if in celebration, Delgado put in yet another virtuoso climbing show to add 52 seconds to his lead over Rooks."

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And to save you the suspense: - Delgado's second drug analysis? Positive. - Delgado's hopes of final victory? Unchanged.
cover of "Velo-news", Volume 17, Number 12, August 12 1988. "Delgado's Tour" reads the headline, over a softly smiling image of the Spaniard in yellow.

ALT cover of "Velo-news", Volume 17, Number 12, August 12 1988. "Delgado's Tour" reads the headline, over a softly smiling image of the Spaniard in yellow.

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We finally got around to reading the @EscapeCycling piece on Aaron Brown. We do admit that once upon a time, we may have made some lapses in judgement: escapecollective.com/what-ha…
"The 25 Most Powerful People in Pro Cycling" reads the hed from an August 2012 Velo[news] feature. Among the panelists judging is Aaron Brown, in his @UCI_Overlord guise: "Offering an unflinchingly blunt view on the happenings of the pro cycling world, the anonymous UCI OVERLORD provides the cycling public with insider information and commentary garnered from his network of sources. He shares his viewpoint on Cvclismas.com and via his Twitter feed, @UCI_Overlord. While humor and satire are his weapons of choice, UCI Overlord also shares his unwavering opinion on what can be done to improve the sport for all."

ALT "The 25 Most Powerful People in Pro Cycling" reads the hed from an August 2012 Velo[news] feature. Among the panelists judging is Aaron Brown, in his @UCI_Overlord guise: "Offering an unflinchingly blunt view on the happenings of the pro cycling world, the anonymous UCI OVERLORD provides the cycling public with insider information and commentary garnered from his network of sources. He shares his viewpoint on Cvclismas.com and via his Twitter feed, @UCI_Overlord. While humor and satire are his weapons of choice, UCI Overlord also shares his unwavering opinion on what can be done to improve the sport for all."

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In hindsight, we are forced to admit there are few cycling pundits more reliable than @BetteridgesLaw.
"Fourth Win For LeMond?" asks the hed of VeloNews' 1992 Tour de France Preview.

ALT "Fourth Win For LeMond?" asks the hed of VeloNews' 1992 Tour de France Preview.

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We made it through the first episode of #unchained with barely an eye-roll. In fact, it was refreshing to hear @Vaughters speak openly about his doping past--though we were shocked they let him slide on a full decade of that facial hair.
A pointy-sideburned Jonathan Vaughters joking places a stethoscope on Lance Armstrong's head in an old file photo from the "Tour de France: Unchained" documentary.

ALT A pointy-sideburned Jonathan Vaughters joking places a stethoscope on Lance Armstrong's head in an old file photo from the "Tour de France: Unchained" documentary.

A rounder-faced Vaughters with EVEN POINTIER SIDEBURNS a decade later the June 2011 issue of VeloNews.

ALT A rounder-faced Vaughters with EVEN POINTIER SIDEBURNS a decade later the June 2011 issue of VeloNews.

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"Irregular?" "Deviation?" This relegation at the #Dauphine may require us to update our style guide. It strongly prefers the term "dazzling antics."
1992 Tour de France preview for Diamolidin Abdujaparov: Nationality: Uzbekistani. Born: February 28, 1964. Team: Carrera. Last year's green jersey hero and the winner of the blue points jersey in this year's Tour of Spain, Abdujaparov starts the 1992 Tour as a clear favorite for the points competition. He is nicknamed "Abdu," the "Tashkent TGV" or "Tashkent Express," because of his dazzling antics in the bunched finales—many of which end in controversy. His biggest dramas include his crash in the final stage of the 1991 Tour, and his disqualification from this year's Ghent-Wevelgem, for dangerous riding against his arch rival. Mario Cipollini.

ALT 1992 Tour de France preview for Diamolidin Abdujaparov: Nationality: Uzbekistani. Born: February 28, 1964. Team: Carrera. Last year's green jersey hero and the winner of the blue points jersey in this year's Tour of Spain, Abdujaparov starts the 1992 Tour as a clear favorite for the points competition. He is nicknamed "Abdu," the "Tashkent TGV" or "Tashkent Express," because of his dazzling antics in the bunched finales—many of which end in controversy. His biggest dramas include his crash in the final stage of the 1991 Tour, and his disqualification from this year's Ghent-Wevelgem, for dangerous riding against his arch rival. Mario Cipollini.

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Back when we had race listings, gravel races weren't unheard of. As early as 2008, @BikeReg ads in our pages spotlighted #UnboundGravel by its previous name. We even sent Nick Legan there in 2011. But our first piece on the gravel racing trend? Not until three years later. 😳
July 2014: "VELONOTES: The rise of the 'un-race'," where we finally admit that gravel races were "gaining popularity" many years after they'd already become demonstrably popular.

ALT July 2014: "VELONOTES: The rise of the 'un-race'," where we finally admit that gravel races were "gaining popularity" many years after they'd already become demonstrably popular.

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For comparison, our first piece on "Fat tire" racing ran in November 1981, just as @iamspecialized was launching the Stumpy. Not bad for a publication then-based in Vermont, at a time when the sport was "not yet popular to any degree anywhere east of the Rockies."
November 1981: "Fat tires gaining ground in West". The article states "The name of the new game is off-road cycling - also known as mountain biking, all-terrain cycling or just dirt riding…This year's summer season saw at least a dozen races, with fields of up to 60 riders and prize lists approaching $1,000."

ALT November 1981: "Fat tires gaining ground in West". The article states "The name of the new game is off-road cycling - also known as mountain biking, all-terrain cycling or just dirt riding…This year's summer season saw at least a dozen races, with fields of up to 60 riders and prize lists approaching $1,000."

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The MTBs of the 1990s do bear a certain resemblance to the bikes of #unboundgravel. But we're partial to the notion that actual 90s gravel bikes are much closer cousins. (from the May 4 and June 22 issues, 1992)
A Bridgestone RB-1 full-page ad with the headline "Calling it a 'Classic' Isn't Optimistic. Just Premature." The copy reads in part "Modern road bikes are getting weird…Tire clearance has diminished to the point that 'road' bike really means 'smooth road' bike, and the versatility inherent in the race bikes of old has been sacrificed." The ad also touts the RB-1's "relaxed seat and heat tube angles" and "clearance for 32c tires."

ALT A Bridgestone RB-1 full-page ad with the headline "Calling it a 'Classic' Isn't Optimistic. Just Premature." The copy reads in part "Modern road bikes are getting weird…Tire clearance has diminished to the point that 'road' bike really means 'smooth road' bike, and the versatility inherent in the race bikes of old has been sacrificed." The ad also touts the RB-1's "relaxed seat and heat tube angles" and "clearance for 32c tires."

A full-page ad for a Bridgestone X0-2 hybrid, with the hed "Think About This Before Buying A Normal 'Hybrid'". It features a man in "The Thinker" pose, with a shaved-sides-long-top haircut, wearing nothing but sunglasses and a vaguely Rasta necklace. In front of him, the bike touts its "Stock 1.25in City Slicker tires" that "outcorner, outroll, and outlast knobbies." It also has mustache handlebars and "Road geometry and tubing" to "keep weight down and give a responsive ride."

ALT A full-page ad for a Bridgestone X0-2 hybrid, with the hed "Think About This Before Buying A Normal 'Hybrid'". It features a man in "The Thinker" pose, with a shaved-sides-long-top haircut, wearing nothing but sunglasses and a vaguely Rasta necklace. In front of him, the bike touts its "Stock 1.25in City Slicker tires" that "outcorner, outroll, and outlast knobbies." It also has mustache handlebars and "Road geometry and tubing" to "keep weight down and give a responsive ride."

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Our escape from the cold embrace of the grave coincides with #Pride. Let's celebrate that with a post-race drag show from the 1993 Mont Ste. Anne MTB World Cup. We understand (in the loosest sense of the word) that this sort of thing is somewhat controversial now.
The night after the downhill race, downhill racers partied late, reportedly run-ning up and down hotel hallways trying to wake up cross-country riders who would be racing the next day, and holding a naked dual slalom at 2 a.m. It seems that nude racing is in this year. • Dave Wiens's alter ego won the Miss World Cup contest—going up against the alter ego of semi-finalist Thomas Frischknecht. Also present in the formal wear and bathing suit contest were race organizer Patrice Drouin, Gerhard Zadrobilek, Iron Horse's mechanic "Stickman," Ritchey team manager Josh Klein, Bob Roll, and Marin team manager Paul Watson. Roll was cut from the pageant during the swimsuit competition, and commented, "I don't think this is the kind of contest I'd _want_ to win." After Wiens's coronation (with mock tears and hugs), he grabbed the microphone and said, "We've all got to thank the promoters—we always have the _best_ time here!"

ALT The night after the downhill race, downhill racers partied late, reportedly run-ning up and down hotel hallways trying to wake up cross-country riders who would be racing the next day, and holding a naked dual slalom at 2 a.m. It seems that nude racing is in this year. • Dave Wiens's alter ego won the Miss World Cup contest—going up against the alter ego of semi-finalist Thomas Frischknecht. Also present in the formal wear and bathing suit contest were race organizer Patrice Drouin, Gerhard Zadrobilek, Iron Horse's mechanic "Stickman," Ritchey team manager Josh Klein, Bob Roll, and Marin team manager Paul Watson. Roll was cut from the pageant during the swimsuit competition, and commented, "I don't think this is the kind of contest I'd _want_ to win." After Wiens's coronation (with mock tears and hugs), he grabbed the microphone and said, "We've all got to thank the promoters—we always have the _best_ time here!"

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