[mybutthurts]

I have seen people here reference some "rules" that seem to apply to cycling. It seems like they may be the answer to all my questions. Everything from leg shaving to gear selection. So here are my questions:
Where are they?
Who created them?
Is there one central document that has been passed down or is it reinvented on an annual basis by committee?
How many are there?

 

[ewitz]

These are the rules you are referring to

Velominati › The Rules

 

[cantride55]

Not sure what your angle is but here's a place to start if you don't have a stir stick in your hand....Velominati › The Rules

 

[lemonlime]

People who don't think they need the rules need them the most. HTH.

 

[Roland44]

People who don't think they need the rules need them the most. HTH.

Exactly! Great quote...

 

[MB1]

It is not all about the bike.

 

[Salsa_Lover]

The Velominati are cool.

More often than the recommendable, they tend to slide into the "cycling nerd" territory.

They often kind of remember me those guys dressed on Star Wars or Lord of the Rings thematic.... Or talk in Klingon language.... That kind of nerds.

Their rules were initially kind of cool, but they should have stopped on a dozen or so... Now they have rules about the most silly stuff,

I like a lot however how do they organise their classics trips, their pictures from Flanders or Roubaix are great.

 

[Tachycardic]

If you are decent to, and respect, others, then you wouldn't need more than half those rules.

 

[Bill2]

Not to worry- they are just poking fun at cyclists who try to enforce their personal preference on others. Read them as satire and they're quite funny.

 

[spade2you]

Who created them?

Middle aged males.

 

[DEK]

They're more of guidelines.

 

[MikeWMass]

middle aged males in lycra.

fify!

 

[Mike T.]

People who don't think they need the rules need them the most. HTH.

Denial is the first indication that The Rules are needed. Without The Rules, to those whom the rules don't come naturally (I don't need the rules as I was always cool on the bike) would all ride around looking like Freds.

 

[AndreyT]

So here are my questions:
Where are they?

A chain letter. Most popular topics for successful chain letters are politics, religion or health. A bicycle-themed chain letter is a rarity, which is why it is so much talked about.

As any chain letter, in order to be successful it has to contain either covertly false statements designed to "sound right" or openly false statements designed to incite inflamed response. "The Rules" contain both.

Of course, it goes without saying that none of these "rules" has even a slightest degree of acceptance in cycling community. It is a running joke, no more no less.

Who created them?

Teenagers. Internet trolls. Whoever plays that chain letter game.

Is there one central document that has been passed down or is it reinvented on an annual basis by committee?

The idea of chain letter game is to create a letter that will circulate as is, of course. But it is not unusual for a popular chain letter to pick up additional details as it circulates.

 

[DonDenver]

Troll thread

/burn

Those are the rules