Nice article and pics. As a devoted Ducatisti and Campophile, I appreciate this. As a younger man, I had a more utilitarian nature, but discovering the possibility of beauty existing in the same breath was a revelation that I have never since ignored. »

@James I fitted a set of Vittoria Rubino Pro slicks to new Shamal 2 way fits, and they were a bugger.  I pre-fitted them sans tubes, then used lots of soapy water and needed levers.   They are very tight, as designed to run tubeless.   So far, no flats,… »

Colour matching tyres to my bike is a breeze, as it’s a stylish Bianchi in matt carbon with red and white decals, red black tyres with red sidewalks look smIck.  Gum walls would just not look good on that bike. Matching colours to era is essential. »

My Bianchi has a badge.  I quite like it.  The Oltre I covet has a big-ass badge. »

BTW, can someone embed that properly for me, please ? I’m a Luddite. »

@Mikael Liddy No, I used a Flymount, mounted directly to the bars.  I used a chest mount for the NIghtcap Range one I have up, but it points down too much.  Chest mount is definitely more stable, but hard to get a good angle while on a bike.  Really good… »

Here’s a wee youtube of a ride I did yesterday.  It’s the first part of a longer ride I like to think of as “My Personal Koppenberg”.  I had planned on doing the whole ride, but frankly, I was knackered, and my wife called and said lets go to teh beach, s… »

Frank, it looks like your bike has thrown a con rod through the block, and puked it’s guts all out over the road. Your roads are filthy.  Even when I get a Flemish tan, it’s brown, not black.  City folk have to tolerate all sorts of weird crap. »

@ErikdR I live i rural Australia, so things might work differently here.  Motorbikes wave at each other a lot, but in western areas, it is still customary for car drivers to wave as they pass too.  I drive to a lot of remote locations for work, and ther… »

@ChrisO At my first track training session recently, that Rule was made crystal clear.  You are responsible for your front wheel.  Don;t worry about your back.  If everyone follows that rule, everyone is safe. »

@Marcus No, the photo says you were a self-sufficient hard-man, not stopping for anything, not leaning on a support crew.  It’s all in the interpretation.   100% rule adherent for a 5km ride to a coffee shop to preen and pose is way less cool than 200km… »

@Oli Dude, not sure if you are on the rumbo tonight or what. Rules like “you seat must be in the exact position I prefer” are condescending and snobby, and that’s just one example.  Honestly, when I first read the Rules, I thought the fashionista ones … »

I’m with Marcus on the wheel-sucker thing.  If I’m riding solo, and someone wants to suck my wheel, it does not hurt me.  I don’t feel a need to change speed. I’m more bothered by people riding past in the opposite direction who don’t return my nod.  Som… »

Oh dear, more rules for me to break.  Keeping the rubber side down when on the move, is of course, the Prime Directive. ‘Oweverrrr, I’m a Velominatus Flippitatus when changing wheels or cleaning my bike.  I’m buggered if I can get a rear wheel in and out… »

@brett My apologies to marko.  I carelessly did not note the author.  Indeed, it is a finely written piece, and inspires us all to be better men. »

Chapeau Frank !! It takes class to offer a humble and heart-felt apology. »

Uh ha !! ( Think that obnoxious kid from The Simpsons) Tihs is the dumbest rule.  Jersey pockets are for banananananananananananananas, not tools and crap. »

Frank, may I offer my services for proof-reading.  Your “spell-check” approach has flaws in it. On topic, I’m in the “shallow drop” camp.  I find it the curve more pleasing to the eye and I can raech both “breaks” and go-buttons easily. »

Yes, I mostly do drink instant Moccona Rich, but I do get out and sit in cafes to eat and socialise and a bloody great steaming hissing monstrosity is a bit hard to miss.  I’ll occasionally buy a coffee too, but buggered if I’m coughing up $4 every time I… »

Dunno what part of Oz you blokes come form, but even the franchise bakeries use a proper machine to grind and make their own coffee.  I don’t think I’ve seen a cafe that serves anything but fresh coffee out of a proper machine in at least 10 years.  Most … »

@Chris Classic.  I love it when Sydney-siders combine astronomy and religion. Now children, today we are going to learn that God put a little celestial pin through Sydney, and spun the rest of the Universe around it.  That’s how we know it’s in the ce… »

You may consider me educated on the correct spelling of espresso.  I had never really paid attention. Philistine I may be, but that is no excuse for ignorance. My little thermal bidon keeps it warm enough for me. There be no coffee shops on really any … »

OK, don’t blow a gasket.  I’m a coffee Philistine, I know it.  Would it help if I told you that I only drink instant coffee and therefore can be forgiven for not knowing these things ?  Will that help ?  Will it ? »

Of course, balance is important, which is why rule-makers need rule -breakers. So, you must have broken some rules then, if you chose which ones to follow ? I don’t disdain rules, I use them all the time.  I just don’t let them make me stupid or discour… »

OK, so it’s not expresso.  It’s coffee the way I like it.  But, you should try it before you knock it. Rulz, schmulz………..every time I hear someone say “there should be a rule about that”, I think bad things. I was hated by my teachers at school, c… »