Comments on: The Rules

By: Jarvis

Jarvis — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 13:20:32 +0000

@Ron

In his case, Pantani was unable to match the pedals because he chose the best pedals in the business and in that year probably only came in red.

By: Ron

Ron — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 12:28:13 +0000

I generally think this is a great rule – to match saddle to tape color – and I mostly go black/black or white/white. Now I’d like to consider myself a Hardman, as I ride year-round outside in upstate NY, in both snow and rain.

However, I just couldn’t ever get a white SLR just right on one of my bikes, so now I have a black Flite and white bar tape (with black hoods). Don’t have the money at the moment to spend on a new saddle, just for the sake of color.

So here is a question for the resident V-Hardmen – would a true Hardman just put up with an uncomfortable saddle in order to match it to the tape? OR does a Hardman put on a saddle that works, ignore the rule, and go ride in 25*F weather, with sleet coming down?

Agreed that Pantani’s bike was pretty awesome, but what about the red pedals? Those seem out of place. And I can watch him during that climb over and over and over. So sweet to watch him not just climb mountains, but accelerate up some of the craziest pitches.

By: Birth of THE RULES: Klink breaks his silence. › Velominati

Birth of THE RULES: Klink breaks his silence. › Velominati — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 11:16:40 +0000

[...] has been unprecedented and unexpected interest and discussion on this blog since the first mention of ‘The Rules’. From that very first post, a name that has been oft-mentioned is that [...]

By: Velominati › Nokon No More

Velominati › Nokon No More — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 06:17:49 +0000

[...] been running them on my previous Roubaix, mainly to get the ‘Zabel-esque’ shifter cable routing, with [...]

By: Velominati › Descisions, Descisions

Velominati › Descisions, Descisions — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 03:23:32 +0000

[...] principal Keepers – Brett – had made mention of the most important element of cycling: the Rules. While the Rules are ambiguous, they are also very clear. Not so much “clear” in [...]

By: frank

frank — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 15:45:47 +0000

@brett Dude, you are saying all the right things. As much as I loved Ulli, Pantani lit that shit up. And that bike!! I bought and modeled my Bianchi XLEV2 completely off that look, except my frame was black/yellow and I didn't get the yellow stem. Yellow tires, yellow flite saddle, matched the bars to the frame.

That stage was incredible. All the elements that make good bike racing: mountains, torrential rain, and guts.

By: frank

frank — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 15:41:51 +0000

@brett
OK. Here’s the Rule. Electrical tape may only be used for finishing and indicating seatpost height. Anything else and you’re out of The Club.

By: brett

brett — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 06:38:34 +0000

Pantani = style. Albeit garish Euro style, he still pulled it off. Check it out; yellow shoes, stem and glasses. Climbing in the DROPS! And the sheen on the legs, even if it was raining, that's pro right there. (I'm thinking this was the classic stage to Les Deux Alpes in 98? Putting 8 minutes into Der Kaiser. Loved it.)

By: brett

brett — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 03:44:34 +0000

I’ve seen a few untaped carbon bar tops, but if the brake cable has to be electrical-taped on, it looks shit. Wrap them suckers up, I say.

By: frank

frank — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 03:18:22 +0000

@johnny klink
Well put. Frank Loyd Wright would tape those things fo sho.