The Bikes
The Bike. It is the central tool in pursuit of our craft. A Velominatus meticulously maintains their bicycles and adorns them with the essential, yet minimal, accoutrement. The Rules specify the principles of good taste in configuration and setup of our machines, but within those principles lies almost infinite room for personal taste.
It seems in some ways like a kind of Stockholm Syndrome, the way we honor our machines. We love them to a point that lies well beyond obsession. Upon these machines upon we endure endless suffering, but also find an unending pleasure. The rhythm, the harmony between rider and machine, the outdoors, the wind in our faces and air in our lungs.
The Bikes is devoted entirely to our machines. Ours, The Keepers, and yours, the Community. It features articles devoted to our bikes, and proves a forum for uploading photos of your own machines for discussion. We will be harsh, but fair; this is a place to enforce and enhance our observation of The Rules.
If you’d like to submit an article about your own beloved bike, please feel free to send it to us and we’ll do our best to work with you to include it.
- Rule #12 and the Cascade Effect
That is a very reasonable opening salvo for the Rule about bike ownership. Three is good and certainly a minimum, and we are talking road bikes here, if there was any doubt. They naturally become ordered: the #1 is ichi-ban, top dog, go-to bike for every and all rides. #2 was the old #1, ... - Guest Article: Black Is Not The New Black@kogalover is singing my song here. Bikes are beautiful. ’nuff said. VLVV, Gianni With all those posts on riding in winter and being visible, either by putting Eyes of Sauron or other car melting devices on one’s steed, or by even considering a YJA instead of donning plain black kit, it was about time to finally get ...
- Dialing in the StableThis was going to be an article about Rule #45. It is amazing how much time is wasted and matches burned when professionals stop for that second bike change to get back on their #1. With all the jigs available to team mechanics it would seem they could set up five bikes exactly the same. And ...
- Matching the drapes to the rugAs a longtime titanium bike owner, I’ve always been jealous of a beautiful painted frame but Ti and carbon frames don’t need paint like a steel frame needs paint. But I want some painted beauty. It’s like buying a white car; I can’t do white, need some color. So between a Ti frame and a ...
- Festum Prophetae: Waiting for the HourEveryone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth. – Mike Tyson The one thing everyone should always plan for is that however well-conceived a program might be, things will never go to plan. The high level plan for my Festum Prophetae Hour Ride was as follows: Have a custom Hour Bike built by Don Walker. Because reasons. Reasons like custom ...
@DeKerr
I’ve got a TT on tuesday and expecting the new tyres in the post any day. I know the Vittoria ones are cheapies, but they are thin and very slick. Was just wondering if they might actually give a bit less rolling resistance than the GP4000’s (but also probably less grip cornering, less puncture resistance and less durability – which I’m not worried about for a 10 miler).
Google here we come.
@RobSandy
Google says the Conti’s will have a lower rolling resistance, by some margin.
Question about vintage cycles.
Would a Miyata 512 be worth buying at the right price?
Bike is mint condition for $175
I know very little about vintage steeds.
Thanks
@Roger
I recommend researching the tubing that you would want, then look for that frame. There is always a deal to find, but you’ll know exactly why your looking the specific deal.
Find a more perfect deal Roger!
Posting post upgrades. Sorry about the bad picture quality …. it was one of those cloudy but bright days.
Giant Defy 3 upgraded with:
1. Full 105 groupsan
2. Prologo saddle and bar tape
3. FSA SLK compact carbon handlebar
4. Easton EC70 carbon seat post
5. Campy Zonda wheels
@PanzerPuss
I see strange box things on your seat tube, head tube, and fork leg. I won’t give you grief about the EPMS because I rock one until race day.
@AJ
Must be an illusion and it’s something attache to that lamppost?
@AJ
Sorry about the EPMS. A requirement when riding the pothole ridden streets of Chicago as my jersey pockets need to have two inner tubes (haven’t graduated to running tubulars yet) so the bag holds multiple CO2 canisters, tyre lever and pump.
The rest is just a light and cadence/speed sensors.
Another question for the class – are deep section rims a waste of time unless you’re going serious speed? I want to upgrade the wheels on my Nr#1, and am deciding what to go for. The current wheels on my bike are very heavy (2.4kg) and the weight doesn’t bother me so I don’t care about the weight upgrade. Seems I could save a kilo without spending megabucks though.
I TT a bit and am planning to race some short crits next year at Cat 4, so I’m pondering whether it’s worth going for deep rims (because they look badass) or whether I’d get a better wheel with equally good performance by going for something non-deep (?) because a lot of the sales value of deep sections is aesthetic (because they look badass).
Any advice? I’m thinking of spending up to about £400 ($620 or thereabouts).
@Matt C
True they do look cool, but can be a pain in a cross wind! A nice set of shallow rim, hand or even factory built wheels would ( in my humble opinion) suit you needs far better.
@Matt
My new baby… Followed the rules but can see that I’m not on the 11…. Bahhhhh!
PS. Cav at last:-)
@AJ
Fixed your post. “Rock” implies some level of style and/or flair.
@RobSandy
If TT’ing is your interest and that’s your budget, I would strongly advise looking at Flo Cycling’s 30mm rim. It’s alu, but the rounded shape was actually tunnel-tested and it beats quite a few so-called aero rims. A mate of mine has been racing them for two years now, very pleased.
Aero trumps weight every time, but for that budget there aren’t many options that are truly aero. Flo sells the 30 also as a rim-only, which you can build with a good-value hub and spokes under your budget. Other good options are HED Belgiums, Pacenti SL23s and H+Son Archetype – all good rims, relatively wide but none quite as aero as the Flo.
Better yet? Get a disc-cover for your rear Flo. I got mine on sale from wheelbuilder.com for $65, but Raltech, Catalyst and a few others make better models, too. 90% of the speed of a real disc at 10% of the cost.
P.S Regarding tyres: Note that it’s the GP4000s that’s the fast option. The regular GP4000 is very average. I run the 4000s with latex tubes for TTs, it’s a very fast combo – especially since there’s solid evidence that Conti, by accident, managed some pretty good aero secret sauce with that tyre.
@RobSandy
Also, Planet X fall within your budget limits, and there’s probably tons of used stuff on the market considering the size of the UK TT scene. Probably all tubs, which would likely make it a raceday-only type wheelset (wouln’t want to ride a TT tyre even once outside competitions), though.
sh*t. How am I gonna be able to resist this … ?!
Been looking for a steel frame for a long time and the damned interweb splattered this across my screen.
I picked up this frame for 180€ and refurbished/modernised it with Campagnolo Khamsin Wheels / Veloce groupset. It has Columbus Aelle tubing and is probably a late 80s Casati frame. Its for my 15 yr old son, trying to interest him in cycling and was a good practice for me before I finish my Colnago Master Olympic.
Great colour and great to see a full set of chrome stays
@WindDrifter
Yes!
@tessar
Cheers for the advice. I’ll look up those wheels.
The GP4000S is what I have. Well done me.
I was planning to crank up the pressure for TT’s – is that a bit old fashioned now?
How do latex tubes make them faster?
Another thing I don’t get, while I’m not getting things, is why old fashioned TT bikes only had bullhorns, and not drops. I watched a film of Fignon TTing on them, it looks a stupid position. Would he not have been more aero on a normal bike on the drops?
@MangoDave
This. Also, the justification of is in violation of the principle of “nothing new on race day”.
That would be a fabulous steed were it not for all the shrapnel attached. For reference, see @Matt and his Colnago (although it does appear that he’s attached some kind of massive supercomputer to his cockpit).
@Matt
Stunning but would be even more so with a Gruppo on it
@WindDrifter
Do it! Gorgeous bike.
@DeKerr
Duly noted. All the sharpnel has been taken off but sadly now replaced with a super computer hanging out in front of the stem (edge 1000)
Don’t have a nicer picture yet. Weather’s been shite here and the steed is always dirty.
@Nate
Totally agree… Would you mind writing a letter to my wife explaining in detail why the beautiful bike I just bought needs an upgrade already:-)… Good news is she is Italian so am sure will understand 100%. (not). Have also removed the carbon hoops in favour of Ambrosio Gold team editions. Beautiful, less aero, same weight…..ish and defo more in keeping.
@RobSandy
I got Dave at DCR to make me up some H Plus Son SL42’s two years ago. A pair with Shim 105 hubs set me back just under £400 all in. The SL42 is a 42mm deep V rim, bombproof and looks badass. They come in a variety of colours, but black wins hands down every time. They are Aluminium but look Carbon, and have an Alu brake surface so work well in the wet. Dave was really helpful and now does his own carbone wheels too. I would strongly recommend dropping him a line as you’re in the UK.
@Matt
Sounds like a good first step.
I neither speak nor write Italian, unfortunately. Perhaps you could distract her attention with some shiny baubles?
New tires and wheels for the bike added today. I’m looking forward to the first ride!
Also added this to the mix and will be building this over the winter. Exited to have some stainless steel added to the garage.
@DCR
Gotta love those H Plus Son rims man!
@DCR what tyres are they? Loving the tanwalls against the Spinal Tap Black.
@DCR
are those the SL42 on your Cannondale? That frame tho…
I leaned my bike against this concrete post and thought it looked cool, so snapped a quick picture. I’ve recently slammed the stem, become Rule #60 compliant and got my saddle height sorted. Next step is to replace the compact with a 52/36, which will be pretty soon.
@piwakawaka
Too shallow for SL42’s. I’m guessing Archetypes?
@Mikael Liddy
Those are Veloflex Master 25’s. So far they have been fantastic.
@VeloJello
Correct on that. They are Archetypes laced to american classic hubs. Cant complain about sub 1500 gram aluminum clinchers for cheap. The wider rim with the 25mm Veloflex ride very well.
@DCR nice, duly noted for the next time the Redback needs some new boots.
I know I rarely post around here any more, but I finally broke down and got an orange bike and I thought you guys might appreciate it.
@ChrissyOne
Where’d you go?
Been riding bikes.
@ChrissyOne
SPONG! Saw one of these on some trails just off the M5 in Worcestershire recently and fell in love instantly. Very nice!
@RobSandy
Yeah, cranking up the pressure is old-fashioned. Testing showed that the energy for a tyre to deform around asphalt
@RobSandy
Sorry, pressed the button by accident. Anyway:
Energy spent deforming around asphalt imperfections is less than the energy spent bouncing up and down from it if the pressure were too high. Similar concept to riders on cobbles, just on a smaller scale (and therefore higher pressures). For weights of 70-80kg, there’s no reason to run more than around 100psi, maybe 110psi if you weigh a touch more – any more and you’re just losing speed. If you’re on a perfectly polished wooden track and using super-supple track tubs, then it makes sense to crank up the pressure.
Latex make you faster using the same principle: It’s more supple than butyl, allowing the tyre to flex more easily and lose less energy to heat. The only downside is price (and finicky installation).
TT’ing before the ’90s was a very unscientific thing. I assume the bullhorns allowed them to get lower with those crazy funnybikes they were riding at the time? 24″ fronts, 700c rears and double-discs, those were the days…
@tessar
Cheers. I’m about 86kg and I think I usually run around 100psi, and upped it to around 115psi last week. I don’t think I’m at the point yet where a few units of pressure will be the limiting factor on performance.
I am noticing the ride, grip and speed difference on the new Contis though. Well worth changing over.
I’m also liking gradually customising my bike. The new crankset will be next, then if I get the new job I’m being interviewed for in August I might splash out in upgraded wheels. The next Spring will see the most crucial upgrade; white bar tape.
@RobSandy
The key here is smooth or dimpled? Using the golf ball principle you should go with dimpled bar tape.
@VeloJello
It’s a wonderful machine! Ridiculously light for a 500, it feels just like riding a big mountain bike.
@Mikael Liddy
Can’t beat hand made in italy goodness with 320tpi casings. not only that but the price is very good.
@DCR
Imagonna quote here because that bike and that frame need to be seen again. Also, I agree with @Mikael Liddy, skinwalls with a matte black frame are “the tits”. Last night I swapped my rear Veloflex Master 25 with another after 2K km. No more slipping in the sprint tonight!
Spinaci bars discussion on Twitter…Check out @daniellloyd1’s Tweet: https://twitter.com/daniellloyd1/status/623929462355312641?s=09
I forgot how fucking ugly they were.
@RobSandy
Good job, that’s 100-110psi is about right for your weight. You’re optimizing quite well it seems. Great job on the PR!
P.S Crankset? There are more pressing upgrades. That one extra tooth on the big ring might be nice for proud Dutchmen, but considering the expense and the non-existent gain… Save the money.
@tessar
I feel like I’m making some progress. I also feel I still have room to improve fitness a lot.
I’ve got my Dad to buy me the crankset as a birthday present! A 105 52/36 was only £80. I think I’ll notice the difference in a positive way. With a 50T big ring I end up spinning a lot; doesn’t need much of a downhill for me to spin out.
The big upgrade is the wheels, which I will be funding myself!