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 ...
@Haldy
This whole episode has my heart racing and I only see brake cables which gives me the pause I need to ensure I drop below ER Zone. Did you go DieToo?
@frank
Yes sir. This is my second Di2 machine. My Nine bike has Ultegra Di2 on it, this baby as you can tell, sports the D/A group.
@Haldy
I’m going to ignore all that and admit that is one of the sexiest photos I’ve ever seen. The way the bars sweep together and the off-color decals align. Oh mamma.
@Haldy
Ok, real question, how do the new Arione’s feel compared to the old version – the far bikes both have the old and the closer ones both have the new; how do they compare? I looooooove my classic (old) style so much I’ve daren’t try the new.
@frank
The only shame to this photo is that the Hammer( the black saddled track bike and oldest Walker of my fleet) doesn’t have a white saddle on it. It’s original saddle got shattered in a Keirin…incident…
@frank
Ahhh..I must admit my friend, that I greatly like the newer version! I have been using it on the velodrome all season and there above all other places where the g-forces drive you into the saddle would expose any issues. I find the slightly wider nose more comfy than the older style. I would dare to say you would be pleased if you tried one out.
Very nice, Haldy! Quite the quality quiver you have there – did you marry into Don Walker’s family??
@Oli
I can see where one might think that! But no, I met Don at the ’08 Handmade show in Portland and was looking to get a handmade track bike again( I’ve owned a Paramount and 2 Waterfords previously) having come back from the doldrums of several knee surgeries. We hit it off personality wise and became fast friends. Since Don himself has done a great deal of track racing it was fantastic working with a builder who immediately understood the nuances of what I was asking for it a track bike. Having matching road bikes to the track steeds only seems natural. Doesn’t everybody do that?
Looks like big bike (i.e. the industry) is trying to appropriate V colour fetishism.
What’s worse, cock heads spouting rule violations in an undeliberately non-casual way unlike the chill persona we all like to emulate, or the fact every man and his dog will be riding a flat barred hybrid EPMS mule in the colour of choice?
http://road.cc/content/news/162968-future-s-bright-future-s-orange
In conjunction with my therapist, looking at this in a glass half-full manner, could suggest that this site is making the world more awesome, in terms of colour at least..
Rapha and Tom Simpson fans……..
http://pages.rapha.cc/stories/the-first-champion
http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest-news/how-a-bike-costing-1000-won-the-national-10-mile-time-trial-championship-189583
Just a moment’s smugness for all the other Velominati Budgetatuses (Budgetatii?) out there…
These are for @frank..I did build up a set of Golden Tickets around some pink Chris King hubs and put some 25mm FMB Paris-Roubaix tires on as a second set of wheels for this bike. Will probably run this set up at the Cogal of the Falling Leaves-
Goddamn, Haldy! Thanks for making my bike stable suddenly look like shite and quite inferior. Fucker! I head into the weekend with zero confidence.
While I enjoy some variety in my stable, I respect you clearly knowing what you like. Black bikes, colorful tape, decals, etc. And very cool that you hit it off with DW. I’ve spoken with him at the NAHBS too.
@Ron
Well..this is only a portion of my quiver. Not pictured are my 2 Scott’s( an Addict and a Foil), and my ’88 DeRosa Professional( which I have had since 88!!) and an ’83 Masi Gran Criterium. Within the next month I will be adding a Della Santa Corsa Speciale. Then at the next NAHBS show Cherubim will be delivering an R2 to me and who knows when, but I also await the arrival of a Pegoretti Big Leg Emma. :-)
We won’t even begin to the list the other bikes I have had over the years…there are advantages to being a life long bike mechanic by trade! As to the colors, the sets of twins were color matched to kits at the time. The black and pink track bike was actually blue last year. When I formed my own team this year, I sent it to Don’s painter to have it re-sprayed and the newly arrived Stainless only naturally had to match!
@Simon
That’s awesome, but those socks have gotta be an RTTC violation surely?
@Beers
Thee of my six bikes are black. Can’t go wrong with . . . black. Always the default choice. #7 is likely going to be mostly black too.
This is my bike. There are many like it, but this one is mine.
My bike is my best friend. It is my life. I must master it as I must master my life.
My bike, without me, is useless. Without my bike, I am useless. I must ride my bike true. I must ride better than my opponents who are trying to wear me down. I must overtake him before he overtakes me. I will…
My bike and I know that what count in a race is not the time we spend leading the race, the silence of the drivetrain, nor the color of my socks. We know that it is the winning that count. We will win…
My bike is human, even as I, because it is my life. Thus, I will learn it as a brother. I will learn its weaknesses, its strength, its parts, its accessories, its wheels and its gears. I will keep my bike clean and ready, even as I am clean and ready. We will become part of each other. We will…
Before Merckx, I swear this creed. My bike and I are the defenders of our craft. We are the masters of our kind. We are the saviors of my life.
So be it, until victory is ours and there is no opponents, but behind us!
@Haldy
I think you need a black-based saddle. Black and blue or black and pink.
@wiscot
@Roadslave has a great story of when he bought a black bike and his wife said, “Don’t you already have a black bike?” He already had FIVE black bikes.
I wont be on my bike for a week.
But when I get it back it will be equipped with a shiny new 52/36 crankset.
@wiscot
Two of my present four machines (The carbon Nr. 1 and the alloy rain bike) are black – otherwise, 2 steel steeds in champagne-gold and bright blue. But that being said, the first ‘real’ bike I ever bought (in 1976) was a steel Peugeot UO8… in bright orange with black decals and lettering. Yay!
@frank
But that’s smart strategy on Roadslave’s part. More black bikes mean another can be slipped in their stealthily. Doesn’t stand out, just blends in. “This, a new bike? No dear, I’ve had this one for ages.”
@Haldy
It’s original saddle got shattered in a Keirin…incident…
This statement is why I’m thinking about going back to steel as my N1 race bike. For the second time in a year, my carbon wonder frame is in the trash bin after a minor crash. I miss the days of dependable go-to steel. Might have to enquire with Jaegher……
@wiscot
That’s what considered “critical mass”. I learned that concept long ago with guitars. Have a pile of ’em around the house, one more just doesn’t get the attn. Critical mass. Obviously, reaching critical mass with the stable of bikes requires a little more space. But, good idea there, sticking with one color should support reaching critical mass sooner. Cheers
@Beers
Although I am Dutch and hence orange is the colour I wear coming Sunday when Tom Dumoulin takes the red jersey home, a Bianchi in orange is like colouring a Koga in red-white-green. Keep it celeste. Fwiw: my stem has 2 orange spacers, plus red-white-blue
This will likely change, but I’ve only been married for 3 years and the VMH is very supportive of my riding and bike purchases. Then again, I haven’t added a new road bike since before we were married.
@Ron
Three years? Good god man, you’re riding bikes that are almost totally worn out! They could be dangerous. You need a new one as soon as possible!
My shortlist of where to go for my custom frame when the finance comptroller signs off the budget is not very short but there is some serious artistry going on here…..
http://www.paulusquiros.co.uk/#/gallery-2/4586930580
I like black bikes. I have six, with a seventh incoming. And I do tell the VMH about n+1.
@Ron
What, exactly, will likely change? That you’re married, the number of years that you’ve been married, or that your VMH is supportive of your riding and bike purchases?!
I love reading the periodic “How to sneak it past my wife?” discussions on this VVebsite. Especially with a cold beer after sharing a ride with my fiancée, who knows exactly which tyres and gearing every wheel in the house has and owns the only bike in the stable with a full Dura-Ace groupsan. The only question is which bike come next.
@tessar
Lucky Fucker. I had to be very elusive about the cost of servicing/upgrading my bike last night.
N+1 = no chance.
@RobSandy
Better still, fresh out of university I just landed a job for a company in the cycling industry. You know you’re lucky when your boss rides a custom titanium ‘cross bike. Dura-Ace on my personal bike “for testing purposes”? Don’t mind if I do!
@tessar
I did manage something similar as I worked in a shop selling rock climbing gear when I left uni. My freebies were never quite THAT sweet though.
105 is fine for me anyway, so fuck you. In a nice way.
@RobSandy
Well, if the product we’re working on works out the way we hope (and the way it’s currently on track to), it’ll be a great addition to your 105 group – I recall you’ve recently upgraded to the 105 crankset?
105 – especially the last two generations – is great. A simple (and cheap) pulley upgrade is the only thing that truly sets it apart, performance-wise, from DA and Ultegra.
@tessar
Ooh, exciting insider info.
I didn’t upgrade per se; my bike is all 105 but I’ve just changed the crankset from a compact 50/34 to a mid compact (or pro compact…I like that one) 52/36. I instantly like it more but I haven’t hit the hills yet. That’s Friday morning. I will report. Also switched the BB to Dura-ace at the same time. And went for another Ultagra chain. The first chain on my bike lasted 900kms, the 2nd (Ultegra) did 2700kms and wasn’t past 75% worn.
As an aside, my mechanic friend pointed out on Monday (bear in mind I’ve had the bike nearly a year) the ‘halfway’ position available on the front mech, so you don’t get chain rub at the extents of the cassette. I had no idea you could do that until then.
@RobSandy
Rob, pls expand on the halfway position. I have an Ultegra front derailleur and until reading your comment thought that my indexing was off when going into the small ring. But… are you saying that it takes 2 clicks so as to accommodate the chain better when it’s on the bigger cogs in the back?
@KogaLover
Yes, that’s called “trimming” the derailleur. Ideally you’ll be able to achieve not-rubbing over the entire cassette with your chain on the big ring. Mine starts to need a trim when I’m past the 4th-largest cog.
@KogaLover
@tessar
Exunctly. If you’re in the inner ring and push the shifter as if to move to the big ring, but don’t push it all the way you’ll hear a soft ‘click’ and the derailleur will move slightly outwards. I reckon I could run my chain on the smallest sprocket from the inner ring with no rubbing using it. And it works the other way, too, i.e. shifts back in slightly when on the big ring to let you access the bigger sprockets without rubbing.
I was baffled a while ago why I got chain rub on about the 4th of 5th largest cog, and actually adjusted my derailleur so it didn’t happen. I now know I just needed to use the trim function.
I’m glad I wasn’t the only dumbass!
@tessar
I’ll second that. Don’t know about the pulley thing as haven’t bothered to change/remove working pulleys. But the 105 I’m running on my CX bike shifts just fine and it’s taken a beating for sure. And in black looks pretty good too. I’d recommend an alloy road bike with 11 sp 105 group san in a heartbeat to anyone looking for a cost effective road bike.
@tessar
I love me the 105 trim. I just wish my Sram Force front derailleur had it – or does it? Got full 105 on my #2 and it’s great. As Tessar implies, there’s a lot of good trickle down going on.
@wiscot
SRAM has what they call “yaw control” going on. The FD is designed to pivot or rotate in order to maintain consistent relationship with chain regardless of where on the cog.
Regret I’ve not run any of the modern SRAM stuff on a bike of mine so haven’t any real experience with yaw and double tap. I’d love to give it a try some day but I’m guessing if I were to build up a bro set any time soon it’d be for CX and w/o FD. I love the SRAM 1x Mtn Bike set up and imagine that the same thing on a dedicated CX rig would work really well.
note: Not run SRAM on road bike… I’ve run SRAM on mtn bikes. And love the new Guide brakes and match up well with the XT which has always been favorite of mine.
@wilburrox
My Sram Force is about 4/5 years old. Not sure if it has yaw control on there. To avoid chain rub I adjust the rear mech so that it covers the 8 largest sprockets without rubbing. If I’m in the small ring and one of the two smallest sprockets, I should be in the big ring anyway. I run 50/36 and 11-23.
wiscot – I know it’s blasphemous, but I’m kind of happy with the stable I have going on right now. Need a new wheelset or two, have kinda been dreaming of a commuter with disc brakes, but I also have finally added a mtn. bike and I haven’t even really done any proper riding on it!
Highly subjective, and so on but…looking to pick up some new tires for riding my CX bike on light trails + the road during the winter. I’ve done this in the past on 28 mm tires. Considering a jump to 32, as it seems 30s are not widely offered. I ride 32s on my commuter, but that’s a commuter with a rack and mudguards. Are 32 slicks gonna feel too fat and slow on the road?
@Ron
Ron, for hard trails I use Kenda Happy Mediums as recommended by Brett for the Heck of the North (which I ended up not riding last year because of work). Pumped up good they roll nicely, but I haven’t used them extensively on asphalt (just the couple of miles to/from the trail).
They’ll be getting a serious workout in a couple of weeks at the Hibernator 100 http://thebear100.com/?page_id=218 Otherwise, maybe something with a light tread, center blocks for road use? The choices are endless.
@wiscot
For road and dirt road combo riding I’ve run/raced Vittoria’s open Pave’s at 24, 25 and 27c and I’ve run Challenge Strada Biancas at 30c and Conti’s CX Speed at 35c. And of all these I’d just as soon use the 27c tires for riding and 25c for racing. 32c will feel fat and slow on the road. No getting around that.
SO, for fun a moment ago I swing by Vittoira’s web site and uhhh, no mention on the site of Open Pave’s. Not listed. Any chance discontinued? No way… right? Had to be a just can’t find them.
@wiscot
Yaw is quite new, I think they introduced it on Red 22, now all the 22 speed groups have it. It works very well on my Rival 22 FD, even though my drivetrain is an unholy mix of 7 (or 6, depending on how you count) different groups…
@RobSandy
@Tessar
That’s excellent stuff to know, many thanks. Will tinker a bit with it and keep the fingers off the indexing for now.
@Quasar
Red received the YAW update shortly before 11-speed debuted. So there are some – but not many – 10-speed YAWs.
Frankly, they’re a pain in the ass to adjust and somehow manage to rub on any gear. I’m only a home mechanic, so I prefer my drivetrains home-servicable…