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 ...
@il muro di manayunk
slightly better pic on my part. a couple of rule infractions but Im happy to say I finally have the saddle level. Fucking 3T seat post was a real bear to figure out. I can truly say that this frame is way faster than my old SuperSix. despite the rule infractions, this is the new wallpaper on my computer.
@il muro di manayunk
yours looks outstanding as well, would love to hear your thoughts on how it rides and such.
@Barracuda
after using this stuff, you will never bother with WD-40.
@Teocalli
They are previously used ones so have seen better days and they only just fit under the brakes with 23’s,no chance with anything bigger.They are only on as that was all I had spare and the frame has no ‘guard fittings
@chris
Not tried it on a proper ride yet as it’s still in ‘shake-down’ mode;still got some ‘tugs’ to fit to align the rear wheel accurately;would definitely have been tough on the commutes this week,been bad enough on the 1X10 geared cross-bike.
Oh just took the pic at the ‘pool as it was a convenient place to stop.
@pistard
Thanks for the info;guy I bought off was convinced it wasn’t 531 because of the seat-post diameter but apparently they had all sorts of sizes up to a certain date(and some builders ‘reamed some out).
It also had what looked like the remnants of a triangular sticker where the Reynolds one might have been but it could have been anything on there;also can’t find any serial no anywhere although apparently they don’t have any records of frame numbers.
I’ll see if I can load up some pics of what it was like when I got it.
Oh and apparently Graham Weigh supplied some Donohou track frames to a young Sir Bradley Wiggins back in the day.
A few notes:
A special thanks to @frank for planting the seed that led me to work a deal with my dealer where I opted for the upgrade HED Ardennes clinchers, and traded them to him for Rolf Prima’s and Tufo Tubs. Fingers crossed that the Prophet blesses me with sliver-free roads.
I love many things about LeMan, but his unique geometry takes 2cm out of my stem length.
The stem will drop in due time. If this week was any indication of the Midwest winter ahead, I probably won’t even get to ride this until after the peloton has completed the Ardennes classics..
@Stephen
sick looking bike, but FFS stick it in the big dog before taking a photo…same goes for you @RedRanger!
@Teocalli
@Teocalli, my #9 has also the Crud Mar2k and although I need to adjust them every now and then, I quite like them. Light and easy to put on and off (once you get them on for the first time that is, but I found a youtube video how to install them).
They’re fucking butt-ugly though, innit.
@Oli
I suppose this is a less visually obtrusive method of preventing road grit and sand ingress in the winter…..
@Mikael Liddy
fair enough.
Sadly, my winter project isn’t half as cool as some of yours. But, I’ve been waiting to do it for awhile, so I’m still excited. Putting together some Record/Ambrosio Excellight/DT Swiss wheels for my Casati Laser. I’ve been riding it on mismatched Open Pro rims since I nabbed it from the original owner. Ugh, can’t believe the guy did that simply because the LBS only had one black/one silver rim in stock when he wanted them built.
Nice Veloformas dudes! RedRanger, how damn tall are ya?
That mug is great, minus that last one. I’ve grown very weary of the discussion of and obsession with bacon. I get it, fried pork tastes good. Let’s move on.
@Ron
only 178cm. but Im now riding a 54cm frame. the ride is amazing!
Pleased to say no.4 featured in The GCN Show episode 149 (GCN show)
I know I should have requested V Compliance Assessment before submitting but they seemed to like it and Im pretty sure the three comedians that do that show are not Cognoscenti. Check out their #gcnretrobikes if you want to see any of the other submissions.
Its a 98 Bianchi Mega Pro XL Mercatone Uno Team bike (7005 Alu frameset) with full Record Titanium, PMP skewers, TIME EQ Magnesium pedals and red Echowell “computer”. As explained in the youtube comments, the 90s style of mixed ergoshifter/downtube shifter was a la mode in the in that era, notable on Lance and Il Pirata’s bikes.
Any rule breaks will be duly noted and corrected with an off-hand fuck you, thanks.
Yahhhn. Another black bike? And an alloy framed Cannondale = no big deal yes? Ahhhh… but the deal is this: Thanks to a bottom tube on my steel frame Ritchey Swisscross buckling in a race and that that sent me endo over the bars I wanted to put together something quick to finish the season (and not another lightweight thin wall steel tubed bike!):
And given the continuous cash flow outlay for maintaining CX and Mtn bikes during winter season I wanted value. And I’m saying an alloy frame set CAADX was friggen big time value deal. We’re running 105 group set w/Hydro brakes, Ultegra cranks, Wikwerks rings, some Thomson bits, Industry Nine wheel set and this bike is a blast. I swear, modern alloy frame sets w/105 group sans are flat out best value in bikes to be had nowadays. No ifs, ands, buts, doubts about it… Cheers all
@Kay_Jay
Luvverly, personal taste would probably have me switch out the yellow tyres, but whatever floats yer boat.
@Kay_Jay
Careful where you take your pics. The sign says “No Fires” and you place your smoking hot steed next to it!
@wilburrox
I’ve been using a CAAD 3 from about when they came out as my main bike up to three years ago, after looking at options for carbon fiber in my price range I just had to forget them and go with the CAAD 10, been just a great bike.
I’m happy with mechanical shifting, especially after reading this earlier today
@Chipomarc
I’m riding and racing the heck out of a CAAD10. Just a good ol’ good ol’. Love mine. Cheers!
@wilburrox
which model HEDs are they?
@Mikael Liddy
Jet 4 plus. I’d been riding the Ardennes plus wheels and the week HED offered the Jets in the plus version I picked ’em up. Love ’em.
@wilburrox
That’s not just any CAAD10. That a Black Inc. CAAD10. That’s super elite level alloy.
@sthilzy
Well done on the bike. Few would keep the shifter set up as is. Very studly. Pantani would approve.
And for those who don’t like putting electrical tape on their valve extenders to quiet them down. Silca has these. Not cheap but brilliant, and ribbed for your riding pleasure. Those with OCD will not be able to resist…
@Gianni
Would love to have as mine, but the Bianchi beauty belongs to @Kay_Jay
Question: Has anyone managed to get mech derailleurs on a bike w/internally routed cables to shift as well as a bike set up w/externally routed cables ? If so, what frame-set/bike ?
@wilburrox
Pinarello Dogma K w/ Campag Chorus working fine after 2.5 years and 1 new cable set.
@wilburrox
Veloforma Strada IR. cause if @frank rides one, you know its gotta be half way decent. Plus, I have mine shifting just fine.
I’ve got a Focus w/Dura ace and the stock jagwire cables, works fine. My best shifting bike has DT shifters however, so there’s that as well.
I had D/A 7900 on my Roubaix and I was never able to get it shifting just right. Ultimately swapped over to Di2. I’d swear it was the last little kink that the cable had to exit coming out of the rear of chain stay that was the issue. The other day at LBS we were comparing two new builds with 105 group sans: one internal (Boone) and one external (CAADX) along the down tubes and difference was noted. My daughter’s bike (Allez) has external runs for cable and the D/A shifts so well I’m half wanting to return to mech for my next road bike. It would seem to me that internally routed cables can be particular and need a little extra attn. And I’d sure like to see the exit from rear chain stay be really clean/straight (?) If I were going to have a steel framed road bike be built I’d most certainly keep external routing along the down tube for cables.
@wilburrox
Ill say this about “Infernal” routing; Fuck it! If I had to choose between 2 frames(same brand and model) and the only difference was the routing, I would go with external. That said, I was able to get my V-Velofoma to shift just fine. setting up the front mech was a pain in the ass, but i blame myself for refusing to use inline barrel adjusters. Also, I find that people like to set up that last bit of cable, before going into the mech, with a really tight bend. I think more radius actually helps reduce friction in the cable housing.
this about some up my feeling on the issue.
@wilburrox
BMC SLR01, but if the hanger gets bent, replace it as it will constantly bend again and affect shifting.
No issues here with Ultegra fitted to a Ridley Helium,front mech needed a bit of fiddling but the rear was fine.
Worst bit was feeding the cables through especially as I got the press-fit bb fitted by the lbs before I did them;managed in the end with a small magnet.
I snapped this photo just before swapping over to Di2. Note how the cable makes a sharp 45+ deg upturn through the narrow channel just above the drop out at end of chain stay. And I think that this may not be ideal. What do I know? Anyways, I now have this kinda fixation on how cables enter and exit frames. Weird. I’ve been fiddling it seems like way too much with the X01 rear mech on my Epic and catch myself thinking, confounded internal…, but yet the routing and exit from chain stay all seem to me to be pretty clean.
Here are two pictures that I took this weekend of one of my father’s earlier bicycles. This is a 1987 DeRosa Super Prestige with Campy C-Record. The wheels are Super Champion Competitions with Veloflex tubs. The front is 52, 47 and rear is 13-18. I usually keep it on display in the living room with a matching track bike, but it needed some time out in the wild on Thanksgiving.
@David Maver
Wow! Just WOW! Cinelli 66 bars on there too?
@wilburrox
Does the cable run through the chain stay or seat stay ?
@wiscot
Cinellia criterium bars and Cinelli stem.
@David Maver
Stunning.
@piwakawaka
It did run thru the chain stay. Came down thru the down tube and under the BB then back in to the chain stay to where it popped out as shown in photo. What runs thru there now is a skinny little Di2 wire. And it’s about perfect for that.
@wilburrox
Ah so!
@wilburrox
Its nice to see some others enjoying CAADs! I upgraded from a CAAD 8 to an anodized black CAAD 10 with Ultegra group-san right when they rolled out the CAAD 12s and love the bike. I’d like to see what a wheelset upgrade would do for it. Sweet hoops on yours!
@David Maver
Going out on a limb here, but is that the Ben Franklin Bridge in Philly?
Wow. David your De Rosa and my equally loud red Tommasini should be friends.
Gonna ask this and I’m gonna bet I know who has the answer. My Casati has a compact crankset that I’ve always hated. (Originally owner put it on there, so don’t blame me.) I ride traditional on all my other bikes, this one has never quite felt “right.” It’s 10-s Centaur throughout. Can I just pick up an UT 10-s crankset and install? Will I need other parts/adjustments? Obviously some FD adjustment, but is this a straight swap?
Thanks.
@Ron
Plus a chain
Teocalli. I forgot to mention that. Yes, I assumed I’d need a new chain as well. Thanks for the reply. Spoke to my LBS mechanic, he too felt it could be done without many problems/parts. Thanks!
@Ron
Got my local mech to swap the compact that came with my bike for a mid-compact. No problems.
OK, I need some serious input from the Velominati on the issue of stable management (my apologies for the poorly lit garage photo). I just stripped my Colnago CT1 of it’s campag 10 speed groupo, wanting to update to 11 speed so that full stable is 11 speed (the 10speed group needed a new cassette,chain, and hoods, so it was time). My current pecking order is : Canyon Ultinmate
…damn that phantom enter button and the no edit feature.
Current stable: Canyon Ult CF SLX, Cyfac Fignon Tribute Prox (alum), Merckx MXL, Colnago CT1, Ridley X-Night cross bike.
My issue: while stripping the Colnago, I thought, ” why not just sell the Colnago AND the Merckx, and get a nice new Jaegher? I’m all about consolidation these days, with the kids somehow becoming young adults and the selling of the “big house” and moving into a smaller home (with no basement!).
I know it violates the N+1 rule, as well as being somewhat blasphemous towards the Prophet, and I have quite a few memories on that CT1, but damn I like those Jaeghers. Help!
@fignons barber
Based on the information provided to date I think the advice is “You can never have too large a stable”.
@fignons barber
Dang – with the complete post that’s tricky. Then again should you not keep then for the kids to use and so if they are using the Colnago and the Merckx you need the Jaegher anyway?