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 ...
Handbuilt in Santa Cruz, CA, I present to you my Rock Lobster Team AL 7005. Built with a 170mm headtube, The Hulk’s position allows for 9cm of drop for a racey position. Due to the large headtube, the top tube is built with an aggressive slope to keep the rear triangle compact and snappy. The drivetrain is Campagnolo Athena 11 throughout with Giant’s PSLR-1 wheels wrapped in Vittoria Pave CG’s in 25 housing Michelin Latex tubes.
@Eli Curt
Oy vey, very nice!
@rs_sttr
@Mikael Liddy
Gentlemen, I’m considering both of these fine frames, any thoughts? Cheers.
@piwakawaka
The seat post on my S3 has still a life of it’s own. Finally added more carbon paste and tightened it to the recommended 8nM with a torque wrench.
I hope it’ll hold now.
@piwakawaka
I guess the first question is how much are you willing to spend on a frame or complete bike.
And second question: What are you going to do with it? Race it? Sunday Group ride? All solo rides? Gravel, etc.
Then I can give you my thoughts.
Obviously Cervelo makes some mighty fine bikes but there are SOOOOO many great bikes out there.
Most recent addition to my bike.
@Kevin Smith
Pink it is!
Taken after a brisk ride in to work this morning at the rather nice Espresso Library in that Cambridge.
Sorry for the rubbish phone pic,will get proper ones done sometime.
Oh and these were worn for the first time and mighty fine they are;
@chuckp
Nice! Running a similar bike in a similar colour scheme (although with a bit more red on the frame) I’ve gone for a matching pair of fluoro yellow bidons to add a bit of colour to the mix. I like the contrast.
@RobSandy
What model year? I’m assuming Felt F4 with the red (I have another friend across teh pond who has one). If so, it’s the same frame. Mine is a Felt FC, which means I bought the bare frameset and built it up (Ultegra 11-speed; 3T seat post, stem, bars; Fizik saddle; Speedplay pedals; Shimano RS81 C35 wheels). Even thought the OEM F4 is very similar (Ultegra), I wanted/needed to spec certain parts with exactly what I wanted. What size frame is yours? Mine is 54cm. But my bike fit is more “traditional” than “compact.” The fit is exactly the same as my old school 90s steelie Hollands.
Question on brake cable pull ratio. Can anyone explain to my simple mind which brake levers will work with which brakes? In general terms, looking to put road brake levers on a mountain bike cantilever. Will a regular aero lever or brifter work, or do you need specific levers with a longer cable pull? If specific, got any links?
I run a road brifter setup on short arm linear pull v brakes, and it works OK, good power but you can feel the shorter pull and the levers almost get to the bar, while also having the pads sitting close at rest. Run on commuter also used for cross, its ok.
Thanks!
@Beers
@oligali
Thanks heaps!
New bikes arrived!
https://mir-s3-cdn-cf.behance.net/project_modules/max_1200/acc2fc35437979.56f732faecd11.jpg
More pics here
How do you get a link to a jpg to display as a picture in-line?
@verytallguy
Fun, would be interesting to see this experiment done by Velominati…
Love this frame & fork. Equally fun on the tarmac and the pave. Ti is a game changer for me. Today a new saddle, cable set and bar tape. I persevered with a fizik arione for 3 years but gave up after persistent squeaking and late onset numbcock. Yes. The SMP looks horrible but I’ll see how it goes….
Shout out to the CUBE designers for completely ignoring the cunt tasked with rethreading the RD cable. Hey! Let’s pull the crankset off! And the BB. Twice. Cunts.
@Harminator
Fucking Ti!!! YES!!! So so so psyched to be having a Ti bike made!!! That is an AWESOME steed! How long have you had it???
Well, fuck. I get wrapped up in prepping for Eroica California, a month or two slips away, and I miss all of these sweet bikes posted. Cheers, gentlemen.
@piwakawaka do it, both the R5 & the R3 team SL it replaced have been amazing bikes. I can’t speak for the S series mainly because I’m not that concerned with the gain to come from frame aerodynamics (I’ll not be racing in the foreseeable future).
Personally I love the aesthetics of the R series bikes in that they’re a modern interpretation of the classic straight tubes look. My biggest piece of advice however would be to steer clear of the BBright bottom bracket & get a Wheels MFG one instead.
It is a good day when a big box from DCR wheels in the UK arrives with a new set of H Sons rims built on Royce Hubs! Perfection.
Fucking hell, Haldy! That bike is incredible!!
Just saw my buddy’s newly delivered Vanilla. Apparently they offered some special bikes to their special customers and he couldn’t resist. He now has a Speedvagen in matte light purple. Purple is my favorite color. If he didn’t have a longer inseam I’d steal it and never be his friend again. Also movement/action of the Dura Ace shifters is incredible. So smooth.
@EBruner
Just DeLOVELY! 32 hole Venus???
@Buck Rogers
24/28 2x/3x on Archetype 23mm rims.
@Buck Rogers
24/28 hole Venus hubs.
@EBruner
Just awesome! I am going with 32 hole just for the beefiness! I am having a wheel set built this late fall and want it super tough for the pave’ and strade bianche of Europe. Your set looks amazing!
@chuckp
It’s a 2014 F75 – I’m very much a Velominatus Budgetatus. I ride a 58.
I’ve gradually replaced parts as I’ve needed, new wheels (also cheap, I add), new deeper drops, and a mid compact crankset.
@Buck Rogers
Thanks Buck. I’ve had it just on 3 years. Had to sell a beautiful LOOK 585 to pay for it. Unfortunately I was too stupid to swap the Chorus from the LOOK with this Bro Set. The roads over here are not kind to bikes. When I leave Cairo I’ll upgrade to Record, Merckx willing.
@RobSandy
I am a Velominatus with a wife who works for a bike shop. Even then, I get grief for spending $$$.
@Harminator
I have never, ever liked the stiff downshifting of my Red shifters. If I thoroughly clean, lube, and put a new cable in, they shift smoothly for a few rides, then it’s back to a hard push. Maybe it’s my small hands. But, for me, I prefer Campa, then Shimano.
Oh, and apparently Vanillas now ship nearly-built and standing in a fine wooden bike stand. Saw my buddies on Sunday. Damn, those folks sure know how to lure folks with spending cash into buying high-end goodies.
@Harminator
Just ordered a Campy Record upgrade for the Pina, Chorus will go to the #9 rig. Insert huge punctuation misuse here.
@Harminator
Yup, my Ti build is having Campag non-electric S-R Groupo. Campag, then Shimano; never SRAM for me.
@Ron I know what you mean, mate who runs a bike shop near work posted this photo the other day, despite owning more road bike than I’ll ever need in The Redback, my immediate reaction was to consider how I could work a Ritte in to the stable…
ooooooooo – my LBS has just told me that a box of Super Record components arrived today and is waiting for someone…….
Methinks a ride over tomorrow will be on the cards to ogle and polish.
@Mikael Liddy
I could never get behind the Ritte from the start in 2010.
They came on as a REALLY good marketing company selling repainted cheap bikes frames from China. Now they have changed a bit, claim to have their own mold designs but they are still made in China and still heavy on the marketing.
And for the price, you can have a custom Ti made for less than their steel frameset. How do I know? B/c I am having Hampsten build me a custom, Ti, with Eriksen doing the welding, for less than Ritte are charging for their non-custom steel.
Crazy.
For that money, go with a Bixxis/Walker/Jaegher/Hampsten/Baum/Vanilla/De Rosa, the list goes on and on and all of them are way cheaper, custom, than the Ritte bike.
http://cyclingtips.com/2015/09/ritte-race-framesets-review-the-ace-and-the-snob/
@Buck Rogers
I fully agree. Might be because the LBS selling them here were a bunch of spunktrumpets, but I researched to see what they are about… You could just purchase it direct from China and save some grams by leaving all that paint off.
@Buck Rogers
Agreed. There are so many great builders these days offering semi-custom or fully custom bikes for very reasonable prices compared to some of the made in China framesets. I can’t see myself ever buying an off the shelf bike again.
The fact that they have a model known as The Snob…It’s like a confirmation of everything I’ve kinda thought about them and their marketing from the start.
I’m sure others will disagree, but Ritte is to bikes what Rapha is to clothing, in my book. Not my cup of tea. Oh well.
@Ron
Marketing wise I agree with this, but I think the difference there is Rapha is absolutely top drawer quality wise. I have worn just about everything out there in the last 30 years, and I am sold on Rapha quality. I do 10K+ miles a year, and Rapha holds up. For the time I spend in a kit, it is worth the arm and a leg they charge. And the repair service is 2nd to none. Free forever.
@Buck Rogers doesn’t make them any less pretty. That’s the beauty of knowing you aren’t actually going to buying one, you don’t have to apply logic.
Not to worry though, if I was actually in the market for some N+1 action, I’d be entrusting your namesake with the $.
Rogers Bespoke
@Ron
Unless I’m mistaken, they called it The Snob as initially there was some affiliation with bikesnobnyc. At that point I don’t think the bike was at such a high pricepoint though.
As far as Rapha goes, I agree that their marketing can perhaps go a little overboard at times, but in my experience their products and service are top notch. Their prices don’t even seem so outrageous anymore when compared to other high-end bicycle clothing manufacturers.
If you’ve ever wondered what happens (or can happen) to carbon bikes that die. Interesting article.
http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en_US/story/second_life/
I think I’ve hit my ‘s’ bike, at least it will be if she finds the receipt.
Plenty of rule breaks in this photo…
EBruner – You’ve been in the game far longer, so I take what you say as the truth. I don’t doubt the quality, I just get tired of their riders looking like lumberjack yakuza. In a traditionally blue collar sport, they seem determined to make it elitist. That’s just my own reaction to their media marketing. I get it, you target a segment. You just ain’t gonna see anyone in a Rapha ad waking up and jumping on their Lenovo to check the weather, if you know what I mean.
VeloVita – where the hell have you been? How the heck are ya?
@Buck Rogers
I’m not too familiar with Ritte, but can’t the same be said for a lot of companies? I’m sure that they’re contracted out to Chinese factories and painted to make the “brand”. Maybe it’s the steep price that’s getting this reaction. But what do I know, my #1 is a hand-built steel frame.
@MangoDave
Yup, my beef with the company is the price. They are charging ridiculous prices and seem to be trying to sell themselves as something that they are not.
They are not custom, they are not European, they are not old school.
They are a very recent company who is trying to sell average bikes that are well painted to people for way too much money and trying to claim that they are exclusive.
When I first heard of them in around 2011 I was intrigued and I thought about buying one but after some research, I realized what they were all about.
If someone wants an average bike that is well painted for 3x the price it is worth, I have no problem with it.
Just trying to get the word out so no one is fooled like I almost was.
@EBruner
I agree 100% on the Rapha comment, my Rapha kits stand the test of time. Only other kit worthy is my gabba !
@Barracuda
Researched recent Rapha reviews to see that their quality is truly recommended. Always wait for their sale(s) though and then you’ll feel even better. Their current Core jersey and bib shorts are about to get my full 1 year product test (after promo code). Rapha Merino base layer is 100 percent (bought half-price).
Some better pics of the Helium as it is now.
Mostly Ultra with a Dura-Ace chainset,other new shit are the Hunt wheels running tubeless with Schwalbe Pro-Ones,Fabric scoop ultimate carbon saddle,black DSP tape.
Comes in at 6.7kgs so plenty light enough.
Absolutely awesome on a 140k ride yesterday,quick and comfortable.
Only upgrades to come if/when funds allow will be further Dura-Ace bits.