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 EffectRule #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 BlackGuest 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 StableDialing in the Stable
    This 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 rugMatching the drapes to the rug
    As 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 HourFestum Prophetae: Waiting for the Hour
    Everyone 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 ...

15,871 Replies to “The Bikes”

  1. @RobSandy

    I’m going to replace the 135mm BCD crankset on my track bike with a 144mm BCD set. Makes it easier to get chainrings.

    How likely is the new crankset to fit on the existing BB? Says the new ones will fit a 107mm square taper JIS – is this standard for track bikes? I’m slightly concerned that it’s going to have some esoteric BB fitting.

    Assuming the new set is also square taper then JIS is the more common standard.  So you should be OK with newer cranks.  If they are wrong then the cranks either go too far or not far enough on the spindle.  See here for more info.

  2. @universo

    Thanks for the kind words. 25mm tyres – I’ve only switched up to them from 23mm this year. Looks to be plenty of clearance for a 28 (I have 28’s on my commuter so may give it a try).

  3. @RobSandy

    I’m going to replace the 135mm BCD crankset on my track bike with a 144mm BCD set. Makes it easier to get chainrings.

    How likely is the new crankset to fit on the existing BB? Says the new ones will fit a 107mm square taper JIS – is this standard for track bikes? I’m slightly concerned that it’s going to have some esoteric BB fitting.

    Not being cheap- but I would compare the cost and risk of swapping out the original parts vs. finding a good source of 135mm BCD chain rings and buying the 3 or 4 that I would think that I would ever want for that bike. Then ride the thing like I stole it. Keep the extra money in your pocket so when someone at the local velodrome puts up on the “for sale or trade” board their disk wheels you can pounce.

  4. @Dean C

    @RobSandy

    I’m going to replace the 135mm BCD crankset on my track bike with a 144mm BCD set. Makes it easier to get chainrings.

    How likely is the new crankset to fit on the existing BB? Says the new ones will fit a 107mm square taper JIS – is this standard for track bikes? I’m slightly concerned that it’s going to have some esoteric BB fitting.

    Not being cheap- but I would compare the cost and risk of swapping out the original parts vs. finding a good source of 135mm BCD chain rings and buying the 3 or 4 that I would think that I would ever want for that bike. Then ride the thing like I stole it. Keep the extra money in your pocket so when someone at the local velodrome puts up on the “for sale or trade” board their disk wheels you can pounce.

    I agree with Dean C in that  I would swap out  the minimum amount of parts necessary, but to answer your question a 107mm spindle length is pretty much the standard for track setups to the best of my knowledge. if that’s not what you’ve got already, tange do a very affordable and good quality BB in 107. unless your new cranks are campy, in which case I think they use a different taper.

  5. @DVMR

    @Dean C

    @Haldy

    Thanks for the ongoing advice chaps – had my first session of Kilo training last night, and the first order of business for me was to ride one just to get a feel for the start and the effort required.

    Oh. My. God.

    How can 4 laps cause that much pain? I was quite pleased with the 1st lap but shocked how quickly it got so hard.

    Anyway, the first try was something around 1:15 on the drops with no aero kit (and constantly riding miles above the black line), so something to work with. Also did a flying 500 which was much more fun! I think I’d need a much bigger gear to do a good time for that though.

  6. @RobSandy

    @DVMR

    @Dean C

    @Haldy

    Thanks for the ongoing advice chaps – had my first session of Kilo training last night, and the first order of business for me was to ride one just to get a feel for the start and the effort required.

    Oh. My. God.

    How can 4 laps cause that much pain? I was quite pleased with the 1st lap but shocked how quickly it got so hard.

    Anyway, the first try was something around 1:15 on the drops with no aero kit (and constantly riding miles above the black line), so something to work with. Also did a flying 500 which was much more fun! I think I’d need a much bigger gear to do a good time for that though.

    Sounds like great craic. That’s my kind of Friday night right there. You’re so lucky to have a proper velodrome to use in winter. My local track, which evolved out of a post-war grass track, is closed until February.

  7. @RobSandy

    @DVMR

    @Dean C

    @Haldy

    Thanks for the ongoing advice chaps – had my first session of Kilo training last night, and the first order of business for me was to ride one just to get a feel for the start and the effort required.

    Oh. My. God.

    How can 4 laps cause that much pain? I was quite pleased with the 1st lap but shocked how quickly it got so hard.

    Anyway, the first try was something around 1:15 on the drops with no aero kit (and constantly riding miles above the black line), so something to work with. Also did a flying 500 which was much more fun! I think I’d need a much bigger gear to do a good time for that though.

    this is cool.  having a local indoor velodrome would be pretty fun.  good for you man!

  8. @DVMR

    @Cary

    Don’t mean to rub it in but I’ve actually got 2 local velodromes – one outdoor about 5 minutes ride away and one indoor about 15 minutes drive away. I have coached sessions Monday outdoors and Friday indoors.

    Could be one reason why South Wales produces so many good track and road cyclists…

  9. With two kiddo’s racing bikes we have the 3N+1 rule in our house. And for last two years my daughter’s been on 49 cm Road Bike and XS Mtn Bike. She’s now north of 5′ 6″ (167 cm) and last week we picked up a 52 cm and a S frame sets for the two bikes.

    So, I often posted that it’s the steel bikes that are the classics and for years and years will always be the classics. And it’ll be the rare C frame that ten or twenty years from now would be considered classic in same way as the steel bikes.

    BUT, with the modern ’17 Cannondale Evo frame set we just picked up I think we snagged a classic forever kinda bike. It’s a super jet black with chrome Cannondale lettering only on the down tube. We’ll finish it with polished silver Ritchey bar, stem and post and with white saddle and bar tape this bike could be timeless. We’ll see. I also suspect it could be sub 15 lbs / 7 kg when built. The DA groupsan we’ll swap over from her current machine is already classic black/silver.

    Also, this bike will be under the tree !!! The best Christmas present. She knows her mtn bike is getting upsized, we’re simply swapping the components off her XS frame to S frame of same model 27.5 hard tail Pivot. Our mtn bike season has started and w/practices underway that’s the bike she’s excited about. But for road bike the plan is to quietly slip her current road bike out of the garage (recall the concept of critical mass) and have it built up at shop just before Christmas eve.

    Such great fun ! Cheers all for the holidays. Hope ya’ll get cool bikes and bike stuff for you and yours.

  10. @Randy C

    With two kiddo’s racing bikes we have the 3N+1 rule in our house. And for last two years my daughter’s been on 49 cm Road Bike and XS Mtn Bike. She’s now north of 5′ 6″ (167 cm) and last week we picked up a 52 cm and a S frame sets for the two bikes.

    So, I often posted that it’s the steel bikes that are the classics and for years and years will always be the classics. And it’ll be the rare C frame that ten or twenty years from now would be considered classic in same way as the steel bikes.

    BUT, with the modern ’17 Cannondale Evo frame set we just picked up I think we snagged a classic forever kinda bike. It’s a super jet black with chrome Cannondale lettering only on the down tube. We’ll finish it with polished silver Ritchey bar, stem and post and with white saddle and bar tape this bike could be timeless. We’ll see. I also suspect it could be sub 15 lbs / 7 kg when built. The DA groupsan we’ll swap over from her current machine is already classic black/silver.

    Also, this bike will be under the tree !!! The best Christmas present. She knows her mtn bike is getting upsized, we’re simply swapping the components off her XS frame to S frame of same model 27.5 hard tail Pivot. Our mtn bike season has started and w/practices underway that’s the bike she’s excited about. But for road bike the plan is to quietly slip her current road bike out of the garage (recall the concept of critical mass) and have it built up at shop just before Christmas eve.

    Such great fun ! Cheers all for the holidays. Hope ya’ll get cool bikes and bike stuff for you and yours.

    this is the coolest thing ever!  happy holidays!

  11. Merry Christmas to all! This arrived straight from Craig Northam of BUCKIT up-cycled bicycle-tyre products, Australia — handmade 1980’s WOLBER TEAM Tubular strap to replace an exact TID strap.

  12. foto is not so good { looks orange red, but is WOLBER Velominati orange } better fotos to be posted at TID

  13. thank you for this article . I was searching best road bikes under 500 that perfect for women . I got lot more results and bikes reviews from various blog . I think every single informative blog post is important to reader like me . It my pleasure I have found your site . I am reading your site article on different topic and got lot more information .

  14. Question for ya: I lack a bike shed at this point and my n+1 infatuation leaves me with a full bike room in my house.

    At my office we have storage space that is essentially at attic. Off of our main meeting room we have spare space that is above the 1st floor and under the room. It’s not temperature controlled. I live in North Carolina where we have pretty mild winters.

    Any danger in storing a nice steel road bike there? Is cool, damp, but dry going to lead to rust or other issues? I’m leaning towards no.

  17. @Ron

    On another note – what is the feeling on mounting a “be seen” light light a Lezyne Strip on the fork. I prefer to keep my bars clean. Too low for motorists to adequately see? Anyone doing this currently? Thanks.

    I wonder if the fork is TOO low, if you ride much in traffic. Outside the range of car mirrors. That said: anything a little bit unusual, gets noticed that little bit more.

    For a cleaner bar top, the front light just slings underneath (upside down). A couple of inches lower,  illuminates the potholes slightly better too.

    You might also try a red / white double ended flasher (I’ve got a Moon Aerolite, the sort people often fix on top of helmets) mounted on the end of the offside handlebar drop.

    I’ve had a number of unsolicited comments about this during my city centre commute, saying how visible it is. The red flasher is set out far enough to the side, not to be blocked from the rear by your leg – unless you’ve got an awful lot of leg.

  18. @richardplondon

    The red flasher is set out far enough to the side, not to be blocked from the rear by your leg – unless you’ve got an awful lot of leg.

    Light is known to be able to make a curve around a black hole because of its graVity. Our guns are pure mass

  21. @Oli

    @RobSandy

    Good article. I go the Campagnolo/Shimano direction on this one.

    I think it’s fairly commonsense – your drive train isn’t going to fall apart if you do it once but you shouldn’t do it all the time. Also, there is very little need to do it.

  22. @minion

    @Oli

    Damp but dry? Can you clarify, please?

    “moist”.

    Could. Not. Resist.

    Oh man.

    Sorry for the confusion. It’s not really damp. I just meant that it isn’t climate controlled. It’s essentially an attic without heat or a/c. It’s the outer room/wall of our office space on the second floor. Wood floor, angle ceiling that is the roof of the building. It’s a two-story commercial office space building.

    I hope I didn’t open myself up to any other comments…

  24. @KogaLover

    @Oli

    @Ron

    So long as it’s dry there’s no worries about storing your precious steeds.

    @KogaLover

    @richardplondon

    The red flasher is set out far enough to the side, not to be blocked from the rear by your leg – unless you’ve got an awful lot of leg.

    Light is known to be able to make a curve around a black hole because of its graVity. Our guns are pure mass

    I am told enormous amounts of energy are embodied in all that mass, but … while that’s easy to know, it’s hard to benefit from…!

  25. it’s all about the bike, so i thought i’d share my number 1

    Number 2 is is in bits and pieces at the moment.

  26. Thanks, Oli! Yes, it’s dry. Just cold in the winter, very hot in the summary. But yes, dry.

    Richard – this front light will be used on long road rides in the countryside. In town I use a blinking light on my bars. Thanks for your reply.

    I went ahead and ordered a white Lezyne Strip light.

  28. So, does discussion on 2017 pre team kit fall under the bikes tabs ? I guess it works…

    Anyone NOT digging the new Astana kit ? One of my all time least favorite kits has just entered a new realm of coolness. Amazing what black can do. And I like it.

    I’ve always been a big fan of Sky kits but this year looks to be a strange shade of black and the dot dash thing is a whatev…

    Lotto Soudal remain classic.

    FDJ: seriously? we know the problem there…

    AG2R, can we imagine if they’d replace the brown with black how cool would that be ? Jerseys with the sky blue and black blocks on top of the white ? and black shorts ?  Ooooohhh that’d be sweet… but, if have to do something other than black they are a cool kit.

    Dimension Data managed to turn black in to a yahhner.  Black does well when offset with a pop of color. Though thinking about it I always really dug the ol’ black/white Giant Shimano kits. Still…. yahhn.

    Cannondale and Moviestar are good ol’ good ol’s… The Cannondale green looks cool on Mtn Bikes !

    I guess the Katusha red is what it is… but, considering how Astana kit went from zero to hero…

    The Lotto Jumbo is complicated for me. For longest time I never did get the celeste bikes and yellow/black kit but I have to say I’m a fan now. Looking at their team site I’m guessing the latest photos are of their Shimano kit (kit-san?) going in to the new year. And I like it. A lot. Bianchi’s are so cool. Maybe any kits would look good on a celeste Bianchi ? But especially the Lotto Jumbo kit. And this kit san gets my vote as fave for the new year.

    Cheers all

  29. @Randy C

    So, does discussion on 2017 pre team kit fall under the bikes tabs ? I guess it works…

    Anyone NOT digging the new Astana kit ? One of my all time least favorite kits has just entered a new realm of coolness. Amazing what black can do. And I like it.

    I’ve always been a big fan of Sky kits but this year looks to be a strange shade of black and the dot dash thing is a whatev…

    Lotto Soudal remain classic.

    FDJ: seriously? we know the problem there…

    AG2R, can we imagine if they’d replace the brown with black how cool would that be ? Jerseys with the sky blue and black blocks on top of the white ? and black shorts ? Ooooohhh that’d be sweet… but, if have to do something other than black they are a cool kit.

    Dimension Data managed to turn black in to a yahhner. Black does well when offset with a pop of color. Though thinking about it I always really dug the ol’ black/white Giant Shimano kits. Still…. yahhn.

    Cannondale and Moviestar are good ol’ good ol’s… The Cannondale green looks cool on Mtn Bikes !

    I guess the Katusha red is what it is… but, considering how Astana kit went from zero to hero…

    The Lotto Jumbo is complicated for me. For longest time I never did get the celeste bikes and yellow/black kit but I have to say I’m a fan now. Looking at their team site I’m guessing the latest photos are of their Shimano kit (kit-san?) going in to the new year. And I like it. A lot. Bianchi’s are so cool. Maybe any kits would look good on a celeste Bianchi ? But especially the Lotto Jumbo kit. And this kit san gets my vote as fave for the new year.

    Cheers all

    The new Astana kit is a big improvement. I kinda even dig the spray paint fade to black look on the bottom of the jerseys. Still, Astana being Astana it is difficult for me to really like the kit.

    I do like the splash of color in the Dimension Data kit, I think it is sharp. I also think the new Sky kit could use some color. Those thin lines just don’t pop and that makes the entire kit look bland.

    I have no problem with the Lotto Jumbo kit except during the Tour when the yellow jerseys make it difficult to pick out the other yellow jersey in the peloton.

    One thing I would keep in mind when being critical of Katusha-the Russian company’s most well known product is a rocket launcher. Not exactly the type of folks I would want to piss off even over something as insignificant as a cycling kit.

    I think the FDJ kit could be among the best looking in the peloton if they had blue shorts (yes, I know that violates Rule #14).

    I think Cannondale has the best looking pro kit.

  30. @Rick

    Haha! Katusha don’t really make rocket launchers! The owner of the company that sponsors the Team named it after the rocket launcher for sure, but Itera are actually natural gas/energy suppliers.

  32. @Oli

    @Rick

    Haha! Katusha don’t really make rocket launchers! The owner of the company that sponsors the Team named it after the rocket launcher for sure, but Itera are actually natural gas/energy suppliers.

    Weren’t Katusha rockets nicknamed “Stalin Organs” given their multi-pipe configurations resemblance to a musical pipe organ?

     

  33. “Stalin’s organs”, yes. I was watching them being used on the History Channel last weekend – terrifying!

  34. Or was it the sound of the rockets ? Anyhoo… fascinating place this here V site when as a result of discussing team race kit I learn about military weapons.

    As for kits… didn’t mention the Trek Segafredo kits. Look to be pretty much a carry over from last year and fair enough as they’re a simple pleasant affair.

    I was on the Bahrain Merida FB page looking for the new kit and in a posted video and photos described as their team camp it appeared all the riders were still in their prior team’s (Movistar, Cofidis, Trek) kits.

    Cheers

  36. @Oli

    “Stalin’s organs”, yes. I was watching them being used on the History Channel last weekend – terrifying!

    Did someone say something about Soviet Weaponry and carbon fiber goodness in the same sentence?!?!?

  37. @Dean C

    @Oli

    “Stalin’s organs”, yes. I was watching them being used on the History Channel last weekend – terrifying!

    Did someone say something about Soviet Weaponry and carbon fiber goodness in the same sentence?!?!?

    When the neighbors see you setting that up on the drive, do the have a tense moment or two thinking “bike maintenance or really shitty day at work?”

  38. @Dean C

    @Oli

    “Stalin’s organs”, yes. I was watching them being used on the History Channel last weekend – terrifying!

    Did someone say something about Soviet Weaponry and carbon fiber goodness in the same sentence?!?!?

    Something for @Buck Rogers to check out given he’s on Uncle Sam’s payroll.

  40. @Randy C

    I still like the AG2R kit. I think it looks cool. And it’s the most distinctive in the peleton.

    I wouldn’t wear it unless I was being paid to though.

  41. @Oli

    Woah, cyclists love their guns, but that’s ridiculous!

    If I could give out badges I would!

  42. @RobSandy

    @Randy C

    I still like the AG2R kit. I think it looks cool. And it’s the most distinctive in the peleton.

    I wouldn’t wear it unless I was being paid to though.

    Hallelujah! Another Velominatus with a sharp eye for sharp kit. I do like the AG2R kit. Yes, it has brown in it, usually a no-no, but they have kept it pretty much intact as a design for several years now while other kits have come and gone. It’s a new classic kit IMHO. The new Bora kit is meh, but the new Quick-Step is great. Katusha Stalin Organs is . . . red. This year’s Sky kit? Meh.

  43. @wiscot

    @RobSandy

    @Randy C

    I still like the AG2R kit. I think it looks cool. And it’s the most distinctive in the peleton.

    I wouldn’t wear it unless I was being paid to though.

    Hallelujah! Another Velominatus with a sharp eye for sharp kit. I do like the AG2R kit. Yes, it has brown in it, usually a no-no, but they have kept it pretty much intact as a design for several years now while other kits have come and gone. It’s a new classic kit IMHO. The new Bora kit is meh, but the new Quick-Step is great. Katusha Stalin Organs is . . . red. This year’s Sky kit? Meh.

    I think that about most current pro team kits, to be honest. Fairly interchangeable and a bit dull. At least AG2R stand out and can’t be confused with anyone else.

    I think if I was a pro I’d feel pretty cool wearing it – because if you’re not a pro and wearing the AG2R kit you will undoubtably look like shit. In all senses of the word.

  44. I posted earlier on the Evo project and it is underway and on time for being under the tree this coming weekend. Yes it comes from Cannondale with a perfectly perfect C seat post that will be replaced by a polished silver alloy Thomson post because, well, that’ll just look more perfect. I’d placed some black C bottle cages on the frame and promptly removed them and ordered some King Ti cages. This frame set and fork is nothing short of amazing. If ya let it go it’ll float away. The fork is 100% C and does not have an alloy steerer tube. Incredible engineering, craftsmanship, aesthetics involved. Gonna be a classic beauty when complete. Cheers all

     

  45. @Randy C et al

    To return to the new kits conversation, what do yous think of the new Irish-owned team Aqua Blue Sport’s kit? I think it’s pretty damned sweet myself.

  46. @DVMR

    Agree and good ex of what can be accomplished when not having to slap a pile of sponsor logo’s on to the kit (Quickstep as ex?). And of course, using black. A beauty. Cheers

  47. @Randy C

    @DVMR

    Agree and good ex of what can be accomplished when not having to slap a pile of sponsor logo’s on to the kit (Quickstep as ex?). And of course, using black. A beauty. Cheers

    Blue the new Black?

  48. @Teocalli

    @Randy C

    @DVMR

    Agree and good ex of what can be accomplished when not having to slap a pile of sponsor logo’s on to the kit (Quickstep as ex?). And of course, using black. A beauty. Cheers

    Blue the new Black?

    Ahhh yes good point hey? The Aqua Blue kits are in fact a dark navy. And I like. Cheers

     

  50. @Randy C

    @Teocalli

    @Randy C

    @DVMR

    Agree and good ex of what can be accomplished when not having to slap a pile of sponsor logo’s on to the kit (Quickstep as ex?). And of course, using black. A beauty. Cheers

    Blue the new Black?

    Ahhh yes good point hey? The Aqua Blue kits are in fact a dark navy. And I like. Cheers

    And congrats to the team for being Irish and avoiding the rather predictable option of green.

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