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 ...
@Dexter
Yeah, well spotted – as you can see if you look at the rail on the saddle I was riding the seat too far back – now its more centred so I’m more ‘on top’ of the pedals rather than pushing from behind. Rookie error fixed by the most recent bike fit.
Cool name – you don’t get called ‘point’ for short do you?
@Marcus
sssshhh don’t say it so loud.
The original owner is in town with the UK track team and I’m in the process of trying to sell it back to him – true story.
Oooh, I like the Falcon a LOT!
HAHA! I was el-ow-elling all over the floor with that one.
Well, now that we have some Casati’s about, here’s mine. Casati Laser with Columbus Genius tubing. 2005 frameset, 2007 gruppo. Hard to resist taking this bicycle out daily, but I do have to ride my others every so often.
Forgive the double dose, but the bars look like a possible Rule violation there, so to avoid any infractions here is another angle. Plus, it’s dressed up differently here. (was still monkeying with the saddle, though on some of my bikes I like it ticked up just a bit rather than level.) Not sure if I like the white out effect more or the more classic tan sidewalls with blue. Either way, I thoroughly enjoy riding this bike. Had a raccoon bomb into my front wheel the other week when out night riding. Gotta love how 32×3 wheels just take an attack and keep rolling; they are perfectly true. The little fella somehow banged straight into the spokes and then slipped between my feet, pedals & the DT/front wheel.
Thought I’d pile on by adding my other Merckx. It’s full Campy gruppo w/ Proton wheels. I have a set of matching Nuetron tubulars. One notable is the TTT Mutant stem. This is the sweetest riding road bike especially descending deep and fast down mountain hairpins.
@poppapro
Cool bike. Have you seen this?
SWEEEEEET!
@Marko
the bike Freddy won on is on display at GITA Sporting Goods as it was with the number tag still clipped to the braze and a very nice set of Campy Bora wheels!
@Marcus
Top form. Excellent work.
@Kiwicyclist
You sound like a guy I could talk to for hours. Those brakes are nice, but not as nice as the Deltas, although they do still represent what I consider the “golden age” between making bike kit functional but heavy, making it beautiful, and getting too freaked on lightweight everything.
Magnificent set of steeds.
Also, when the fuck are you and Marcus going to update your blog again?
@Kiwicyclist
I’d also like to explore “braiding” the cables as it looks like you’ve done on your No. 2. I think it looks badass but wonder if it impedes bar movement or increases friction. I’ve seen pro bikes set up this way. Looks to me, anyway, like there are extra twists or cross-overs in the cables coming off the bars giving them a nice wound/braided look. How does it work?
God, this is nerve-wracking – it is almost like bringing a girl home to meet your parents): new titanium winter bike, with authentic snow, sacred symbols intact. I know about my Rule #8 infringement, but all my bikes have leather bar tape… it is one of my things (you know, like putting on my socks left first, then right… only training hard with a hangover…etc. see Frank’s article on superstitions)
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Nice! With the white front end you’ll lose yourself heading into the snow.
What frame is that? And is that Record 11 on a winter bike? Oh wow, I thought my bad weather bike was too nice…
And to clarify: do you only train hard when you have a hangover or do you train hard if you have a hangover?
thanks, Ron…. it’s a Serotta Ti Legend frame (there is a logo etched onto the frame, but it is oh so subtle, as you’d expect from those Saratoga boffins)
And it is a Record 11… I have it on my No. 1 bike, and love the close ratios and tight shifting… the reason there is so much white is that it will force me to degrease and clean the bike after every ride, no matter how cruddy…
And if I have a hard training ride the next day, I’ll always make sure I open that extra bottle of red the night before… kind of like carbo loading.
@roadslave
And peeps were saying my Serotta is too nice for a beater. That thing is gorgeous.
@Marko
Re the braiding I think it might be the angle of the shot but I’ll take a closer look over the weekend – my mechanical skills are somewhat limited to basic maintenance chores – something I find innately and (to Mrs Kiwicyclist) inexplicably pleasurable – in a ‘tickle your tummy while lying down and poke your tongue out’ kind of way – up there with patching tubes – I digress – the wrench work done on my bikes is by Dan Hale, legendary bike/wheel builder based here in Melbourne, of shifterbikes frame – http://www.shifterbikes.com.
Forgive the other shots but if you scroll down below the last shot is of (me in Toro kit and) my most recent track bike – taken on my maiden ride/race on it on Tuesday night at my local club’s race night – Movember effort on display – (photo reproduced with permission from fyxomatosis).
I built the bike up with my track (tub) shamals, deda cockpit and record crankset. The framebuilder is another Melbourne local – Daryl Perkins (father of elite Aussie trackie Shane Perkins – the baddass sprinter who got disqualified in one of the Commonwealth Games events in Delhi recently for flipping the V at the judges for a line deviation if I recall correctly). I just found out Daryl lives near my neighbourhood so I’m going to go and see him to find out more about the frame – its a killer – stiff as 16 yr schoolboy getting laid for the first time – reynolds 853. Sex.
@Frank
Blog tardiness noted – updates coming. Plenty to report.
@Marko
Nice one Marko – now I can add “braided cables” to the List of The Shit That Kiwicyclist Bores Me With On A Ride. Thanks a bunch.
@Marcus
I’m here for you man. But the question is do the k’s click by faster or slower with kiwicyclist carrying on?
@Marko
Good question – not sure whether he has the capacity to hurt my ears or the legs more.
However I shall counter your question with a more philosophical one – does a rider want the ks to click by faster or slower?
If the former, then why am I riding in the first place?
If the latter, must I then thank kiwicyclist for his drivel which serves to lengthen the ride?
@Marko
“hhmmm – thinks ‘braided cables’ – a research worthy topic…..”
Marko don’t suck up to him – he hates that – one day he may post up a photo of himself and you will then understand THE ANGRY LITTLE MAN – or as I call it ALC (derivation of COTHO).
Good thing this thread is about readers bikes.
@Marcus
That is a perplexing question isn’t it? It occured to me as I posed the first question. I think I’d answer it this way. On rides of say, 70/80k or greater, I like them to go by quicker because it probably means I’m closer than two months to peaking and the lower my time the better I feel about myself (or I’ve had a favorable wind most of the ride). In rides of a shorter duration, I’d like them to go by slower as it probably means I have less time to ride that day and am wishing I was on a longer ride. But then I usually ride alone so I’m not in your situation.
@Kiwicyclist
Am I gonna have to separate you two or should I just turn this car around?
Do you know what I mean though about the “braided” cable thing? It looks aparent on your Merckx no. 2 and I swear I’ve seen pics of pro bikes that appear to have extra twists, as opposed to sweeping arcs, of cables coming off the bars. Am I nuts? This has nagged me for some time and I’ve never seen this phenomena up close.
@Marko
Yeah, I think I know what you mean. Tell you what – I’m gonna consult a grown-up on this one i.e. the bikebuilder himself and report back. (This is like homework for bike nerds – I LOVE it).
No separation needed – its an ANZAC thing (tongue well in truly in cheek).
@Marko
Ok – I checked in with ShifterDan – what you might be confusing the braiding with is that over here in Oz (and in NZ) we typically run a L/H rear brake set up which is the opposite of what you do over in the US/Europe – I read somewhere it may be to do with the fact that we also drive on the other side of the road (as do the Poms but I’m not aware of the convention in the UK in this regard). The angle of the shot may explain the confusion – as promised I’ll take a closer shot of the cockpit and post it up so you get a better view over the weekend.
This setup does not create any issues at all as far as freedom of bar movement is concerned. I do occasionally notice that the button on my right hand shifter ‘sticks’ (i.e. won’t depress and feels ‘locked’) and I was told this was to do with the combination of running modern 10speed ergo shifters on old style (non-grooved) cinelli or 3ttt bars (where I guess some friction might be encountered as a result of the combination). Its not a problem I have on my modern merckx with the easton SL carbon bars.
One of the mechanics or campy obsessives on the site might know more about this issue.
@Marko
I should add that maybe an explanation of what you have seen on the pro bikes is a set-up for Antipodean riders. I was also told once that campy design their cables to run in the traditional (euro) manner so routing them on the opposite side might explain the apparent ‘braiding’ effect you are thinking of – ‘course I’m a pretty gullible guy so someone could have been bullshitting me on that one but it sounded plausible at the time…
@Marko
Guess you now understand what I go through on a regular basis
Okay, as with most people who frequent this site – I own a few bikes. Here’s one more from the garage. May I present my ’91 Bridgestone RB-1 to the Velominati masses?
I’ve owned this bike since new and it’s been semi-retired for awhile now. It lives on the trainer during the winter, but sees daylight occasionally. As with most things Bridgestone related, its become a bit of a cult item – and for good reason – Bridgestone made some cool bikes.
This was my main road bike from ’91 to ’97 or so. The frame and fork ooze old school steel goodness. It rides really well. In 2004 or so, I dusted it off and rode it regularly for a few months – reminding me how well this bike rides. I considered upgrading it to modern running gear and lighter wheels. That would require bending the frame from 126mm spacing to 130mm, so I skipped that idea.
It’s kind of cooler as is, a reflection of Bridgestone thinking in ’91. It’s basically stock, the only changes – still from that era – are the Turbo saddle, wider Scott ‘bars, and bar end shifters. When I dusted it off in ’06 for real rides, I installed some NOS Ritchey 28c tires I had stored. It rides really sweet with the wider tires. Oh yeah, I also installed some lower end SPD pedals. Going back to toe straps ain’t gonna happen anytime soon, even on a retro bike.
I’ve owned this rig for close to 20 years now. It still gets attention when ridden. The cult of Bridgestone lives on.
If interested, I posted a story of this bike to my blog awhile back:
http://yoeddy.blogspot.com/2009/03/personal-rides-bridgestone-rb-1.html
@frank Velominati bike-fit being written as we type
@Kiwicyclist
I would assume then that your other bikes would be set up the same antipodean way but the cables on those look “normal”. I’m not reinforcing the gullible self-assesment but what direction does the water swirl when you flush your head down there? BTW, you resemble Tom Ritchey, that’s an awesome ‘tache. Wish I had the balls to pull one off but I think there’s a ‘tache Rule that says they must be black. Any other color looks shit and creepy.
@Marcus
Yes.
@Dan O
All I see is a saddlebag.
@Steampunk
It’s a European Posterior Man-satchel.
Butt Sack
By the way Dan-O I had the same bike. Same color even except mine had white bar tape if I remember correctly.
@Kiwicyclist
Regarding front braking with the right-hand lever, when I wrenched here in the U.S., I set bikes up this way for former motorcycle racers. They’re used to clutching with the left hand and feathering the front brake with the right.
But the rule stays the same for requesting a new wheel from the team car: left hand up = front wheel, right hand up = rear wheel. Fed up = the Millar Helicopter! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mIW1MAvyPD4
@Steampunk and Cyclops
Yes, the saddlebag – ugly, but sometimes required. In my defense, this picture was taken a few years ago, while riding with my young son. Wearing the full the team kit while riding around with a 9 year old is a little lame, so – street clothes for me, complete with “saddlebag” for spare tube. That’s my excuse and I’m sticking with it. Anyway, a Bridgestone should almost be required to run with a European Posterior Man-satchel, no?
@Kiwicyclist
I know some motorcycle related folks that also run their bicycle brakes moto style (right lever=front brake). I have a lot of motorcycle experience as well, but still run my bicycle brakes as usual (right lever=rear brake). My (defective) brain seems to adjust without a problem.
@Marko
@Jeff in PetroMetro
European Posterior Man-satchel and Millarcopter added to the Lex. Good stuff.
@Dan O
Sweet. Reminds me of the Bridgestone I bought for myself in the mid 80s when I was 12 or 13 with money saved up from mowing lawns, my first bike with downtube shifters. It was a beautiful metallic rose color, and at the time I rocked a Systeme U cycling cap I bought on our family vacation to France. Good times.
My VMH spotted this little honey down the street parked by the local pub. I don’t konw much, but I know a Rule #29 violation when I see one.
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@roadslave
What a beauty, mate; I think you’re really innovating there with that white saddle, stem, fork getup, and matching the bars to the headset/topcap. Very unorthodox, but I think I like it. Very nice work, my son.
@roadslave
I just soiled myself. I may be late to the party but that Ti wet dream with white front end. ohhh, mama. I have contemplated the white front end but you have done it proper and the gold Chris King headset. ++1.
Now I must find some new pants.
I’m surprised. I must say, given the creation of a spot specifically for bike porn, where our bikes are to be the stars, there aren’t a lot of bikes posted. Simplicity rules in a few nude Ti beauties bared for our eyes. Surely there are some exotics out there. I live vicariously through others’ bikes. Mine is an Opus alu with carbon seat stays and 9spd DA. A little dated and nothing special except for my love. Show me your shit.
Alright Velominati types – my 3rd bike now posted to the hallowed halls of Velominati. Where are yours?
Bike #3 from the official Dan O Garage is my beloved ’97 Ibis Hakkalugi cyclocross bike. Well, it’s a bit of a all arounder ‘cross bike, complete with fender mounts and room for wider tires. Smell the steel, fork included.
I built this bike up in ’97 with a mixture of parts. Ritchey crankset with ‘cross gearing, Shimano XTR hubs and rear derailleur, STI shifters (8 speed), Salsa stem, Chris King headset, Scott ‘bars, Flite Saddle, Synros seatpost, Shimano cantilevers and SPD pedals. Various Mavic rims have come and gone, built back up to the original XTR hubs. Man, those things are sturdy.
Out of my collection of bikes, this is my most used steed, due to being the commuter. The speedo died on it years ago with 10,000 miles on the clock, so I removed it. I’m guessing this bike has 20,000+ miles on it now, and the frame still looks new.
The Hakkalugi usually sports 25c tires and full fenders for the commuting duty. Blurry picture below is in ‘cross mode, shot a ‘cross race – where I completely got my ass kicked. After the race, reinstalled the road tires and fenders, then rode to work the next day. Pretty versatile, eh?
If I had to own just one bike (dread the thought), this could be the one.
OK, here is a more rule compliant pic of the Ridley.
Subject to learned opinion I think my only rule exceptions are:
a) a mount for a saddlebag, which is necessary for riding out into the desert – riding in the cold may be Hard but it isn’t going to kill you. Try 45 degree heat with no help in sight.
b) the collars and caps on the valves because it is jolly dusty and I’m using tubeless tires on those Eurus 2-ways, and if you have to stick a tube in and remove the valves it helps keep it all together.
And while I’m here, bikes number 3 and 4.
Colnago Master, rides beautifully for a steel bike – and waiting patiently for a good respray and upgrade.
And a Pearson Touche fixed gear – Abu Dhabi is a very good place to ride fixed. It’s the wrong side I know, but I like the pic. 48×15 if you’re interested.
Bike number 2 is a Roberts custom-built steel frame, back in the UK and I don’t have shots in its current state. It may not be racy and light but it fits like a glove and I could ride it forever. Probably if I could only have one bike, that would be it.
You like the Brooks action obviously!
How could you tell…
Yes that fixie now has the B17 from the Colnago, and it has acquired a Team Pro.
The Ridley and the Roberts are sporting titanium Swifts.
I just have a Brooks arse. No trouble breaking them in and I can sit on them all day.
@Dan O
My bike is in the workshop
@Dan O
That is, I think, the coolest bike of the heady stable you displayed. There is a Rule #81 violation, though, and I think a bike as loyal as that one deserves proper observance of that one!
@Frank
Thanks. The old school Ibis Hakkalugi is pretty cool. Ibis made some great bikes back in the day, this one handmade in California. The new Ibis bikes are cool also, though modern outsourced carbon. The new carbon Hakkalugi is pretty sweet as well.
I checked on Rule #81, I’ve yet to memorize all of ’em. I seem to be in compliance however, only the ‘bars are in contact with the wall. It is a restroom wall however, perhaps a deduction for that.
This Bikes post deal is a blast. I’m digging looking at all the rigs and comments. Great job!
@eightzero
Dude, there is nothing wrong with Rival — I use it.
That being said, I’m sick of the missed downshifts from the doubletap. I have Ultegra on my TI
Simplicity: