Reverence: 3T Rotundo Pro
Mimic those who are better than you; this is the underlying principle of nearly everything I do in life, whether in my work, in sport, or hobbies. The less I know about something, the more inclined I am towards this, and the more faithfully I mimic. As my skill and knowledge develope, I mime less and reason more, applying my own mistakes as well as those of others to the process we commonly refere to as becoming ‘experienced’. This process continues until I grow into an opinionated sponge; while I continue to mop up any and every piece of information and advice I can get my hands on, I follow the path that is influenced still by advice, but dictated largely by the unique journey that lays behind me and the lessons I’ve learned along it. But still the underlying premise remains: The Pros must be onto something.
So it was that I became obsessed with classic-bend bars; Gilbert, Hushovd, Basso, Potato, Cadelephant, the Brothers Grimpeur – many of my favorite riders cruised into my heart aboard classic-bend bars. Not to mention the likes of Coppi, De Vlaeminck, Merckx, and Maertens – none of whom had a choice but rode them nevertheless. Over time, the swooping curve of a classic, round drop has found its place alongside the Quick Release, Delta Brake, and Record Hub as some of the Most Beautiful Bits of Kit.
I love the way the bars sweep up from the drops and position the hoods at an elegant, upward pitch as the bar continues it’s journey upward to meet the stem. Each classic-bend bar does this, yet the particular sweep of the 3T Rotundo does it more elegantly than any other; the exact radius of its bend and the pitch of its rise is perfection. I have another set of classic 3T bars which predate the Rotundo whose radius of the bend is within a millimeter of that of the Rotundo and yet the aesthetics are not it’s equal. Like all things of sublime beauty, there is something intangible about its curve that sets it appart from others.
But aesthetics are only skin deep, and the real measure of the bar is how comfortable it is. Since getting ahold of my first Rotundo, I’ve moved to classic bend bars on all my machines. I was apprehensive about the move from an ergo bend, which I’d always ridden, to the round bend of the Rotundos. Whereas I had always assumed that a flat section of bar would be more comfortable to grab hold of, this turns out not to be the case. Evidently, my hand is not straight and is in fact quite good at bending and forming to various shapes. Riding in the drops, wrists pointed inwards towards the V-Locus, my fingers grip the curved surface of the drops perfectly. The classic bend also reduces the reach from the drop to the brake lever, which means that long descents with frequent use of the brakes are also much more comfortable.
The positioning of the hoods is a slightly different matter and depends somewhat on the groupo. Bikes Number 1 and 2 both wear 10 speed Campa Record, while Bike Number 3 wears Dura-Ace 7700. The design of the Campa hoods resemble the Power Triangles of Merckx, while the design of the Shimano hoods more closely resemble pegs. The transition from the bar to the hoods on my Campa bikes is smooth like Keith Stone, allowing you to choose multiple positions along where bar meets hood. The design of the Shimano levers, on the other hand, cause them to stand up from the bar more abruptly, meaning that there are fewer comfortable positions available. It’s not really a significant issue, but it does provide less positions which can play a factor on longer rides.
As an aside, the matching 3T ARX stem meets nearly every expectation one can have of a stem; it’s light, stiff and simple. My only complaint is that it is only available in a 6 or 17 degree version; those of us who pay careful attention to how low or how high our bars are find that these two combinations don’t provide enough flexibility to dial in the position; I’m running the bars on Bike Number 3 and am stuck riding my bars about 5mm higher than on my other bikes. To be fair, this is not a shortcoming of the ARX stem in particular; very few manufacturers offer choices outside 6 or 17 degrees. However, for perfect positioning, 3T and others should add an 8 or 10 degree stem to the mix.
@frank
You are seriously ignorant. Everybody knows that sandals on the podium are compulsory when there are more than three podium girls in attendance. What the fuck are you thinking?
@Marcus
Oh, nothing against sandals on the podium per se, a time-honored tradition and an absolute must. As you suggest, the need for sandals increases exponentially as the number of podium girls increases; the math is very clear on this.
It’s the particularly heinous sandals that are being questioned. I think those might even be SPD-compatible. Adilettes, on the other hand, are pure class, which is why I suggest he wear those instead.
@Marcus @frank
The sandals do look to be of the type worn by beardy people; in fact they may be my dad’s. The real crime was expecting the poor podium girl to be able to slip a yellow jersey on over his shell suit.
@Chris
Umm, that’s what I meant by ‘lasted all of three rides’ – they were such perfection in comfort that I felt continuing to ride them would be a Rule V violation. Bars, like saddles, are a personal thing: One man’s trash is another man’s treasure so YMMV.
@Chris
@frank
@Marcus
Let’s just call it what it was – fashion-wise 1994 was just wrong – the podium girls are wearing flats and pantyhose for Merckx-sake. I’d rather be kissed on the cheek by Pantani and Virenque – Their legs looked far more attractive.
@VeloVita
They seem to be dwarves.
I can’t really see it very well as the yellow over-saturation has given me a migraine.
@ChrisO
I believe the proper term is Oompa-Loompa.
@frank
Anything Cinelli was perfect. Lemond’s bar is Campione del Mondo and Hinault’s is Giro d’Italia. No?
@Pedale.Forchetta
Thanks. I did peruse their site. I wonder about older models, though. I’m still not sure what to do about this. As much as I admire Frank’s bike and his attention to detail, I prefer a more minimalist approach when it comes to colors, brands, decals, colors, etc. Which leaves me limited to black at the moment. Might have to go 3T, but I do have this lovely Newton, and nothing to put under it…
@frank
I did that with the original Bob Dylan Bootleg series before I had a CD player. Of course, “Establishing a Need” has its limitations; I’m still working on this with regard to the new V kit offerings. It seems a shame, then, to keep looking at the Deda bars.
@perplex
God knows. Mind you a tracksuit and sandals seem to be in keeping with the hideous outfits the podium gals are wearing. Recent years have seen much better fashion aesthetics. I loved the polka dot dresses that looked like unbrellas from a few years ago.
@perplex
Upon careful study, that not a track suit but a shell suit – official uniform of the ned (non-educated delinquent). Was Hinault helping with the yellow jersies back then? I guess not as such a flagrant podium faux pas would surely have merited being pushed off on the assumption he was an imposter.
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Those aren’t podium girls, they’re waitresses in the sky.
My only quibble is with the choice of material. George Hincapie’s experience at Paris-Roubaix (or was it -Nice?) a few years ago cured me of ever having carbon bars. I’m still sort of ginchy on carbon forks.
@All I was reading some cracking articles today in Rouleur and among them were interviews with Graeme Obree, David Millar and Thomas Voeckler as good a selection of Hardmen a magazine need supply. Was awesome to read that even though Obree is now pursuing the life of a novelist he does still keep a couple of his old steel bikes for dishing out The V. A couple of class quotes from Obree and the interviewer as follows:
@marko
Those Zipp’s are sexy as hell. My new bike #1 needs new wheels :)
Of all the things I wish I would have done differently with my road bike, conceived in the gloaming of my personal B.V. (Before Velominatus) era, getting Rotunda Pro bars and an ARX-Team stem was not one of them.
I’m sure that I did so because I read something on this site about it in spring 2010, but now I can’t find it.
On the other hand, why the fitter at the LBS chose to make it a 100mm stem for someone 198cm on a 64 cm frame, I still haven’t a clue. I am rectifying these things slowly but surely.
Lovin the Rotundo/ARX Pro combo on Il Profetta. My first taste of classic bends though were Ritchey Classics, which still grace the Bozzie (sadly in need of a rebuild). I did notice the different feel in the drops, but shit, for the amount of time I spend down there it really comes down more to the look rather than the feel of the bend!
@huffalotpuffalot
Obree… what a legend.
I’ve had to tilt the bars up a little since this was taken, but I’ve found them incredibly comfortable. There seem to be so many more ways to hold them, and they just fit. 3T seem to make some really nice kit.
@brett
That Prophet is just too awesome. When’s the big ride you got it for?
@huffalotpuffalot
I also read that issue of Rouleur, my favorite periodical (it feels dirty to call it a magazine). That bit on Obree is the tits. You see the bit several issues back on Boardman and the development of his Royce hubs (and inlaid spoke nipples)?
God Damn, That’s a beautiful bike brett.
@frank
@mouse
Cheers, yeah I love that bike.
Big ride is off for me unfortunately… hit with a huge dental bill, airfares back to Aus at xmas, and friend visiting/magazine deadline right around the time. Plus, I’m saving to get to the Keepers Tour in April and give Il Profetta a run on it’s homeland stones!
@frank
After this: I think you have to call it a magazine.
@vaughanf
That S2 is beautiful, but it just cries out for white bar tape.
@eightzero
Which would also mean a change in saddle colour to white as well. Rule #8
@frank
@mouse
Two reasons:
They worked better than the C Record ones available at the time due to a cable direct pull line and a better pivot placement that gave a better mechanical advantage.
They also had a lesser reach than the Campag ones that suited my baby hands better. Witness the Photo below for comparison sake;
much more reach there.
Also, happy to be told I’m wrong, but it looks to me like Stephen Roche may have used them as well around 1987.
Argh.
No photos?
Again.
Levers
Roche
Bah, I give up.
@eightzero
agreed. I am hooked on white tape now. it took some pushing from you guys but white tape is legit!
OK so they might upset the traditionalists amongst you but I do loves the Look (geddit?) and feel of these bars…
The rearward sweep of the tops suits me down to the ground.
This guy has everything covered in the bars & stem department!
Sourced from mashnsmash
@sthilzy
That is so many levels of wrong.
@marko
Merckx, I’d love to get my hands on a BMC. Nice Serotta too. I coveted one back in the day, then opted for a DA/ Zipp 440 equipped Litespeed (which was promptly stolen along with my car rack during a trip to the store).
@sthilzy
I’m trying to figure out how you stack all that shit up. Is the steer tube like 4M long?
saw this on a tweet from Shane Kelly and thought that it might help people’s eyes stop watering from looking at the setup above.
Would love to know if the Russian bloke held it up – looks like he was half a chance?
@Marcus
Nup.
Source: http://www.cyclingnewsasia.com/en/news/43-general/391-beijing-uci-track-word-cup-4-mens-keirin-final
Oh well…
@Marcus
Ya. Screw track (well me riding on one anyway). The track in my hometown is Alpenrose. Steep as all hell (guess the steepest in the US). I’ve done some laps there, and I have a whole found respect for those guys. Holy Merckx. This is coming from a guy that climbs ice placing his own protection. Shit scares me.
@scaler911
Pah. You ice climb? I would have thought nothing would scare you. Respect.
@Blah
Thanks – you enabled me to provide one of Australia’s greatest track sprinters (Shane Kelly) with the answer to that question. I feel very good about that.
@scaler911
Track racing is the business and has been the foundation of so many good Aussie riders. In Melbourne we are lucky enough to be again hosting the Track Worlds in April 2012. Not sure whether it being an Olympic year will be good or bad for attracting the big boys…
@sthilzy
Saw something not dissimilar to this on the walk home last night…guy on his flat bar commuter that had vertical brake levers attached half way out along each side of the handlebars. Weird look indeed!
@scaler911
That you in the pink skinsuit?
Alpenrose is one of the better tracks in the state, no? With how much into crit racing youse are I’m shocked, you hear me shocked, that track is such a small part of the scene. Go hard turn left.
@Marcus
If he’d ridden dirt jumps, bmx or motocross he could have whipped his way out of that from the top of the hoarding for huge style points.
@frank
No such luck, I am recent convert to The Rouleur and my father has his back issues in Venezuela. With my stuck in London, no access to the older edition so of Journalistic V.
@minion
Not me. Local team called ‘Gentle Lovers’. Not sure about their kit or team name, but all the guys are super fast.
Alpenrose is the only velodrome in Oregon. In fact, it’s the only one from Seattle to I believe Sacramento CA.
@Blah
The track does. I’m a skinny guy, bumping elbows with meathead sprinters 10 feet off the apron has no appeal to me, except to watch.
@sthilzy
I think the flags off the back and the X-box controller glued to his cap suggest significant eccentricity, before even looking at the bars config
And what do you reckon that posterior EMS looking thing is in the middle of his control tower? A claxon perhaps, or a spotlight on himself?
I had the great good fortune to ride at the Montreal velodrome a few times (never in competition, just to have a go) where they held the 76 Olympics prior to when they tore up the track to turn it into an exhibition hall.
Damn, it was steep. I learned first hand as well what is was like to fall off at speed on the banking. I recall the timber was Babinga (sp?), and I had splinters all up the side of my leg and arse that took weeks to get them out.
Funny how you can feel wistful about an experience that led to a great deal of pain.
This one is with the new ARX stem, cobbled config, and after the pro-fit (which I still need to get around to writing an article about). I got the 17 degree ARX for the gravel rig and now I need the matching bars. Winter project for gravel rig: new rotundos, cables, ritchey integrated cable drop headset.
@marko
whoah, that BMC is seriously foxy – is it aluminum? – is it yours? – love the detail around theseat post/ top tube junction – nice!
Great fun this morning on group ride – sudden unexpetced attack of vertigo at 25kph – I imagine a similar effect can be experienced by taking speed – entire bike suddenly went sideways, like the wheels went fully lateral to waist height, then back, then back up again, and repeat to fade – had to chuck anchors out and nearly took the entire the group out – apparently I didn’t vary from my course until I slowed suddenly to pull from the line up, though that’s not what it felt like to me – settled down after a few minutes, but fully non rideable condition – usually get it jumping out of bed too quickly, or if sailing – first time on bike – not niceski! Don’t recommend it, too freaky
Never know what the day holds ahead, endless surprises
@Dr C
Best you go and see a Doctor…
Seriously though, that doesn’t sound good on a bike. Only tie I’ve had that was the getting out of bed thing although it waited until I was having a pee. Next thing I knew I was in the shower. May have had something to do with some wine the night before. it’s a nasty feeling though, not half as much fun as going into enough oxygen deficit to cause tunnel vision and loss of colour picture.