Keepers Tour Update: Contact Point Supplier: fi’zi:k
It’s crazy to me how fast two months from peaking goes by. At Christmas time I remember thinking how distant the Keepers Tour 2012 felt and that I’d have plenty of time to train. Now that time is measured in weeks instead of months and my feelings tend more toward doubt about my form. Cycling in Northeastern Minnesota in January, February, and March entails a mix of trainer time and wondering how well skate skiing will translate to riding a bike fast and far. I hope those frites are fried in clenbuterol.
Of course there are myriad other ways the other Keepers and I have been preparing for the Keepers Tour. Aside from the mundane tasks of making plane reservations and figuring out train schedules from Amsterdam to Lille, there are the fun tasks of acquiring new gear for our #1 Steeds which we’ve chronicled on these pages. We’ve had numerous shouting matches that have ended with at least one of us storming out of the boardroom over t-shirt designs, Gianni’s VMH has been frantically sewing musettes (they live on Maui so how frantic could it be?), Brett has been scouring travelogues of Amsterdam’s red light district in between training and racing with Rigid in the Austral summer, and I shudder every time I think of what Frank’s to-do list is like. I’ve seen it – it’s three pages long. All this, when executed perfectly, is surely going to amount to the most rad week of drunken debauchery Flanders has ever known and that’s really saying something. There’s no way they’ll let us back there which is why we’ve also begun planning the next Keepers Tour in Italy for the Giro.
With these preparations we are excited to announce fi’zi:k as the official contact point supplier of the Keepers Tour. We’ve extolled the quality, style, and passion fizik has for cycling since we started this site. In fact, I’d say most of us in the community ride, at a minimum, their bar tape. As it happens, the good folks at fizik aren’t offended enough by what we do and are followers of the site; a partnership was the next obvious step for two groups of people so unyieldingly devoted to Cycling.
What this partnership represents to us is affirmation of our community from the broader cycling world – a community that has grown with us and continues to contribute to our identity and which challenge us to be better. fizik values what we do and have agreed to support us in doing more of it, in style, with rad gear. This partnership doesn’t mean tiles or ads cluttering up the clean look of the site any more than fizik clutters up the clean lines of their saddles and shoes with unnecessary accouterments. It does mean that you’ll see more Keepers riding with more fizik gear and consequently a few articles related to fizik products, some tweets, friendfacing, and a few embedded links (per usual). Keepers Tour attendees will also find a few fizik goodies tucked inside their Velominati Mussette. And, if you haven’t already noticed, pay attention the next time you type “f-i-z-i-k” into a post, our boy-genius programmer did something nifty there as well. We’ll also emphasize that it is our strict policy that no Reverence article will ever be written by request of a vendor and, while we may elect to continue to Revere the fizik line of products, designation of a product as Reverence-worthy is solely at the discretion of the author.
For our part, we approached fizik because we believe in their products. Reverence for the best gear available is the domain of the Velominatus and we know that while you may disagree with our specific choices, you feel the same way in principle. That’s why you’re here. fizik is one of us; have a look at their site, check out the feedzone newsletter, even subscribe to them on twitface if you’re so inclined. They do a lot of insightful and behind the scenes posting about some of our favorite teams and riders – stuff you won’t get from the usual suspects.
What it boils down to is that fizik is Rule compliant. That’s something we can all get behind.
Everybody settle down! First off, Marko, you are a smooth writing debbil, you have a gift for the marketing. Secondly, I did the sewing, she was the buyer. White R1 Fizik shoes look awesome in that photo. Baby Kangaroos!
Keepers Tour 2013, Italy. Yes beyond that there are more questions than answers. We will see how badly this Belgian thing goes then start to create an Italian dream. The Giro, The Worlds in Florence, Lombardia, there are many ways to do this. I do have the Bianchi factory tour already cleared for takeoff. That is a no brainer. Oli, you’re welcome.
Timely. As it turns out, I just rewrapped my bar with fizik tape this weekend. Perfect timing.
And Giro Keepers tour! Fuck yeah!
@Gianni
My apologies to both you and the misses. Based on previous baby blankets I thought she was the only seamstress in the family. And to be clear, it’s dead baby kangaroos. Yahoo.
I just may have to cancel sabbatical to go to Italy.
We’d been thinking of an Italian villa next year. Or perhaps French. The Italian wine is better, but the French is quite good too. One would be a short drive to the 2013 edition of the Keepers Tour, one a bit longer. Decisions, decisions…
@Cyclops
I feel like a presumtious ass now….
@frank
Boonen’s cluster, more fun the nipple lube!
@frank
I resemble that remark!
And opening the box is a very Ipod-esque experience.
Clown or not, at least I can be slow in style.
@roger
Or black if you prefer…btw…the fizik boxes are very cool as well. It’s this nifty tri-fold type thing.
I couldn’t find this in the rules anywhere but shouldn’t the lettering on the tape face the same direction as the lettering on the bar? It looks much better from the front this way.
@3cross
+1
Pretty cool. Definitely must feel like a big accomplishment for the Founders! Nice work, lads!
Fizik tape on a few bikes & a saddle on my cross bike here. And yeah, I noticed what The Big Fellow pulled off with the autocorrect on that last week.
I just hope this Keepers Tour is the first of a yearly one. Can’t make it this year, but next year…I’m in!!
Chapeau!
@Marko
I think I will stop with the red R3’s and the white R1’s, at least for the next week or two.
The box was done very well. fizik took the joy of opening a box (think birthday or holidays) and carried it over to their shoes. The box provides an experience through the imagery, the text, and even the colourway patch samples. I took my time opening it up, rather than tear straight into it as I normally do with such disposable packaging. Thoroughly pleased that their products match their marketing.
Scaler, you say: “We’re having a flag and a streamer made. I’m praying to Merckx we don’t get it stuck in Boonen’s cluster.”
I hear the words “flag”and “streamer” and I can’t help but envision a recumbent. Say it ain’t so!
@3cross, @Oli
I spend very little time in front of my bike. I spend loads of time in the saddle, staring at the tape. You do the math.
@wiscot
Fränk said that, not me. I was just responding. I’m guessing there’ll be no recumbent’s anywhere near our Keepers.
@Nate
I would like to hear this also. I remember seeing a picture of your bike with an FSA stem and maybe one with a 3T stem.
Excellent work by the Keepers and congratulations on the association. Fi’zi:k is the tits when it comes to saddles and tape for sure.
And Marko, if I ever want a publicity blurb for a new product, I know where to go
@frank
More like this guy… and right now I’m feeling about this fat too.
@sgt
I’ve been working on my Sprinters Muscle in advance of KT12. I’m not thinking it’s going to be where I’d like it to be. I feel your pain friend.
@RedRanger
On the Cervelos I ride the Pro Vibe 7s because its the only stem with a 10 degree rise that I know of. They’re super stiff, too. And, not least, they have a giant V on the face plate.
I ride a 3T ARX on the TSX and used to ride FSA stems. I still have an FSA seatpost on my R3, but I would like to pick up the Fizik post for that instead. (And no, I’m not just saying that because of our partnership, that’s actually the post I want…)
I seem to have fallen out of love with FSA? No idea why or when…used to have their stuff all over but not anymore. Stranger Things Have Happened.
@frank
A fizik cyrano alloy (27.2×270) in the toolbox if interested 40.00USD — very slight, slight scribe from removal, but a dead centered, straight-scribe on the backside that follows from below the etched “fizik”. These centered (scribe) points are from the Eddy Merckx Corsa Extra lug. Used 600grit paper before it was inserted. A perfect looking post. Willing to email some images if preferred.
@Marko
@frank
Sweet baby jeebus those shoes are nice…unfortunately a long way out of my price range at the moment!
@frank
You put my is a spot. I was planing on getting a 3T seat post to match the stem. But I have always like the fizik posts. Must think hard about this. I feel my OCDness to have things match will win
@frank
Oh shit — it was the ZIPP seatpost that I used 600grit on the Corsa Extra before insertion. The fizik just came straight out — light scribe!
Merckx!!! My fat butcher’s fingers are shite on the iPhone. I swear I can actually type and generally don’t produce total gibberish like that last post.
@RedRanger
Engaged in my own conversation — I’m embarrassed !!
sounds great. love fi’zi:k stuff. nice to hear about the partnership.
now you just need to sign lezyne on as official tool/pump/c02/rule #29 compliant bag supplier and you’ll be set!
I’ve been gone so long. I’ve missed so much. Too much. There’s no hope of catching up.
The connection to fizik reminds me of the time we were all freaking out when David Harmon and King Kelly referenced The Rules on a couple of different broadcasts and crashed the website. This is yet another monumental affirmation that Velominati is a global force in the fantastification of modern cycling. My Merckx! I’m blown away.
Keepers–pure awesomeness. You fucking rule, guys.
Now, where’s Minion? Did Marcus eat him?
@Jeff in PetroMetro
JiPM’s back from the dead, assholes!
We’ve missed you, mate. Great to have you back.
@UNPULL
Actually very interested in that for the TSX – but its a no-go on the R3 which has an oversized seatpost…31.6 or something that sounds like a modern stem diameter. Email me via the Keepers page and we’ll hook it up.
@chiasticon
Ha! This is actually in process! The most frequently revered product on these pages for sure. They’ve agreed in principle, at this point we’re working out the details. But nothing is set just yet. Stand by for another such article should we settle on something…
@frank
31.6 is common now. My bike runs that.
Hey! JiPM’s back!
Re; @Minion, I was wondering the same thing. There’s not enough immaturity ’round here anymore.
Speaking of which;
@frank
So, are you all going to start talking like this fella on the Flanders Tour?
I was honestly taken aback by this; made me sit up and say “Wow. Holy shit.” I’ve actually been lurking for a few years and have only joined the conversation recently, so it’s been great to watch the iterations/maturation of the site and know that there’s a community of like-minded, intelligent(?) people out there who are as passionate about this sport as I am. It’s a testament to the quality of the site and to your efforts that the site is as educational, (ir)reverent, engaging, and just plain fun as it is and has grown so much even in the (relatively) short time that I’ve been visiting.
All of that said, it’s another thing entirely when an industry leader stands up and takes notice of what you’re doing and gets onboard. It takes everything I said in the first paragraph and validates it a thousand times over. This is a Really. Big. Deal. A hearty congratulations to you, Keepers, on this one. I hope you’re celebrating with a Leffe Blonde or similar libation this evening. Keep up the outstanding work.
@Jeff in PetroMetro
Hello pal – where you been? Doping suspension?
@frank
I don’t know how to “embed” a video (is that the right term?), but this one is a beauty
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k04p0hoTi-c&feature=youtube_gdata_player
@Jeff in PetroMetro
Sit in a spell. Glad you didn’t wash that face.
@frank
Will send some pics Tuesday — or Vednesday !!
I missed the delightful, highminded conversation.
@xyxax
Me, too. I forgot what I looked like.
I also hope the frites are fried in clenbuterol.
@Jeff in PetroMetro
Welcome back champ!
you just need to sort out a lezyne tool supply deal now…
To the wrapper of the bars in this article,
Stop wrapping bars.
Handlebars should be taped in such a way that the direction of the tape is planned deliberately so that the riders natural tendencies to twist the bar should cause the tape to tighten and not unravel. If the bar in the picture had been taped properly, it would have been wound in the opposite direction at the top of the bar.
Bar tape should also be wrapped in a tidy figure-eight around the lever and should not extend so far under the rubber hood as to stretch it or deform it in any way. Handle bar tape should end in a tidy taper that squares the end of the tape neatly with the bar. Also, tape used to finish the wrap whether it be adorned with company logos or plain black vinyl tape entirely conceal the end of the tape- leaving no excess tape visible on the side nearest the stem.
ALSO, tape should end when the bar ends. Tape should not be wrapped off of the end of the bar and tucked in with the handlebar plugs as this looks like a prolapsed rectum if the bar plug is ever to fall out.
Like Rule #40, this is how pro mechanics do it and “you do this because that’s the way pro mechanics do it.”
It it be worthy, let this become a rule.
…and it is fucking worthy.
@prowrench
Ooh, let’s have a heated debate…
Agree with most of the content of what you say (although I wouldn’t ban Frank from wrapping bars) however I’ve never quite worked out how to start the tape without tucking it into the bar end, while continuing to maintain the tension. Do you start it and then just cut off around the bar end ?
The other aspect to that might be that yes it looks bad if your bar plug falls out but you will then replace the plug at the first possible opportunity, and secondly having the bar tape over the end lessens the chance of being cored in the intervening period.
@Nosyt
Welcome and thanks, we are as excited as you. Obviously this site runs on passion of cycling not advertising. Not a good long term strategy but it’s all we know. No bidness majors among us. Marko, that smooth talking bastid, was the one who approached Fizik and to our shock, they like us. It’s like a prom date.
And all of us live too far away to enjoy a Leffe together so Belgium will be extra fun.
@Jeff in PetroMetro
Yes, you have been gone too long, shieeet, I thought some Longhorn caught up with ya. And yes, there is no catching up either, if you miss a few days there is no catching up. Nine different conversations going at once, no worries. Welcome back brother.
@Jeff in PetroMetro
Fat fucking chance, that guy couldn’t catch me while I was sitting on the can at KFC. The big dogs only come out at night
@prowrench
If you don’t stuff some of the tape inside the bar ends how would you stop it unwinding?
Ahem, even the guy on fizik TV does it that way.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhXeSJQtoWU