There was a time when bicycles were lovingly handmade by artisans who themselves loved the sport more than those for whom they built the machines. Lugs were filed to become Luggs; chain and seat stays were beautifully chromed for durability despite the grams it added to the frame’s final weight; spokes were chosen for their purpose and laced to hubs and rims in a pattern that suited the specific purpose the wheel was intended to serve. Throughout the process – from building the frame to manufacturing of the components – extra care was taken to make every element of the bicycle beautiful; these bicycles, when you are in their presence, radiate La Vie Velominatus.
As was customary at the time, components would be pantographed and frames repainted and rebranded, leaving behind little evidence of their origin. But hidden in the components and frames were symbols that the manufacturers stamped into their wares to preserve their identity; Colnago their Fiore, Cinelli their C, and Campa their Shield. These symbols have come to hold great meaning within the sport and we of a certain ilk scour the photos of our heroes’ bikes for evidence of their existence.
For a variety of reasons including cost, proprietary tube-shapes, and repeatability of production, these practices have largely died away in mainstream bicycle manufacturing; in fact, nearly every element in the art of bicycle building that requires attention and skill is slowing being eliminated from the craft. Ahead-set stems have replaced the need for a carefully adjusted headset and stem, sealed-bearing bottom brackets and hubs have eliminated the subtle touch required to hold a race in place with one hand while tightening the assembly with the other. By and large, the machines and riders are stronger than the terrain they race over, leaving little practical need for the attention to detail and customization that once came as a matter of course.
There is, however, one magical week of racing where the terrain is still stronger than the riders: the cobbled classics of de Ronde van Vlaanderen and Paris-Roubaix. This is the one week during which the Pros still require highly customized machines and we, as fans, can scour the photos of our heroes’ kit, looking for the symbols tucked away in the components to discern their origins. One such symbol is the brass badge affixed to the valve-hole on Ambrosio rims.
These rims are chosen by the Specialists for their strength on the stones regardless of what wheel sponsorship obligations might exist within the team. Their mystique is further deepened for those of us living in the States because they aren’t available here. It follows, then, that the Golden Ticket, as I call it, is something I’ve coveted for as long as I can remember (which, admittedly, isn’t very long and, upsettingly, keeps getting less long) but have never had a good enough reason to justify procuring from Europe. But Keepers Tour, Cobbled Classics 2012 provided the perfect justification to go about finding a set and I wasted no time in doing so. Upon arrival, the rims spent the better part of two weeks sitting in my living room or next to my bed, patiently waiting for me to pick them up and rub my thumb over the badge, just to reassure myself they were still there.
Not long after the rims arrived, I excitedly loaded a picture of Boonen in the 2010 Ronde and turned the laptop to show my VMH.
Frank: Hey, what do you see.
VMH: Boonen. Goddamn, he’s a stud. Don’t let me too close to him; I can’t be responsible for my actions.
Frank: What about his wheels.
VMH: What?
Frank: Don’t you see? He’s got my rims.
VMH: You can’t possibly know that.
Frank: Openly shows his exasperation by groaning audibly and rolling his eyes. Yes, I do. Check it. You can see the Golden Ticket on his back wheel. Its obvious as shit. What’s wrong with you?
VMH: Sighs, pours another glass of wine. Exits stage left. Hopefully not for good.
*Coincidentally, on the same day that this article was being written, Inrng published a similar (better) article on a related subject of hand-built wheels. Well worth the read: The Dying Art of Wheelbuilding
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View Comments
@Chris
Well that is another advantage of tubulars - they can run flat in much the same way. IIRC Johan van Summeren did the last few miles of his P-R win with a flat tyre. Pretty impressive when Fabian Cancellara is trying to hunt you down - that's why they use them.
Having said that, I doubt his rims would have gone back among the spares pool for the next race.
@Gianni
Not sure why he thinks there isn't a lot of choice in wider tyres. Maybe something about the US, but Chris you will have no trouble getting 25s or 28s in the UK. Nearly all the audax guys use them.
Lots of them swear by Panaracers - I've never got on with them myself but if people who've done Paris-Brest-Paris tell you they are the cat's cock then it's hard to disagree. You really don't want to be dealing with tyres after 90 hours on a ride.
Good advice about the lower pressure though.
@G'rilla
Agree, the A23 graphics are pretty unispiring. As to tire width change, you have to really try it, each tire has a different construction as will respond differently on a wider rim. I think a rough rule of thumb is 1.5-2 mm increase in tire width, but YMMV. I have a Rubino Pro 28, which measured 26 on a Kinlin, and only measured 27 on the A23.... exactly the same as an older Rubino Pro 25 I have on the front A23!
Absolutely zero reason to worry about riding clinchers or, for that matter, any bike/wheels anyone has on the Cobbles. Based on my assumed speeds we'll be travelling, I'd say it maters not a yot. 23mm, 25mm, 28mm, 'Cross, road, Zipp, Spinergy carbon arm remover wheels...any of it will do just fine - no need to worry unless you feel like worrying about such things. You might (marginally) improve your comfort, but I don't think it matters much...
It does, however, present an excellent opportunity to have built up a dream wheelset, so there you go.
@frank
Out of interest, what are your assumed speeds for the PR leg of the adventure?
I've seen it suggested elsewhere that double taped bars are a good plan for the cobbles, is that a good idea or a blatant transgression of Rule 5?
@Chris
It will be hard to call almost anything a Rule V violation when riding the P-R course, in my opinion!
@Buck Rogers
I'm not sure bout that, there may be some dissent amongst the ranks if @fronk were to turn up with his springy mtb stem and seatpost.
As it is I'm rather fond of my Cannondale tape so unless it comes off as part of a Gore cable upgrade, I'll probably leave it as it is then grit my teeth and try to hold back the tears on the day.
@Chris
Don't forget though, the pros are riding the equivalent of a sports-suspension motor over those cobbles, and they're doing it at full speed.
I suspect the double tape is more psychological than anything. Do it if you like of course but I doubt it will be a defining factor.
this may be of interest to some of those hitting the cobbles and considering kit - the sky mechanic going over a PR bike: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_JCm33WSAs
@Buck Rogers
Alright, I am blaming Pere Fronk for the latest purchase. Picked up some Tubular HED C2 Belgium wheels built up with Chris King R45 hubs and KCNC Ti road skewers off of craigslist up in Austin yesterday. Currently glued with some Challenge Fango cyclocross tubulars.
The guy is a bike mechanic and built the wheels in Oct of this year and used them for the cyclocross season and now needs some money so was selling them. I checked them out and they looked great and had no obvious deformities or blemishes.
Now I have to figure out how to get the glued, intact tubular off the rims and decide which tire to glue on. Planning on using these wheels for my P-R ride in June. They seem like really solid wheels and should serve me well, esp for $500 bucks.
Will be looking for some deal on tubulars in the coming months. Not sure about going with the Vittoria Pave or something else. Also trying to figure out which cassette cog sizing I should runoff P-R. Probably an 11-23, eh?