Mustache Monster Mash
My first bicycle opened a new world to me, one where range was measured by will and pedal revolutions, not steps; the only objective was seeing how far out I could push my range. First, to the border of our community, then to the nearest gas station, and on it went. It was a big yellow contraption with 10 speeds – twelve if you count “crashed” and “out of control”, which were the two most commonly used of the lot.
I didn’t know I could customize it. I assumed all saddles were steel with a foam and plastic coating, just as I assumed all brakes were ornamental beyond producing a screech that served to deter dog attacks. When the seat became too low, I declared that the bike no longer fit; I had no idea I could raise the saddle.
That bike was a Sears Moonlight Special, and I am quite sure it was made of solid lead pipes and had steel wheels. The bars were possibly wrapped in asbestos. I don’t wish I still had it, but I wish I still had my second bike. She was a beauty; a Raleigh with a gorgeous Weinmann group and a stunning metallic paint of brown and black, a color combination that every tailor on Savile Row will tell you is the most beautiful. Fitting, then, that it was an English bike.
At first, all I wanted was to rid the bike of her unsightly brake cables that jutted from the brake levers in the traditional way. This was the late eighties, and all brake levers on modern bikes were “aero” (under the tape). So I bought some DiaCompe levers and set about changing them out. A friend at County Cycles in Saint Paul, Minnesota (famous for being the place where Johnny Cash met “Her“) convinced me to buy some Benotto bar tape, and I spent the next few days basking in the amazement of my ability to single-handedly alter the look of my machine so dramatically. (Indirectly, my test rides also taught me about tightening cable bolts enough.)
This experience opened me up to the notion that every bike can be adapted to serve our needs. Every bike has a soul, and every soul has a bike. It could be our #1, or it might just carry us to work, or down to the farmers market. But like a dog with it’s pack, it’s happy so long as it knows its purpose, its reason for being – and has the opportunity to fulfill that purpose. And whenever we help a bike find its purpose, it bonds to our soul and never leaves us.
You need vision to see a bike’s purpose, and Grant Peterson might be the greatest bicycle visionary; he lived La Vie Velominatus long before we put that term to paper. He sees opportunities in bicycles without judgement; it doesn’t have to be a racer, or a tourer, or a trail bike – it just has to ride well and be fun. He’s been an inspiration since I learned about Bridgestone bikes, and his vision continues with Rivendale Bicycle Works. When time came for him to design a hybrid bike, he chose mustache bars with race-inspired geometry in the belief that just because it’s hybrid doesn’t mean it shouldn’t ride well. I’m proud to walk in his footsteps.
The Nederaap CX-V may have served her run as my main CX/Graveur, but she lives on as the loyal steed carrying me to and from the grocery store, the markets, post office, pub, and any manner of fun and casual expeditions around town. I don’t kit up, I don’t pump up the tires (although I do thumb-check the pressure, I’m not a savage), I don’t plan the route. I just get on, and I ride. And she rides great, is fun, and gobbles up single track just the same as she does tarmac. It makes no difference to her, I just jump on and start pedaling like I did when I was a kid. That’s good old-fashioned fun.
Plus, now I can enter the Commuter Grand Prix.
[dmalbum path=”/velominati.com/content/Photo Galleries/[email protected]/CX-Mustache/”/]
Finally! I thought this was a post I could relate to! But, no: it was still about bikes and not about when it’s appropriate to breach Rule #50.
You can’t unsee that magnificence. You just can’t.
On a less serious note, my pusher has the most beautiful n+1 lined up for me””a stunning, old Alcyon frame with moustache handlebars almost worthy of its future rider. Just trying to decide which organ or child I can live without most readily…
@Steampunk
Its better than this one.
WTF? Stay on topic!!
@Steampunk
http://www.wikihow.com/Shave
While the momentum seems to be going the other way, I’ll attempt an on-topic comment.
@frank, a question about the Nederaap CX-V. Did you ever race a cyclocross event with the mustachioed bars? If so, was their wide arc useful in taking out opponents in the corners?
Anyway, this article brought back memories of attempting to upgrade a hand-me-down Schwinn Varsity. I got as far as popping off the pedal reflectors to put on toe clips and hack-sawing off the sissy brakes to fit on gum rubber hoods before I realized anything else was a waste of time and money. On my next bike, a Fuji, the first upgrade was Benotto tape. That one I miss.
Hear, hear for adapting a bike to serve our needs and giving it new life. While at college 20+ years ago, I found a nondescript 10-speed without a back wheel and a broken derailleur in a junk pile behind my apartment. The frame was straight and reasonably light. I acquired a used set of rims with large-flange hubs for $20, put on a sweet pair of mid-80’s Campa Chorus platform pedals I had been holding onto and build me a fixed-gear bicycle (not a fixie – no skinny jeans were involved). It got me to and from classes with ease, as well as taught me how to pedal correctly.
I really dont know how I feel about that. At all.
@RedRanger
I think it sort of makes sense as a shopper but it leaves me feeling a little bit confused as well (the sun is shining this morning so I had to check that I’d not slept through to April).
Fenders, a bell and a riser stem? On Frank’s bike? All it needs now is a nice wicker basket. The levers are the most troubling, I can’t help thinking of the gangsta side grip. (sorry, more ‘tache content)
@Chris
+1
Frank is off the path and joined Off The Path Keepers Club run by Brett and Gianni.
Those ugly bars and a rising stem are a killer for me.
Maybe he’s trying F.Landis set up?
If you’re going down this path, BEWARE of…..
Cool! There’s a bike for every purpose. As long it brings a smile to your face, keep riding.
One of my memorable creations was to get bikes that were thrown out for the annual council clean up collection from the nature strip. We collected three of the best, mind you one of them was a classic old Malvern Star that I cut up and welded together two other frame to make a Trandam – Goodies style. Painted it in Telekom colours, black with pink overspray. The thing crabbed down the road, but geez we had heaps of fun on it. Always a head turner. Last I heard of it over ten years ago it was used as a fence to keep a Rotty at bay when visitors came over to the LBS owners house.
@sthilzy
Casually Deliberate?
Dutch people use bikes based on this template for everyday errands:
http://farm2.staticflickr.com/1215/1334068197_1f3bac5b50_o.jpg
Pictured is an old Gazelle no. 1 from somewhere in the 50’s. Most Dutch bikes are based on the template drawn by old Gazelle roadster bikes. Commuter Grand Prix is for people in a rush, and rushing means your planning was lacking, which is neither casually deliberate nor looking pro. Sitting on such a bike is something else. The 40+ pound bike on 40×635 tires absorb bumbs like an S-class while you sit upright, merely lifting your legs and letting them fall again on the large block pedals while you tootle along at 12mph, towering above the sweaty masses (on one of those bikes, your head is higher than when walking). You’ll feel like a king among men. Also, the enclosed chain and fenders everywhere mean you won’t get dirty and you won’t have to clean your chain all the time.
Now we are talking. Less rules, more “get on your bike and pedal”. I have apple of path bikes. An Electra single speed cruiser, complet with legally required bell and a handy basket! And an older MTB also with basket and bell. They get a bit of beach use too, thusly……….
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHFD1g-if9w
Nice bike Frank. I like the bars and teh overall style of the bike.
Great article frank….for some bizarre reason this gave me flashbacks to this (I am not sure how “global” this series was). Maybe it is the orange flaming phoenix at 1:26 that reminds of the swoop of those bars!
@sthilzy
A-fucking-mazing! Love it.
I think @Cyclops might have topped himself
@Teocalli
Where did you get that pic of Giro’s 2014 helmets?
@wiscot My LBS posted it after we did a Retro mtb ride a month or so back.
I run mustache bars on my 1984 Club Fuji, which serves as my around town bike, but that’s because the top tube is too short for me and the extra reach the bars gives makes the bike actually rideable. The bike still has most of the original components on it including the non-aero brake levers which look pretty good the bars since the cable routing makes smooth arcs in front of the headtube. I’m not sure how I feel about them on a bike without a quill stem though.
@VeloVita
I would like to see pictures of this. Sounds interesting and gives me an idea for an old japanese steel bike I have in the garage.
@Chris
The riser stem might be a bit much.
@TommyTubolare
Says the guy who commutes to work on this.
I’m not off the path; if you read the article (which I’m increasingly convinced no one does), you’d see this was a COMMUTER.
@Ken Ho
The more you talk, the more you prove you have no clue what we’re about. You have much to learn, Pedalwan.
But that’s a good start.
@RVester
When I jump on with slacks, dress shoes, scarf and tweed jacket, I look the fucking part, too.
@frank
C’mon, just fess up. You reversed the Land Rover over a pair of aluminium Rotundo’s and this is all just a cover up.
woodchipper handlebars might be pretty cool also. I still don’t know how I feel about it though
@DCR
I’m not sure I have any, but I’ll see if I can snap one or two tonight for you.
@RedRanger There are bikes to train on, bikes to race on, bikes to ride gravel on, bikes to ride cyclocross on, and bikes to commute on. Better than taking an SUV a few km’s down the block to get groceries.
“Ride Lots.” –Eddy.
New perspectives for this old dog popping up here regularly. Who am I to question a Disciple of the Prophet? Full disclosure: feeling better about my commuter with longboard fenders.
Didn’t @Cyclops briefly work for Bridgestone? Cool to build up the Nederapp in that style.
Sweet commuter, Frank!
I ride a steel cyclocross bike as my commuter. Full fenders, a rear rack, very relaxed position. Perfect bike for riding to work, grocery, bar, etc. Everyone needs one bike that isn’t pristine and that they are okay locking up.
I too am no a savage; I do the finger squeeze pressure gauge at least once every few weeks!
Oh, and toe clips. Damn, it is nice to just ride and walk around in sneakers!
Has anyone successfully paired v-brakes with full fenders? I guess you could cut a notch, but now that I put v-brakes on my cross bike, I’d kind of like them on my commuter too, instead of cantilevers, but I have full fenders.
I came to road riding through MTB then commuting, and can appreciate any kind of bike. I think mustache bars always raise interest, they always show a more custom build is on the road ahead, had a few conversations start up with my comments they are riding a ‘nice bike!’.
Look fantastic and comply with rules while riding the roadie, otherwise roll with what suits on other bikes..
Mudguards/Fenders are awesome for keeping clothes clean, you want a flap or extended fenders down to like 10% of the wheel diameter, to keep splashing off your shoes. Amazing how much just a wet road can soak your tootsies and ass without them.
Racks or baskets are awesome for getting backpacks off your back, which tend to make things sweatier on a nice day.
I can dig it Fronk.
Please let me know where you get the chainguard from, been looking for an affordable one big enough for a 52t for ages..
BTW, don’t you commute like 30k each way or something?
And how do you find the bar end shifters? Passed a guy with some on his Surly LHT yesterday and wondered how they go.
@Ron
v-brakes or mini-v? I’ve seen photos of bikes with fenders and v-brakes so I assume it works (although I have no experience with it), but v-brakes won’t work with road levers unless you run a travel agent. Mini-vs on the other hand have shorter arms to match the cable pull of road levers (thereby doing away with the need for a travel agent) but as a result that means that there isn’t as much clearance (and not enough for fenders)
@Beers
My commute is roughly 30k each way. My Ti bike works wonders and allows me to attempt to kill segments along the way. I don’t think I would ride a bike like yours @frank for those distances. My 70’s steel bike gets the grocery runs.
@Ron
I should say that my statement about mini-Vs is assuming a larger tire size – something like a 32mm. If you run narrower tires, you might be able to run a narrower fender that could work I suppose. You may have to play with the sizes a bit to see what you can fit. Some of it will also depend on how wide your rims are. Wider rims won’t require the pads to be set as close which could give you more a little more clearance on the arms.
@frank
I might read the article without posting but I never post anything without reading.
I don’t use a Dutch bike. When I had one it served me well. It did exactly what it was design to do.
How much shopping can you carry home from groceries on your commuter without taking a rucksack?
I don’t commute to work. I ride to work. Always on a race bike. I usually do 35-40 km one way through East Flanders. But since I’m going to work does that make the pictured bike a commuter so I can flip the stem up now? You are comfortable on your race bike for 5-6 hours rides and yet you need to install the stem upwards on your commuter to get an extra comfort? For what – 15 mins ride down to groceries or post office? I get the fenders and bell idea but the stem up and the bars are just wrong. Classic bars and ‘normal’ stem and the bike is perfect.
@VeloVita
Whoa. Instant nostalgia rush. Seattle to Portland in a day on a red Club Fuji in the late eighties. I think that was the last time I rode that bike, only because an Erickson found me.
@frank
I said, I said, Christ who wouldn’t?
That’s a joke, son.
@frank
Yes, I’m inclined to agree that I am increasingly confused about shit here. I admit that purists usually give me the shits, but I thought it was all a bit of a piss-take ?
I like an upright bike in traffic. I feel I have better visibility with more head mobility and more safety, so I understand why you prefer a different configuration to your roadie. You need a basket and a bell to be serious about making it a utility, especially if you want to compare it in any way to a Dutch bike. Maybe I’m more secure in my metrosexuality than you ?
@Deakus
We used to watch that one a lot!!!!
@Ken Ho
No, we’re super fucking serious.
I should add @Ron, that I run with Jagwire adjustable v-noodles, they have a barrel adjuster in the top, so I can back them out to undo the v brake to get the tyre out, then crank it back up to get the tolerance closer for riding. Again, working fine for 2 yrs and no travel agents here…
Wtf happened to my first reply… Again, @Ron, I have mini-v’s ( Tektro RX3), with 28mm tyres and fenders. Just test fit at the LBS to be sure. If I was picky, I would say that the rubber boot rubs/pushes on the fender a bit under braking, but no issue with riding mini-v and fenders for 3yrs (switched to canti levers and drops 2 yrs ago, needing the jagwires as above).
@Chris
Got me!
@cognition
Exactly the point; I used to use a road bike as my commuter and it was too uncomfortable and impractical to use as a real utility bike. After I put the front rack on, it will be big time.
@Ron
Every fender job requires lots of tweaking. No reason V-Brakes and fenders won’t work, you just might have to get creative. For instance, I had to cut mine down and fasten it with a zip tie.
(Forgive the long cable; it was still in test mode when I took that shot.)
@Beers
It was 45km each way, and I did that on my road bike and used it for full training. I left that job because it sucked ass, and my new job has me at various sites throughout the day and riding a bike to work doesn’t make sense. I ride this bike around town on weekends, or to get groceries, or whatever.
I have a 42 on the front.
@DCR
Agreed. See above.
@VeloVita
Can’t say I agree; I see no reason you can’t fit them in. Might depend on your frame. On the rear of the Veloforma CCX, the chainstay design might make it harder, but there is plenty of clearance over the cable, as you can see on the front wheel here (don’t have a photo of the rear handy).
@TommyTubolare
I’d have been disappointed with anything less of a response. As I mentioned to Chris, the stem is too much; flipping it over tonight. And yes, I’m 100% comfortable on my road bike, but on the commuter, I’m usually wearing a wool jacket, slacks, and other clothing that restricts motion. I just want to jump on and ride it, you know?
The bars are super comfortable and fun – why use drop bars for this purpose? There’s no need to get low, and this is just a fun alternative to dutch bars.
That bike of yours is a stunner. Its good to see someone else with the balls to show some decent post. I’m surprised to see you go to 11spd; I thought you were a major proponent of the old 10spd?