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 ...
@Mark
Totally rad man! I’ve read about all of Steve’s exploits. Having done pieces of The 508 course, his Double-508 makes my head explode every time I think about it. I’m just getting started in the ultracycling thing myself. Aiming for a couple 24-hour races this year. Hopefully step up to some of the bigger races (Hoodoo 500 is my dream) once I finish my quals next year. Pulling all-nighters every week (like now!) and training don’t mix too well. One thing at a time as they say.
@G’phant
Let me explain the problem of the internet to you. As an open resource…
This is humbling to say the least. And inspiring. Be glad I have three big reasons why I don’t adhere to Rule #11.
Not quite related here, but very sad news of Hec Sutherland passing away. Sounds like a complete Aussie badass.
Source.
ok, here is the rebuild (finally) —
@G’phant
yeah, well he is an animal….i’ve never seen someone so dedicated to something as he is. i’m proud to call him my brother (always have been)
@Mark
I think Jens borrowed your bike.
Here ya go Oli…
Pro vibe bars and stem, Ultegra Wheels and beaten to death drivetrain.
While I’m at it, here’s the track bike. Only had a couple of races on it at the end of the season and wasn’t at all settled (prior I’d been on a bike waaaay smaller, that in no way fitted me properly with varying crank lengths) and am looking forward to winter + rollers + trying to perfect the magnificent stroke.
And the donor bike for my winter project. The frame is getting repainted, sold the cranks (7401 Dura ace) and wheels, have another frame with different bars, stem, saddle, fork, and shifters, so all that’s getting moved across is the rear mech (front is a different size) not much of a donor bike at all really, just the thing that got the ball rolling.
PS it was a complete bike, the photo was taken while I was stripping it down. The cranks were a thing of beauty, once I’d sanded them and polished them.
The bike is like a rocket to ride though – very little toe overlap for the size, oversize al tubing with a one inch fork, pretty light all things considered.
Damn, I would have loved those cranks! Nice quiver, Minion.
Gahhh dammit I just twigged. I sold them to David from Velo- Ideale, if you have any dealings with that company it might be worth dropping a few honeyed words in his ear perhaps?
Haha, I know David well…It’s no problem mate, I can’t be buying bike parts right now – food is hard enough to afford!
@minion
I do like the look of the Quantums. I briefly owned one – a 2008 Quantum Team I got on TradeMe. Loved it, until the alloy tube in the BB came unstuck. Was a bit gutted, as I had no warranty coverage (due to 2nd hand purchase). But Brett and Josh prevailed on Sheppards (i.e. Avanti) to do the right thing (I had bought two bikes from them in two years, and it was their top of the line race bike), and to their great credit they did. They had no Quantum Teams left, so they offered me a choice of the Quantum 3 or the slightly more relaxed fit Cadent Team. As I am no longer a spring chicken I went with the Cadent. I really like it.
Good on em. The rep for that company you mention is a good guy, (in case he’s on here free swag can please be sent to….) he must be to put up with those two when they’re in the mood to trade insults…
It is a lovely bike, I went for the lightest one I could afford at the time, (pre Ultegra SL, so there was one less model in the line) which was also driven by common sense, since I’m 85 kilos and not, shall we say, dainty on the bike. My riding has been ruined by cycle couriering where its obligatory to run over anything liable to damage you or your bike.
And the final addition to the stable. Official rain bike, 8 speed shimano generic components apart from a few scrounged parts, and a pair of Campagnolo Lambda V rims on one oh five hubs, that were a 30 buck score from trade me. (They’re mint, by the way – 32 hole, 3 cross, just don’t try and mount continental wire bead tyres on them!) Probably got about 600 bucks in this thing, and still have a frame to sell to claw some pingas back. I haven’t quite pulled a Marco, and built up a bike that is too nice to ride in the rain, but it’s looking good. Sorry about the pants photos will get some more up when the weather is good.
Other bits, Ultegra cranks and brakes, San Marco Zoncolan saddle, generic bars. It’s not a Gios either, the guy I bought the frame off repainted a Fuji Roubaix frame and stickered it up with the Gios Stickers. Along with the rims it’s a good amount of Italy in in the bike but now I need to ride it till it’s dead!
Test riding the Fizik Antares VS saddle this week, on loan from my LBS. Only 17 miles on her so far, but she seems pretty good. And the saddle weighs almost a quarter lb (that’s like one hamburger!) less than my current saddle.
@mcsqueak
Funny, I am trying out an Antares right now too, as an alternative to the Arione I’ve been running. I think I like it.
@Nate
Yeah, I think I like it too… hard to tell with so few miles, I need to get in another few rides this week to make sure. It’s hard to compare two things when it is physically impossible to test both at the same time. I’m finally replacing the Felt saddle that came with my bike. It wasn’t too bad, really. It has a nice flat profile, but the foam is too soft and I think I sink into it on longer rides. I want something with a bit more firmness.
@minion
You have a great stable. I really like your display photos of the Avanti and the Ridley. The Tibetan prayer flags perfectly coordinate with both the railing and the flora in the background. Well done.
@Jeff in PetroMetro
Thanks, the photo of the “Gios” was singularly ruined by having Rachel Ray on the TV (I was sick, and putting the bike together in front of the box…I know, I know, but trust me it was better than Ellen)
@Nate
I’ve had an Aliante for almost a year. Very nice.
@mcsqueak
I have the Antares on two of my bikes and really like it. The nut-gutter, choad-ditch, taint-groove, or sack-trench on the VS is intriguing to me, I’d like to try one out.
@minion
I wouldn’t say my rain bike is any nicer than your GIuji.
@minion
Rachel Ray and Ellen? Seriously? I had no idea America was exporting that stuff. On behalf of our great nation, I’M VERY SORRY. By the way, what other mind numbing television programs are we polluting you with?
@minion
Oh, and a Fuji disguised as a Gios is fucking brilliant. Not quite the same as a Serotta disguised as a Huffy, but awesomely creative nonetheless.
Yeah I don’t experience numbness or any of the tradition “reasons” to get a grooved saddle, but the guys at the LBS said that they don’t either, and roll with the taint-groove version and it doesn’t ride any better or worse than the one with all the material in place. My shop has sweet purple loaner saddles they’ll give you for a week to test, so I figured why not. It’s been on my upgrade list for awhile.
My VMH also called it a “nut trench” when I brought the bike home.
Is it just me, or does the nut gutter seem like a flawed design? Seems like you’re increasing pressure points. Or maybe I just don’t need one. Whatever. They’re ugly. That’s enough for me.
@mcsqueak
@frank
I’ve got a friend who swears by his choad-channel. He had some issues that have since been relieved.
@Jeff in PetroMetro
Me too. Very scary experience a couple of years back after an hor on the wind trainer when I noticed a lump of something caught in my bibs. Couldn’t work out what it was. Had to go looking. Then I recognised it. Hadn’t been able to identify it from feel alone because it was totally numb. Yes, totally. Not good. Seat replacements acquired immediately. Feeling returned. Numbness has not. Touch wood. As it were.
@G’phant
I’ve experienced numbness on the rollers. Needless to say, it’s not good. Riding on rollers for me though is much less dynamic in terms of body movement, out of saddle, and making small shifts. That and the bike is at a slightly different angle. I’m always good on the road but anything over 45 minutes on rollers and things start to get weird.
@G’phant
When one’s sensations are good, one’s mind is tranquilo.
Cheers, though SWMBO has already nicknamed her bluebell. I think going out for a few hours on the Giuji doesn’t have quite the same appeal.
@frank
Yeah, I was a bit skeptical as well and questioned the guys at the shop about going in that direction. The only discomfort I get on longer rides is that with cheaper bibs, the padding seems to bunch up “in that area”, necessitating some stealth repositioning. More expensive bibs solve that problem mostly, but I also wanted a more firm saddle that I wouldn’t sink into as much.
With one ride down, I can’t really say if this one is better or not. I may try out the non-channeled one and see how it feels after this. According to the Fizik website propaganda their channel ‘technology’ doesn’t increase pressure points in the way that a saddle with a true cutout does.
@Jeff in PetroMetro
Where to start, I think I could safely say all of it. We are topped up by liberal amounts of British garbage though, for balance’s sake. 2 and a half men, cop shows, all I can think is that they must be cheap. Flight of the Concords, our only export the other way, is a very subtle and inane form of revenge.
Wise words! I’m no fan of the aesthetics of “anatomic” saddles either, but they totally work for those they work for. If they help a rider ride I’m all for them.
@minion
I’m sorry to hear that.
I’ve weaned myself from TV completely. I’ve filled the void with horrible stuff like riding my bike, reading books, and hanging out here. I do, however, catch lots of BBC’s Top Gear on the internet. Best show on planet Earth.
FWIW – I used to ride various “anatomically correct” saddles, mostly Flite permutations, and had reasonable but not complete relief from that worrying numbness. I got an Antares for one bike and have never looked back. Something about the flat top, dense padding, and perfect width for my pelvis makes it ideal – never a numb moment, good-bye saddle sores, etc. I now have an Antares on every bike I own. I actually tried the Antares VS on my MTB and did not like it as much as the regular Antares.
My VMH also called it a “nut trench” when I brought the bike home.
Poor femael Australian track athlete who announced a saddle sponsorship, used an anatomic saddle and had it nicknamed the taco holder. The bright yellow skinsuit didn’t help either.
Sorry, female. I’m turning into a serial repeat spelling offender on this site.
“femael” is just the Gaelic version or something.
Selle SMP – once you try it (and get used to them), they are the business.
But saddles really are a case of each to their own.
Two of me nephews just kicked it old Skool by riding 8000kms across West Africa (including parts of the Sahara) on Rolls Leather…
That would be my nephews – see what you have done minion?
@Marcus
I thought you went all pirate on us.
@Marcus
Irish version is all.
@Marko
Ok. An Irish pirate.
Which begs the question: Do Irish pirates ride treasure trenches?
Would explain why no-one goes looking for Irish treasure…
@Marko
I rarely get numbness on the road, but 45 mins on the rollers will do it. It’s because it’s harder to shift around. Haven’t tried the Antares on the rollers yet.
Speaking of the rollers, I’ve done a few evening sessions over the last 2 weeks and my stroke is V times more magnificent than it was a month ago.
@minion
Precisely.