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 ...
No changuide on the front?
@minion
she sure does. Ill take much better pictures when its light out on the trail. In my excitement I wanted to share what I could get
@RedRanger Hotness! Enjoy!
@RedRanger
Very nice sir. Before leaving the states I picked up a Motobecane 29er from a LBS. Not name brand in the least but its my go to steed whenever the weather turns to shit or for my daily commute (don’t like the thought of leaving my racebike in the company garage). I’m a complete newb in all things cycling, and have learned first hand that that applies even more to off road, but I really enjoy the hardtail, bombproof frame and wheels, and extra traction that it affords. With a lockable fork you get the best of both worlds. Only disadvantage is the weight penalty but that just makes me appreciate the svelt single purpose road bike all the more when I get back on her.
@RedRanger Nice serendipitous story and you get a MTB Sensei out of the deal.
They really tried hard to prop up this sale. Found this Nashbar Tour LP steel road frameset, geared single-speed fixed gear 56cm on Ebay.
View original Ebay sale.
@unversio Wow. But it only sold for $50? And how did you stumble on this item?
@unversio
@G’rilla
“Move Mouse Here to Zoom”
@Marko
That is a magnificent pair of…um, ah…calipers.
@RedRanger
Cool! With my move to Aus (or possibly just Canberra) a rigid 29er is currently on my wish list. Single speed to for the win. Niner is well out of my price range, but the inevitalble lottery win will get my the most tricked out SS you pack of fucking geniuses have ever seen.
@minion I got an insanely good deal on this bike and the extra fork. let’s just say I got it for the same price as a mid range Specialized Rock Hopper.
@G’rilla
Just looking. The listing simply had stopping power.
@unversio
I wonder if she feels bad that despite stripping down, it only raised $55.86. But, that’s probably $52.86 more than it would have otherwise.
I’m now in the market for a new helmet. Faithful Specialized has just saved my life. LBS sells Giro, Bell and MET.
@the Engine
Whichever one fits best…tbh they will all save your life. Personally, I ride very “hot” so airflow tends to be my number one priority (after colour obviously). I recently bought a new LAS helmet, it looks cool, but although it is perfectly good enough, it does not fit as well as my old 10yr old Spesh S1 helmet so although I am £60 lighter in pocket, I am no better off……probably should have bought another S1, but too much reading of shitty marketing reviews in magazines sucked me in!
@Deakus
Actually chances are none of them will – they aren’t designed to.
@the Engine
You can buy a well fitting helmet (Team SKY) straight from KASK. They make a true Medium size as well.
@ChrisO
So it begins…
@DerHoggz
Can everyone just pretend that we didn’t read it? Please?
Just as well they exceed their design criteria then…
@unversio Kask be a good casque, but you lost me at the sky bit.
@the Engine
was the bike ok ?
@strathlubnaig
Yes – it was Dora the MTB not Charlene the Ridley and I put myself between her and the road so all was well
@the Engine that’s good, and very heroic of you too. Interesting name choices, were they nurses you knew at one time ?
@strathlubnaig Team SKY rode with KASK helmets thru this past season.
@the Engine
“Bones heal but a good bike is irreplaceable.” – @frank
@strathlubnaig
Well they must have names as they are more than mere machine. Dora (the Explorer) seemed fitting for an MTB – uncomplaining workhorse that she is.
My Belgian Beauty ah well:
“Frank: What’s this bike’s name, the Engine?
Engine: Sir, the Velominatus’s bike’s name is Charlene, sir!
Frank: the Engine, you are definitely born again hard! Hell, I may even allow you to serve as a domestique in my beloved peloton.
Frank: Sir, yes, sir!”
I’m off for a CT scan now…
@RedRanger
You’re not making me feel better about my life.
@unversio
Yes, I was aware of this. Not a reason to buy a helmet, in my most humble opinion, however. perhaps a reason to not buy one even.
@minion
sorry about that mate. the frames them selves aren’t to much. Have you thought about building a SS yourself.
@strathlubnaig
KASK is a good helmet. You’ll need to find one that a team does not endorse then. Dick.
@unversio
Can we pretend we didn’t read this one either. Please.
@the Engine
Dickishness aside, I agree with: find one that fits the melon well, and in the color you like. All helmets have “standards” that they have to meet in terms of (apparently”debatable”) safety. I’ve had a shit ton of lids over the years, and really like my Rudy Project Sterling. Be aware though that the RP Windmax doesn’t allow one to be Rule #37 compliant. The straps come from the middle of the “foam” and your glasses will pop right off your face when you look down at your guns. If it’s good enough for these Leakygas………..
@the Engine Why not get another Specialized helment?
@Oli
Because the LBS don’t sell them and I never found it particularly comfortable – it also suffered from wind noise
@the Engine Fair enough! I’m a Giro man, myself.
For my money nothing can top a Lazer Genesis. The Rollsys adjustment is fantastic.
@VeloVita
I’ll second this, although you may have some issues storing your glasses in the vents if you need anything bigger than a medium.
my VMH bought me a new Bontranger at the end of the season. Other than being a Trek product it is fairly comfortale. I has used Specialized, LAS, and Giro – all are fine. I will be stocking Kask in the studio.
@the Engine
Note that both Giro and Bell are owned by parent Easton-Bell. From that, one may infer (although I have no data) that Bell/Giro are somewhat comparable in technical, safety, and quality for helmets in the same price range. That said, they do use different molds, similar to different lasts for shoe makers, so get the one that fits the best and looks the least dorky. As has been stated previously, they all have to meet the same impact standards (that’s another discussion) – after that there is no way to really judge one safer than another.
Im with @scaler911 , I have a Sterling as well and I really like it.
Er…struggling to find where to post this. I am planning a little family hols in Carcassonne, France next summer and may hire rather than transport my bike there. Anyone know anywhere that hires out decent road bikes in the general area…the web searches are not yielding much.
In fact is there a website that logs places around the world where decent road bikes can be hired? I am fed up with searches that give me mountain bikes, sit up and beg with basket bikes, references to local sites to see on your ride round town and all manner of other shit. If there isn’t then we could start a log here?!!
@Deakus here you go: http://www.test-cycles.com/index.php
This morning I told my framebuilder to warm up his torch for my titanium cyclocross bike. So excited!
@G’rilla
Nice! Which builder?
@VeloVita I’m working with a local Seattle builder who is an amazing welder, a master of geometry, and a crazy fast cyclocross racer. 333fab:
http://www.333fab.com/bicycles/cyclocross
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=pAz4RYxDc8s
You’ve all seen this right?
@VeloVita A local Seattle builder 333fab:
http://www.333fab.com/bicycles/cyclocross
@Deakus
This one looks like they have what you want, too. Try your search in French for more.