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 ...
@Dan_R
Fortunately not! Seattle’s best welder and a damn fine cyclocross racer, http://www.333fab.com/
@the Engine use it for easy days to ride out to corrieri’s etc, or if you are going to dump it at the guiser road site give me a shout.
@the Engine Use it for whatever you like. Just maintain and take care of it as you would any other bike. It’s a beauty.
@strathlubnaig
That’s what I thought – think I might just leave the DT shifters and Casteli quill for now too. Quick trip to the LBS to make sure there’s nothing horribly wrong and there’s the winter bike.
@Marko
All the way from Connecticut – circa 1995 – not ridden in nearly 10 years and the computer started working as soon as I wheeled it from its lair.
@roger
I’d be bold and suggest to cookie maker to have them detailed on the drive side. Just a Rule #26 thing, even if only cookies.
And now, from back in the days before doping was invented, here’s my Denti. I’ve been slowly downgrading all the modernish stuff that had been stuck on before I bought it. Now it looks a lot better. Changes since I last posted include:
1. Modern San Marco Aspide saddle replaced by Rolls.
2. 12-25 cassette replaced by 11-21.
3. Ambrosio clinchers replaced by Campa Lambda Strada tubulars (with tan side walls!).
4. No-name quill stem replaced by slimline 3TTT.
5. Modern ergo bars replaced by Sakae Custom bars (380mm width!).
[dmalbum: path=”/velominati.com/wp-content/uploads/readers/Richard/2013.01.20.08.18.50/1/”/]
snow in the UK means i’m indoors at the V and dime
took this on my phone:
@the Engine
It deserves better….Delta Brakes..Cinelli Stem…Vittoria still make retro shoes, get yourself a Peugeot top and cap (only cos Frank is still playing hunt the cunt for a V cap distributor) and put a Selle Royale or a Brooks saddle on.
Then go ride the Strada Bianchi!!
@Dan_R
Pissed off! I thought it was here…Winchester UK (3 miles down the road) until I saw the MA at the end….colon open brackets.
@Deakus I meant Rolls saddle!
@motor city
Fantastic! Great sense of motion (2013 photo entry?) but how did you manage to bend at that angle whilst doing your VO2 max test on your turbo?
@Deakus
She’s mid-90’s – from an era when DT shifters were becoming rare. It’s my brother’s old cycling shit sandwich bike so he had it with areo bars and back in the day it was easier, cheaper and lighter to have DT shifters with that set up. She’s also post Delta Brakes. The quill is Cinelli and I have a Selle Royale (yellow ffs) in the man cave but the Flite is the original fit apparently.
Basically its a good but not exceptional frame and excepting the stem, bars and shifters she’ll look very similar to now when she’s out on the road as #2/winter steed – if I keep her clean she’ll do a few years yet.
Not pictured is a custard and red Ribble of the same vintage – with the help of the LBS she’ll become a fixie/singlespeed (haven’t decided which yet).
Now I need names – obviously with my Ridley as Charlene, these two need appropriate callsigns as well.
@the Engine
OK did not realise she was that “young”…..definately winter trainer then….namers….er…..Ellie the Engine?
This is what riding in the desert here does to tires. Its a good thing the Stan’s sealed it up a bit at least. Im trying to save the tire for a few more weeks at least.
@Deakus
Seeing as we are posting bits of bike foties, here’s my big ring after 4000km. Too much time sur la plaque I guess.
@strathlubnaig
So I am guessing you are giving Robert Forstermann a run for his money?
@Deakus man, that is just unnatural. Nah, I just foolishly ignored chain stretch. 10 speed wears out way faster than a 9, apparently. LBS has bits on order.
@Deakus
Whoa, those are crazy guns! They look like they could warp time, let alone mash a big cog – like something out of Ratchet & Clank’s arsenal. Scary…
@the Engine
I’d keep the downtube shifters – if only for old s’cool novelty value.I have acquired a bike of similar age I’m going to return to roadworthiness and that has downtube shifters, it also only has a 7 speed cassette coz it was was cheap even back in the day. Yours is a nice bike – needs a sophisticated Italian name…unfortunately I can’t suggest any!
@Patrick
Can easily be converted back – I’ll keep the parts and the frame won’t change
@the Engine simple name would be Jordan…but doesn’t really evoke la dolce vita
@Mikael Liddy
…or Dana
Stefania. As in Stefania Giordana.
@minion
I’m beginning to like the place your imagination is at – let’s get some more on that flipchart…
@Deakus ooooohh Vittoria shoes! Good man, the only shoes I have on order so far.
@minion
And continue….
@the Engine
If you name her Tamara, it will be pumps at dawn bitch!
@Dan_R
And continue….
I’ve been watching too much tennis form the Australian open. Italian and Eastern European names some of which are more aurally appealing than others.
@minion
Watching a sport other than cycling? The heat must be getting to you.
@Bianchi Denti
It looks really good mate.Nicely done.
All,
Quick question. I’m doing Levi’s Gran Fondo in October (I know feelings about the guy are mixed, but it’s a hell of a ride). This will be the first time flying with my bike, as so far I’ve been able to drive everywhere I needed to ride/race. What travel case do you recommend for flying? Any particular tips or advice you have? I’ve been looking at the Pika Packworks EEP, which seems to get great reviews, but a softcase still slightly worries me.
Thanks in advance.
EricW
@Dan_R
Thank you. Wrenching what though?? Thought cleaning toilets was mans work!
@Mrs Engine
Why – every time I see mention of the word doughnut do I have to do the “if you want your doughnuts to look like Fannies” quote?
@EricW
Hire when you get there….never fly with your bike….some dickhead will break it, it is practically a dead cert! There are some instruction videos on Youtube but they are not all that great….whatever you pick make sure you put some sort of “bridging” between forks and seat stays, even if it is only fitting quick releases. One of the most commong calamities is bent/cracked forks or seat stays because you have removed the wheels and there is little there to stop them from snapping in the case of luggage handlers hurling your pride and joy across the baggage area!
@Deakus Thanks. Yeah I’m definitely worried about the rough handling. I’ve packed and shipped bikes before, and I always put a bridge or spare hub in the dropouts. The one comforting thing is that the frame is steel, not carbon (although my fork is). I definitely WON’T be bringing my nice all carbon wheels though.
Yeah, now that there are so many jetsetting Velominati what are the thoughts on a folding bike, like a Ritchey Break Away? I don’t travel or fly that much so not much of a concern for me…and the VMH has told me travel time is a good time to leave the bikes behind for awhile. I suppose she’s right.
@motor city
Good god man, how long are your arms?
@Deakus
Call her Julie or Julia.
Think I am coming round to the BMC’s slightly whacky frame (no offence intended @Marko)
Bit less red, bit more white and black….. but then it is Fast Phil’s, so I guess none of us will be riding that livery
@the Engine
Nice work LBS.
If #1 is Charlene (or Sharleen) how about Spiteri for #2? … “I don’t want a lover, I just need a friend”
@eenies
Nice Texas reference there big man! Saw them at the Pavilion in Glasgow in the mid 80s. For some reason the crowd wasn’t quite as enthusiastic as Ms Spiteri wanted and she asked “Yeez ur awfy quiet the night. Whit’s wrang wi youz?” Needless to say this mild chastisement didn’t go down too well with the punters. Still a good gig though.
@wiscot
Surely if you are calling the other one Charlene this one should be called Scott!
Damn, that Giordana is looking great! But now here is an issue that I too have with one bike – the quill stem looked pretty good but now with threadless & a few spacers, things don’t look so good, in my opinion. My Casati has a really short HT and I have a few spacers under the stem since I use it mainly for long training rides and don’t need a lot of drop. But I hate how the spacers look. I don’t really think there is a way around it for me, aside from getting more flexible in the hips & back, but I just don’t like the look of a few spacers.
Names. Ha, I have a list of names I wrote down years ago. Many of the female names are very, very Euro or Italian. Pretty funny now when I showed the VMH and she more or less said, No Way!
@Mrs Engine
Yes – and don’t call me Shirley
@the Engine Looken good ! I bet she will feel as good as she looks,
@EricW
I have a Polaris EVA bike pod. It’s a semi hard case, so it’s not that heavy, and works well.
I haven’t flown with the bike in it – I bought it to ship my bike from Melbourne to Singapore with some household stuff. It survived perfectly through at least a few trips in trucks and a shipping container. I packed it full of bubble-wrap and it was no stress. No handles makes it a pain to carry around, though, despite the wheels at one end.
@Dr C
More importantly, how the hell is that thing standing up ?? Unless im going completely blind thats a good photoshop. Wheels need to be de – decalled ………. All black is the new black ….
@the Engine
Roger, Roger.