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 ...
@Fred Sweet looking ride! You might reconsider the angle of the bar, though — I got a bunch of pointers on mine in this thread recently, and I reckon yours is tipped about V degrees too far forward.
Crud, couldn’t get the text input to work on the phone…
Anyhow, mid 80s Modelo 2500, Shimano 600. I have a slick set of Benotto branded Tubs with the Shimano 600 hubs, but the straight block cassette coupled with me being way to fat to climb necessitated a swap to the old Suzue freewheel with the Araya rims. Not quite rule compliant, but probably the closest to being compliant in the stable…
@andrew
You are probably right–I have a bit of maintenance to do today, I may be able to correct that…
@Bespoke
As @Andrew said, only if you are paying for it. A lot of folks won’t understand why they have to pay for extra bits if the LBS is keeping the originals. Add in the cost of the Mechanic doing the work and the time the salesman has to spend attending to you and the shop starts losing money pretty quick. Better for them to send you on your way and then when you figure out that your setup is wrong they’ll sell you the new parts to replace your “used” ones. Little jaded here…
@Mikael Liddy
I just had a Retul fit, and found that I was a little over-extended, too. Stiffness in my right shoulder after a couple of hours’ riding. But my “guy” didn’t want to shorten my stem (mine is 100mm)””he was worried about diminished steering control with the shorter stem, and recommended instead that I get compact bars with a shallower reach to the hoods.
So: new bars & matching stem coming (FSA Omega & OS 190). And while I’m at it: a new, lighter fork (upgrading to Cannondale’s Premium). And, just because: a new saddle (Kurve Antares). Only the first was recommended, but I got carried away.
@andrew
I have to agree with Andrew here on both counts – absolutely beautiful bicycle! and I’d tilt the bars so that the drops are parallel with the top tube.
@GreenGiant
Flip the stem and you are home free! Bel mezzo as we say here. And don’t tell the short cyclists but besides the potential for being gravitationally challenged, being a big cyclist rules.
What do ya think of my steed? (SPD’s removed to preserve your eyesight.)
Also, the heel rub really took its toll on the crank. Any ideas to eliminate heel rub, and repaint the crank?
Fizik seatpost has been on the bike for a year. The saddle was added today (replacing an older Aliante model). I’m very pleased; the pic doesn’t do it justice, but the saddle rails pick up the writing on the pin very nicely indeed. Angle corrected.
My new steed:
Wilier Cento1 SR
Campy chorus. FSA/Wilier Carbon bars and carbon cranks. Integrated seatpost with Ritchey cap.
De-stickered Fulcrum Quattros for now. Elite cages. Red hoods being tested out but likely switched out for black shortly.
Amazing first ride. Super stiff, massive BB, but still quite comfortable. I’m in love.
@Steampunk
does fi’zi:k bar tape complete the cockpit?
@freddy
Bien sur, Will be wrapping some fresh tape this weekend.
@Efe Balli
Nice. KTM is a popular dirt bike (of the motorized variety) in Canada, but I don’t think we can get the human propelled versions.
@Steampunk
check…um…shoes?
@freddy
Thanks.
Strangely KTM didn’t expand the bike department on North America. Domination of US brands, maybe?
Buy some European bikes.
@cantona
Like it! The red hoods, not so much, red cable housing hmmm… the red on the frame is cool but the other bits seem like too much of a good thing.
@Efe Balli like the two-tone bar tape.
@freddy
Giros, but they match the helmet…
@piwakawaka only if I didn’t have to meticulously clean the white part after every ride…
@Steampunk
I hear fi’zi:k is testing handlebars. What’s next, pedals? Their product development seems to be from the human contact points in.
@Steampunk
Yeah unfortunately the bars that came with the bike were compacts already…the shop I’m having fit the stem is gonna let me use a tester for a month to make sure that it’s not too drastic a change.
@freddy they’ve already released their bars & stems. AG2R are using them this year.
@piwakawaka
agreed. I think it will become more black in the near future.
Had an 11:00 appointment with the LBS for a fitting of my bike that I bought last year. In light off the comments above, I thought it appropriate to report on my experience.
I was new to cycling when I purchased my bike. As such, I was give a very conservative setup. On this refit we talked about how much I’m riding, the kind of speed I’m capable of and what my fit issues are at present. I’ve been getting numb hands after long rides So I told him about that.
After watching me on the bike for a bit he decided that I needed a more aggressive riding position. He raised the saddle and tilted it slightly forward to assist in getting my hips to rotate forward. He dropped the handlebars buy about an inch as well. He then worked with me to show me how to get my hips in a good riding position and also on some suggestions to improve my form over the bars and to get my weight off of my hands. He said that I should give it a go for a couple of weeks and then return to see him and maybe put in a longer stem.
I fully expected to pay for the fitting but was charged nothing!
Love my bike shop!
@Mikael Liddy
Not available yet for us mere mortals. Their site is counting down for another couple of months. I was sorely tempted to wait, but given my need for a more shallow reach, I thought it might be prudent to put the right size on the bike.
@Mikael Liddy
Hmm. Is the bike just a bit too big? After shifting the saddle forward and recommending shallow reach bars, the guy doing the fit suggested going down a size if I was looking for another bike. Not absolutely necessary, but it might give me more flexibility in terms of the set-up…
@Steampunk really hope not but the possibility was tentatively raised while we were going through the fitting session. Shane (the physio) tends to join our regular Saturday group every now & then, and has just had his first kid a week before we did, so was more than aware that it being found to be too big could lead to some very uncomfortable discussions at home…
@Mikael Liddy
Hmmm, yeah, my reaction is much like Steamy’s.
A 70mm stem on a road bike seems just not right somehow. How much seat post do you have showing? How much saddle setback are you running, both via the post and within the rails? (ie. do you have a 50mm setback post?)
What TT length do you have and how tall are you again?
Otherwise, could it be that you have some flexibility issues (lower back, hip flexors, ITB) that are preventing you from getting you upper body rotating into the correct position?
It’d be interesting to see a side on shot of you on the bike to see how you’re sitting…
@Mikael Liddy
Oh, and not to say that I’d know any better than your Retul mate. I’m sure he’s very good. More curiosity on my part than anything…
@Steampunk
I’ve just had neck + shoulder pain after a 3-day race. I dropped 1cm in the stem, came up 5mm, went to a semi-compact handlebar (which brought me back another 1.5 cm) and then – probably most drastically – swapped out the 6700 ultegra for 7800 dura ace, which also effectively got me another 1cm – I find the newer shimano hoods really uncomfortable compared to the older style (and I’m not even going to start on how much better the shift used to be.) – when you get a tape measure out it’s jaw-dropping what effect that has on effective reach. Touch wood, a lot more comfortable now.
@cantona
I’m sure it’s very nice to ride.
Some great bikes here — just seeing them makes me want to ride, which is stupidly frustrating at the moment, given that I spent a week travelling for work and came back with a sinus infection which has laid me up for another week. Right in the middle of the season, tooo — I’ve already missed two planned RTFs here (Rundtourfahrten — the German version of a sportive or gran fondo).
@Steampunk
How does it ride compared to the Aliante? I need to replace a slightly sagging Aliante and am debating between a new Aliante (I love the fit and have them on all my bikes) and trying the Kurve Bull. Post-ride opinion?
@piwakawaka
i am ok with the red cable housing but the red tape is too much….black black black all the way and I would recommend lizard skin dsp…then i think light will actually bend round that bike…it looks like something out of Tron!
@Deakus
*cough…I meant hoods!
@Deakus I was thinking more of this chap…
@ChrisO
I sense disdain in that comment… Or am I being defensive?
@Deakus
just ordered the black hoods. I’ll see how the cables look once they’re on. Lizard Skin is what’s on there now. Definitely my favourite tape Although I recently converted to the thin kind.
Thanks for the feedback
@mouse
This wasn’t a Retul fit (that was Steamy). Mate of mine is a physio that does bike fits that look at things from doing a physical assessment on where your weaknesses are & then setting it up for you. I’d been having shocking neck, shoulder & upper back pain and had been advised that I appeared too stretched out on the bike.
There’s no doubt I’m a little shocked at how much he’s recommended I shorten it by, but as I said the LBS is happy for me to trial a stem at that length so I’m not locked in by a purchase.
@ChrisO
I bet he can ride too!
@Cantona
Trust your senses… true, I’d rather ride it than look at it.
Sorry. I do generally subscribe to the view that bikes are like people’s girlfriends – if you don’t have anything nice to say after first meeting the girl, then it’s best to wait until after they split up before revealing you and everyone else hated her all along.
On the other hand this is a site dedicated in large part to the aesthetics of cycling. We would critique someone for misaligned valves or unnecessary additions which detract from the look of the machine.
In general the spirit of the Rules is to be simple and clean in all things, and my personal view is that yours is bit over the top.
Still, if it floats your boat then happy sailing !
@ChrisO
It is a point well made, however I thnk that bike has potential….especially seeing as the cento UNO is a great frame. Go black hoods, saddle, and stem and i think it will look very aggressive. Also leave the wheels sans decals and you will have a machine that looks like the cycling equivalent of a deranged serial killer!
@ChrisO
don’t ever feel bad for honesty. It is a better conversation starter than passive aggression, and I take no offense. I didn’t post here thinking everyone would want to own it. I posted out of excitement and pride in ownership after a long search. I would have taken an ad in the newspaper too I’m so excited!! To each their own – otherwise we’d only have one bicycle. I had this one built up with some parts from a red cento1 in order to avoid an order from Italy that would have cost me at least a month of the already too short Toronto cycling season. That’s why the red hoods will be going – and possibly the cables though I’m not sure yet if I like them. In my entirely personal opinion, all things Italian are a bit flashy – Cipo, Petacchi, Ferrari, Ducati – I actually think this frame is somewhat understated for the Italian milieu. You should see the red one I cannibalized! That Italian flare is what I was hoping to have.
On to the better stuff to write about – just returned from my first 100km on it. What a ride. Stunningly silent, stiff and responsive. I am in love. Also, this was my first time riding Campy and I can’t believe it’s taken me so long. Everything from the feel of the hoods, to the precise shifting, to the amazing tactile, mechanical feel of the shifters blew me away. I am more than impressed.
Off to clean her off for the day.
@Cantona Thank you for taking it in good spirit.
Though you accurately sensed my reservation I did also really mean that I’m sure it would be very nice to ride – I like Wiliers and have always thought of them as a bike I could own. I know quite a few people who ride them too and they all speak very highly of them. Worthy of love.
@ChrisO
no problem – this back and forth is why I read this site daily!
@simon
Maybe I’m in the honeymoon phase, but lordy: today’s ride felt nice. Note I switched to the chameleon as well, so it wasn’t just swapping one bull for another (there’s a joke here, somewhere). But the saddle felt very comfortable and smooth. I’ll put a few more hours on it before coming to a real verdict, but right now: very happy.
Oops. Previous message was in response to @Skip. Sorry.
@simon & @Mikael Liddy:
The other part of my fit stressed that I roll the hips forward a bit as I tended to sit back and slouch a bit on the bike. Frank approves of this: my shoulder did not. Trying to make a concerted effort to use the core muscles and push the chest out a bit more while I ride. It’s hard to tell how effective I’ve been on this front yet. But it goes without saying that work off the bike on core and flexibility (off-season, but also during the season) would certainly alleviate these problems. I was in much better shape this time last year, and was able to ride with the discomfort; this year has been miserable in that regard…
But yes: reducing the reach a little can make things more comfortable. I’m in the process of upgrading from 6500 to 6600, which ought to have a minimal effect (compared with the jump to Dura Ace), but with the compact bars, I’m hopeful (it could net me as much as 1.5cm in reduced reach).
@The Pressure
Ok but honestly…the blue tyres?…please tell me you have plans for them that involve petrol?….*cough…if you are going to leave a bidon in the cage you should go with 500ml coke a cola rather than a ten gallon drum!…after that it will be lovely mocheene
Yes… Rules #8, #26 and #52 — the blue tyres don’t pick up any cues from the rest of the bike at all that I can see, and the white bar tape is also a bit glaringly lonely. Other than picking up that 2L bottle.
Doing something like blue tyres, blue bar-tape and blue saddle edging would at least give you a theme — and the black bike might let you get away with it — whereas currently I’m afraid it looks a little like you pulled each one of the shelf with your eyes shut. Hope it’s a good ride!
I have electric blue Pro 4s on an otherwise black bike. Reason being team kit is black and light blue. Acceptable, or am i doing hill climbs til they wear out?