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 EffectRule #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 BlackGuest 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 StableDialing in the Stable
    This 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 rugMatching the drapes to the rug
    As 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 HourFestum Prophetae: Waiting for the Hour
    Everyone 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 ...

15,871 Replies to “The Bikes”

  1. @DerHoggz

    @wiscot

    Yes, I agree on the white tape. I am a white tape guy, but picked up that stella azura tape from the clearance bin when I was ordering a couple dvd from world cycling ( I think I needed $6 to get free shipping and the tape put me there.) I was concerned that the bike was “too white ” for a training bike, requiring more cleaning. I have been spoiled by the low upkeep of my stealth Canyon!

  2. @Deakus

    @smithers

     

    First proper ride today on new wheelset & vittoria open corsa evo SCs – sold on both, more than living up to the hype.

    I have to say, I am loving my Open Corsa SCs, the ride is sublime compared to the Conti GPs

    I’ve jumped on board after finding a pair on closeout for $40/tire.  I was going to wait until my set of GP4000Ss needed to be replaced, but I’ll just move them to Bike #2

  3. @robditch

    OK, ok… so there are a couple of infractions, but i was under some pressure to get the shot prior to the arrival of a coach load of folk, who follow a different path.

    Would this be the Last Temptation of Christ? Hmmmm . . . . crucifixion or a nice ride on the Cinelli? . .

  4. @Weldertron

    @Ron

    I have an either/or question and I’m after some advice. Best option for CX gearing:

    46/39 on a standard crankset OR 46/36 on compact?

    I was using 42/38 x 11/26 until my standard crank arms bit the dust. I can either go for Force traditional or compact. Compact might allow more ring options (but how often do you swap those?) but I have compact cranks on one road bike (50/34) and my legs have never liked it, the 34 just feels weird. I use my cross bike for occasional racing, but mostly for riding gravel, fire, and woods routes when the roads are busy or it’s cold/wet. Would rather not be swapping cassettes for a 1 hour leg-stretcher ride, so looking for the most versatile route. I have plenty of cassettes, 25, 26, 28 tooth options.

    I run a 46/38 Rival on a standard. The advice i was given was the hills in cross races will never need a 34. Anything steep will probably be a run up, and anything that’s not steep enough the justify a dismount will be short enough to use your current momentum. It also depends on how strong of a rider you are, and where you like to be. The small ring will be pretty helpful in peanut butter mud races as you’ll be riding slower than you would on hardpack. But will you be constantly topping out your 34/11? Any reason you don’t want to just buy new crank arms?

    If you go compact, you can always get a 52t big ring, which from my experience is basically indistinguishable from a 53t standard.

  5. @EricW

    @Weldertron

    @Ron

    I have an either/or question and I’m after some advice. Best option for CX gearing:

    46/39 on a standard crankset OR 46/36 on compact?

    I was using 42/38 x 11/26 until my standard crank arms bit the dust. I can either go for Force traditional or compact. Compact might allow more ring options (but how often do you swap those?) but I have compact cranks on one road bike (50/34) and my legs have never liked it, the 34 just feels weird. I use my cross bike for occasional racing, but mostly for riding gravel, fire, and woods routes when the roads are busy or it’s cold/wet. Would rather not be swapping cassettes for a 1 hour leg-stretcher ride, so looking for the most versatile route. I have plenty of cassettes, 25, 26, 28 tooth options.

    I run a 46/38 Rival on a standard. The advice i was given was the hills in cross races will never need a 34. Anything steep will probably be a run up, and anything that’s not steep enough the justify a dismount will be short enough to use your current momentum. It also depends on how strong of a rider you are, and where you like to be. The small ring will be pretty helpful in peanut butter mud races as you’ll be riding slower than you would on hardpack. But will you be constantly topping out your 34/11? Any reason you don’t want to just buy new crank arms?

    If you go compact, you can always get a 52t big ring, which from my experience is basically indistinguishable from a 53t standard.

    Not sure where the 52 is coming from. This is for a cross bike, a 52 would be useless.

  6. @VeloVita

    @Deakus

    @smithers

     

    First proper ride today on new wheelset & vittoria open corsa evo SCs – sold on both, more than living up to the hype.

    I have to say, I am loving my Open Corsa SCs, the ride is sublime compared to the Conti GPs

    I’ve jumped on board after finding a pair on closeout for $40/tire. I was going to wait until my set of GP4000Ss needed to be replaced, but I’ll just move them to Bike #2

    You are going to love it!

  7. @Weldertron

    @EricW

    @Weldertron

    @Ron

    I have an either/or question and I’m after some advice. Best option for CX gearing:

    46/39 on a standard crankset OR 46/36 on compact?

    I was using 42/38 x 11/26 until my standard crank arms bit the dust. I can either go for Force traditional or compact. Compact might allow more ring options (but how often do you swap those?) but I have compact cranks on one road bike (50/34) and my legs have never liked it, the 34 just feels weird. I use my cross bike for occasional racing, but mostly for riding gravel, fire, and woods routes when the roads are busy or it’s cold/wet. Would rather not be swapping cassettes for a 1 hour leg-stretcher ride, so looking for the most versatile route. I have plenty of cassettes, 25, 26, 28 tooth options.

    I run a 46/38 Rival on a standard. The advice i was given was the hills in cross races will never need a 34. Anything steep will probably be a run up, and anything that’s not steep enough the justify a dismount will be short enough to use your current momentum. It also depends on how strong of a rider you are, and where you like to be. The small ring will be pretty helpful in peanut butter mud races as you’ll be riding slower than you would on hardpack. But will you be constantly topping out your 34/11? Any reason you don’t want to just buy new crank arms?

    If you go compact, you can always get a 52t big ring, which from my experience is basically indistinguishable from a 53t standard.

    Not sure where the 52 is coming from. This is for a cross bike, a 52 would be useless.

    Upon more careful rereading I realized that @Ron was talking about the inner ring.  In either case, I think a compact is more useful on a cross bike.

  8. I completely agree. there is no real advantage to having a standard, only the disadvantage of not being able to run a smaller inner. I really never understood the whole 42/38 crank thing, it just seems to small a difference to be of any use.

  9. Thanks for the feedback. Yeah, I’ve never like riding a compact so I think I’m going to opt for a standard crankset and go for 46/39 or 38. I have both inner rings, just need to pick up a 46 outer.

    Should be fun to see how the new gearing is. When not racing I’ve felt like I’ve been near the inside of the cassette most of the time. Should be nice to get some lower gearing for woods riding on non-speed days.

    And all black Canyon and a colorful Cyfac? Damn, you’ve got good taste & I like the contrast between the two steeds. Gotta have all types and colors of bikes in the stable, to suit the mood of the day.

  10. This is my ride. My one and only (as of now – I’ve got 2 in the works). I call her The Black Widow. Here is the review I wrote of her over on Cannondale.com:

    I stared at the Black Widow as the sun was rising somewhere off in the distance. I eyeballed the gold accents on the matte black paint job as I ran my fingers along the sleek lines. I shifted to the big ring and then back to the little ring – just to hear the mechanical whirring of the Ultegra Di2 in action. Touching my new ride, looking at the beast…even TALKING about her got my heart racing. This was 12 hours after I picked her up.

    30 minutes later, we were on the road riding to the ride 18 miles away. We had a century planned for today and I couldn’t wait to test out my legs on The Black Widow. I was careful not to lay down too much torque as I didn’t want the Duramo S’s slipping out from the oil that sometimes accumulates on the surface of new tires. So instead, I decided to test The Widow’s sturdiness. I sat up. At 15 mph, not so much as a wobble. I could tell this was going to be a good day.

    We met up with the others and embarked on our ride. I glided along easily, never more than one or two mechanically-efficient and musically-pleasing shifts away from the perfect gearing ratio. Folks, I caution you. This bike is not for the faint of heart. This race-machine is not for those looking to remain at their current speed and/or fitness level. This thoroughbred is CERTAINLY not for those who are content with where they are in life. If, however, you fall into the small group of extraordinary cyclists, cyclists whose goals include winning, getting stronger, snagging KOM’s, looking fresh-to-death and of course, being good fathers, husbands and sons…then this bike is for you. It will elevate your riding to the next level. It will strike a chord deep inside you upsetting all you know, aiding your metamorphosis into the man you know you want to be. The man you know you should be. The man you’ve been looking for an excuse to become. It transformed me.

    After 6,500 feet of climbing, I decided to cut the ride short. The Black Widow’s maiden voyage was planned to be a century+some – that is, 110 miles or so. Unfortunately, the shorter winter days have done quite a number on my desire to be on my bike. Until today. That means that my base mileage isn’t what it once was…in August or September. With aching shoulders and screaming legs, I pulled off and rode a measly 88.5 miles, collapsing at home with a double cheeseburger. 

    To top it all off, I was wearing my team bibs which, on any ride lasting longer than 3.5 hours (or 4 hours, on a good day), leave nasty saddle sores DESPITE the most generous application of chamois cream from the leading manufacturers. In truth, I would lather up as if I were a bodybuilder preparing for his word-championships appearance – my taint would glisten in the sun, if it were exposed. Therefore, I fear I will not be riding The Black Widow tomorrow, but will have to wait until Tuesday to put in my next 5 hours.

    I will leave you with a quote from the Hell of the East as a reminder that regardless of how dope your bike is, how incredibly fast it wants to be ridden or how breathtaking of a view it is sitting on your bed, we are all limited by our own choices. On Assos, his thoughts are:

    “A superb saddle is nothing without a superb pad in your bibs.”

  12. @wiscot

    I was expecting Pythonesque cries of “Blasphemer!”, but in french of course, as i scurried away.

    maybe: “‘scuse me mate, can you hold this cross for a minute?”

    @Dan_R

    ahh. a lover of the italian thoroughbred! Can you suggest some cages, Dan? i’m thinking Harrys, but maybe over-complicated?

  15. Planet X CNC’ed – I try to extend Rule #8 to as many areas of my life as is possible.

    Post Script – is it possible for me to receive notifications of responses or must I sit here periodically refreshing the page and hoping for a response? I’m Fredly in that regard.

  17. @Eli Curt f5 is your friend. no email notifications. very nice ride mate. I own a SuperSix and I think its a pretty great bike.

  18. @RedRanger Thanks very much!

    I’ve since rolled a tubular on that wheelset while in a break…so I dismantled the wheels and laced the King hubs to some H+Son stealth Archetypes. I’ve sworn off tubulars since they took 1.5 months from me!

    F5 dims the keyboard. No dice. (Yes, I’m on a mac.)

    How’s your Supersix built up?

  19. @Eli Curt

    This thoroughbred is CERTAINLY not for those who are content with where they are in life. If, however, you fall into the small group of extraordinary cyclists, cyclists whose goals include winning, getting stronger, snagging KOM’s, looking fresh-to-death and of course, being good fathers, husbands and sons…then this bike is for you. It will elevate your riding to the next level. It will strike a chord deep inside you upsetting all you know, aiding your metamorphosis into the man you know you want to be. The man you know you should be. The man you’ve been looking for an excuse to become. It transformed me.

     

    But will it make me taller? I’d like to be taller.

    Very nice””and good to have another Canon D’Allez disciple among our ranks. My CAAD 9 has been receiving some love. Pics to be posted soon…

  21. @Steampunk

    @Eli Curt

    This thoroughbred is CERTAINLY not for those who are content with where they are in life. If, however, you fall into the small group of extraordinary cyclists, cyclists whose goals include winning, getting stronger, snagging KOM’s, looking fresh-to-death and of course, being good fathers, husbands and sons…then this bike is for you. It will elevate your riding to the next level. It will strike a chord deep inside you upsetting all you know, aiding your metamorphosis into the man you know you want to be. The man you know you should be. The man you’ve been looking for an excuse to become. It transformed me.

     

    But will it make me taller? I’d like to be taller.

    Very nice””and good to have another Canon D’Allez disciple among our ranks. My CAAD 9 has been receiving some love. Pics to be posted soon…

    The vertical challenge is in your mind. Will it and it shall be.

    @unversio

    I used the OTHER conti glue! I know it’s not the tubular’s fault but I will never trust my glueing ability again. It took me a while to be able to corner at full force, at full speed. And that was with clinchers. I don’t think I’d ever trust tubular to the same extent again.

    Riding? Sure. Road racing? Maybe. But crit racing, the current majority of my riding? Nah. At least not now.

  22. @DerHoggz

    @wiscot

    @sthilzy

    @fignons barber

    @EricW

    It’s aluminium. They use a special process to file the welds that takes 3 hours per frame. I started out just wanting a smash-and-bang rig for training and got a bit carried away. Here is a quickie photo from my phone (android nexus camera is terrible). Record groupo (SR crankset), Ritchey 260 stem/Curve bar/Fizik Antares/Look Keo Blades. The wheels are Pacenti SL23/White Ind T11 hubs/Sapim cxrays/Vittoria open evo SC tires. And, yes, I have a couple coca-cola bottles!. Total weight is 16lbs,7 oz. I have about 3000k on it, nice stiff no nonsense ride.

    Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous. Just put some white bar tape on there and it’ll be perfect.

    @fignons barber Very nicely executed! Chapeau to you!

    @wiscot Suggestion for the tape? (And hoods?)

    White tape and hoods would be ideal. If you have a pro mechanic with lots of red, white and blue benotto tape, I’d go the whole hog and copy Le Professeur. However, Fignon was champion of France in 1984 so he had the right to that tape job. Rule #16 applies here I think.

    That was also his Bastille Day tape-job, not everyday if I recall.

    or black to match the stem. i do like the bike overall.

  23. @RedRanger

    @Eli Curt

    Proof that Cannondales can be sexy as fuck.

    i love cannondale as well, i cant say im a huge fan of the massiv deep rims but to each there own. great mat black frame, are those your sunday best wheels or everyday?

  24. @Eli Curt Right now it is pretty much a stock shimano 105 bike. I have upgraded the fizik saddle and bar tape and 3T post, stem and bars to match the matte black and white motif, along with black LOOK pedals. I think she looks amazing. I am currently 3 months away from finishing my schooling to become an aviation mechanic. When I get my first job in the field, IM dreaming about a Ultegra upgrade with possibly some HED Stinger wheels

    I havnt taken any recent photos of my bike but here is a sample(with old cages)

    with this saddle

    these are the wheels Im thinking about:

  25. @fignons barber

    @DerHoggz

    @wiscot

    Yes, I agree on the white tape. I am a white tape guy, but picked up that stella azura tape from the clearance bin when I was ordering a couple dvd from world cycling ( I think I needed $6 to get free shipping and the tape put me there.) I was concerned that the bike was “too white ” for a training bike, requiring more cleaning. I have been spoiled by the low upkeep of my stealth Canyon!

    i love this bike, black black and more black, can never go wrong. i use white tape to match my white saddle to the white lettering on my bike. however it always looks dirty. planning on switching my tape back to black soon.

  26. @RedRanger

    @Eli Curt Right now it is pretty much a stock shimano 105 bike. I have upgraded the fi’zi:k saddle and bar tape and 3T post, stem and bars to match the matte black and white motif, along with black LOOK pedals. I think she looks amazing. I am currently 3 months away from finishing my schooling to become an aviation mechanic. When I get my first job in the field, IM dreaming about a Ultegra upgrade with possibly some HED Stinger wheels

    I havnt taken any recent photos of my bike but here is a sample(with old cages)

    with this saddle

    these are the wheels Im thinking about:

    looks like the same bike as me and i like that wheel set. deep enough to cut the wind, but still climb like a champ.

  28. @RedRanger ah i was wondering if it was the six, mine is a cadd10. basically the same bike minus the full carbon and a pound or 2, mine is the 2012.

  29. @thebaron Nothing wrong with having the best alu bike on the market. Merckx I forgot you had campa wheels on that. what a trip that is. Ill have to get some decent pictures of mine at some point.

  31. @Eli Curt ya slamming to come soon enough. i want some new components up there so i don’t want to cut it just yet. just in case.

  33. @RedRanger

    @Eli Curt

    Proof that Cannondales can be sexy as fuck.

    Welcome!

    That’s like the Batmobile. And Matte black is very Ninja for a crit machine. Nice. Question (observation): why the SS bidon cages instead of black carbon ones?

  34. @scaler911

    @RedRanger

    @Eli Curt

    Proof that Cannondales can be sexy as fuck.

    Welcome!

    That’s like the Batmobile. And Matte black is very Ninja for a crit machine. Nice. Question (observation): why the SS bidon cages instead of black carbon ones?

    i was actually thinking the same thing. and wondering how those wheels climb?

  36. @scaler911

    @RedRanger

    @Eli Curt

    Proof that Cannondales can be sexy as fuck.

    Welcome!

    That’s like the Batmobile. And Matte black is very Ninja for a crit machine. Nice. Question (observation): why the SS bidon cages instead of black carbon ones?

    Those are actually titanium. I was peer-pressured into getting them by a training partner of mine (who is currently the welcome picture on Serotta’s website). They’re basically as light, don’t scratch the bidons to the same degree and grip like a boa. I love ’em.

  37. @thebaron I’ve never climbed on the wheels – nothing more than 5 second bursts, at least. They were chinese tubulars and SUPER light at that. Built up with DT champion spokes and King R45’s, they came in at 1600 grams with no tires. For the amount of carbon….I mean, they were 88mm deep.

    They sounded super intimidating in races, and I was prone to finding myself in breaks, so I opted for very aero wheels over wheels that spun up quickly. After upgrading categories recently, I’ve been less of a breakaway pretender and now mostly play with sprinting. Ergo, a ~1400 gram, shallow, quick-spinning wheelset that I built with BikeHubStore/Novatec/Sapim rims/hubs/spokes.

  38. @Eli Curt in terms of what? stem and bar or wheels? stem carbon. bar something cooler looking and crank set something proper. for your bike id pick up a second set of wheels for general riding so you don’t ruin those expensive ones on training rides and hills. that’s about it for both. but its always fun to get new stuff.

  39. @thebaron I was inquiring as to why your stem isn’t slammed.

    I’ve been eyeing the Deda 35 candy recently. Have you had the fortune of coming across that line? It’s purty.

  41. @Eli Curt

     

    Those are actually titanium. I was peer-pressured into getting them by a training partner of mine (who is currently the welcome picture on Serotta’s website). They’re basically as light, don’t scratch the bidons to the same degree and grip like a boa. I love ’em.

    Don’t wanna be a dick but there are a couple of Serotta owners on here, http://www.bicycleretailer.com/north-america/2013/07/31/serotta-lays-40-workforce-planning-shutdown#.Ufox4ODXGfR

    Sorry if this is gonna effect anyone you know.

  42. @unversio

    @Eli Curt Schlauchreifenkitt! Rolling a tubular is not the fault of the tubular.

    For a raving lunatic it’s impressive how often Unversio’s on the mark

  43. Howdy @thebaron!! Looks like you spend more time here than me nowdays!!

  44. @minion

    @Eli Curt

    Those are actually titanium. I was peer-pressured into getting them by a training partner of mine (who is currently the welcome picture on Serotta’s website). They’re basically as light, don’t scratch the bidons to the same degree and grip like a boa. I love ’em.

    Don’t wanna be a dick but there are a couple of Serotta owners on here, http://www.bicycleretailer.com/north-america/2013/07/31/serotta-lays-40-workforce-planning-shutdown#.Ufox4ODXGfR

    Sorry if this is gonna effect anyone you know.

    Phil Liggett rides Serotta….not sure if that is a good or bad thing….

  45. Anyone using Challenge Open Tubulars for Cx? Looking at a set as an alternative to making a set of tub wheels, and using their latex inner tubes

    I imagine they wouldn’t run much different to a set of full tubs, especially if I can get some decent wide section rims to lace up

  48. @minion I know I saw that on The Paceline….very sad news. I don’t think they’re going to stop production, I just think they’re trying to get out of upper management that isn’t in line with Ben’s overall views.

  49. @Mike_P ACTUALLY…..everyone says that but they weren’t unmanageable. My racing weight was around 170 when I rode those, so that may have something to do with it…a muscular 170.

  50. @Dr C

    Anyone using Challenge Open Tubulars for Cx? Looking at a set as an alternative to making a set of tub wheels, and using their latex inner tubes

    I imagine they wouldn’t run much different to a set of full tubs, especially if I can get some decent wide section rims to lace up

    I believe the issue here is still going to the inability to drop a clinchers pressure as far as a tubulars, which is the main advantage of running them. You’re just going to end up with expensive pinch flats.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.