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”

  2. @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.

    I think @marcus covered that pretty well over on the “keep a lid on it” post.

  3. Wow – that’s sad and terrible news about Serotta  –  Bike #1 is my beautiful Serotta Legend.

  4. It’s interesting that were seeing a trend towards brighter kit (Lampre, Cannondale, Farnese-Vini, Belkin, etc.) but matte black bikes.

    Whenever I ride one of my bikes with busy paint, I try to balance it with very simple kit.

  5. Yup, I agree. I just went to my LBS last night and took a look at the 2014 lookbook.

    The black/gold Caad10 Black Inc. Ultimate scheme has been upcycled to the Nano, while the new Ultimate’s scheme is the same, except green has replaced the gold (and has been given a SRAM Green 22 gruppo).

    Time for a new bike to match the team kit? :D

  6. Are they matte or raw carbon? When i saw the first picture of my Felt i thought it was flat, but after seeing one in person it was carbon.

    I’m on the fence about their new “Textreme” carbon.

  7. @Weldertron

    @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.

    I ride Challenge Grifos on Open Pros – with a standard butyl tube I was able to run the tires routinely at 35lbs for cross without pinch flatting.  I weigh 91kg.  I plan on running them with latex tubes this year but am not planning on dropping the pressure any further.  This setup is certainly not as good as tubulars, or tubeless, but in my opinion its a very viable way to go, especially if you only have one set of wheels and/or routine mount different tires to repurpose your cross bike for road/gravel riding.

  9. @VeloVita

    @Weldertron

    @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.

    I ride Challenge Grifos on Open Pros – with a standard butyl tube I was able to run the tires routinely at 35lbs for cross without pinch flatting. I weigh 91kg. I plan on running them with latex tubes this year but am not planning on dropping the pressure any further. This setup is certainly not as good as tubulars, or tubeless, but in my opinion its a very viable way to go, especially if you only have one set of wheels and/or routine mount different tires to repurpose your cross bike for road/gravel riding.

    I’m assuming with the latex, esp if I can source a 25mm rim, the pinch flats will be less of an issue – I may build a set of tubular wheels next season if these are a good improvement, but I will still need a back up set for hooring around the place for fun, and this looks like a good compromise – I canbarely get into my garage for wheels these days, so a set of tubs as well might be a bit much, esp if I’d need a set for dry days and a set for the big wet muddy days

    Thinking of jettisoning my 29er FSR trail bike if this works out to fund some tubulars next season, as I’d rather be on a proper bike if I can help it

  11. I certainly agree they are a very viable option. It was more of a reply to the difference between tubs and clinchers. Using the open tubulars on the road is almost exactly the same, as you are still running high pressure. In cross, the big advantage of tubs (In my opinion) is the ability to drop the pressure lower than a clincher.

  13. @VeloVita Yeah, that’s the 333fab. Really, really love that bike. With all other factors unchanged, it’s made me finish slightly less than half a lap behind Frank in CX practice instead of slightly more than half a lap back.

    @Dr C Dugast Pipistrello 32mm tubulars (file tread). Hopefully I can ride enough to wear these out in the next two months and put some gruntier mud tires on for the Fall and Winter.

  14. @G’rilla

    @VeloVita Yeah, that’s the 333fab. Really, really love that bike. With all other factors unchanged, it’s made me finish slightly less than half a lap behind Frank in CX practice instead of slightly more than half a lap back.

     

    Well worth the money then!  Did you ever post a photo of the completed bike?  If so I must have missed it.  I’m interested in seeing how it turned out.

  15. @Ron

    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.

    Thanks,Ron. I try to cover the full spectrum. I can rationalize one in each material ( carbon,alum,Ti, steel). I also have my trusty old Colnago CT1, so my next project will be a modern steel ride. I think this reasoning follows your rule about N+1.

  16. @Weldertron

    I certainly agree they are a very viable option. It was more of a reply to the difference between tubs and clinchers. Using the open tubulars on the road is almost exactly the same, as you are still running high pressure. In cross, the big advantage of tubs (In my opinion) is the ability to drop the pressure lower than a clincher.

    Absolutement – for me the only time I could justify tubs would be for that very purpose – lots to chose from, the Rhinos probably top the list, but these Challenge Open Tubulars seem to be the only ones to try to bridge the gap, so interested if anyone else had used them

  17. @G’rilla – as a Cx geniuis, albeit with shorter legs than Frank, can you advise me that deep rims (30-40mm) don’t really make much difference in Cx, before I get a set

  18. @Dr C

    @G’rilla – as a Cx geniuis, albeit with shorter legs than Frank, can you advise me that deep rims (30-40mm) don’t really make much difference in Cx, before I get a set

    I’ll toss my small amount of knowledge out there. Unless you are racing in soupy mud or sand, the “rudder effect” of deep rims won’t be usefull. Are you after carbon or aluminum? Due to the constant twists, turns and dismounts, i prefer a lighter, shallower wheel that spins up quickly, than something that might help me through 10 feet of mud.

  19. @Weldertron that’ll do for me

    So what am I going to use for the rims – Velocity A23, or H and Sons?? Or Something I have not found yet?

  20. @Dr C

    @Weldertron that’ll do for me

    So what am I going to use for the rims – Velocity A23, or H and Sons?? Or Something I have not found yet?

    If you’re looking for wider rims either the Velocity A23, the H plus Son Archetype or TB14 (I’d go with the Archetype), or the HED Belgium will do.

  21. I use the Archetypes as my day to day wheels in a 24/28. They have held up very well to the abuses of pot holes and cracks. The A23s i looked at just didn’t feel as well built as the H Plus Son. I have no experience with the Belgiums, but i believe they are more expensive.

    The TB14 is also very nice. It is slightly shallower though, but looks “classic”, so it depends on what you’re looking for.

    Here’s the wheels with some Gatorskins on my cross bike for some spring training.

  22. @Weldertron

    @VeloVita

    H Plus and Sons it is then thanks – another set for the garage…

    I’ll be interested to see how they roll with road tyre on too, albeit not why I’m building them

  23. Very nicely. they are currently on my Felt with some Pro4s. I built them up with Sapim lasers and some BHS hubs. 1471g without tape. I shaved 790g from my stock wheels and tires to these. the black brake track will eventually fade, but i have over 1000km on them and they are still black.

  24. @Dr C CX Magazine did a nearly scientific test and found that:

    • Box section rims throw a lot of mud onto the bike
    • Super deep section rims act like a wall and make it difficult to steer in sand and mud
    • Medium depth aero rims are the best overall (20-30mm range)

    I used Velocity A23 and found they dented easily (I trashed my rear rim in less than a year). I’m running Hed Belgium now but haven’t raced on them yet.

  27. @G’rilla

    That is one seriously fucking gorgeous bike!  I really like Thomson post and cockpit stuff on cross bikes.  It just looks right.  I also love the way the non-ano edges of the TRPs match the unpainted Ti portion of the bike.  You must have a hard time pedaling though.

    When I saw you posted using DM albums I was going to ask for a tutorial as to how to use them, but now, maybe not.

  29. @Weldertron

    Very nicely. they are currently on my Felt with some Pro4s. I built them up with Sapim lasers and some BHS hubs. 1471g without tape. I shaved 790g from my stock wheels and tires to these. the black brake track will eventually fade, but i have over 1000km on them and they are still black.

    Very nice indeed sir! Colored tires are very hard to pull off, but you do it well.

  30. @Dr C

    @Weldertron that’ll do for me

    So what am I going to use for the rims – Velocity A23, or H and Sons?? Or Something I have not found yet?

    Welcome back Doctor. You’ve been missed around here. (Well, I’ve missed your posts at any rate)  Been busy?

  31. @G’rilla

    Absolutely (333)fabulous.  Perfectly executed to my eyes.

    Is that FD cable routing common on cross bikes?  I don’t recall seeing it before.

  32. G’rilla: that is a seriously perfect ride, its right all the way around

    Buddy who bumped up to the 2’s in CX just built his own carbon tubies hoop, and they came up at just a hair over 1000gm, 20mm profile

    so they will spin up quick, and roll out nicely with tubulars, and bite in the corners

    He never thought about deeper

  34. @G’rilla

    @Dr C CX Magazine did a nearly scientific test and found that:

    • Box section rims throw a lot of mud onto the bike
    • Super deep section rims act like a wall and make it difficult to steer in sand and mud
    • Medium depth aero rims are the best overall (20-30mm range)

    I used Velocity A23 and found they dented easily (I trashed my rear rim in less than a year). I’m running Hed Belgium now but haven’t raced on them yet.

    Yes!  Love my HED Belguims!  Just awesome tub rims!

  36. @G’rilla

    @VeloVita If you insist:

    Bel Mezzo. You guys have got to stop posting these cross bikes.  Just keeps me kicking myself for buying a 29er last year (which is now obsolete as everyone is going to 650B) instead of a cross bike. Photos of your 333fab and Frank’s new graveur are keeping me awake nights thinking how to fund a cross/gravel bike, where to put it (since I live in an apartment) and how to sneak it past the VMH.

  38. @wiscot

    @Dr C

    @Weldertron that’ll do for me

    So what am I going to use for the rims – Velocity A23, or H and Sons?? Or Something I have not found yet?

    Welcome back Doctor. You’ve been missed around here. (Well, I’ve missed your posts at any rate) Been busy?

    Most kind of you Wiscot – I’ve been in a huff since Fronk lobbed my Flandrian Lion, and then binned my grey sea urchin in favour of a level1 status – feel like I’m standing in the buff at a hen party with a cold wind blowing

    @G’rilla stunning Cx bike – is that a Moser? Tan side wall love

    @Chris

    @Dr C Stop being such a poof and build up some tubulars.

    All in good time, and when I do, I’ll make sure to stick them on the rims the right way round….

    @Buck Rogers HED, hadn’t looked at them – stay of execution on the trigger pull while I check those out

    I decided I wasn’t going to build another wheel without eyelets, which neither the Archetype nor A23 have disappointingly

  39. @Dr C

    @Weldertron that’ll do for me

    So what am I going to use for the rims – Velocity A23, or H and Sons?? Or Something I have not found yet?

    Chinese carbon.

    Search eBay. Got a pair of 60mm carbon clinchers on Novatec hubs for an embarrassingly low price. Have raced thrice on them thus far with pretty good results. Also, I dare say that they’re lighter than all of the choices that have been suggested thus far. My deep ones are 1550gms inc. skewers. If you got 38’s you’d be in the 1430 range.

  40. @Dr C

    @Chris

    @Dr C Stop being such a poof and build up some tubulars.

    All in good time, and when I do, I’ll make sure to stick them on the rims the right way round….

    Touché. All tubulars are present and correct at the moment. Unfortunately the bile is in the garage at the moment having some love/recabling/retaping after veloniper v2 took me out a couple of weekends ago. Just brought him a beautiful new mountainbike today. Pictures soon but beer to drink now seeing as it’s hot.

  41. @scaler911

    Don’t wanna be a dick

    I think @marcus covered that pretty well over on the “keep a lid on it” post.

    Marcus has had that covered for years. What the fuck was that anyway? Long unseen yeti wang? Cucumber wrapped in tinfoil?

  42. @Chris

    @Skip

    @G’rilla

    @VeloVita If you insist:

    Bel Mezzo. You guys have got to stop posting these cross bikes. Just keeps me kicking myself for buying a 29er last year (which is now obsolete as everyone is going to 650B) instead of a cross bike. Photos of your 333fab and Frank’s new Graveur are keeping me awake nights thinking how to fund a cross/gravel bike, where to put it (since I live in an apartment) and how to sneak it past the VMH.

    Exactly what I have been thinking this week – rode the 29er today and it felt like being on a sofa going uphill – Cx is the only way to go if your not bombing down rocks and jumping, which is contraindicated at my level of ability

  43. Blimey, the HED are expensive – must be for a reason – don’t seem to be able to get them in Europe for some reason – will I get snared in the long grass by USA export taxes if I buy them from USA?

  44. Any reason you want to got he belgium route? they’re nearly twice the price of the Archetypes, and are basically the same wheel. Same weight, depth, width. The finish on the archetypes is outstanding so far. They are also obviously in limited supply.

  45. @Dr C

    @Chris

    @Skip

    @G’rilla

    @VeloVita If you insist:

    Bel Mezzo. You guys have got to stop posting these cross bikes. Just keeps me kicking myself for buying a 29er last year (which is now obsolete as everyone is going to 650B) instead of a cross bike. Photos of your 333fab and Frank’s new Graveur are keeping me awake nights thinking how to fund a cross/gravel bike, where to put it (since I live in an apartment) and how to sneak it past the VMH.

    Exactly what I have been thinking this week – rode the 29er today and it felt like being on a sofa going uphill – Cx is the only way to go if your not bombing down rocks and jumping, which is contraindicated at my level of ability

    So what bike are the new wheels going on?  Do you have a CX bike?

  46. N1. Just pretend that my HRM isn’t hanging from the bars. Also no clue why the bar tape and saddle don’t show up as white, but they are indeed white, and not a filthy looking grayish color.

  47. [dmalbum: path=”/velominati.com/wp-content/uploads/readers/razmaspaz/2013.08.01.22.24.51/1/”/]

    Did somebody say cyclocross?  The wheels are a placeholder while I build up some tubs, shockingly 9spd shimano shifts not shitty on a 10spd campy derailleur.

  49. @Dr C

    Blimey, the HED are expensive – must be for a reason – don’t seem to be able to get them in Europe for some reason – will I get snared in the long grass by USA export taxes if I buy them from USA?

    They are a Minnesota, USA company. The Stingers are pretty cheap for aero, full carbon light as shit wheels.

  50. skip the a23.  they are $80 down the drain.  many many good rims to pick from at that  price.

    you can do the archetypes and will very quickly get over the few extra minutes it took due to lack of eyelets.  would disagree with the chap that said the finish lasts and lasts.  i have the tb14 in hard ano and wore the brake track off in a single day on dry roads.

    im not sure i’d call the stingers ‘cheap’.  about same price as zipps, few hundred less than enve, but do give great pricing on team/school orders.

    hed c2 are worth every penny.  the newer belgium model with the sublimated graphics looks the biz.

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