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. @Jamie Why? Did I look fat to you?

    Speak the truth, and you’ll never see your pullover again.

  2. Well damnit, it’s August and that means cross racing isn’t that far away. Here is was pretending I could go on soft pedaling my road bikes for a few more months, content that is was okay because I’ve been doing a lot of work.

    CX wheels. I bet they’re important but until my handling improves, that is going to be the biggest factor holding me back. I’ve definitely gotten better, but no where near good enough. Don’t know if I’m just being a pussy about it, the fact that I never road mtn. or bmx or what. My handling on the road is now pretty solid due to cx riding, but I still don’t quite feel like I’m doing it right on cx courses.

  4. @frank It likes to pretend that it is starting up Monte Grappa when I am not on it. (It is hanging on the wall, in an appropriate place of reverence and the mount has rotated a bit).
     
    @Scooby Thanks! It was a Europe only color scheme. I had seen a picture of one that someone imported, fell in love and immediately started harassing various retailers until they figured out how to get one. A friend refers to it as my Eurotrash mail order bride, which is fairly appropriate.

  7. @piwakawaka

    Oh, I can grab it alright. The point of getting a number is to set a bar for the next test. And then the next. This has worked for me before, when I moved back to the west coast from Chicago carrying an extra 20 pounds, which I dropped like a stone. Or a stone and a quarter.

  9. @G’rilla

    Show him an x-ray of his hip and I’m sure he could identify the celebrity.

    A hit, a very palpable hit.

  10. @Scooby

    Since I’m new here and I’ve done the obligatory intro post, I suppose my next post should be a pic of my bike! So, here she is, “El Toro”. I named her that because every time I assume the standard riding position with hands on the brake hoods I feel like I’m taking the bull by the horns! She’s an entry level Specialized Secteur Elite alloy framed bike with SRAM Apex Gruppo. I bought her to re-enter the road cycling realm after having ridden a Cannondale H300 hybrid for 14 years. I didn’t want to drop big bucks on a Ti or carbon bike until I knew I wanted to get fully back into road cycling. The geometry is quite relaxed, making the original setup a “plush” ride. This matched the position I had on the hybrid, so over the past 3 years with modifying the riding position it helped me gradually transition into a more aerodynamic, racier position. Had I started with an aggressive geometry I may have experienced back problems and never got into riding as much as I have. Anyway, the things I’ve mod’ed since buying her: saddle (original to Adamo Century XL to Selle Italia SMP Pro), seatpost (original broke, replaced with a Ritchey Comp), cassette (original Apex was more like mtn bike gearing at 11-33. Replaced with Shimano 105 12-27), and wheels (original Mavix CXP-22. Replaced with custom built Psimet wheels. Love them!). The stem has been slammed as far as it can go, putting me into a better aero position. But it’s still not enough due to the geometry. So, I’m on the hunt for a new bike for Christmas. Anyway, El Toro has been a great friend, taking me from the beginning 20 miles solo rides to longer group rides, 3 centuries and starting some racing with a local team for fun (non-UCI).

    nice ride, i hope you’re enjoying it. is that saddle the brother of the Muppet gonzo? lol. have fun cycling and keep posting.

  12. @PeakInTwoYears yep, I’m an advocate of measuring stuff, I’ve measured at least 3 kilos  creep aboard this winter, oh well ” train heavy, race light” , first ride in two weeks tomorrow trying to find an excuse to opt out of the three hour bunch, which will involve lots of payback as they sense the leaden nature of my current ” form” and ride solo where no one will witness my suffering.

  17. @mouse

    that’s good enough for me – I don’t think I’d trust them at 65kph down a mountain descent, but for cyclocross, a rim failure would not be such a death issue, so the risk seems less

    Did you get 38mm or 50mm deep?

  18. @Dr C

    Au contraire. They are very trustworthy indeed.

    i have a pair of 38’s and a pair of 58’s. 38’s for road, 58’s currently on CX.

  19. Trying again.  It is right side up in the preview window, so I’m sure it will be right this time

  20. For bdy fat you could probably get an ok reading with a set of those calipers?

  21. @girl, @ten B, @DerHoggz

    I finally found a person at a local gym who can do it with calipers, but even she said that it’s not terribly accurate. (Gotta pinch the very same places with the very same pressure every time.) She gave me the number of another local trainer who has one of the little computerized doodads. I’ve got a voicemail in with him.

  22. @Dr C

    Second what @mouse said. I have a set of 24mm for climbing (1050g). Cheap as chips for the quality and haven’t felt at all sketchy on fast descents.

  24. @RedRanger

    Generic Chinese carbon wheels from the seller linked by @Dr C and referenced by @mouse. Mine are 24mm tubulars with Proway (?) hubs.

  25. @RedRanger

    Ah, fuck, it was a different seller, carbonspeedcycle rather than speedcarbonwhatever… Still surprised how nice the wheels are. Only about 3,000 km on them but no complaints.

  26. @PeakInTwoYears

    @piwakawaka

    Oh, I can grab it alright. The point of getting a number is to set a bar for the next test. And then the next. This has worked for me before, when I moved back to the west coast from Chicago carrying an extra 20 pounds, which I dropped like a stone. Or a stone and a quarter.

    Get yourself a Tanita BC-1000 scale. It won’t hone in on the exact number as well as DEXA, but if you weigh your self in a consistent way (same time, hydrated, etc.) it is an effective tool for tracking progress. It is ANT+ compatible, and comes with software to track and analyze measurements of the various data points it records. Not cheap, but I don’t regret buying mine in any way.

  27. @anotherguy

    @PeakInTwoYears

    @piwakawaka

    Oh, I can grab it alright. The point of getting a number is to set a bar for the next test. And then the next. This has worked for me before, when I moved back to the west coast from Chicago carrying an extra 20 pounds, which I dropped like a stone. Or a stone and a quarter.

    Get yourself a Tanita BC-1000 scale. It won’t hone in on the exact number as well as DEXA, but if you weigh your self in a consistent way (same time, hydrated, etc.) it is an effective tool for tracking progress. It is ANT+ compatible, and comes with software to track and analyze measurements of the various data points it records. Not cheap, but I don’t regret buying mine in any way.

    Agree with this suggestion.  In his book Racing Weight, Matt Fitzgerald refers to a 2007 study in Clinical Nutrition that found a “96% level of agreement” between Tanita body fat measuring scales and DEXA. He suggests not using it to compare yourself to others, but believes it is plenty accurate for tracking your own progress.

  28. @Skip

    Agree with this suggestion. In his book Racing Weight, Matt Fitzgerald refers to a 2007 study in Clinical Nutrition that found a “96% level of agreement” between Tanita body fat measuring scales and DEXA. He suggests not using it to compare yourself to others, but believes it is plenty accurate for tracking your own progress.

    One of the things I noticed that really surprised me was how much the amount of sodium consumed on cheat days increases water retention. If I eat junk I can drop 6 pounds of water weight in a 2.5 hour ride. If you pay attention to what you eat and how it effects things, it makes you really concious of what you decide to eat.

  29. @Dr C

    Back to Cx wheels, looks like I need a set of tubulars and to hell with worrying about punctures – I’ll need to review Youtube to remind myself how to wrap a tubular under my saddle so it doesn’t stick to my shorts when I wander into the cafe for my DEx

    CX in Ireland has cafe stops. Wow.

    I knew you’d eventually stop acting like a big nancy and see the light.

  30. @anotherguy

    @Skip

    Agree with this suggestion. In his book Racing Weight, Matt Fitzgerald refers to a 2007 study in Clinical Nutrition that found a “96% level of agreement” between Tanita body fat measuring scales and DEXA. He suggests not using it to compare yourself to others, but believes it is plenty accurate for tracking your own progress.

    One of the things I noticed that really surprised me was how much the amount of sodium consumed on cheat days increases water retention. If I eat junk I can drop 6 pounds of water weight in a 2.5 hour ride. If you pay attention to what you eat and how it effects things, it makes you really concious of what you decide to eat.

    I’m usually a kilo heavier in the morning if I drink hoppy recovery beverage the night before regardless of the previous days activity. If I stick to water, tea and coffee there’s mostly no weight gain and often a loss if the previous day was tough.

  31. Hi all, It seems that it is custom for newbies to post a pic of their bike, so here is my latest upgrade for this summer.  Replaces a Alu Bianchi Megga Pro Lite from the Pantani era.  Was a nice bike for the era but a pretty stiff ride in the comfort stakes.  The upgrade is a transformation.  This Pina frame was developed with Sky for the Belgium Classics and is a stunning ride on our less than perfect roads.

    Pinarello Dogma K

  36. @Teocalli

    Ahhha -worked out what was wrong – and the pic above………

    Valve caps – I see valve caps and its not in the big dog and its not drive side out.

    A less generous person will come on soon saying that Pinarello’s look like they’ve melted in the sun.

    However I think its a sweet ride. Having come from prehistoric Alu to carbone myself last year the difference is fantastic.

    Welcome aboard (colon, hyphen, close brackets)

  38. @Teocalli

    Ahhha -worked out what was wrong – and the pic above………

    Potentially a lovely bike.  A little reading of Rule #26 followed by a re-photographing and we will get to see the true beaty of it!

  39. @the Engine

    @anotherguy

    @Skip

    Agree with this suggestion. In his book Racing Weight, Matt Fitzgerald refers to a 2007 study in Clinical Nutrition that found a “96% level of agreement” between Tanita body fat measuring scales and DEXA. He suggests not using it to compare yourself to others, but believes it is plenty accurate for tracking your own progress.

    One of the things I noticed that really surprised me was how much the amount of sodium consumed on cheat days increases water retention. If I eat junk I can drop 6 pounds of water weight in a 2.5 hour ride. If you pay attention to what you eat and how it effects things, it makes you really concious of what you decide to eat.

    I’m usually a kilo heavier in the morning if I drink hoppy recovery beverage the night before regardless of the previous days activity. If I stick to water, tea and coffee there’s mostly no weight gain and often a loss if the previous day was tough.

    That’s why Monday morning weighins are usually worthless.  You still have all the excesses of the weekend to purge.  Tues are probably closest to real weight.  Fridays all always the lowest since I’ve been good all week and not had a full fridge to raid during the day.  I usually have a 3-5lb difference from Mon to Fri.

  40. @the Engine

    I would re-photo but it’s raining outside!  There are also valve nuts but contrary to the logic of the rule the valve nut tends to be a little more important when you are running tubeless.

     

    I’ll find somewhere altogether more photogenic in a few days or so.

  41. @the Engine

     

    A less generous person will come on soon saying that Pinarello’s look like they’ve melted in the sun.

    I’ll keep my mouth shut this time.

  42. @Chris

    @Dr C

    Back to Cx wheels, looks like I need a set of tubulars and to hell with worrying about punctures – I’ll need to review Youtube to remind myself how to wrap a tubular under my saddle so it doesn’t stick to my shorts when I wander into the cafe for my DEx

    CX in Ireland has cafe stops. Wow.

    I knew you’d eventually stop acting like a big nancy and see the light.

    What’s a DEx?

  43. @piwakawaka You’d have to ask @Dr C for certainty, but I’d hazard a guess at it being a double espresso. Could be doctor shorthand for one of his under the counter doping products though.

  45. @Teocalli

    So here is a more Rule #26 compliant pic – well, a better location anyway…….

    Is the Dogma K what used to be the KOBH?  I really like the gloss black on matte logos!

  46. @Chris

    @piwakawaka You’d have to ask @Dr C for certainty, but I’d hazard a guess at it being a double espresso. Could be doctor shorthand for one of his under the counter doping products though.

    I certainly hope it’s “dexedrine” and not “double eXpresso”…

  49. @piwakawaka

    I’m afraid I’m not as young and rubbery as I once was and 20 years of Rugby also added to the toll on my back!

  50. I may have a chance to pick up a 10 speed Dura-Ace equipped version of this bike – DeRosa Merak.  The colour scheme as depicted below.  I wanted to ask two questions:

    1. Anyone have experience or opinions on the bike itself?

    2. Do we like the colour scheme?

    DeRosa Merak

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