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 ...
@kixsand nice looking bike. Personally the red and greem on the frame would drive me nuts
@Mikael Liddy
lOOKING AT A pRO BIKE FIT AT THE MINUTE REGARDING 2.5 YEARS OF HERNIATED DISC IN neck . Any recomendations in Adelaide ??
@kixsand
I dig it.
Over on another thread that I can’t be arsed to look for there was one that was rendered a bit crispy. Owner said it was aces before that though.
@Barracuda not really in your neck of the woods but Shane Burgess from Smart Health on Richmond Rd is who sorted me out.
http://www.smarthealthtraining.com.au/specialisedServices.htm
@mouse
That was @The Grand Fondue over on the thread about @Frank’s new ride. Link to the specific comment here.
@Barracuda I would seriously suggest you contact Steve Hogg and take a trip to NSW to see him.
@kixsand I like it. It’s similar but better than this which still looks quite good in the flesh;
@Ali McKee
That is sick.
@Barracuda pure bike fitting wise Steve Nash at Corsa Cycle Centre on Gouger St probably has the best reputation around Adelaide, however given the neck issues I’d definitely consider the physio based service as Shane will liaise with whoever is providing your current treatment afterwards with the outcome/further treatment from the session.
@kixsand do it, although try to find one with spokes…
Since we’re talking about bright green on bike frames I’ll post this:
Not crazy about the 3T Integra stem, but love the color and paintwork
@kixsand
In my opinion a DeRosa should have Campaganolo equipment as opposed to Dura-ace, but that’s just me. As far as the color goes, I don’t mind black and neon green, but I don’t really care for the way the green stripe moves from the headtube, across the top-tube and down the chainstay – it almost looks like it should be the cable housing. I’m sure its a fantastic bike though.
@VeloVita That’s a sexy frame. I must adjust my trousers now.
@Ron !!! After a good deal of kilometres and not one puncture one of the valves has started leaking air on one of my latex tubes. Unless someone tells me how it can be fixed I’m prepared to send you a cutting. I’ll give it a few days to see if anyone can help with some mending advice.
@TommyTubolare do you have any tips on a leaking valve? Michelin latex.
SNOOV – My eyes nearly jumped out of my head just now when I read that! No way! Sorry to read about your misfortune, but I have finally come to terms with it and was all set to cut up a latex tube with one small puncture to use to patch two others. If my cx crankset hadn’t blown and my commuter cracked, I’d have cut a patchable tube two weeks ago. I’ll wait and see if you can fix yours, if not, YES PLEASE!
Amazing. I actually logged in just to post regarding my cycling life and how it has nearly been restored to tranquilo after a few weeks of dealing with broken stuff. I think I’ve been to all four of the LBSs at least twice each. All is nearly set, just have to put in a new BB30 BB and put on the cranks. Then all the steeds will be up and running and finely tuned. Have to tape some bars, but I enjoy that work.
And now I see this news. A good day in my BikeLand!
Now although this bike company is fixed gear focused, it really should be looked at. They make great looking rides.
http://detroitbicyclecompany.com/
Great story of how they came to fruition and how they are a part of the Detroit revival.
@Mikael Liddy
Thanks …. No pun intended with “NECK of the woods” ha ha , insert smiley face
Heard any reports about http://www.bmcr.com.au in waymouth street ?
@Mike_P
Ive heard that, either that or a replacement disc at C7 … Mmmmmm
NSW nice this time of year Ive heard
@Barracuda lucky coincidence. Heard many good things about BMCR, I’ve met Lia (one half of the husband & wife team that run it) a few times & she’s pretty cool. I think that they started out as a predominantly MTB geared shop but now do plenty of roadie business too.
@Barracuda one of the options for the adjustments after getting my fit done was to get BMCR to make the changes, but given their pretty simple nature I ended up doing it all myself.
@Chris
That is correct, it is Double ExPressO
Damn, feel like a complete Vamateur asking this, but, back to Carbon wheels – why do they all have so few spokes? They all seem to max out at 24 on the rear, 18-20 on the pointy end – my favourite road wheels are my Ambrosios with 36/32 on them – stiff as be jaysus and better for climbing than any other wheels I have had
I’m going for 38mm tubular rims, 23mm wide, with Challenger Limus or Rhinos for the muddy days, which predominate in Ireland, you’ll be surprised to hear
They can drill more holes, and at 84kg, and as I reckon strength will be key in Cx, so a few extra spokes might spread the load
…..or am I missing the point entirely with carbon rims?
(more holes increases options for hubs, which I can transfer in and out of other rims for the road bikes as needs be)
Hmm, not something I can recall seeing explained but that won’t stop me…
Carbon is stiffer, so it needs fewer spokes than alloy rims would be my guess.
And maybe the deeper profile, along with the smaller circumference also requires fewer spokes to maintain the integrity.
Having said that, even on alloys 36 is more the exception than the rule these days.
@Dr C
Perhaps @Dan_R can chime in seeing as he has extensive experience with carbon wheels (which admittedly I do not). I think the justification for fewer spokes on deep section carbon wheels is that they aren’t needed as the rim depth and makes for a stiff and strong enough wheel with a lower spoke count, thereby allowing the cutting some weight by using fewer spokes. I would think that with carbon the rim is designed for the number of spoke holes it has and perhaps drilling extra holes to accommodate a different number of spokes could affect the structural integrity of the rim (I’m just speculating here though).
@Dr C
No! That is not correct. ExpressO is an online submission delivery service for legal scholars. eXpresso is a hosted workspace for Microsoft Office communities. But there is no fucking X in espresso.
@Chris
Unless its spiked with MDMA
@VeloVita
ah, but I think the heat would damage it.
@Jamie
didn’t know you could get a single espresso, thought the D was for decaf, shudder, same catagory as tofu burger or lite beer or vegan sausages…WTF
@Dr C
Zipp used to offer Clydesdale versions of their wheels with 28/28 and their track wheels are still 28/28. Reynolds and Enve carbon rims also seem to be available with up to 28 holes.
Lower spoke counts started in the 80s with alloy wheels but it was a bit of a scam…fewer spokes just meant rims had to be stronger and heavier to compensate.
There is an aero benefit from fewer spokes, which probably contributed to it becoming the modern standard, especially with carbon wheels.
@Mikael Liddy
Thanks, might give them a call, whilst I am very Rule compliant across the board ( including regular visits to #5 and #9 and #25) I fear that previous and current attempts at #45 will “go out with the bathwater” and I will need to chuck said spacers that now reside above the stem, back below it, whilst recovering. Damn, shits me, bike looks so much better the way I have it now!
Well, Cafe Roubaix came through in spades with these little beauties. I dared doubt @Dan_R’s claim that these would just top 1400 grams with rim tape and skewers, until the box arrived at work this afternoon and I pulled said skewers out. Holy fucking Merckx, those things are practically non-existent! Pardon the tire choice, they were salvaged from my defunct Shimano RS30’s, which were a bargain with said tires at the LBS, and served me well throughout STP 2013.
Thanks, Dan! More than slightly delighted with this purchase.
@piwakawaka
Or Fosters
Thanks for all the advice – t’is done
Recipe
38mm deep, 25mm wide, Jerry Pang’s tubulars, 24 holes front and back, ERD 564mm
Velocitek A291 front hub, Velocitek F482 shimano rear hub
Sapim Race spokes (maybe Strong, will decide later)
Challenge Limus tubulars
Only final question will be glue or tape…..
Now I’m in @Dr C ‘s situation.
I just sold a weird rear 130mm disc hub I’ve been trying to get rid of for a year.
How should I restart for a rear ‘cross wheel?
I’m thinking Chris King classic cross hub, 32 hole, HED Belgium tubular rim.
@Dr C Definitely glue for a Limus.
This isn’t a triathlon!
@G’rilla
I’ve got the R45s on HED Belgium 32/3x clinchers for road and love them – I would have no hesitations about going with the cross hub and tubular rim.
@Dr C
Glue – and never mind the figure-eight thing. Pump the tire up enough to just hold its shape but that the tape turns outwards a little bit. This should be slightly less air than you’d need to have it hold its shape in a figure-eight.
Then pour some clue out onto a tray if you’re using Conti glue, or just open the glue jar if you’re using Vittoria. Lay one side of the tire on the workbench and then hold the other up at whatever height is comfortable. Work your way around the tire and you’ll be done lickity-split.
My work bench is big enough that I can just let it dry sitting on the work bench but William at Pavé Cycling Classics hangs them by the valve stem on a brake lever. Clever.
I glue the rim while it sits in the truing stand. Let it all dry overnight, do another coat on the wheel, and mount the bastard. Really stretch it as you first put it on to make sure you don’t wind up with a lump near the valve stem. Work your way around the tire.
Then its the usual process of seating the tire etc etc.
@topher
Welcome. You need to log in and use either the upload tool or the image tool in order to post photos here. I have corrected your post for you. I’ve been seeing more Lapiere’s lately – great looking bikes!
Upgrade complete. New fork (Cannondale Premium), matching bars & stem (FSA SLK), shifters & cassette (Ultegra 6600), and saddle (Fizik Kurve, Chameleon). Bike is lighter, quicker, and sleeker, especially up front.
The Cannondale is looking good! Really like those bottle cages.
@Steampunk the moment Ive been waiting for. Nice job. what was wrong with the fork that was on there already?
@Steampunk
Cool! Shifters upgraded from 105? If so, any noticeable difference in performance? Weight savings in the fork upgrade? Numbers, man! We need hard data!
@topher
Nice. I almost bought a used LaPierre mtb last year, but somebody got to it first. It looked fast and was light as fuck for a full-squish mtb. I wish that brand had some presence in the USofA. What’s the deal, there, anyway?
@Steampunk
Very nice result. Upgrades are a near-n+1 experience. You shall be even more awesomer.
@Steampunk
Does the small mountain of spacers also match the stem/bars?
@RManneck
Thanks””story here.
@RedRanger
Fork was simply an upgrade from their Ultra to the all-carbon Premium. I don’t have the numbers in front of me, but it constitutes a sizeable weight savings. There was nothing wrong with the original fork, but as @xyxax noted, this was the Velominatus Budgetatus approach to achieving an n+1 experience this year. The CAAD is a fine bike””nothing wrong with it, but I made it lighter.
@PeakInTwoYears
Upgrade from Ultegra 6500. But night and day smoother from that, even. I’ve heard from a number of reliable sources that 6600 > 6700. I’ve forgotten the details. Will get back to you with the numbers, but I might have cut close to 600g all told (which makes me want to shoot myself””getting excited about 600g).
@frank
Fuckity fuck. From the bottom: no, yes, yes, no. But I’m following my Retül recommendations; the fact of the matter is I’m Rule #44 compliant and technically Rule #45 compliant, too. The headset and (surprisingly) bottom bracket remain the lone original purchases with the frame (the bottom bracket was in such good shape it didn’t seem worth replacing it).
@Steampunk
Your top cap alone is 2cm tall. Total Rule #45 violation, at least in spirit. Don’t go claiming compliance or I shall have no alternative but to alter the text of the Rule to specifically call out your deviance.
Update pics, Cufflinks included
@Steampunk
Hell, 600 grams is enough to get excited about, IMO. What is the meaning of the mathematical expression “6600 > 6700”? Does it mean “6600 is greater and more awesome than 6700″?