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 ...
Keep it classy and original!
If you ever need extra water, gaffer tape a cage.
@Bianchi Denti
Correct, bar bidon holders etc.
Please, no flat bar and single speed for this one.
@Skip
What?
@Teocalli
They make clamp on cages, probably ugly as all sin.
@Weldertron
I have a similar Castelli gilet (Fawesome I think? Might be the same one) in white. The cuffs/hems are a very good reflective material, no need for the hiviz IMO. There may also be the reflective tabs like on other Castelli gear, not near it ATM to check.
I’ve used Fizik Microtex tape on a few different bikes and one of the upsides is how easy it is to clean. The sheer finish, as opposed to something like regular cork tape, is even easier to keep lookin’ good.
Has someone who has used the Soft touch versions of Fizik tape compare how that cleans up?
@Ron
I have in white, and it will never grace one of my bikes again. Turned grey after one ride (I ride without gloves, and had clean hands), tried to clean it and it took a lot of work and was never really white again. Second ride, same thing and the dinginess just built ride to ride.
Had been using the microtechnology in white, and while I liked to look and ease of cleaning, it got slippery in humid/sweaty conditions. I do like the feel of the soft touch, but cleaning – ugh.
i have a roll of Cinelli bubble that will go on in the spring when my new Hampsten arrives.
@Ron
I *think* I use the soft touch. I just get it off Amazon, and only after looking at the packaging or labels of the latest hit did I notice something that made me think it was. White with fizik printed all over it. I don’t even ever think of cleaning the tape, because it is never dirty.
@teleguy57
I’m guessing you play guitar? Do you have “acid hands” to where you chew through strings? I know a few guys that do, whereas I have 3.5 year old strings on my bass that are holding up just fine. Could just be different sweat chemistry.
@DerHoggz
I do, but an Epiphone Dot 355 and Washburn acoustic; would love to add a Tele or Strat, but I’ve put more focus on bike stuff. “Tele” comes from telemark skiing. And no issues with strings deteriorating
@DerHoggz
Now that I think about it, it was the tacky performance in white that got so grungy. I had the soft touch logo stuff in white, and it did stay clean, but also got a bit slippery on me.
@teleguy57
there better be pictures!
@Ken Ho
You are so not a gay black man, liar liar pants on fire.
@teleguy57 Hampstens are made in Seattle. Are you picking it up in person?
@Barracuda
Have no fear it is staying 5 speed with double chain ring but going to period campag throughout as far as I can. Have all the parts now except chainset and bottom bracket which will probably stay as I had it in the 70s for now.
@Nate
There will be pics!
@G’rilla Hampstens are made in Seattle. Are you picking it up in person?
Unfortunately, no. Steve and I talk on the phone and email, but haven’t met in person. He did, however, hook me up with his brother while I was in CO this summer! Very cool to spend time with Andy and his family at their home — he’s a class guy all the way, as is Steve. I did the tifosi thing and had Andy sign the 7-Eleven jersey I just happened to have with me…
I’ve been curious about that Cinelli bubble tape as well. The fizik logo tape, been wanting to try that as well, can’t decide if the logos would look good on a modern ultra-logo’ed bike or might look nice on a relatively simple paint older steel bike.
I have the fizik glossy and like it well enough. Not as slippery as it looks, even in rain, even without gloves on hot days. Mine cleans well, but has developed some spots, maybe where the top layer has worn through?
Can’t complain much though about any fizik tape. I’ve swapped from one bike to another and it has lived on.
fi’zi:k tape has worked well for me. Although the last stuff I used was a bit thin for riding with no gloves. I am currently trying out some Prologo tape I got on sale. That cinelli bubble tape looks awesome though. I may have to order some for the next go around or for the bike I am hoping to pick up soon.
@Bianchi Denti
Bianchi Oltre is really only Italian in name, TBH. A Giant painted in Celeste. Lovely bike, but if your goal is something Italian, this isn’t it.
@Ron
Highly recommended – absolutely the best if you need grip in wet conditions. The white does get dirty though.
@ChrisO
hmmm. Does it clean up nicely after getting dirty, or does it just keep getting grungier?
@ChrisO
Never had problems with fizik in the rain, and the thinness is amazing.
@tessar N+1 is indeed the ‘Dale with SRAM Red. Now more training to do it justice. My apologies about the EPMS. I needed some extra tools along for adjustments to get the position right. I will admit that I go back and forth about riding with the EPMS or sticking it into my Jersey. Heretic that I am. I’ve also put the hoops from my previous steed on it which is HED C2 rims laced to some blue Chris King hubs.
@cantona
Acknowledged. And I have to admit that I think they lost the design plot when they started going all swoopy curved tube with their recent carbon offerings. However, I still respect their history, and I love my 928 T-Cube from 2008 (the last of their straight tube offerings).
I’ll modify my original post to say that any bike built or decorated in Italy (paint and decals) should have Campa.
Bit of a progress update on the Claud Butler. Busy taking apart and cleaning still. 1 wheel stripped down and initial clean. Before /after comparison with the other wheel. I have 2 Campag Alu hubs and 2 FB/Campag Steel/Alu hubs. Of the 4 after some 40 years 3 still spin perfectly and if you just hold up the wheel it will turn so that the heavies part of the rim is at the bottom with a gentle oscillation till it centres. Amazing hubs. The other I think just needs a clean out and re-greasing as it’s a bit stiff, no play in any of them.
@sthilzy
Thanks, sthilzy (and everyone else who has replied), for helping me understand the Rules. Here is a picture of my bike – Condor Italia RC, predominantly white frame with black highlights and tricolore detailing.
I have matched bar, stem and saddle to the frame. Then, to accentuate the Italian heritage, I have Vittoria Open Paves (great tyre, and with green sidewalls!), and a red seat post collar. The only really controversial element (I think) is the red bar tape. It used to be black, but I wanted to try something a bit more interesting, and decided to stick with it.
@afroturk Nice looking bike. I’d agree that the tape is a bit controversial, it’s not to my taste but that said I like the match with the collar on the seat post and the Italian tricolore theme.
I think it was discussed a while back (in the lead up to KT12 maybe) but my view is that Vittoria Paves and Open Paves get a Rule #8 exemption if they clash with the rest of the colour scheme as they are such awesome tyres and so evocative of the spring classics. I would say that though as I ride my Paves all year round.
WTF?
http://www.bikerumor.com/2013/10/25/land-zeppelin-bike-fairing-hopes-to-takeoff/
@Skip
Can you just imagine that in across wind? Lethal I would imagine.
@Teocalli
Someone has to say it: Oh, the humanity!
@Skip
@Teocalli
Check out comment #9438 in The Rules for fairing and cross wind “fails?”
Possibly the worst advertising for Cervelo yet?
Damnit, I meant to put that in the rules.
Was not sure if I should post this with the “Bikes” or the “Rides”. They do seem to go together. We (my #1 and I) climbed Mt Hamilton outside San Jose, CA today. A remarkably beautiful day and the Focus has always served me well. This is a view facing NW and includes a very, very small portion on the road up. Over that first ridge in the haze is the Bay and San Jose – beyond are the Santa Cruz Mts and my usual rides, such as Tunitas Creek and Old LaHonda. Any and all critiques of the photo welcome.
@HMBSteve I rode Hamilton as well. I wonder if we saw each other. I was at the summit around 12:30 or so. Did you descend back down toward the bay? I decided to keep going and made a big loop down Mines Rd to Livermore.
@EricW – I arrived at the summit around 1:00; and then returned to the base area towards the Bay. It was my first time up Hamilton. A great ride that I plan to do again sometime.
@HMBSteve We just missed each other. Great job! Hamilton is a monster, and I’m hoping to work it into a Cogal.
@EricW – A Cogal including Hamilton would be great. It’s not too steep, but there is a lot of it! Hope to see you on the road.
@Optimiste
Oh, the huge manatee.
@HMBSteve
Looks fantastic. NorCal rocks.
@Marko
@Skip
Sadly the Manatee is somewhat doomed. Hopefully the low flying blimp is doomed o a more rapid demise.
@Weldertron
You do realise that Cervelo began as pure TT/triathlon frame maker? They owe their very existence to triathlon.
And the most important thing about that photo is that it is at Challenge Roth. And in addition to beer-drinking Germans cheering along the roadside, you know what they have at Challenge Roth? Mixed post-race showers. That’s right – do an iron-distance triathlon then walk into a shower with nude women. Think that justifies the rule breakage.
Been digging through an old box of photos, and came across this gem. Those of you that have been around the site for awhile have seen the frame, but this is what it looked like when I was using it.
And yes, those are plastic spokes, which turns out to be a bad idea I guess (tho I never had an issue with it.
The story goes, from my buddy I got the frame from, was that it was ridden in the LA Olympics. It has the serial #68, so there wasn’t a lot of them made. I’ve dug deep on the research and am guessing it wasn’t ridden then. Viner has no record of it being made, but they don’t keep records that old they tell me (in broken Italian/ English).
@Marcus
Ya. I give that violation a pass. When everyone is naked, there’s no confusion for me.
@Marcus
You lost me at “Triathlon”, then regained my attention at shared athlete showers.
@teleguy57
It cleans up a bit, but there is definitely a steady progression. The thing that makes it work – the bubbles – is also the thing that makes it hard to clean. Black is probably best in this case.
@Marcus
so Cervelo riders are actually dirty triathletes?
I love my Colnago, but the ability to only fit one bottle cage meant that on long rides I had to carry the second in a jersey pocket, taking up valuable space for food and such. This occasionally forced the need to use an EPMS (shameful I know).
I have since solved that problem by finding a 3Rensho on the interwebs. The showroom condition period correct Shimano 600 group will be leaving the bike for most likely a DA7900 group. I’ll probably run a 7400 crank on her for looks. The rear spacing is nominally 126, but I checked that a 130 hub fits dead straight without any bending of the dropouts. The paint is candy apple, and aside from a few blemishes that appear to be from storage, it looks mint. I wasn’t sure if it was factory, but poking around on the forums revealed that candy apple was a color they offered so…maybe?
Now just have to figure out the cockpit. Right now I’m thinking silver post, quill stem, and Nitto Noodle bar with white tape and saddle, but am open to advice.
@Rom
That’s fighting talk, right there!!!
@EricW Re the cockpit — and Benetto tape?
And, as we never ignore the background of photos around here, I am intrigued by the combination of what appears to be a robot dog, and a nearby rubber mallet.
@Teocalli
What’s all this, then?
Question. I’ve been debating steel, Ti, or an R3. I’ve pretty well settled on steel, a neo-retro build- shiny metal bits over carbon, Nemesis on Kings, and for the sake of cross compatibility, a group-san. The flopped octopus of the ultegra crankset holds no aesthetic interest for me. So would it be acceptable to run an IRD Defiant flemish compact, or is there any other option that doesn’t cost a metric shit-ton of money?