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 ...
@scaler911
VelloJello,
Beautiful steed there. Addressing the uncircumcised steer tube is the obvious next step. However, I must disagree with @scaler911. There’s a big difference here – the cost of a new carbon fork if you screw it up! And I would suggest never, never clamp carbon in a vice. Ever. This tutorial does things right, and with the right tools.
There are YouTube examples on how to do this more cheaply and less gracefully, but I would approach the task with the same delicacy and precision you would in performing a circumcision. Of course, you could always make an appointment with the rabbi at your LBS.
@Optimiste
Yeah, you do not want to fuck up something that causes a front end failure of any sort.
@DerHoggz @Optimiste
Good advice chaps. I like to be pretty hands on with my bikes, and rarely feel I need or must take it to the LBS. I’m often amazed at the 2 schools of thought with regards Carbon. One side “the worlds toughest and lightest material” and the other side “Whoa, easy tiger, it’s as fragile as paper!”….
@piwakawaka Yeah, thats a good point. But I think I’d rather slam and Rule #5 it.
Well the n situation here is developing. So I sold two old mtbs so went to n-2 leaving me at n. One of those sales dropped through so net n-2+1 left me at n. Over the weekend found a nice looking bike to use as a winter bike as the VMW had cleared the budget on that (pics when she arrives – the bike not the VMH!) taking me to n+1. So now I am at n with a pending n-1 on the old mtb resale and have not transgressed s-1. All is well.
@Teocalli
I think I just about managed to follow that. What is the new winter steed going to be?
@Mike_P a 2009 Wilier Mortirolo with low end Gruppo. Should be quite a nice bike for a winter bike (bit of an understatement) but far cheaper than trashing my Pina K. Last ride I did on the Pina came back looking more like a mtb with all the mud in the lanes around Surrey at the moment and we haven’t even go to salt season. Though I did see a gritter at the weekend.
@VeloJello
No doubt. How people consider carbon is an odd dichotomy. But I think they’re two sides of the same coin. The strength to weight ratio is amazing – tough and light, but it is less resilient than metal, so a failure is catastrophic – fragile as paper. It performs magnificently within its tolerances, but there’s not much room for error.
Ever since I was 8 years old, I’ve done my own maintenance and repair work, but when I finally took the plunge into carbon, the first thing I did was invest in a quality torque wrench. That, and researched (Googled) the manufacturer’s specs for each carbon piece I worked on. So I say, if you’re accustomed to doing the work yourself, by all means do. Just remember that, like the advent onboard computers on cars, working with carbon is something you can’t do just by feel.
An Issue of Etiquette :
Early 80s – Late 70s Colnago Super with that gorgeous Saronni red color scheme. Will be a modern build. I am looking to make a modern look with a gorgeous classic frame in the centre … shinny steel full of history. So the frame is here, Components are a mix of black Veloce Ultrashift, Centaur and Athena. Add a 3T Stealth Carbon seatpost, a black Colnago Race Headset, the new Selle San Marco Regale in brown leather. I will use a pair of 2013 Zondas as wheels for now … would love to get hold of a shallow carbon set in the future.
Having options is a troublesome thing though. Having a 3T seatpost, and a Colnago headset I can either get a Colnago Nemesis Carbon Stem with a 3T Ergonova handlebar or ditch the Colnago stem and go full 3T in handlebar/stem combo. Will finish with a brown leatherlook bartape to match the saddle and give an oldies feel.
Does the V etiquette provide any guidance to this agonizing issue regarding the stem/handlebar combo?
@Kupepemy $0.02 worth;
Being a modern build, I’d say go with 3T stem/bar combo as you have the 3T seat post.
You have no “Shiny Bits” going with black components, maybe chrome forks/stays are the only shiny bits? If you were doing a “of the era” rebuild, it has to be pantographed Colnago Cinelli quill stem with 64-44/42 bars.
I’d be having white bar tape. Maybe a black Turbo saddle?
This looks as though it could be an interesting book – anyone seen it?
http://www.enigmabikes.com/collections/misc/products/73-degrees-volume-one
@Kupepe My Colnago Super is built up in the same spirit. I’d go dark everything including tape to let the frame shine through. Also, going black everything makes the modern oversized pieces look slimmer, which seems to fit better with the traditional gauge tubing. Notice how the white stem on my setup looks a little chunky next to the 1″ steerer and tubes.
A full 3T cockpit seems fitting considering you’re already full Italian on the drivetrain. Unfortunately most modern Colnago stems and bars are really rebadged big box parts anyway.
@EricW Very nice. Those blue skies are making this Northern European boy envious!
Thanx all for the reply … will go for Colnago carbon with 3T team carbon handlebars. Hope wifey honours her oath and actually get dressed in some small santa knickers when she gives me the pair of Zondas for christmas … Then I will post a picture of the final build :)
@Kupepe 3T ARX w Team Ergosum (shallow drop). You will want to keep 3T stem w 3T bars. Mounted on Pizazz (UK) steering column adaptor to accommodate a traditional 1 inch headset. Used the Deda top cap from another steerer column.
We slammed the steering column adaptor!
Back seat passenger. Love driving my son’s VW Golf 5-speed.
@Kupepe Dug up the steerer adaptor image.
Good piece to have for modern groups on old frames. I believe the company name is Pazzaz though. Deda elementi also makes one called the SPADA.
@DCR
I don’t think Deda offers one for 1-1/8″ stems. I ordered one from Ribble, and it’s 25.4mm…pretty sure it’s the only size they make. I’m using a Profile Design adapter on my ’87 Centurion Ironman. It’s similar to unversio’s, but silver.
@DCR Pazzaz. Thanx
I’m getting a rumbling through my crankset. It is especially evident on the rollers and there are small “steps” that I can feel it going through. Could be freehub or bottom bracket, but my money is on BB simply because it is FSA and has been creaking every revolution recently. Any experience?
I know we don’t see too many track bikes here but a lot of my winter training has been lonely intervals on the velodrome where I don’t have to worry about distracted drivers plowing over me in the early darkness of late autumn. This is my machine’s transformation from the budget fixie I bought from a UW student to the sleek velo piste that I enjoy today:
@Weldertron
I couldn’t bring myself to re-post the picture. If that is the track bike you’ve been building up, I think you took a wrong turn everywhere.
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2014 Goodness, first ride tomorrow, big step up from the RM01, only change from stock is 3T Ergonova Flat bar, went with mechanical 11 speed 11-25 and 52-36, going to run tubeless in 25mm as well, have to wait on those so GP4000 23’s for now, never ridden DA before, Speedplay track pedals with Bont Vaypor’s in red, tape is Easton. Shimano C24 Hoops, DA Hubs, pedals, cages, Garmin 6.72kg.
Dropped half a kilo on the RM01 running SRAM Red, that shits Pro right there, wish I was!
@piwakawaka
Sweet! Bring it out on Sunday for the Ronde van VVellington…
@Optimiste
Not mine! Saw it on a local forum. It even has DI2! I think it’s a bike shop fucking around.
@piwakawaka Very nice indeed! Looks like it would be my size too . . . Watch out for the cross-chaining thing: big to big = bad.
@piwakawaka Great looking BMC! I have an RM01. How do you like the new frame over the old? What was the big improvement?
@DCR Had a first blast of 40km today, this is a 56, the RM was a 55, the frame set is almost the same! The TT is the same length but angled 15mm lower at the ST, the HT is 10mm shorter and the wheelbase is 5mm longer, slacker angle on the fork, I guess the Marketing Guy’s would say it is a more aggressive Frameset, it is very responsive, I think she accelerates faster, definitely stops well, ride was similar to the RM on 23mm GP’s I will throw my 25mm tyres I’ve been running for the last three months on for Sunday’s 100km which will be plusher,they rode great on the RM with 10psi less at 100, will do same on the SLR and tubeless should allow 95psi, but have to wait because I want 25’s.
Sunday should give me a much better idea though, the biggest difference for me was the Dura Ace as opposed to SRAM Red, different chainrings 52-36 instead of Flemish Compact and cassette 11-25 with 1 extra gear instead of 11-27. First impression was good.
Have to say all this is through my LBS, and they rock, but I have bought three bikes off them and I actually ride the fuckers so I do buy shit cos it wears out, I buy all of it from them and over time, only four years or so, we have built a great relationship. They sell on the web as well so they price sharp and move quality gear.
@Weldertron
Of course. How could I forget your most recent project:
Now this one is worth re-posting. However, I am noticing a slight violation of Rule #48. Just sayin’.
@Optimiste
Despite Rule #66, seat should be more like this….
@sthilzy That is hilarious! Made my Friday
@DerHoggz
Outboard or press fit BB?
@piwakawaka
I just upgraded to the newer Sram red components with the “yaw” technology. Haven’t tried any of the newer DA stuff but I am impressed with the sram setup and the feel. I have run campa and ultegra groups as well and I think sram wins over shimano for me. especially the price/weight. I will say the smoothest and most quiet ride goes to campa.
Let me know how the 52/36 feels as well.
@unversio I wish you had a quill stem on that.
@frank Oh no, no, no, no, no — unless I had Cinelli Giro 64 bars then maybe.
@unversio So what are you waiting for?
@frank Mostly some little extra money. It is already in my head so it is just a matter of time. Hence the waiting.
@frank
If you are willing, keep an eye out for a nice (nice) 3TTT stem that (is nice) can be 120mm to 130mm.
@universio I’m with frank on this. That adaptor is fugly and has no place on a steel frame bearing the prophet’s name. Cinelli 64s, and one of these:
@pisitard Cinelli stem wins! Whenever I can rescue one.
I’ve always wanted a quill type headset just so I can run an old 3T
http://img.inkfrog.com/pix/coronadelmar/3TTT_Motus_100mm_Quill_Stem_02.JPG
@Weldertron Nice! Those 3T (and Modolo) stems from the 90s are nuts. I’m still waiting for an old (and weird) enough track frame to use one of these:
Hello, my name is pistard and I have a stem fetish…
@pistard That may look better on a bike. But sitting there it looks like a flaccid… well you get the point.
@DCR
Yeah. It’s colloquially known as the Merken Limp-Dick. But when you wanted to get your bars low…
Many 3T, Cinelli and Modolo stems of the 90s used a curve instead of a straight line. Cue pix of Cipo riding an ED stem.
sorry. merkenS with an S. don’t hold me responsible for googling “limp-dick” in any other combination.