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 ...
I know this is very much a personal matter, but what are the feelings on wider tires on road race/training bicycles?
I have 23 mm Veloflex & Vittorias on my two main road bikes. I’m wondering if a bump up to 25 mms would be worth it/noticeable/etc. I do 2-4 hour rides, mainly alone, sometimes small groups, rarely these days 20 personish weekend training/race rides. I’m 65 kgs. The roads around here are pretty nice, some wet rides but we have mild winters.
Bike 1 = carbon LOOK with Ksyrium SL wheels (regular width, not newer wider); Bike 2 = steel Casati with Open Pro/Record wheels.
@Ron
Well given that the Pros are increasingly going for 25 mm and the industry is starting to make wider rims too to accommodate the growing trend to 25 mm then you will only be following the current trend. Not tried them myself but a (larger) friend swears by them for grip and comfort on longer rides. The other theory is that they are better aero performance but that might be in combination with a deepish rim.
@Ron
I’ve switched between 23 and 25mm and TBH don’t notice that much difference. I’m supposed to say that my 25mm Vittoria Open Corsas with latex tubes are super smooth compared to my Vredestein 23mm clinchers with butyl tubes but hand on heart it’s marginal.
And I’m running ENVE SES 3.4s which are supposed to be ideal for 25mm too.
Try it, maybe you’ll like it. In any case I don’t think you’ll come off worse for it, especially coming into winter.
@VeloVita
Feather Cycles up near York in the UK.
@Ron I notice a difference on twisty roads and on crap roads.
@ChrisO
I went from 25mm GP4000s with butyl tubes on an Open Pro rim to 23mm Vittoria Open Corsa SCs with latex tubes on a wider HED Belgium C2 rim (with a stop at the 25mm GP 4000S with butyl tube on the HED rims in between) Basically I run the Vittorias at the same pressure I was running the Contis on the Open Pros and a little higher than the Contis on the HEDs. Our roads in Cleveland are shit and I can definitely say that to me the Vittorias with latex tubes definitely give the best ride, even at the slightly higher pressure. I bought the 23s at a clearance sale, but if I was paying full price and therefore had my choice I’d have gone with the 25s to use the HED rims or even something like like a Gran Bois Cerf in a 26mm if it would fit. From my perspective, larger tires mean lower pressures which mean a more comfortable ride over rougher road surfaces, but I realize that is not the priority for everyone.
@Barracuda
I thought carbine as well but the letters don’t quite match up.
I did find the cranks on other bikes all the way back to the 1920’s
This site has some interesting photo’s and history: http://classiccycleus.com/home/repair/bikes/
@Barracuda
I think the last letter is a capital ‘ i ‘ or an L (you could possibly see the upturned lip of the bottom of the L up towards the headtube)
If you look closely you can see the top of the letters from the logo on the other side of the downtube, and the last letter on that side starts where the “C” starts on this side, making me think it’s an L rather than an E.
Good luck and keep us posted, given the look of the bike your poor poppa was fucking lucky to make it out alive!
@DCR @Beers
Thanks for the help, its a tough one as the last letter also threw me !
His jersey’s show him being sponsored by “Western Star” so that has thrown another spanner in it.
Thanks for the site links.
@Ron 25mm convert here and I rate them, from your post’s I think you would too, lower pressure means more grip, front and rear and a smoother ride, I find 23’s harsh and skittish across a variety of surfaces in comparison.
@Barracuda I work with type and I love a puzzle. Looking at the top edges of the letter forms on the backside of the downtube, I’m pretty sure it ends with OLL. The lettering may have been hand-painted, or the decals sloppily made, but I think the two middle characters are the same, despite appearances. And who knows what was knocked off in the crash? Anyway, I suggest CARROLL, which is a pretty common name, unlike CARBOLL or CABROLL. Trust me, I’m a typographer…
I’ll make a better mockup tomorrow when I’m pretending to work, at a computer with a gazillion fonts. Hell, I’ll make you some decals.
@Ron Yep, the difference to me on regular width clinchers is pretty negligable – I can’t really pick much difference between 23 and 25mm tyres, but if you had some of the wider rimmed wheels (Hed’s new ardennes are 25mm wide at the brake track) then the 25mm might be the most awesome thing ever. The volume of the bag you’re riding on would be significantly higher, and the tyres might match the rim better for greater aerodynamics. I wouldn’t bother unless you had really wide rims.
@pistard
You Sir, are a fkn genius.
Appreciate your efforts, as I really would love to track down the origins of the bike.
Carbine where definately making bikes around the same year, but the last letters throw that out.
Keep up the good work.
I will tune in tomorrow and see what secret squirrel work has been done whilst your at work.
Thanks.
@Barracuda
For some extra help, you may want to try and contact Paul Farren in Melbourne, Richmond. He has a extensive collection of vintage bikes and knowledge of them. He recently launched a book of his collection.
I met Paul at the recent Ausbike expo here in Melbourne and spent the most time looking at all the bikes on his stand! Nice guy!
@pistard @sthilzy
“Carroll” has been confirmed by an Adelaide Cyclists forum member.
Carroll cycles in Adelaide……. Circa 1930’s
Bingo
I will try and touch base with Paul Farren.
Thanks again …….
Well done @pistard ! Awesome to see this work out, what an interesting back story!
@pistard
Way back when my Cycling Sensai had his shop had a vintage track bike hanging from the rafters with wooden rims, sloping stem, huge leather seat. It was done in black enamel, with the lettering hand painted in enamel.
Wouldn’t be surprised if CARROLL was hand painted!
Coppi chainring inspires Led Zeppelin ??
@pistard
We might connect on common ground — typography and design. And cycling.
@Barracuda
Glad I could help, and that the mystery is solved! As @sthilzy points out, the lettering would probably have be hand painted, or at least hand drawn for reproduction. Those median spurs — the serifs in the middle of the characters — are unusual in type, but were common in sign-painting, tattoo flash, even team logos (Pirates, Red Sox). I haven’t found a digital font too close, but when I have some time I’ll draw up an approximation in Illustrator.
@unversio
Indeed. Would that I could combine them more! There’s a lot of atrocious design work in the bicycle industry, but the best of it is inspiring:
http://www.houseind.com/showandtell/2013/09/13/HouseIndustriesforRichardSachs
@pistard House Industries has always been offbeat and I admire their work. Rich Roat is a tough b&$#&?d!
@pistard
The Richard Sachs bike featured on the front page is beautiful! Thanks for the link.
@DCR
I second that, stop it, i like it !
@unversio Beautiful! I’ve had their rusted steel ampersand on my Christmas wishlist for years but no one has sprung for it yet.
@G’rilla
Hmm, the colours seem familiar, don’t they? And the stylized RS Vaguely V-ish…
@Barracuda
This is mostly conjecture, and my own biases, but consistent with what’s visible in the photo and with other Australian makers’ decals of the time (Speedwell, Malvern Star, Barb). Some of the stems of the characters look like they could be split, like a Tuscan letterform, but some don’t. I think that might have been too “Italianate” for an Irish-named builder. So maybe something gothic like so:
The motto of clan Carroll is “Flecti Non Frangi” or “Bent not broken.”
If you build a replica the Carroll crest would make a fine headtube badge:
@pistard
The V is everywhere…
Can’t decide, opinions sought. White-Black-Red or Black- White-Red?
Hrrrrm Just looking at that, maybe it should be white – red – black (ie no third tape).
@Puffy way to much going on in that cockpit.
I just ordered some Yokozuna cables for the first time. Is it true that the housing is extra tough and I should use a Dremel tool to cut it, or will regular cable cutters work?
@G’rilla Its the brake housing that is crazy tough. that said I didnt have an issue cutting it with my park tools cable cutter.
@RedRanger
This 100%. What is the need for all of that crap up front?
@pistard
I AM SPEECHLESS.
That sir, is awesome !
I have managed via an Adelaide site to get an address of the shop from the 1930’s.
Trying now to track down some owners or relatives of owners of the store to get a bit closer.
That decal and Head tube badge would look pretty sweet on a titanium custom !!
Mmmmmm , now the brain is ticking over!
Outstanding work on your behalf.
@RedRanger
Are you refering to the garmin & light, or the finishing tape?
If the former;
It’s a bit hard/dangerous to train at 4:30am in the pitch black on country roads… so yeah I have a headlight but it does get removed for races. That leaves the Garmin and we’ve had this discussion before but I train with power but regardless I believe it complies with Rule #74 but yes, slap in the face accepted for not taking it off before posting here!
If the later;
Just black finishing tape with a red stripe?
@Puffy
Agree, I have the Ay-Ups
Love them for the weekly night ride.
Just lose them for the photo’s
Also FWIW just go with black tape, or as you say, black tape and a red stripe.
Black, is the new black !
@Barracuda
Thanks.. might have got a bit carried away. I’ll try it with just the red stripe.
@Barracuda
@frank
check out this strong work, can I request a +1 badge to be bestowed upon @pistard.
Or not
Either way, quality cross pollination of ideas and efforts.
@Barracuda
De nada. Any time spent at work on bicycle-related sleuthing is time spent…well, not working. Keep us apprised of your research. I’d love to see a better picture of a Carroll or related ephemera, just to know how far off I am!
@Puffy Dangling an EPMS from your stem is no better than from your saddle.
What do we think of this colour scheme on the 2013 BMC Team Machine SLR01?
The electronic frameset comes in the more typical black and red pallette that we associate with BMC. When you go with a mechanical frameset this is what you get.
It would be one of very few bikes where you could get away with a black saddle and white bar tape…
I’d be rolling with DA9000 C24’s and am looking at DA9000 components.
I’d be interested to hear from anyone that is riding one of these or has experience with them.
@kixsand
They get great reviews. Personally it needs to look more angry so I would De-decal the wheels and although I know white bar tape is pre, I would go black…
@Deakus
Noooo…..I have a bit of a thing for pristine, clean white bar tape…
The C24’s are a bit more subdued than the Easton’s above and would match nicely with the colour scheme…
@kixsand I see what you are doing there…lose some of the black and add in silver…surely the only thing you are missing then is Campag Athena (alas the only gruppo they do in silver of any worth these days).
@kixsand
I’m still partial to those BMCs and with the C24s, rowrrr. White saddle?
I’ve been shopping DA9000 mechanical parts separately, and with a C-Bear bottom bracket, was able to get it all relatively cheaply. Look forward to the final build.
@kixsand
You wont be disappointed with the DA 9000 C24’s, Ive not long had mine and they are excellent.
@xyxax
I’m a bit torn on the saddle colour. BMC does a black saddle and white tape when they sell you a complete bike in this frameset. White saddle and tape would look good too though. I have matte white CF Blackburn cages that I’d be using too, so maybe..
@Barracuda
I’ve been riding with the C24’s on my current bike all summer and I love them! Terrific multi-purpose wheel that flies under the radar and that’s just fine by me. They’re light enough. They’re aero enough. They’re strong enough.
@kixsand See my post 10076, two weeks on my 2014, very impressed so far, the C24’s roll sweet, mechanical DA, very nice indeed, and I quite like 52-36 and 11-25 although I am going to put 11-23 on the Zipp 404’s. This is a big improvement on my RM01 which I loved.
@piwakawaka
Wow! Love it!
Same wheels, same bike, same group set!
The only difference is that I’m looking at a 2013 – identical geometry but not quite so stiff and light as the 2014 model. I’ve read that one of the endearing traits of the previous generation is that it was capable of winning the TDF while still offering ride quality that you wouldn’t expect from such a bike. I wonder if the 2014 has lost any of this? I can also save a fair bit of coin by getting a 2013 and that is a factor for me.