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 ...
@Rom
Sorry , missed this one, others have said that the difference is minimal, but for me, on the flats I can definately notice the speed difference between the my c24’s and the rogue c35’s.
Having said that my c24’s, without me piloting them sadly,just did the 3 peaks in 9 hrs and 28 mins ….. outstanding effort ….
I wonder is there any rule concerning installing the gruppo on a non-italian bike? Could I put a campagnolo groupset on for example scott bike? or is it against rule?looking forward for your thoughts.
@Gianni
Gianni, yes, the neutrons use steel spokes that look very similar to sapim cx-rays. I have used eurus for training/racing for close to 10 years (only switched to deep carbons 2 years ago). Stiff and indestructible. The only problems with the eurus’ “linguini” shaped alum spokes (aside from replacement as mentioned) are they ride brutally stiff and the thick spoke is completely un-aero in any type of side wind. I think of the neutron as a poor man’s Hyperon. Or a smart man’s, depending on priorities.
@ChrisO
Sooo, Campagnolo makes the good stuff for shimano users and puts their name on the lesser products? How’s that?
@fignons barber
Ive been riding on American Classic Aero 420’s for a couple of years. I heard one of the keepers had an issue with a rear hub on them but mine have been bomb proof and at one stage I was riding them at the almighty Big Mig weight of 115kgs! At a shade over 1500g they are a very nice set of rims and I have heard of people even using them for CX?
@fignons barber I don’t think it’s a matter of good stuff or bad stuff.
The Campag-branded wheels tend to be the newer, higher end and the Fulcrum tends to be more the tried-and-tested, although their top of the range stuff isn’t cheap.
I guess it’s like car makers who have a premium brand and get extended benefit from their R&D by shifting it down to the mid-market brand.
@ChrisO
My understanding is, same materials, same design, same factory, different brand, the idea is that Fulcrum is used with Group-san as opposed to running Campy branded wheels with a Shimano drive train.
@G’rilla
Another way to stay out of the saddle?
http://www.designboom.com/art/clem-chen-taxidermy-bike-seat-sculptures-03-04-2014/
I am very please with Campagnolo wheels. I run the Shamal with setups and Euros with clinchers.
@EBruner
Fucking ace stable there mate. But next time meditate on Rule #25 before photographing.
@Nate Thanks, but I can’t find a bike that satisfies Rule #25……
Mr. Fedex man brought me a nice box from Seattle today. It’s now a work in progress with build pics to follow soonish… Thank you Hampco Towers!
@teleguy57
Sweet, many happy kms!
@EBruner Right, if, with two Colnagos, you are still in violation, back that black thing out of the garage first.
@teleguy57
I see Seattle delivered a lovely dirty snowbank. Where did the box come from?
@frank
You get real snow in Seattle? This is WI special stuff! Was 12″ taller and white two days ago. Today I rode in knicks vs thermal layers — real skin exposed….
More pics to follow as it comes together. Well, OK, here’s a teaser for starters (Parlee PF30 Campag adapter; interesting that their logo ended up on the bottom side; guess what the other side says)
@teleguy57 You want to talk about the adapter? Look at those welds.
@Nate
I was enjoying those as well. When they’re that nice, they don’t need to be ground.
@Bespoke
Actually, I selected this photo exactly because of the welds but SQUIRREL! got distracted by the lettering in the photo. With this being the second Hampsten I’ve had, I’ve started to assume the beauty of Max’s craft. Shame on my for taken attention away from them.
@RedRanger
The best upgrade I’ve made in a long time was the recent swap out of some FSA SL-K cantilever brakes for TRP CX8.4s Vs on my cx race bike. A world of difference.
The second best upgrade was the swap out of Tektro cantilever for Tektro RX5s Vs on my commuter bike. I think I’ve actually been braking when I don’t need to, just for the fun of using the brakes.
@the-farmer
Wait, you’re looking for a set of wheels for your winter-training bike, that’s running 8-speed? In my opinion, I’d pass on just about all of the recommendations so far and just look on your local Craigslist or equivalent. Keep an eye out, and you should be able to find something appropriate for USD$100 or so. Look for 32 spokes (or 36) and decent hubs (105 or better), check that there aren’t any hops or serious wobbles, and go for it.
They’re pretty common (used) in the US. If you can’t find any and are willing to pay shipping, drop me a line — I’ve got more than one pair cluttering up the basement.
Budgetatus unite.
Nooooooooo, I’m not THAT stupid. The winter bike NEEDS new wheels. N1 WANTS new wheels, therefore new wheels for the Domane, put Domane hoops of granite on the winter bike. Hey presto everyone’s happy, VMH thinks I’ve only bought one set of wheels, whereas I’ve effectively done two upgrades! Booyakashaa!
Alright, and these photos more rule compliant?
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@EBruner More Rule #25 compliant, at least.
@xyxax I got my first long-ish ride in last Saturday. 85km with 1460m of climbing. Warm weather for most of the day. It was glorious, and the suffering I experienced by the end of the ride was tremendous. =) Looking for a repeat this coming Saturday with a climb up Mount Hamilton.
@Nate I’ve noticed that even with this carbon bike feeling just about as heavy as the Trek, she still gets up and goes quite nicely when I hop out of the saddle.
Speaking of saddle, the only part of me that wasn’t sore by the end of the ride was my ass. This bike was just as comfortable at km 85 as it was at km 1.
@EBruner Looking very nice there. The only Rule #26 violations I can see are that the valve stems aren’t at 6 o’clock. Those are some sexy bikes there. :-)
@Xyverz @EBruner and the chain not on the Big Ring.
@Xyverz The Master has no choice with the stems, they are sewups.
It has taken me rather longer than it should have done due to other priorities, both financial and domestic, however the new bike is now ready for the Summer. The pictures aren’t as compliant as the should be due to my haste and reluctance to a) not get run over & b) not let my pride and joy fall over. If I had a choice, the a0 would have been the preferred option.
Around 6.5kgs all in with bottle cages, pedals etc.
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@Mark1 VERY nice steed. Now get out and ride the shit out of it!
@Mark1
Oooooo! Bel mezzo, Mark!
@Mark1 I like watching this one from the rear (had to post it again) — perfezionamento!
@Xyverz I’ll be following your speed contrails with avidity.
@Mark1 Even the brick is lovely. What a great bike and build.
@xyxax
Thanks, the brick was necessary as the telegraph pole just wasn’t doing the job.
@Mark1
Very nice both the bike an brick !
What wheels are those ?
@Barracuda
Hi @Barracuda, I built the wheels myself. Open mould 38mm tubular rims, Tune Mag 170 Mig 180 hubs with Tune DC-14 quick release skewers, Sapim CX-Ray spokes finished off with a pair of Vittoria Corsa CX tyres. Came in at 1,150 gms excluding tyres of course.
Complete bike, including pedals and cages is around 6.5kg. Quite pleased as I didn’t choose the lightest frame by some margin, going for form as much as function (cheaper to shed a few pounds myself).
@Barracuda
Go the C24s. I hope their new found awesomeness transfers back to you.
@teleguy57
And now it’s done. First ride report — Best Bike Ever Period Exclamation Mark
@teleguy57 That’s class!
@teleguy57 Bwahahaha! Awesome. Love the “presque rouleur” decal.
@teleguy57 well fuck that thing is fucking awesome.
@teleguy57 holy fucking fuck…that’s just about perfect ( Rule #41 violation held you back from 10’s across the board).
@teleguy57 Cracking perfect, the saddle is not my cup of tea, but overall it is tits.
@teleguy57 I have always wondered, what is that streamer bit hanging from the saddle?
@teleguy57
Beautiful, but get rid of that damn saddle hemorrhoid.
@teleguy57 Wow, exceptionally strong work, Rule #41 aside. And the saddle is not my bag but seems to be getting ravers from people so if it works…The Golden Tickets more than make up for them. Challenge or Vittoria tires? Looks like Vittoria but hard to tell.
How do you like the Q-Rings? I’ve been experimenting with them myself, though the period to get them adjusted was painful as I’m apparently a #1 on the setting which means it was several rides before I got there.
@frank
Thanks for all the compliments. I know the saddle is divisive (for Velominati, not my taint) but it works for me. Tried lots of the other standards and this is best so far (although I did just get a used Aliante which is going on #2 for testing — Antares almost worked and Arione is no go). That little ribbon is part of their branding; it’s the Italian tricolor.
Tires are Challenge Strada 25s. I’m lukewarm on them; has several where the sidewall casings failed without any real external source of damage. When these are done I’m back to my Vittoria Paves (have a couple of 24s left and a pair of 25s in waiting). I have Paves on my Nucleon tubulars right now. Really liked the Veloflex Roubaix also, but it’s a bit pricey.
Like the Q-Rings; been riding them two seasons. 50/36 setup and the front shifting is fine for me. I’d have to check my settings, but I think I went the the OEM recommendations and haven’t played with them either way. I can feel the difference when I go to #2 which has round rings, but within a few minutes I’m ok on round. But I do think I get a better stroke with the Rotors. To me that’s a side benefit as I bought them because my left almost-60-year-old knee has no cartilage left and I want to avoid rooster comb injections and knee replacement.
@teleguy57
I’ve ridden a number of tubs at this point and I have to say, the FMB’s are so great and durable that even for the price I think they are cheaper than most. I have a set I’ve been riding since 2012 with no flats, and before you bitch about terrain I rode them on about 400km of cobbles in France and Belgium.
But aside from that, the Veloflexes seem to be the best value for ride and durability. I agree, the Challenges are a challenge. Buh-duh-da! I’ll be here all week folks!
I felt like a castrated duck on the OEM setting; no power, especially when climbing. Awful. Fucking headwind that day, too. Bastids. But that’s the thing, the rings need to be set for how you pedal; thats what sets it apart from BioPace.
When I first set it right, I felt I didn’t have much more power or could go that much harder, but I could sustain an effort longer – like I’d have extra power at the top of the climb after holding a threshold effort. Which I interpret as more effective use of my energy by not wasting it on parts of the stroke where I’m less efficient.
But now I can kill myself again and feel like a rag doll at the top of the same climb, but I’m doing more in bigger gears than I was before.
The big trouble is I don’t know if its the rings or if I’m just getting in shape finally. Or maybe its the EPO?
@teleguy57
Lovely bike. Really nice but bar tape around the shifters/hoods could be better to be honest. I know 11 speed shifters are the hardest to do but still the black gaps showing handlebars should not be there. This bike deserves better.
@TommyTubolare
Absolutely right. Posted some other places but neglected here that this is build v1 and apologized for the tape job as a) I was eager to get a leg over it and b) I knew I would likely tweak the lever position before final wrapping.