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 ...
@osbk67
That is impressive — reverence.
@GogglesPizano very keen on a fatbike, your thoughts?
Behold a V-Bike being used for its intended purpose
@PCK
I suggest further adherence to Rule #26 (valve stems, chain on the big dog, and get the whole bike in the photo… in focus)
Welcome.
@GogglesPizano
Daaaaaaaaaaaaaaamn.
@piwakawaka
Thoughts after the initial ride: Fatbikes are awesome! Had been riding my CX when conditions permitted but was always shut-out with heavier snowfalls. I have a few spots to ride right out my door so hope to get out whenever I can, you really can ride these things where other bikes wont work. It is pretty easy to get the heartrate up to reasonable amounts when plowing through some snow so should make for good endurance training, to complement higher intensity on the rollers. For me I had all the winter kit I needed due to nordic skiing and winter commuting.
Things to consider if looking at a fatty based on my last few weeks of shopping and initial rides:
1 – Suspension does not work in below freezing temps (suspension models must be designed for beach riding I guess)
2 – 45Nrth Wolvhammers are the most amazing winter cycling boots (of course you pay for it)
3 – Tire pressure is key and studded tires a must
4 – Fat-Bike rides very well on bumpy foot packed pathways/trails and in snow a few inches deep where a CX or mt bike tends to get dicey
5 – If you live in a winter climate you should buy a fatbike
6 – Riding a fatbike all bundled up at -15C is actually a fairly pleasant experience if dressed right and I believe that rainy cold/wet road rides just above freezing are much tougher and really I don’t feel like much of a badass or hardman when riding my fatbike ….
Conundrum – Shimano DA9000 C24 V Shimano DA7900 C50
Been riding the C50’s for last couple of weeks whilst my bike in for warranty issues.
So much fun and enjoyment on the 50’s.
had offer to swap my DA 9000 C24’s for the DA 7900 C50’s
Horses for courses I know, but what to do, given the fun factor ?
@Barracuda
Have you had the C50’s in a decent crosswind yet?
@GogglesPizano
Yes, and felt ok.
My head hurts
@Barracuda
I really, really like my DA 9000 C35s – not that that will help your decision in any way :P
@Barracuda
From memory, DA7900 wheels are actually 7850. Just make sure they are 7850 not 7801 which had aluminium freehubs and nipples at the hub. The freehubs are soft and spares are easy or cheap to come by.
This showed up in the LBS for an overhaul. Great to see an uncovered classic — found in a basement.
@unversio
There must be so many classic bikes hiding away just waiting to be ridden and looked after in a new home. Just home I drop on some sometime.
@osbk67
Those are sweet looking brakes. I have a pair in my spares box.
@wiscot
It might be the Fiamme rims I run but the stopping power of classic brakes leaves a lot to be desired vs modern brakes. If I do a few classic rides and get used to hauling on them and waiting for the bike to slow then when I go back to #1 I just touch the brakes and near fly over the handlebars if I’m not careful.
Behold, a bike I regret selling about 25 years ago. A beautiful thing and a joy to ride. I would love to find another one in good working order.
The pump is still in action and works just fine requiring one washer replacement over the decades.
So here’s something different…
Delta7 ridden by Jessie MacLean in last night’s Australian Women’s Crit Nationals.
@Mikael Liddy
doesn’t seem particularly light frame, 860gm, they don’t even internally route the cables, not sure about the aerodynamics as well, but hey it probably costs a fortune so there is that!
@Keith
Dats purdy! (The bike, I mean – not necessarily the pump, although I can have genuine respect for that kind of indestructibility…)
@Mikael Liddy
Cheese graters on wheels? Why would anyone want to go there, I wonder.
@Mikael Liddy
If your carbon has to have a pattern to it, give me a Holland Cycles over that monstrosity, any day.
@Barracuda
C50s are really not deep enough to cause handling troubles for a full-grown man. Really nice all-around wheels.
One thing you should consider though is that 7900 hubs are not 11-speed compatible. Might not be a problem now, but these are nice wheels and worth hanging onto, and I already see lots of haggling on 10-speed components that are otherwise perfectly fine.
@tessar
Running 10 speed and spacer on my DA9000 C24’s now, so not an issue.
Im confused re the whole argument about roll faster and feel fresher prior to hills V go up hills better but work harder to get there.
My head still hurts. Pity its not black and white, lotta grey going on.
Stop!
Those words make me giddy.
@GogglesPizano
Agree on the C35’s. And also on the 24’s. This is a case of one or the other ? Or really a case of need ’em both? 24’s w/11-28 and 50’s w/12-25 would make for nice options.
@wilburrox
As an extension to the n+1 rule, there’s the 2k+2 rule: for every k wheelsets you own, there’s always a place for another pair.
@tessar
Yes. Yes. Working to build sets no.4 (will relegate current no.2 to no.4 and take its place) and no.5 reserved for mandatory incredible rides (cobblestone).
N + 1
2015 Pinarello FCX Ultegra hydro disc
Built by Cyclepath, Portland OR.
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@ChrissyOne
Great looking bike! I have a feeling this is the year I pickup a CX machine. the front skewer looks to be on the wrong side.
That’s because there’s a disc over there. ;)
@ChrissyOne
Congrats!
Then what about the rear?…
Trust me, I’ve thought about moving it.
It’s not so much the disc as it is the caliper mounting block. It’s already pretty crowded over there, so the lever would have to be below the axle. It’s much cleaner to have it on the other side behind the fork leg.
I’m already in love with this bike after 50k in the rain. =)
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Sharp eyed viewers may notice an imbalance in the color scheme. That’s because the correct saddle, an Anteres with the red stripe in the center, is on backorder.
@ChrissyOne
One would partner my K nicely but I guess I need to build my Steel Pina before suggesting anything to the VMW or S+1 could be on the cards……………..
@ChrissyOne
Oh man that’s an awesome machine there. I’m a huge fan of the + wheel set concept and love the attn to detail on this build with the spoke nipples. Just right. And I’m guessing your gonna love those brakes next time you’re bombing downhill on a dirt road. Shimano does hydraulic discs like no one else. Wow. What a gorgeous bike. And has to be one sweet ride. Cheers @ChrissyOne
I’ve had Shimano hydraulic discs on my mtg for 11 years. I’m glad road bikes have finally caught up. ;)
I did a long ride in the rain and mud, and they worked beautifully. And thank you for noticing the details like the red nipples. CyclePath did a great job giving me exactly what I wanted. =)
MTB, that is….
@ChrissyOne
Looks AWESOME!
So are you doing Heck of the North then?
Training in bad weather might make you slightly less of a badass when this is your Nine Bike.
@frank
[ Burns Red In The Sun voice ] “There is a pain between my ears that I do not understand.”
@frank
I told her how much fun the HOTN was, and she bought a Pinarello.
Correlation is causation after all.
@frank
Hot!! So is there an inverse relationship between the credibility of riding in the piss and the sublime glory attained by just the right pieces of carbone singing below you?
I confess I was grinning precisely like I’m not supposed to for 50k. I see no evidence that this won’t happen again. This is a very liberating machine. I do not fear The Nine upon Snowmane.
So, I think not. No, a happy rider is an alert rider. They are in control. Thus they exert a sense of Security, which conveys Authority, which as you know, is always more badass.
@frank
I don’t see any fenders. And therefore you are still a badass for training in bad weather.
Strike that — anyone who legitimately trains in bad weather is a badass, fenders or no.
@PeakInTwoYears
That is magical. @ChrissyOne you are already provisionally registered. Even though registration isn’t open yet.
@ChrissyOne
Agreed completely! The Nine Bike gets as much road time as Bike #1 so it might as well be a good one. My only point is, the quality of the bike makes being out in the rain less of a sacrifice. Same goes for the Gabba jersey which is so amazing it even makes the VMH yearn for Nine rides.
@frank
I love that damn thing. And the Nanoflex warmers. Fucking awesome.
Although for dry days I did just pick up an old-school wool jersey in V-orange to go with the Veloforma when it finally arrives.
Got some bits for a build. Is it possible to have too much Merckx?
(No, mini pump won’t be frame mounted!)
@frank
How is it in moderate (20c-ish) temperatures?I’ve yet to find the right “winter” jersey that won’t cook on the climbs yet protect from the descents, but I’ve been hearing lots about the Gabba. Is it slightly longer in the torso, by any chance, than other Castellis?
LBS showed a technique for removing stubborn brake pad(s) from their cartridge. Remove the cartridge (noting torque to properly install again) and fasten to a flat bar lever (used a 48-inch Aluminum ruler with a hole at the end). Fasten it thru hole near end of lever. Use a counter space (edge) where you can reach over to an opposite side. With open end of cartridge pointing away from you, fastened to the lever, allow the pad only to sit just over the edge. Firm leverage, pull continually until you feel more of the pad leaving the end of the cartridge. Removed 4 cartridges in 10 minutes — a new record for me!