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 ...
@Dr C
We built one as kids in the dining room of out 7th floor flat, loved it. the Teras look nice and I’ll look inot the Kids Club although I’m not sure how he’ll fit in any more sport! Those RS400s have quite an innovative reefing system!
Only (mostly) biking irreverence from now on!
More threadjack:
I see at Eurobike that Easton has jumped in with road tubeless. I really can’t say I’ve been overwhelmed with flats, but I’m starting to get curious. At $800 for a set, it might be worth trying. These Easton wheens have 24 spokes on the rear, as opposed to my Neuvation R28 Aero 4s with 20. At 200#, and ~4000miles, I haven’t had any cracked rims (yet) but really wonder if it is worth the $800 to “upgrade” along with the cost of tyres and a cassette.
Velominati?
@eightzero
I’ve switched to latex tubes recently. CHANGE.YOUR.LIFE. And they better, at $20 a pop. I’d have to try tubeless before I’d decide, but if the inner tube effects ride quality that much, tubeless might be the ticket.
@RedRanger
Nice bike, mate!!
@frank
What kind of pressure are you running with the latex tubes?
@frank
Latex Boy! Two years I have been rolling the latex. It is hard to explain but the ride is so sweet. I have been using Michelin latex tubes and they cost me about $10/pop when you buy in bulk (10 tubes).
What latex tube are you using that is costing $20 Frank?
@frank
I’m so gonna try these…Nate has a good q. What pressure do you run Frank? ps a quick search on CRC I found them for a little over $10 That’s not much less than my favorite conti’s.
@eightzero
Personally not really sold – not great takeup by tire makers (Hutchinson isn’t one of my preferred tire makers, due to ignorance) Seems the benefits of wider rims would account for a lot of the benefits of the ride. I am also an avowed late adaptor/luddite. I’ve got a pair of tubeless wheels and never used them tubeless.
@Minion
I use them in what is now bike no 2 – endured a couple of tyre destroying bad cuts in Hutchinson fusion 2s – one of which required a taxi home. Changed to their tougher 25 tyre and no troubles since. Ride is nice – but who am I kidding? 25s v 23s make more of a difference!
@Nate
I’m still running 8bar/120psi, despite all the advice to lower the pressure. I’ll run ’em at 100 or 110 when it’s wet, but I’m just not ready to mess with lower pressures. I’m comfortable, I don’t get flats (touch wood), and Merckx knows I’m fast. If I removed some pressure and went even faster, I’d probably bring on suspicion of doping ala Cobo. Whose name is already dangerously close to COTHO; he’s just asking for a positive test with a name like that.
@pakrat
Um…those? WTF? Got them at my Campy LBS; I’m gonna have to have words with my boy over there. That said, I don’t like the valve stem, so I’ll be switching anyway. I need extenders for my Zipps and you can’t take these apart for the extenders I like.
Ah ha. Interesting info. I run 700×23 220TPI Vittoria Diamate Pros at 140psi. Yeah, remember I’m 6’4″ and 200#. I hate squishy tyres. Might try the latex tubes. I do get extended stem tubes, even though my wheels don’t necessarily require them. I hate trying to pump with one hand while I hold the presta valve thingy with the other. Especially going to 140psi.
@frank
The Michelins are available with different stem lengths. I have the 60mm version (longest one they offer I think). The stem is smooth (no threads) so if you need more length than that? How deep are 404’s?
I run my clinchers at 100 front 110 rear. I’m 84 kg. So much less fatigue with the lower pressure.
@RedRanger
Very nice RR. I love it that when one of us here gets a new bike, we all get a new bike.
@pakrat
No good. The extended stems are crap because they are (a) brass and heavier than my bitchin’ extenders and (b) too thin and thus rattle in the rim, requiring a little wrap of tap to keep them silent.
The extenders I use are light, and they are the perfect length for the rims.
Saul is getting me some Vittoria tubes; I’ll be giving those babies a shot.
Bike number 2 has been stolen. Pretty much my fault cause I left it unlocked while I went into a pharmacy in a not so good part of town.
Car number one was trashed yesterday do to some freak flooding in the school parking lot.
That my car in the middle of the frame
I still have My new bike number one and the car is fully insured.
@frank
Am hoping this might turn into an article in the not-so-distant future. I’ve been thinking about switching over myself. Latex bleeds more air though, true? Significant over the course of a longer ride? Or just a matter of pumping the tires before every ride (which I do anyway)?
@RedRanger
That sucks””on both counts, but especially the bike. The benefits of being on the other side of the desk at university: my bike lives in my office.
@Steampunk
I’d love to see an article as well. I’ve always ridden 25mm Conti Gatorskins w/Conti tubes with nary a flat (just watch, I’ll get one tonight for saying that), but I just picked up a set of GP4000s (in the 25mm size) for next season and I’ve been toying with the idea of switching to latex tubes in those. We have some real shit roads here in OH and I ride an Alu frame so I’m up for any added ride quality I can get.
I could care less about loss of air, for as you said, I check my tires and pump before every ride (that should be really be a rule btw), but I’m interested in the longevity of the tubes themselves. As I understand, even though they are more delicate than butyl, the suppleness means they are less flat-prone (provided your tires aren’t prone to flats to begin with). I have no problem paying between $10-$20 a tube if they’ll last anywhere near as long as the tubes I run now (which is going on a season and a half).
@VeloVita
This is the part that’s damning you to flatting this evening. But this is exactly where I was going with an interest in the article. Would definitely shell out a few more bucks for a smoother ride (not to mention an eminently cooler bike””even if nobody can see the difference).
@Steampunk
Touche. I had such a hell of a time mounting the tires the first time that I swore they wouldn’t be coming off until they had to.
@RedRanger
Shitballs, man! That’s no good at all…
@Oli
Its only stuff. As soon as the insurance gets sorted out I will be getting a new car and Yeah I’m peeved about bike number 2 as I had set it up to be a commuter bike(since I am carless)
@RedRanger
bummer on the car – what the hell sort of rain is that? – I thought it only rained like that in India, Thailand and Ireland
I once drove my car on a beach whilst noting the don’t drive on the beach sign….once the salt and sand was hosed out of the engine bay, I got a good trade in deal – never lose hope – but protect your no claims bonus…
@Dr C
@Oli
The campus I am on my have been built in a hole to the side of the airport. this picture was in the local paper.
Damn! :-(
I was on a few months ago as my one and only bike was stolen and was told to return upon replacement, unfortunately wrangling with the insurance company, a three week trip up the West Coast of the US and a snapped rear Derailleur has delayed all that. But know i have the replacement. I am of the belief that a bike isn’t yours until you’ve put a few kilometers on it and had at least one character building experience on it. For this the ride was up outta Riddlesden where the last 2 kilometers average out at 17% and there was much communing with the butterflies so i decided to post now. Appologies for the rule violations on the pedals and saddlebag, otherthings went in the theft and will be replaced shortly.
Btw this is a Yorkshire summer equal measures of sun and drizzle.
@Sam
Ooh””and reflectors on the wheels. Not so much. But looks like a fine bike. May you ride it long and in good health!
A recent photo of my ride, from just a few weeks ago. I don’t think I’ve posted one in awhile, and I’ve made some changes since then.
Changes: swapped Felt saddle for Fizik Antares VS. Arse is now way mo happy on 65+ km rides. Also put one of my many spacers above the stem. Feels good, and while I am getting stronger I can certainly tell that my core strength needs some focused work so I don’t hunch my back when I get tired, which is a bad habit of mine.
This particular picture was taken while I was staying in Sunriver resort in central Oregon, and for those of you who don’t know about it, you’re right smack in the middle of some great road/cross/mountain cycling territory in the “high desert” (1,200m elivation).
The day before I had done an 80 km/850m ride up to the nearby Mt. Bachelor. Sunriver itself has about 40 miles of paved bike paths, so on this particular day I decided to take it easy and do a leisurely ride on the dedicated paths. No goals and no concerns. And since there were no cars to worry about, I also ditched the helmet in favor of riding with just a cycling cap. Boy that was a treat. You could get addicted to feeling that free on a bike, that’s for sure. Still had to watch out for roving bands of other vacationers on rented beach cruisers, but you could hear them coming by the “squeaka-squeaka-squeaka” of the poorly-maintained rental bikes from quite a distance.
HELP! I’ve got a noise coming from my bike and can’t figure out what it is. When climbing out of the saddle when I push down on the left pedal there’s a creaking sound. If I maintain same rhythm but stop swinging the bike side to side the creak stops.
Thanks in advance folks.
Also, my pal Dave Bowie, not the famous one, got knocked off his bike at the start of May by a motorist and treated himself to this with the compensation for his broken arm which was repaired with a titanium plate or something. Taken on the day of it’s first ride but a couple of days later his arm had swollen and the surgeon is unhappy with how the bone is fusing – still his bike is sweet as …
Tacx cages re Steampunks article.
@snoov
Snoov, have you tried taking the crankset off and regreasing your BB bearings?
I took the crank off and greased everything but it’s a Hollowtech type BB, I don’t think it’s possible to grease the bearings.
@wiscot
Maybe I need a new BB?
@snoov
Maybe the sound only appears to be coming from the BB. Try regreasing your QR skewers and axles, and for Merckx’s sake don’t do anything so rash as replacing your BB until Oli chimes in.
@snoov
Thousand things it could be…the association with swinging the bike points me to a QR or even headset. There are loads of really good pointers from the community over here on the In Pursuit of Silence article.
@Nate
@frank
The front QR could be it as I often get a sense that it’s coming from the front of the bike – I thought it could be the stem although it didn’t change when I got a longer stem a few weeks ago. I’ll grease that baby after I’ve eaten.
I may even get my gear on and take it outside for a test.
@snoov
Had a similar experience, started under load, out of saddle at bottom of left peddle stroke. However, got worse and was happening in or out of saddle under reasonable load but always in time with pedal stroke regardless of gear. My bike has press fit BB bearings that had been dry fitted into the frame. I stripped out the bottom bracket and bearings, thoroghly cleaned the bearing recesses and applied thin coat of grease and then replaced everything. Voila…. silence.
@snoov
+1
@V.OldGit
Thanks, I’ve done the work on the skewer, if that doesn’t help I’ll try removing the BB and grease the threads. If that doesn’t help I may try a new lighter better faster BB so that if that doesn’t help, at least I’ll have upgraded.
TESTING COMPLETE.
Thanks ever so much Velominati bretheren. I have to admit I wouldn’t have checked the QR skewer in a million years! As I felt my guns scream for mercy (or for the wee ring at least) on my climb up Bellefield Avenue and then the steeper Seafield Road all I could hear was the sweet sound of tyre on road and and the photons bursting from my lights, colliding with objects too numerous to mention and then smacking against my retina. Silencio achieved! (I giggled as I carried my bike back up to my flat(apartment).
The joy of my creakless bike made me want to share this photo I took of the scenery near where I live, my riding partners are just down the road, one of them taking care of business.
@snoov
Is that out towards Meigle or Coupar Angus?
That’s us heading towards Rait – you’re close – we rode up The Knapp then down towards Coupar Angus but take a left at the bottom of the hill to Collace (we call it Rapha Road) and then right after the quarry and after Rait cross the dual carriageway at Inchture and back to Dundee, a 64k round trip. The scenery is just beautiful and we usually hardly see any cars.
Not far off. Went to school the other side of Perth but used to wander round there with the cadets. A good friend of mine used to live up near Alyth and work in Dundee. It’s been a while though!
Should also have mentioned that it’s stunning up there, I’d love to spend some time riding from there up towards Blairgowrie and beyond.
@mcsqueak
Holy Merckx it’s been a long time since I’ve ditched the foam on my melon. While I hate to admit it (having worked in medicine my whole life, and know (personally) the value of helmets), I loved those rare times without it. Good on ya mate!! And, we do live in one of the best places to ride in the world, and, by far, the best in the Americas.
@snoov
Try putting some more tension on your front skewer. Scott from the Land Downunder.
@Scott Hunter
Thanks Scott, I hauled out the skewer last night and oiled it before slipping on my shoes and taking the bike outside to hit a climb in my pjs(at 11:30pm). Creak was gone and I was giggling as I carried my bike back up the stairs to my apartment.
@scaler911
Yeah, it was a real treat to ride sans helmet. Of course I could do it at any time, but I do worry about being hit while riding on open roads, so the helmet remains a normal fixture in my life.
Missed all the bike racing today, I’ve got it on Sky+ so no worries there, was out on my first ride for three weeks. 95km Sunday club run. Speed isn’t reading correctly for some reason – should be 28.8kph. Sun was out and it got warmer as the ride went on. Got dropped on the way home with 16km or there about to go on Some annoying little hills. Haven’t go the miles or the power in my legs. Floundered around, knees akimbo for a minute or two then got back on the rivet and pushed hard to get back to the start.
I need to spend some quality one on one time with my rollers as penance. Other than that, a beautiful British autumn day.
@Chris
Nice way to ease yourself in!!!
Hoping to rack up something similar (however probably a little less) via the to & from work rides today as my first rides in a similar time frame after my tumble a few weeks back. 30k knocked over on the way in this morning so I’m hoping to stretch the legs properly tonight.