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 ...
@Chris
I think I may have gotten a peak of this on a certain social media outlet. think its gonna be rad and I’m jealous.
@Barracuda
Yeah, I need to pick one of those up. The frame came with this red one that looks orange-ish in certain lights, but it’s not cutting it for me either.
The build is now all finished. Unfortunately, the moment it came off the stand, the weather here turned to shit and it just wouldn’t be right to subject a spotless new bike to Rule #9 conditions.
I’ll snap a photo with a real camera as soon as I get a chance.
@RedRanger
You,re not wrong. Blurry cameraphone shots might be acceptable on twittergram but on here it has to be just right.
She is so very achingly beautiful though.
@DeKerr
Beautiful shot, loving the BMC
@Dean C
Warm welcome to you Dean. How are you finding the lid/ lens combo?
@gilly
I’ll barge in uninvited: It’s like any other Giro comfort-wise but it looks, uh, questionable – and isn’t any more aerodynamic than some more reasonable-looking competitors. Namely, Giro Synthe, LG Course and Spesh Evade. PS: Visor is almost always slower than regular shades.
@tessar
Trying telling @Dean C that. Between the pythons, guns, and the bloody tank in the pics he’s posted I’m going to suggest he’s a man who appreciates some heft to his equipment.
However, those red gloves definitely do not look fantastic with the flouro-green bar tape. Same goes for the mismatched bidons.
Goddamn Manchester weather.
New bike came yesterday, built it up, heatwave predicted & i’m all giddy at the prospect of my first commute to work on it. Wake up at 6am, weather is chilly but dry. Ten past & the heavens open for ten minutes, proper biblical shit.
Then it stops. No way I can get my new steed filthy on a mere commute. Back on the old reliable Giant Defy. Rest of the day has been baking (for Manchester) & not a puddle in sight now. I’m not averse to a Rule #9 ride, i’m on my bike rain or shine (mainly rain) so I can only assume it was a sign from Merckx for ‘one more ride’ with the Defy as #1 bike after almost six years of unfaltering service, crashes & general donkey work.
Duck & Birdie 1
“Fokke & Sukke (aka Duck and Birdie in Anglosaxon world) will not be going on hols with their family this year.” The mum says “but instead the family got a very nice roadbike in return for that”.
Duck & Birdie 2
“Duck and Birdie took up cycling”. “”Yes, it is by far the most credible way…”
“to be away from the missus/VMW for a couple of hours”
Rode one of my standard short loops last night with 2 hellishly steep climbs, but having a developed a problem with my rear mech which prevented me shifting to my biggest sprocket.
The result? took 30 seconds off my PB for the last climb, and now I have decided I definitely need to replace my compact chainrings with a 52/36.
@RobSandy
I’m a big fan of the 36. Not too “spinny” but still good on flats and with an 11-23 on the back will get you up most climbs without too much bother.
@JonnyG
I hear you – similar in Dublin.
Went for a 1 hour leg spinner on Saturday on the 9 bike (Condor Italia RC).
Sunday was a big 200K 3.7K climbing event.
Was not going to let my squeaky clean A bike (Condor Super Acciao) near any puddles from Friday night’s rain.
What’s the new bike?
@frank
Frank, thank you- the wheels and parts come from Carolina Precision Components. (got to love the shark)
Gilly, I have only ridden that for two races so far, and now that the temps here are creeping into the 90s with 90 percent humidity I will more than likely go with my Lazer and Oakley’s again for the next race this month.
DeKerr, I agree- and I stand guilty as charged…..my kit base as my knowledge base here continues to grow.
Gloves changed out: check and done
take care guys
@wiscot
I must confess (shame) I have an 11-28 on the back. Changing my chainrings is the first step of me HingTFU. Once I’m happy with that I’ll switch back to an 11-25. I’m a big unit and live near lots of steep hills so I can’t see me going for a smaller block than that.
@RobSandy
I’ve bridged a certain age where suddenly the range of one’s cassette starts to increase in proportion to one’s years………..
@Teocalli
Well I’m only 33! But I have only been riding properly for about 6 months. I did just persuade my dad to change his 8spd cassette from 11-26 to 12-30. Think he’ll appreciate it. He lives on the Malvern Hills, too…
@RobSandy
It’s a bit scary when I ride with people and find out I’m older than their parents!
@RobSandy
An 11-28 on an 11 sp block is a good range. I like it. I’m guessing 90% of 11 sp bikes sold complete are spec’d with 11-28’s by mnfg. I did replace the 50-34 compact that came on one of my bikes with the “mid” compact 52-36. Pretty straightforward with same bcd.
@RobSandy
I used to live in Droitwich Spa, and often rode the Malverns. Definitely compact country! Loved the Malvern Classic at Eastnor Park for mountainbiking too, happy memories from the ’90’s there.
@VeloJello
I grew up in Malvern, moved away to Wales for university when I was 18. Used to do lots of running on the hills but I haven’t got around to taking the bike over them yet. I remember seeing on an old thread that Deakus used to live in Malvern too.
It’s pretty much the centre of the universe.
@RobSandy
Indeed, it’s a small world. Just found this pic from my last ride there. Always tickles my childish sense of humour when I ride up past that road…
@VeloJello
Should be twinned with my post under Rides. Then again I’d bet they are not the only two of that ilk.
@VeloJello
And what’s even stranger is I know that road well, and a good family friend (who scored me my current job) lives there.
@VeloJello
Actually, I got confused. This is the road in Malvern I was thinking of.
@VeloJello
@RobSandy
Yup, I giggled.
The best we’ve got in my ‘hood is Gore Ave. Plenty of Rules violations on that street, but it has more to do with crushing urban poverty than anyone trying to look fantastic.
@DeKerr
This is a street in Cardiff.
We’ve got a Butt Street… *snigger*
Sorry, that’s in Wellington, New Zealand.
@Oli
You crazy Kiwis. What are you like.
I’ve lurked around these parts long enough. I suppose it’s time to finally sack up and register fo’ real.
Hi all. Matt from California. But more importantly, here’s my bike:
Man, you know we’re in between big races when threads start heading down rude street names territory. Bring on the Dauphine!
@VeloJello FWIW I have both, a pair of ENVE’s and a pair of Chinese unbranded for a fraction of the cost. Can’t say I can tell the difference except when I roll on my Chinese wheels I smile at the savings.
I went with the Chinese because I wanted to switch to disc brakes, the braking performance of rim brakes on carbon wheels is not that good and in wet conditions out and out lousy.
As far as warranties domestic manufacturers have enough clauses and conditions to make them almost worthless in my view.
I think most of the trash talk about Chinese wheels is ignorance or bigotry and reminds me of how people used to trash talk Asian cars until they drove one.
The first 100 miles have been great as for the future who knows.
@frank
@frank you complete bastard! Jealous as hell of that bike.
@David Dimston
Thanks David. My feeling is towards the AliExpress wheels. Now to narrow down the better builders. Ideally I guess an aluminium brake surface would be better, but from the research I’ve done so far, the majority of builders making carbon wheels with alu brake surfaces are building track wheelsets.
@Matt
Nice ride Matt, and welcome!
You may have some comments with regards valve and crank positions for the photo… And defo a comment or two about the bar tape/tire/saddle color mix.
@Teocalli
You mentioned a while ago about carbon bottle cages on carbon bikes. I listened, and can now report you are of course quite right. The carbon versions look much better. And don’t scratch my bottles. Win win, and thanks for the guidance.
Here it is. Maiden ride was on Sunday at the Tour of Cambridgeshire. It was a social pace with a mate but when I put my head down and rode, it flew. I’m in love.
Rode the #2 yesterday morning (hence the lack of pedals on #1), the fit of the two is almost identical but it felt so much different.
@Chris
You’d have thought that having a red spoke to point out the valve would have helped get it aligned for the photo.
Otherwise very nice indeed sir.
@Teocalli
You would have thought so wouldn’t you but I spent enough time trying to get the front wheel straight (there’s a gentle slope away from the garage door) and forgot about the rear wheel.
@Chris
Loving the FSA chainrings, Nice ride.
@VeloJello
Understood about the crank arms and valve stems. I didn’t consider their placement until after the photo was taken, and by that time I already had a few rides on the frame and dirtied it. I will take my minipump floggings with dignity.
Whats wrong with the saddle/tape/tires? The black part of the saddle matches the black hoods and black tires. The red tape matches the red accent on the saddle. And everybody knows red tape is the fastest tape.
@Matt
Hi, Matt from California. Welcome! I hear good things about the Somas. Prestige was always a great tubeset, and it never hurts to have polished silver parts gleaming in the sun.
(I’d think about tanwalls for your next set of tires, but that’s a personal opinion.)
Felt F1 PR
Apologies, in that I’m at least a month away from building up this sweet beauty. While I’m not generally a fan of the UCI, their requirements that pro frames be available for the public to buy trickled down to my greedy but dirtbag-budget hands. This is their F1 PR frame; “PR” standing for Paris-Roubaix, of course. Slightly longer wheelbase, slightly relaxed angles, lower bottom bracket, standard (not sit-up-and-beg) head tube length. Most astonishingly, it fits gigantic road tires. As a test, I put in my ‘cross wheels this morning and a true width of 34mm fits. I plan on running it with 28’s on wide rims, or about 30mm of true width.
An acquaintance-of-an-acquaintance rides mountain bikes for Felt and got this frame last year but never built it up due to the need for medium-reach brakes and a BB30 crank. Sold it to me for a sweetheart deal given my budgetatus status and a trade for some photography work.
Future #1 and graveur, all in one.
@cognition
That sounds like a cool deal indeed.
@cognition
You mean, like these?
They’ll be mounted as soon as I’m back on the bike in a few months. Just had surgery yesterday morning on my shoulder; got hit by a car last year and tore my labrum. And I thought only ladies had those parts.
@cognition
Bastard.
Want.
@Matt
I had the same operation January 2014. Took me a little while to get back doing anything, but once I did the bike was the sensible option. My shoulder is just about where I’d like it to be, now, but I I’ve had shoulder issues for years so you’ll probably be fine.
Good luck!
@cognition
With relation to the tyre width, the limiting factor is the brakes right, not the frame? Most modern brakes will let you jam a 28mm wide tyre in there, it’s not the frame that limits how big a tyre you can get in there.
If I’m being captain fucking obvious, I’ve got the T shirt, and you’re welcome. And I’m awesome. Still being Capt. Obvious.
@minion
Nope it’s the frame, particularly at the forks. It can ether be the bridge (which does relate to the brakes in that it impacts the mounting distance from the rim) but also the width/clearance at the fork and seat stays.
@RobSandy
Trying to decide whether tan walls would be OK on my #1 (Black/Red Carbon Pina) as I have some 25mm Vittoria that were just too tight for comfort on the Steel Pina so had to get 23mms. Summer option for #1 vs the current Pave.