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 ...
@Steampunk
how the hell do you get the fuckers off?!?!?! i thought about brute force but, i can’t afford a new set of wheels (well i can but it’s a tos up between a set of race wheels & a cross bike) i think its a law over here that they are on cos the (for want of a better word) space for a flat head has been designed in such a way that you can only turn it clockwise, any tricks? they’re annoying me as they rattle and break the principle of silence
@Sam
Are you talking about the reflectors? I think they come off with a penny and a quarter twist or if you have some snips (the type that an electrician uses) just go close to the spoke but not so close you’ll cut the spoke and squeeze. Close your eyes and expect it to shatter. Same technique for the plastic ring between the rear spokes and the cassette.
Aye, thanks for the tips. It’s due for a one month service but have u seen the weather outside? it’s glorious after that arse end of a summer we’ve had. So i think i may delay it till the weekend when the weather is undoubtably gonna get worse
@Sam
With your tongue. It’s the cycling equivalent of tying a cherry stem in a knot. The fact that the weather outside is good is all the more reason to take them off immediately. Merckx will cast bad weather in your path for the violation.
@frank
done, although i do need to point out i don’t mind the bad weather i tend to subscribe to the ‘there’s no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing’ school of thought
@Sam
Good, good. That redeems you somewhat for reflectorgate.
@frank
good to know, there are many other infractions to fix but meditation upon the rivet will guide me
Me and my bike went on a ride today.
to the LBS to get some things tightened. But this morning I went for a ride on my bike. Another nice clear day!
When I used to tinker with my bike as a youth, I would take out the inner cable and spray silicone lubricant down the outer cable and all over the cable before putting it all back together. It worked really well. Are there any reasons I shouldn’t do this now that I’m a 40 year old road cycling velominatus?
@snoov
It may be some time before I can read any reference to lubricants on this site without a small chortle at it reminds me of @Jeff in PetroMetro‘s snickering schoolboy response to @sgt‘s diagnostic win. I’m afraid I can’t help you with an answer to your question though.
@RedRanger
That towel is doing an awesome job protecting your bike from your wife’s car.
@Author
Haha. No wife here. It’s a loner car from the parents till I get my money back for the car that got flooded. I don’t like that car at all. But it’s got a hot Borla exhaust that makes some nice noise.
@Author
@RedRanger
How the hell is my name showing up as “Author”?
@Author
I would blame it on Fronk.
@Author
Dude: Marko already has a tat like that one. That’s not cool.
@snoov
Cable lube Cable lube Cable lube Cable lube Cable lube Cable lube Cable lube
@sgt
I’m wondering if that’s a euphemism I’m unaware of?
And somewhere, a keeper weeps into his V – Pint. All that work, the miles, and those pricks are making lube jokes. Honestly what’s so funny about nipple lube? Lubing nipples? Huh? HUH?!? Nipple lube.
@Minion
I don’t want to speak for any of the other Keepers, but that train has sailed.
@snoov
Depends on what type of cable (tho Oli would be the better person to respond). Gore cables no! I wouldn’t personally spray down the inside of the housing, just the cable itself. Too much lube (good Merckx on a Crutch), will attract dirt.
@frank
Heh heh heh heh heh…
I had an image of JiPM, dressed as the emperor from Star Wars, rubbing has hands together, saying good, good, come to the dark side Fronk, heh heh heh….
And then there it is.
Are cracks in carbon frames etc. always visible on the surface? I’ve gotten my hands on a Planet X frame (free) and the previous owner told me it has an internal crack. After a thorough inspection I can’t find anything except a crack where the front mech was attached (too tightly). Looking at Calfee Design’s website I’d say it is definitely repairable (by me). I’ve broken and cracked alu and steel frames before and the cracks were always visible, is it the same with carbon? I’m thinking that when the frame was built up maybe there were noises of a cracked frame but because it was covered by the front mech it was diagnosed as internal. Thoughts please before I spend money on epoxy resin and carbon fibre.
@snoov
Well I can answer some of this at least. Cracks in carbon frames are not always invisible as the frames are made up with layers of material and it might not necessarily crack all the way through. However, you can hear when they cracks are there by tapping the frame with a spanner lightly. Dull sound for cracks high sound for no cracks. Any chips, scuffs or problems where carbon is exposed requires it to be sealed before it gets wet. As for repairing yourself, I know people who have repaired these types of things however it will never be as strong before the crack as epoxy and carbon fibre will never bond with the original carbon fibre in the same way. I guess it depends on the location of the crack and if it is in a high stress area. If it was me, I would definitely give it a go just for the hell of it. I wouldn’t let anyone else ride it and I would never sell it though even if i had it for years with no problems. Found this Q&A as well which may help with answering some of your questions. You could always email him direct as he is pretty good at answering, make sure you send picture of where you think the crack is if you can’t see it. http://sheldonbrown.com/rinard/carbonqa.htm
@All I got my bike passport from Eddy Merckx today and also with it came a nice little book which has loads of pictures from throughout his entire career. A nice little touch free of charge when you buy one of his bikes and register it.
@huffalotpuffalot
You might get a reply from someone, but it sure won’t be Sheldon Brown – he’s been dead for years.
Getting bare carbon wet isn’t a problem either, or any water inside a frame would be a disaster and water gets inside carbon (any) frames routinely…
@huffalotpuffalot
Have you posted a picture of the bike?
@Oli
oh thats a shame he answered loads of questions on that Q&A and seemed like a knowledgable guy.
As for water thing it was something I saw on a youtube video, but will happily defer to your superior knowledge on the matter. I am not sure he really knew all he was going on about anyway, but when he mentioned help from Boeing I hoped he might.
@huffalotpuffalot
Carbon is repairable, though I would hesitate doing it myself.
I know of a couple of places in Aus that do it with quite astounding results.
Worth Googling to find reputable repairer.
@all Thanks for the info and advice. The Planet X frame is a 48 and therefore about 7 or 8 cm too small for me so more of a project than anything. It’ll probably never get built up but if it does it won’t be ridden hard, I’m just interested to see how the repair goes. Using the tapping gently with a spanner technique, there doesn’t seem to be much of a problem.
@huffalotpuffalot
Perhaps I should qualify my statement. You are right when you say carbon absorbs water, but in practical terms the damage would need to be quite bad and/or ignored for a long time for it to be an issue. Having seen the insides of some big name carbon frames I stand by my earlier statement though.
I would however agree that following the advice of the video you linked to and covering up chips and scrapes with lacquer is wise regardless of water absorption, as exposed fibres are just plain ugly…
@Oli
More qualification, I don’t think it’s the carbon itself that is absorbent, it’s the matrix. Although my studies in this field are entirely non-scientific and limited only to RL experience.
@snoov
Following on from my earlier suggestion about repairs, here is a link to a repairer in Melbourne that is competent to say the least. Obviously you would likely be wanting to find someone more local to you, but the technology and know how is out there.
Refer images of CF frame repairs here:
@Oli
thats really interesting, thanks for the information and the effort in finding that for me. I will endeavour to look into this some more also and I have friend that works at Williams F1 team I am sure he might be able to share some knowledge too.
@snoov
What my Merckx? If so then no, not yet I will endeavour to do so over the next couple of days although at the moment it is pretty standard.
@huffalotpuffalot
Awesome! I love the impression of his faccia next to the cobbles. Kinda like Jesus on that one thingie that everyone was worked up about.
@Oli, @Oli, @Oli
Good info, thanks!
Hi All
Sorry to break in to the flow but I have to say this somewhere! I have finally sorted out a new bike and will be getting it through the salary sacrifice Cycle to Work scheme in the UK.
I have convinced the non-cycling other half that I will be keeping the old bike (Previously mentioned here) as I have now spent more on repairs to keep it going than I originally paid for it and may still want to go off road and up and down the rugged terrain (any excuse).
The n+1 bike is not a road bike (I’m nowhere near as fit and dedicated as most of you although I love going on the roads and hills locally). I have chosen a Merida Crossway – infinitely better than the crap Apollo I ride now and a revelation to ride. The shop in Chester was really helpful and let me take it out for a test run – very trusting (although they had my daughter as collateral!).
Can’t wait for all the paperwork to be sorted so that I can pick the bike up. I’ll have to invest in some Rule compliant kit to go with it.
JoD
Anyone have any thoughts or knowledge of DT Swiss Axis 3.0 wheels?
@John of Denbigh
Woot! New bike is always a cause for celebration. Grats!
A word of advice: a road bike doesn’t require fitness. Just like any other bike, it provides it.
But hey, whatever turns you on, and whatever gets you out there and fulfills your needs.
I assume you’re going to (and/or are already?) cycle to work, yeh? How far you going?
So I’m in a dilemma. Do I try to assemble a cross bike for the last 3-4 races of the season, or wait until next year?
I am forbidden by @frank from buying any more complete bikes, so I’m thinking of a Van Dessel Gin & Trombones frameset with Campa Veloce gruppo from eBay, Ritchey stem/classic bars/post, and cheap wheels.
@G’rilla
Sounds sweet to me. I really dig those frames.
@G’rilla
I say you do it now if you have the cash available for the parts. May as well build it, get use to riding it, and dial it in really nice between now and next fall. Just because it won’t be cross season in a few more months doesn’t mean you can’t hammer around forest service roads and the like until next year.
@Blah
Well said. If fitness was a requirement before buying a road bike I wouldn’t have been let through the door of the LBS. I was being helped out by a very fit gal, and I remember being embarrassed about my small man gut whilst on the trainer trying out different bikes.
While I’m still a ways away from where I’d like to be ideally (2 months yada-yada), I have dropped some of the excess weight and at least I have muscle definition now when I flex my guns and something resembling endurance.
@G’rilla
I didn’t forbid it per se, I simply asserted that you’ve bought two complete bikes, made minced meat out of me on the Zoo Hill ITT, and that it’s time for you to take the next step in our journey.
@Blah
Hi Blah
I have found that any bike gets me fit (I started cycling whilst off work with stress issues a few years ago). I am thinner and much fitter now than I was 4 years ago.
I will of course be cycling to work at least 51% of the time (HMRC take note);-)
The current journey to work is over 29km (map) and I have to travel for work quite a bit. There is a plan for us to move to newer offices some time soon – not sure when though.
I am at the stage where I might stop using my own car to do work journeys because of the way the firm are behaving at the moment. This means that I would have to get to the office under my own steam and then they provide me with transport to do the job!
I will definitely be going further and faster more often on the new machine!
@mcsqueak
“While I’m still a ways away from where I’d like to be ideally (2 months yada-yada), I have dropped some of the excess weight and at least I have muscle definition now when I flex my guns and something resembling endurance.”
Yeah! I have noticed the development of the guns and shrinking of the middle aged spread (in my case!). I’m still too fat to climb though. I’ll have to work harder to keep warm in this weather though so there’s hope yet.
JoD
@John of Denbigh
Good stuff, getting out and ditching the car! Is there actually a stated requirement for the amount of commuting that has to be done on a bike if you take the bike to work loot? I hope not, although I can’t see how it could be checked or enforced. There are four bikes sat in my garage, three courtesy of Tony and Gordon and one by way of Dave. I’d be stuffed if some grey tax accountant turned up every morning to ensure that I commuted on my DH bike!
@huffalotpuffalot
Is the book free with any of his bikes or do you need to go for this one?
@Chris
There is no checking by the tax man although they could do. By implication, their advice suggests that they would check if their was evidence of less than 50% qualifying use. They seem to leave it to employers to it and the assumption is compliance with the rules. I suspect employers have better things to worry about.
I’m not going to worry too much when I do get the new machine. It can’t come too soon now. The right pedal is hanging off so I can’t ride until I get the new ones delivered. Bloody Apollo!!
JoD
Conflicted day; retired the EV2 and took the Soloist for her maiden voyage. Awesome bike, shocked at how comfortable it is.
The face says it all.
@frank
You luck lucky dog. very nice. Where does this fall into the hierarchy? lastly I am surprised you kept it DA and didnt put some campa stuff on her.