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 ...
Mates bike whom I ride with, just completed custom Canyon build himself complete with wheels from Tristan aka Wheel Works( I’m still chasing commission on this referral ). To say I am ENVEous is an understatement.
Needs to be anchored down at nights so it doesn’t float away !
Best looking rig Ive seen in these parts.
Mmm
@minion
Some modern bikes will let you run 28’s. My current #1, a Cervelo r3, won’t quite — wide 25’s on wide rims (27mm actual) are as wide as it will take before hitting both the brake bridge and the chainstays. Same thing on the fork. 28-29mm is about as large as standard “short” reach brakes will take.
This one is designed around medium-reach brakes and can fit 34’s. It’s like taking road tires and turning up the volume to 11.
And yes, that pun was intended.
@Barracuda
Sweet as. Matte black and minimal gloss red is hard to beat.
I’ve always wanted a Bianchi… this goes on my n+1 list… shame about the new Campagnolo 4 arm crank which is just plain ugly, starting to look like a Group-san.
NEW AND UNSETTLING BIKE NOISE HELP NEEDED
Clicking/pinging/clanking noise which occurs when I am pushing hard on the pedals (i.e. climbing) in the inner or outer ring. Noise coincides with the downstroke of my left leg, when my pedal is at its lowest.
I’ve had a look and can’t see anything obviously loose, wondering if it might be something inside the body of the pedal?
And it’s definately not the end of a cable hitting the crank, before anyone suggests it.
@RobSandy
http://sheldonbrown.com/creaks.html
@RobSandy
Strip the chain rings off, thoroughly clean them and the chainring bolts. Strip your cassette off. Thoroughly clean this, and your chain. I find 99% of annoying noises in my experience are from the drive train. Even if it feels like its from the pedal. If that doesn’t succeed, strip and service pedals. If it still persists then move on to the crank arms/bottom bracket.
Good luck!
@Barracuda
Mmmmm indeed.
@1860
Love the all celeste Bianchi – reminiscent of the old school rides of Gimondi et al. I agree that the new Campy crank is fucking ugly. As a I write this, I realize that I am becoming a retro grouch. The transformation will be complete if (1) I sell my carbon bike; and (2) when I start receiving my AARP magazines in the mail.
@Barracuda
Yup, Immagonnasayit… chainring.
I was also going to be an insufferable pendant regarding Rule #40 but the opposing 90 degree offset of the tire mounting and the Wheel Works logo serving as a landmark for the valve stem has a certain appeal.
@DeKerr
An “insufferable pendant”, haha! Hoist by your own necklace, perhaps?
@RobSandy
Is the bike relatively new? Is it press fit BB? If so potentially some slight movement in the shells and may need them pressed back.
I’m going off Press Fit as mine keeps coming back on #1. Anyone tried any of the Press Fit converters eg Praxis. I hear tell that manufacturers void the frame warranty if you use a Praxis.
Hi all,
First time posting here. I have a lot of curiosity about the evolution of racing frames over the last 15-20 years. Some writers about frame materials are basically of the opinion that steel is superior in almost every way except weight. Seeming to say that racers would all use steel if it happened to be as light as carbon. I’m currently watching 15 years of Paris-Roubaix and although it’s difficult to tell it appears that the riders are more comfortable on the most recent frames say, 2013 to 2015. Thoughts?
@DeKerr
Maybe he’s got the front wheel on backwards?
@Chris
Oooh that’s lush.
Those wheels look nice too,presumably roll nicely as well?
This is my first post since I started reading this site about a year ago. My interest in cycling was reignited with the passing of my father. We used to ride together when I was young and then through my early 20s. He built me a track bicycle when I was 8 and we rode in Trexlertown.
He left an amazing stable of bicycles and since they fit nearly perfectly for me, I couldn’t stand to let them collect dust in my house and I’m back on the bike again! He would of loved this site and when I first read the rules, I recalled times of him yelling similar messages to me on rides.
Here’s bike number 1: 2007 De Rosa Corum with Record Gruppo. Riding the bike picks my spirit up every time I hop on.
@Jim
yep, the love of steel is a bit like tubular love, the way you look back nostalgically at something that really just isn’t as good as you remember…
@Jim
Pretty sure the consensus here would be that anyone wishing to consider themselves a true Velominatus should have at least one steel ride in their stable.
But I don’t think there would be much support for the argument that they are superior in every regard other than weight.
My own view is that steel is a lovely ride, and owning a custom-built steel bike is a joy to my soul. But the loveliness also means a softer as well as heavier ride and even if the weight could be negated I would take carbon for racing every time.
@David Maver
Damned contacts, sometimes they make my eyes water at the strangest times…
That is one sweet rig. Love the contrasting Bidon cages matching the frame. Welcome.
@ChrisO
Yeah, don’t you hate that ! Bout the same time a whirlwind in the office here picked up some dust and flew straight into my eyes.
@David Maver don’t hesitate to keep the pics coming of the other bikes. The story behind them is the best part.
@ChrisO
Makes me want one
@fenlander
Thanks, it’s very quick compared to my CAAD8. I’ve not ridden it as much as I would have liked, my weekends seem to be spent taking the kids from cycling event to cycling event at the moment.
The wheels are a revelation, very quick and stupidly light. Sunday best only I think.
The gaffers new custom built Nerve T325D, with Whiskey Forks. Ultegra Groupsan throughout, with Shimano Hyd disc brakes and Hope Pro-Evo hubs… Beautifully built, but I reserve judgement on the brakes…
@David Maver
Beautiful bike, to match a wonderful reason to be back on the bike. Keep the spirit alive!
@David Maver
Is the top tube sloped?
@Jim
No. It’s level.
@David Maver
Welcome aboard Mr. Maver. I’m with a few of the others… keep the photos of your inherited stable coming.
@Jim
You should, and I would highly recommend getting one custom-made.
They actually aren’t that expensive. If you just go to a decent but not flashy bike-builder it should be comparable to a mid-range carbon bike.
For me the beauty of it is about the custom fit more than the material. I don’t love my Colnago Master the way I love my Roberts.
I spend most of my time in Dubai riding lovely carbon fibre racing bikes but when I go home and get on the Roberts it’s like swapping an expensive business suit for a onesie.
My
Valve Stems are not lined up right, but hey, it’s still a great picture!
Lovely!
So Lilah IV came with C35’s, long story short, the rear wheel wasn’t round, managed to warranty out the 35 for the C50, nice.
@ChrisO
@ChrisO – I was right there with you till the very last word.
My new Marinoni CX bike should be shipping this week. It seems like I ordered it months ago – well, more than the two months that it has been anyway….
I will try and get some pics of her being built up. This is Christmas Eve like in so many ways.
@ChrisO
Yeah, I was actually surprised to find that custom is so affordable. One of the local builders, who impressed me very much with his technical skill, can do a Reynolds 853 frame for less than some mid-range carbon from the big brands.
The N=n+1 setup for me would be a carbon aero road frame, a good custom steel, and my current alu as a Nine Bike.
@1860
Drool.
@EBruner
Double Drool.
@EBruner
that is more than a great picture. Bel Mezzo!
@VeloJello
I too had the most annoying clicking noise in my bike, which seemed to coincide with powering on the pedals. Turns out it was mainly when I rocked the bike side to side under power. Had the crank out, regreased, chainring bolts tightened etc.
And it turns out it was a slightly loosely tightened front quick release, that is all!
@Matt
100% agree… I’d still take a Master over the Bianchi any day.
My new # 1.
@paolo
I’ve always had a thing for that bike but have wished they would branch out a little with their colour palette. The larger frames tend to look a little long in the head tube but yours looks proportionally appropriate.
Ditch the sizing sticker on the seat tube.
I will also mention that I went and bought one of the new Garmin speed/cadence sensors – attaches to your rear hub and is much less of an eyesore than the chain stay mounted ones – and, no magnet on the wheel to worry about! Also supposed to be more accurate.
@paolo
niiiice!
@kixsand
new Garmin sensor? Tell me more.
@kixsand
Thank you. It’s a 54 which is a 145 head tube which is still taller than some and for sure taller than bikes of say 5 to 10 years ago but yes when you start getting to 58 and 61 the head tubes look huge. I have an RS which has a 160 head tube but on the RS the way the top and down tubes swept they managed to disguise it quite well in a way that on the R3 and R5 they just didn’t. I felt the same way about color and the 2015 is worse in my opinion but this was such a bargain. I’m getting quite used to its minimal look now. It’s an astonishing ride. That garmin thing is annoying isn’t it? Especially as there is no need for the arm if you don’t run a wheel magnet. And unless you were on a trainer why would you? I’ll look into that new one. Good call on the sticker.
@piwakawaka
Gratzi !!
The # 2 You can see the sweeping lines disguise the tall head tube quite well. On the R3 and R5 the lines are much straighter which emphasizes the length of the head tube.
@Jim
There has been a lot of development in steel tubesets over the last 15-20 years. The current state of the art is significantly better. Steel weighs more (though the best is hardly a boat anchor), but the ride is better than ever.
Oh..I don’t have two sets of zipps btw. The Fulcrum R3.5’s now reside on #2
@piwakawaka
Here is a pic from my bike.
I
There is a elastic type band that simply stretches around the hub and then attaches to itself to lock the sensor in place. So it is super easy to take on and off or switch from bike to bike. No more tie straps digging into your frame. There is also a cadence sensor that would attach to your crank arm with a rubber band for cadence – I have a stages power meter that manages cadence for me so I don’t need it…its kind of ugly now that I’m looking at it but it doesn’t require a magnet.