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 ...
@kixsand
I was just looking at this online. Interesting.
Here’s a good review plus better pics…
http://www.dcrainmaker.com/2014/05/garmins-spd-cad-magnetless-sensors.html
@kixsand
Ha that’s exactly what I was reading!
cheers guy’s
@paolo
hey! You got a problem with this?
@Jim
I think what you have read is largely true, with one caveat – aerodynamics. Carbon gives the designers nearly free reign to come up with slippery shapes that cheat wind resistance and create faster bikes. With steel there is limited opportunity for aerodynamic creativity.
However, for recreational riders or even advanced amateurs like most of us steel is a very viable option. I ride with a guy that has a Mariposa steel frame and he is one of the fastest guys around! Maybe his bike weighs 3 lbs. more than mine?
@kixsand
Hear, hear…
I’m fond of my alloy Giant and love my carbon missile to bits, but (vintage) steel is, indeed, real. Exhibit ‘A’ (long overdue; I’ve been nattering on about posting this for months now…)
1980 Koga Miyata Roadspeed, 63 cm frame (Tange ‘Champion’ double-butted Chro-Moly tubes) with 12-sp Shimano 600 Group-San (42 x 52 and 13-15-17-19-21-23). I’m having a hard time finding proper gumwall tires, but the white Vredestein Tri-Comp are doing an OK job, I think. (I’m also in the market for the brown, rubber brake hood covers that should be on this bike as the finishing touch). Whenever I don the (now also vintage) sacred garments, this is the steed of choice. Just over 10 kilograms of pure joy on wheels.
@ErikdR
are those tires low or just in ‘pave mode’?
@paolo
You guys were both reading the same postings from a tryathlete? My my my.
Some incredible looking bikes being put up lately. Good work, folks!
Damn, David. What a nice De Rosa. Your old man surely had some damn fine good taste! Being on his bicycles must be an incredible experience, thanks for sharing.
@Mikael Liddy
Considering the great job that they did with the new S3 I would say it’s not Cervelo’s best work. But it’s all subjective. The R5 is a fantastic bike no matter what and all that really matters is that you like it. Had the deal that I got for mine been for a 2015 I would probably still have bought it. 50% off is very persuading.
@kixsand
At the end of the day a frame is a frame and while the differences exist, they won’t hold back the strongest riders if they face weaker competition. Aero – and to a lesser degree weight – matter, but it’s still the rider who makes the bike go. Modern steel, alu or carbon are excellent materials, each for the right application.
At my last stage race, my humble decade-old alu frame carried me to second overall and two stage podiums. The winner rode a Garmin-Transitions era Felt (also getting long in the tooth). We beat guys on Di2, Lightweight wheels and top-shelf frames.
@Ron
I just googled new garmin cadence thing……that was what came up….honest mister.
@rfreese888
The Vredesteins have a pretty low sidewall – but the color scheme may also play tricks on the eye: the tires have a black band touching the wheel rim but also a black stripe along the perimeter (the contact strip, as it were), so what’s left of the ‘whitewall’ looks pretty narrow.
In that picture, they certainly weren’t pumped hard enough to ride, but they aren’t exactly flat either (I’ve mostly been using the Nine Bike recently due to the crappy weather up here)
@ErikdR
You can find NOS and repro Hoods on Ebay via some vintage shops that trade via eBay.
@Teocalli
Cheers – will go and have a look.
@Ron
That “Tryathlete” writes the best reviews I’ve found for bike tech. His power meter reviews are dazzling in their depth of detail. He’s a scientist with a great website that I trust.
@ErikdR
Hi Erik, nice!
OK, now I also will need to make pics of my 1982 Koga… I rode it yesterday in the rain actually, so still going strong.
I noted your comment on the rubber brake hoods: mine were also gone some time ago, as the rubber became bristle. I got some black Weinmann rubber hoods that almost fit, yet a bit of black insulation tape finished it off.
I noted your saddle is the original “buffelleder”. I changed my original buffelleder saddle by a same-shape-same-year zeemleer saddle and put the buffelleder saddle on another bike which -of course- got stolen while I was studying in Amsterdam.
I still have the original Dynamic Drive pedals that came with the bike, but I replaced them by SPD pedals last year since I could not find old-skool cleats to fit my new shoes anymore.
@ErikdR
These should be still in good state:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-NOS-NEW-Shimano-600EX-BL-6207-brakes-brake-levers-w-gum-hoods-/391153517917?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item5b1291055d
http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-Shimano-BL-6208-600EX-brake-lever-set-with-brown-hoods-from-1986-1988-NOS-/301629967328?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_77&hash=item463a8c0be0
@KogaLover
Hi there @KogaLover and thanks for the links. Wow… beautiful brake levers, those – but they don’t come cheap, eh?
And yes; pictures of your Indian red ‘Roadspeed’ are definitely in order. Looking forward to them.
As far as I can tell, just about everything is original on my 1980 Roadspeed. The saddle is indeed textured ‘buffelleder’ with the Koga Miyata logo embossed on the sides. Even the toe-clip straps, though a little worn, are the originals: black leather with ‘Koga Miyata’ in gold lettering. The brake levers are in good shape, too, although the left one is a little scuffed (probably from a minor spill at some point). I could upload some close-ups, if you like.
Pity about that stolen bike + vintage saddle: Amsterdam does have a bit of a reputation in that area, I’m afraid.
Dynamic Drive… aren’t those the cranks with holes for pedal spindles that were almost twice as big in diameter as the axles on regular pedals? Or was it only the “aero”-variety that had those? (On the photo in the 1982 catalogue, the Roadspeed – in Indian red, of course – looks as if it has those large pedal axles…)
@KogaLover
Just stumbled across this:
http://www.steel-vintage.com/about/
I’ve only been in Berlin once -but it looks like I may have to plan another visit…
@ErikdR
I visited that cafe/shop a few months ago and it is indeed a place of beauty. My wallet was controlled, but I did leave with some lovely toe clips.
David
@kixsand
When one sport doesn’t offer a nerd enough numbers and tech to mull over, go for three! Fair enough, gotta get your tech news from someone, I just found it amusing that two of you were reading the same stuff and then, behind the curtain…
As someone trained in humanities, I supposed I ride using empiricism, hence my employment of a V-meter.
@Beers
Hi Everyone,
I’ve been lurking in the shadows of this great site for a while, but felt compelled to sign up and say a massive thankyou to @Beers for this gold nugget of sanity-saving info.
I too, had this pinking noise, which appeared to come from the cranks/bottom bracket area. No amount of stripping, cleaning, re-greasing, tightening, etc, would get rid of this noise. It was driving me absolutely bonkers!
So I happened upon this thread the other night, and at my wits end, was prepared to try anything……but surely it can’t be the quick release! A 2 minute fiddle later, and the noise has disappeared!
And now everything in my world is complete again!
@davidlhill
Hi David; yes, I feared (hoped?) as much. It looks like a place worth a visit, judging from that little video. OK, I’ll be smashing piggy banks over the weekend to see if I can make a start on a pile of euro’s for A.) train ticket there and B.) all sorts of purchases. Hang on… birthday coming up soon (*bright light bulb suddenly appearing over noggin*)
@Welsh Paul
Welcome, sir.
At the risk of looking like a wanker by posting the same picture of the same bike, twice (its the only pic I have), what do we think of putting a black Rolls saddle on The Bike? I’m not married to the Prologo that’s on there now, and the bike is heavy to the point where switching to a heavier saddle wouldn’t bother me much. Only thing is I’d lose the little red accents that match my red tape.
Of course, LeMan didn’t seem to have a problem with that color scheme:
@Ron
Apology accepted … Very gracious of you.
I adore my power meter.
@Matt
A Rolls would certainly be in keeping with the rest of the bike, and you can’t go wrong with a black saddle.
On the other hand I quite like the shape of what you’ve got on there, and I’m a big fan of not matching everything.
I like to have at least one thing that isn’t part of a set – to me it says “I know what goes together but I’m not so worried about it that I feel compelled.”
An aesthetic version of casually deliberate.
@Welsh Paul
This often happens because people working on their bikes often chuck their wheels in and out when the bike is in the stand – when I take a bike down after working on it I always loosen the q/r levers then retighten them with the weight of the bike on the axles.
@piwakawaka
Cheers!!
Here’s the #1. Sadly it’s also the #n, unless you count a 20yr old Jamis mountain bike… This is when she was new (to me) in 2010. Stem now slammed, pedals changed. But a lot more wear now. I hate riding this in 9 conditions, but she’s the only horse in the stable.
Here’s an example of the places we like to go.
@ErikdR
I visit that website pretty regularly. There’s some incredibly eye candy on there to dream about – many are like jewelry. There are two gold plated bikes on there right now. Gold plated!
@ErikdR I’d need a stepladder to get on your bike!
@Bespoke
Those guys are here in Bakewell but unfortunately they were involved in an accident on the way over no one hurt but the van was somewhat messed up apparently and some of their bikes were damaged so they have some bent frames and trashed wheels on the stand.
@Teocalli
Sorry to hear but glad nobody was hurt. So, like a trunk show of bikes? Cool.
I miss my Raleigh. How is it I loved one of my cheapest bikes more than everything that came since?
My next ride after the Raleigh. (neither of these photos are mine, found them on the net)
@Oli
Yep. Agree. And I find too is best way for me to really get the wheels centered in the dropouts. I have trouble doing that when in stand.
@VbyV
I like to go to Trek’s Project One (or whatev it’s called?) site and play around with custom paint jobs/colors. Is good fun. And their flames are cool. Cheers for getting one. I dig flames on a bike.
@Bespoke
@Bespoke
I’ll post some photos when I get home. Huge bike bits bazaar and stalls selling bikes/frames. Could have spend a small fortune on my next n projects but the VMW kept me on a tight leash!
How do you post a slideshow vs photos one after the other?
@wilburrox
Yeah, I always do the same, just never did the front one tight enough this time.
Made me think actually how once a front wheel is in, the front qr doesn’t get rechecked that often, just pump em up in the dark before the group ride, so not much need to take it out. Could be a month or two if you ride in clean conditions.
I never understand how people get their wheels in to their liking while the bike is in the stand. I made a concerted effort one time to get the rear wheel in straight, true and tight when it was in a stand, but when I took the bike down the caliper alignment was off and the shifting was shit.
Undid the qr and the wheel shifted perhaps 2mm in the dropouts. That was it, always retighten as @Oli said, when the bike is on the ground.
Heaps less fuss than trying to pull a wheel upwards and do the qr at the same time also.
@Oli
Ok, it’s something to try. I’m pretty sure my QR is tight, but…
Oh, front or back?
@ErikdR finally… My 1982 Koga Roadspeed. I bought it anew, back in those days. Bike Nr 1 for many years, until I got a new Koga Signature earlier this year. Now it’s my Nine Bike and it’s waiting for me to get me home from work later today. Groupsan 600 EX Arabesque mixed with 600 AX
In response to your prior questions: The non-original parts are in order of replacement
Saddle: although of the same year as the bike, it is an original Koga leather saddle but not the original “rough” leather saddle. Same shape though.
Bottle cage: was trivial alloy originally, now old style Elite, >20 years old.
Cat eye computer: still works, >20 years old, wired of course, with cadence meter too, same year as bottle cage. That was the year I also bought blue bibs and pink jersey (both of which I also still have. Still wear the jersey but not the bids anymore).
Replaced 2 years ago: brake cables (original black), rubber brake hood covers (original brown, but the rubber became bristle), cassette (NOS, original 13-23 6 speed, now 13-26 6 speed), changed the Dynamic Drive pedals (yes those with the big holes for which I first had to get adapters) into SPD. Still have the original EPMS but in the market to sell it since I no longer use it obviously.
Added fenders this year.
@RobSandy
Either! Both!
@Oli
I’ll be astonished if it is that, but it’s worth a try.
It’s about time I leaked another photo of one of my bikes. This is my Witcomb. If you don’t know what a Witcomb is, ask Richard Sachs.
@RobSandy
It’s of course entirely possible it’s not that, but I’ve been in the position of wasting heaps of time checking everything else only to find it was really that simple. You’ve got nothing to lose.
@Oli
Now I’m thinking of it, I had the bike at the LBS and they returned the QR in a different position – a rules compliant rake towards the bottom tube. Whereas I have always aligned it with the fork – I know it’s not compliant but both are completely straight and symmetrical and I like it.
Worth a try putting it back how it was.
@kixsand
Another thing: with steel you tend to get either stiffness or comfort. It’s pretty rare that you can get race-bike levels of stiffness in steel without it being incredibly uncomfortable. See the discussion on Columbus Max about how the trade-offs work: http://hampsten.blogspot.com.au/2010/11/more-on-max.html
Your point about Paris-Roubaix is spot-on: carbon lets frame designers do a really good job of precisely designing the frame to maximise both comfort and stiffness at the same time. Not sure I’d ever describe Paris-Roubaix as comfortable though.