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 ...
@fignons barber
I know how my brain is wired- if I sold either of those to get the Jaegher, I would have sellers remorse as soon as I saw the guy hand me the cash and put his hand on my/his bike.
Unless I got the Jaegher first and knew in my heart there would be no other and this would be the “go to” bike no matter what, then maybe I would find the right person who would treat the bike as I would and then maybe sell one off. But if you ever think to yourself that “it sure would be nice to take the old XXXXXX out for a ride today” then you are not ready to see it get shoved into the back of someone else’s car.
Can anyone explain why Jaegher won’t export a bike to the US? Do we just not deserve a bike that good?
@mcgroup53
I bought my Jaegher and they shipped to me in US, and i have another on the way. Where are you getting your information?
@fignons barber
It is just so lively and rides like butter. Stiff on climbs, super stable on 50+mph descents, soaks up the road. It is magical. And it looks the business like nothing else, and I have a bunch of badass bikes. I just love it.
@bovary1031
If you’re anywhere near Central California, bring that thing out for L’Eroica California: http://www.eroicacalifornia.com/
Bar/hood position advice requested –
Just fitted some new bars; gone from 44cm to 42cm (which feels the right width now) and also a longer reach/deeper drop bar (I didn’t fit the 3T Rotundos -my mate had a spare pair off his old Felt which looked like they’d do the job better).
I love the extra positions on the drops; these bars feel like they fit my hands much better in the drops and I think I can reach the shifters a tad easier. However, I feel a tad stretched out to the hoods. Next time I get the bike out I’m going to slide the seat forward a good notch – I always felt a bit bunched up before so have always had my seat as far back as it will go.
Is it worth tilting the hoods up a bit more? Do the bar/hood angles look right? Is the extra reach (and flatter back) something I will get used to? Advice, please.
Taping up will follow shortly- Fizik, white.
@RobSandy
For me any higher with the hoods would defo look wrong. Anything new will feel strange (or at least different) to start with. I use a guide for the bars of having the drop at a right angle to the head tube + or – 5 deg so yours looks pretty close.
Don’t adjust your saddle to fix your reach – the primary relationship when you set up a bike is the saddle because it dictates where your hips and knees are in relation to the pedals.
One dimension that isn’t always as obvious with selecting bars is the throw – those bars look like they have a pretty long throw, so they might have moved the levers a fair whack further away than previously, even with a wider bar.
I wouldn’t move the hoods up, cos they’re level AF and they’ll look like crap if you move them. If you go for a few longer rides, and your hands are creeping back from the raised part of the levers (all the weight on the side of your hand, have to consciously reach to get any pressure on the palm of your hand from the shifters) you might want to try a shorter stem.
@RobSandy
My Sensei taught me to angle bars no more than your fork crown. Having said that, A couple of weeks back I was taken out in a bunch ride at 40kmh when some weekend warriors (x3) bunch split and overlapped wheels. My handlebars were shifted and am still trying to dial in that nice position I had it set at when I was upright.
Have a look at this if it may help:
http://ruedatropical.com/2009/03/road-drop-bar-geometry/
@RobSandy
It doesn’t sound to me like your saddle position has never been correctly positioned for you. I think you should start with that before you tackle the reach. A proper fit there might ease the reach issue or it could make it even more dramatic a problem for you. Either way though, I’d want to know the truth of it.
Rotate the bar down (making the hoods lower) a quarter inch. This will make the reach feel shorter. Then if needed slide the hoods up a bit. If your bike fits, you don’t want to be messing with saddle position.
@RobSandy
I think you actually answered your question. If the new bars have a longer reach, then the reach to them (all other things remaining the same) is going to be longer. Duh! So … Assuming your saddle is in the correct position and the bars are at the right height, the solution is a shorter stem.
@fignons barber
Yes, you could do this. But rotating the bars down result in a lower (longer) the drop. I wouldn’t slide the hoods up. Rather, you’d need to add a spacer(s) below the stem to bring them back up to the right height. Looks like @RobSandy has enough exposed steerer tube above the stem to be able to do that.
Recently reconfigured N1 not long back from last ride of the year. 4hrs 40m in warm Kiwi summer. Just enough early morning road spray left to show the bike still occasionally works for a living…
The rules have changed, but one set of old rules for handlebars and brake levers was base of drops almost but not actually horizontal, and end of brake levers no lower than in line with lower edge of base of drops. Unless one was attempting to imitate Sean Yates or Roger De Vlaeminck…
@osbk67
beeyooootiful whip.
Also, “warm kiwi summer”, cute.
@osbk67
Very cool. How’s the form?
@chuckp
@fignons barber
@kixsand
@sthilzy
@Teocalli
@minion
Thanks for the advice all. I don’t think I’m miles away and it’s nice to know that the bars/hoods are there or thereabouts in terms of position. I hadn’t thought of putting the spacer back under the stem, that’s a good idea. And I do think my saddle is a bit far back.
I’ll have a fiddle with the plumb line etc and try to get myself sorted.
@RobSandy
Someone (I can’t remember who) had the great tip for measuring saddle setback that’s much easier than the plumb line. Back the bike up against a wall. Measure from wall to center of BB. Measure from wall to tip of saddle. Subtract the latter from the former et voila! Works for all bikes too!
@osbk67
Not all cool bikes are black but indeed most all black bikes are cool. That’s a beauty right there. Wow! I don’t believe that that is a Cannondale color way that’s been available in the states. Nice. Cheers
@wilburrox
Too true! Both my #1 and #2 bikes are as black as possible. Just ordered some new wheels for #2 – black hubs, black spokes, black nipples. I’ll put black tires on them. I also just switched out the seatpost on #2 – all black carbon but the cradle is V orange. Subtle but sweet. I’m also liking Sagan and Contador’s use of all black shoes. Shimano do a nice pair I’m keeping my eye on.
white is acceptable….with black!
Beyond acceptable Stephen.
Black bikes? Love the black bike “thing”, although I might try a very dark grey next.
Stem has since been slammed…..
Happy New Years guys
@Stephen Parun
Yes, it passes with flying colours !
Acceptable, absolutely.
My black,half way up the Grimsel.Thats the Furka Pass in the background.Of James Bond fame.Best ride of the year….
@wiscot
True dat.
End of the story – I made some minor tweaks; hoods a gnat’s testicle higher, saddle forward a notch and lower a cm (I’d made an error somewhere) and now my position feels super. Got a long ride booked tomorrow where I’ll get to properly test it out.
@RobSandy
That’s gonna be a Rule #9 ride with the forecast.
@RobSandy
Well, either you’ll be all sorted out or you’ll come back with your back killing you and your nuts crushed.
Going to hit golf balls while my daughter has her lesson today. Then maybe go for a short ride later in the afternoon. Hopefully a morning ride tomorrow. Need to take advantage of the “warm” January weather.
@Teocalli
Yes mate. It proper pissed down until we were home. Then the sun came out.
Morning….I need help to identify this bike please.
I picked it up over the weekend for $80nzd.. it’s had a respray so all markings are gone.
It has rx100 7 speed, sinelli stem and sakae bars with mavic rims.
Not that i needed another bike, but something spoke to me, perhaps it was the lugs, the cinelli stem or that it was my size.
either way i’ll tru this wheel and take her for a spin, hopefully she’ll ride nicely and i can refurb her and add her to the fleet.
i’m thinking it could be a early 90’s giant? (based on what i think i can read on the seatpost)
anyway….what is it?
Cheers Warrick
@EBruner
Nice. My VSP Jaegher Interceptor Claassic frame should arrive late January. I sent you a friend request, I’d like to hear your thoughts on group, etal.
Post script. Thinking of selling my EVO Super Six to finance the the build. Sigh…
@Minnesota Expat
Congrats on getting a Jaegher! I am not the most objective on gruppo advice, everything I have ever, or currently ride on the road is Campagnolo. I have 2015 Super Record on my Jaegher T-38 with Shamal Mille wheels. To me it could not be more perfect.
@chuckp
It’s a funny thing, bike fit, isn’t it? First session on the turbo with the new bars I felt like I could barely reach the hoods. This morning, after a few tweaks and a couple more rides, my hands were jammed against the hoods and I felt as if I could do with more reach, if anything.
Don’t think it needs anything else done now; position and kit dialled. New set of GP4000’s for the racing season with my Christmas money and my budgetatus racer is ready to crush souls. Or at least, help me suck a little bit less.
Jaegher makes some gorgeous bikes that is for certain.
Picked up this circa 1960 steed a couple of weeks ago.
Now, just what to do with it ??
@Barracuda
Super Elliotts shop brand?
@Mikael Liddy
Markings on seat tube say Elliot Bros Cycles – Adelaide and a frame number.
I came across this gem while strolling the intraweb flea market. I didn’t know whether to file it in the “you can’t buy class” file, or place an offer to set the damn thing up properly. Forget Rules violations, didn’t the seatpost at least come with instructions on which way to point it? Blasphemous !!
@fignons barber
And what’s going on with the stem?
@fignons barber
By all that is sacred in The Tablets.
@RobSandy
It will be one of this type…..
@Teocalli
I know. It’s just so wrong.
@RobSandy
You are not wrong there, for sure.
Next time they get it out there could (should?) be a flash from Mount Velomis and all that will be left will be..
@fignons barber
It actually would have been more impressive with both the seat and handlebars mounted backwards.
I’ve seen people riding with their helmets on backwards, but until now…I’ve never seen a seatpost installed backwards. Good god.
@Ron
If you’re going to put your seatpost on backwards, at least slam the saddle all the way forward on the rails. People will at least think you’re a tri-geek.
@EBruner
That thing is so gorgeous, can you please – PLEASE – fix the handlebar tape?
@Barracuda
Sell the circa 1960 to me? Seriously.
@frank
What do you object to about my handlebar tape?
@frank
Oh I see, you probably object to the direction it is wrapped at the top. It has been corrected since that photo was taken a few months ago.