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 ...
@smithers
I reckon @Mikael Liddy would be able to give a pretty good run down on the attributes of this rocket
Pulled the trigger last week on this:
Peugeot ‘Super Competition’ with Reynolds 531 tubing and fork.
For your consideration: I have a vintage ‘Dura Ace’ front derailleur and a set of black anodized Dura Ace brake calipers (with chrome D-A brake levers) lying around, that I think would look well on this pretty mocheene. Or should I start scouring the Interwebs for Simplex stuff instead? Choices, choices. Anyway, am picking it up (in the Netherlands) around the 25th of June. Let the building begin. Pretty stoked…
Bart – a friend just received a new Vanilla. They ship with what looks to be a hand-made wooden stand. Another way to cater to high-end customers.
@ErikdR
Oh My. Just Wow! That is gorgeous.
@Buck Rogers
Thanks, Buck! As I say; pretty stoked. I’m just a teeny-weenie bit worried that the frame may prove to be a tad on the low side for me (it’s a 61 cm, and my previous Peugeot was a 64). I might have to opt for a somewhat Frahnk-esque amount of (extra-long) seat post showing – but I simply couldn’t resist it, in part because this build – once finished – will provide a good excuse to take my vintage, wool Peugeot-Michelin-BP jersey out of the mothballs, don it and take it out on the road.
Who knows: There may even be a glimpse of an Eroica in my future?
@smithers
Do it. She’s epic. Just get something other than the stock BBright BB, creaks like a mofo.
Are you getting a built one or building up a frame yourself?
While we’re looking at beautiful, old things, worthy of Eroica,
I just returned from traveling, with my VMH, in Amsterdam and Berlin. We rented bikes on our last day in Berlin, to explore more of the city than we have been able to on foot, despite logging over 20 kms per day. We stopped for lunch and I remembered that Steel Vintage Bikes Cafe was in Berlin so, I thought I’d see where it was, relative to where we were. Only 6 minutes by bike! Off we go.
I fell hard – but not off the bike, for a bike. Here are a few pics from the visit and a potential n+1. Totally smitten with this Willier Triestina. Look at that Chromovelato!
The last photo is for Gianni, the rest are for everyone. Thinking, in particular, of @Teocali.
@Bespoke
They were ate Bakewell last year. Unfortunately they had been in an accident on the motorway and a few of the bikes had been damaged. There was a stunning Olmo with a mashed up rear triangle. Fortunately no one was hurt but the damaged bike were suck a shame and must have spoiled their trip somewhat.
Darned autocorrect…….. damaged bikes were such…….though I suppose it did suck too.
@Teocalli
I spoke to Alex about that. They seem to have a good perspective on the incident and have recovered nicely. They’re selling around a bike a day now.
@Ron
That’s already taken care of: we have a wooden bikemount in the livingroom. Suggested by the VMH, jumped on that one immediately.
This is the latest pic of my first, my last, my everything (apart from a franken-drop bar monstrosity i use for rainy commuting and gravel grinding).
I did away with the tired Centaur shifters and replaced them with used (but nicely maintained) Super Record shifters, swapped the 12-25 ten speed cassette for a 12-27 eleven speed and finally got around to replacing the Centaur compact carbon chain set with a standard Athena carbon job.
Goes like stink when I have a mind (and the legs to match) to pedal hard enough and shifts on command, both up and down. A svelte 7,2kg (yes, with Rule violating mtb pedals).
I have to say; the five arm Campagnolo cranks are, to my eye, far more aesthetically pleasing then the four arm jobs they produce nowadays… Looks too much like Ultegra.
@dinosaurJR
Very, very nice and I could not agree with you more about the Five Arm Campag cranks. Love them and really, really cannot stand the four arm aesthetics of their new crank.
When I was buying my groupo for my new build, I made sure to get the five arm cranks.
@Bespoke
Damn that’s pretty. Makes me wanna go to Berlin.
@ErikdR
Gorgeous! There’s just ‘something’ about a silver Peugeot with chrome forks.
Mind you I’m biased – I’ve got one very similar.
Looks like you already have a nice shiny D-A chainset, so why not go the whole hog! After all if a 1980’s Mercier can have a Group-san, why not a D-A equipped Peugeot ? I think it’s possible to get too hung up on ‘authenticity’
Mine’s got the Simplex gear on it and it works pretty well – front mech is really sweet, rear mech occasionally goes off for a ‘long french lunch’ when asked to shift into top. Best of the lot are the Retrofriction shifters – best downtube shifters I’ve ever used.
Look forward to seeing it built up.
@smithers
I just recently sold a 2011 Cervelo R3 in 61cm. (The only reason I sold it is that it only fit 26-27mm width for the tires. The pavement around here is total crap, so I needed to go with something closer to a graveur with room for 28’s at least). On roads that were halfway decent or better, the R3 was a rocket. Stable on the downhills, a great climber, and a little bit like a puppy that always wanted to go harder and faster.
That said, they’ve got some pretty weird ideas about geometry in the smaller sizes, so if you’re on the shorter end of the spectrum make sure you test ride one first.
@RichardH
I am pretty sure that’s actually a 600EX chainset from the arabesque group.
@sthilzy
Left side = drive side, asymmetrical frame?
@RichardH
Yes – I agree that it’s possible to get too hung up on authenticity – and I’ll probably be going with the black D-A brakes – think they will look great on this frame. I hope to have something ready by July, if all goes well. (And sorry about the slow reply, by the way; up to my eyebrows in work these days…)
@Oli is right, of course (has he ever NOT been?): according to the seller, the crank set is Shimano 600, while the headset (is that what it’s called? the bearings for the fork?) are Stronglight(!). For some reason, I’d have expected it to be the other way around.
As it happens, I have a fairly good, 6-speed Shimano 600 freewheel (14-24) with matching chain lying about the house, and am crossing my fingers that they will fit without a hitch. Will keep you posted on progress once (if) such starts being made.
@Oli
Oli, good sir, you are right. (See above).
Does the pope wear a funny hat? Do bears like honey? Does @Oli have an impeccable eye for everything to do with bicycles? (All rhetorical questions, these…)
As mentioned above, the seller of the Peugeot frame would seem to concur. Interesting place, by the way; check it out: http://hhfietsen.nl/ (Last time I looked, there was a wickedly beautiful Gazelle “Champion Mondial” for sale with a 64 cm frame – for the tall gentleman. My bank account may be in serious peril in the near future…
@ErikdR
By the way… pic(s) of your very similar silver-and-chrome Peugeot, please?
@RichardH
Sorry – that final post was supposed to be @RichardH, of course.
@RichardH
Hang on a minute… (*Insert clanging sound of coin finally dropping…*): That would be your Peugeot in the lead photo for the “London-Chilterns Cogal”-report, right? That certainly is one pretty bicycle, that.
@ErikdR
Man, you’ve really got to source some old school Mafac centerpull brakes for that baby! TA for crankset and pedals too! Good luck and I look forward to seeing the results!
@wiscot
Oh my… I just had a quick look on eBay to see if there is any Mafac stuff available – and now I almost wish I hadn’t. Some terrific NOS sets for sale – but at rather scary prices (as in: more than I paid for the frame and crank set combined…)
On the one hand, I’d like to find a good ‘home’ for the Dura Ace brakes – they are really in excellent nick and they look orphaned right now, which isn’t a good thing. On the other hand, I completely dig the idea of following the Mafac path… Must meditate on this.
@ErikdR
The very same !
Stronglight headset sounds correct – it will probably have a Stronglight bottom bracket as well.
Mafac racer brakes are pretty cool – apparently they squeal like a pig but are work better than most vintage brakes. Mafac also made some pretty neat drilled out levers as well.
Does the frame have a threaded derailleur hanger ? – A lot of Peugeots (mine included) had no threads which meant they only accepted Simplex rear mechs (or possibly those other french mechanical marvels Huret). You can get them threaded at a decent LBS.
@sthilzy
fuck I love science
@RichardH
Re the derailleur hanger: not quite sure, to be honest: I have a close-up image of the part of the frame where the drive train will go here:
but even when zooming in on that image, it’s still difficult to tell. Over the weekend, I’ll ask the bloke who’s keeping the frame at his house until I pick it up, to have a look. Good to know that there are (threading) options, though, if that should become necessary.
What’s the story, exactly, on the Retrofriction down tube shifters you mention? I’m not familiar with the expression, to be honest. Is it a Simplex invention? (I had Simplex stuff on my very first ‘proper’ bike – a 1976 Peugeot UO8 – but that was certainly the most ‘basic’ variety of that group set available at the time.)
@ErikdR
These:
They have a clever little clutch mechanism in them based on a coiled spring. Not sure exactly how the magic works all I know is that they are finger light, never need tightening and don’t slip – they’re a joy to use. They were made by Simplex from ’70s up to early 80’s – I think there are Mavic versions of the same thing as well. Also the ‘band on’ ones have different bolts from the ‘braze ons’ – bought braze on ones for my Peugeot, fitted straight on.
@RichardH
Excellent – cheers! (That is one less decision to worry about, it would seem. Will start trawling the Interwebs for a pair of these over the weekend…)
@sthilzy
might actuality be a decent USA kit for a change ?! Anyways, this one looks really good. Hmmmm… oh yea, that’s it… BLACK shorts !
@RichardH
Best downtube shifters I’ve used.
@DerHoggz
Irrigation syringe filled with bearing grease. Every 500km remove the end screw and, holding the nozzle tightly to the hole push in new grease until the old black crap seeps past the o ring on the crank side of the pedal.
Good Luck!
Would not wish this on anyone. Had the good old double puncture today. FML
@Sparty
You punctured so hard your wheel came out? FYL for sure!
After not flatting for AGES, I have had a rear puncture on the last four rides. That’s $500 down the drain.
@RichardH
The improvement over the Campa shifters I had was real. Amazing!
@Sparty
I honestly think that I’ve had more punctures in Pave’s than any other tire. It might well be a function of them being used in more puncture friendly conditions, especially rain and wet. But I also suspect that the tread seems to be a little conducive to picking up debris (?). Anyways, I took some Pave’s off a wheel set this past w/e to mount with race tires and use the wheel set for crit pit. I wonder if I’ll ever ride green stripey Pave’s again ?? And what will I use to replace them? I loved them for the dirt roads here in AL. The red dirt/clay kinda roads here with just a little bit of moisture and the Pave’s seemed to stick like they were on cobbles in Belgium. Go figure, but they worked.
@Randy C
Whatever the hell caused the punctures, I could not find it on or in the tires. I suspect a thorny twig was thrown into the road near the farm fields that were freshly mowed. I love the feel and grip the Pave tires provide. They are a great training tire for all conditions. I have sampled many different brands and tires over the past few years. Most ride like shit on carbon wheels, but the Pave pair well. If you find a good tire solution let me know.
@frank
@frank That is a bitter pill to swallow my friend. Any luck with sealant? Or unstitching them and patching the holes? I am sure that they look like new. I think I would try to find a way to resurrect them.
@RichardH
Great stopping power, even wet, but do in fact squeal like a pig. They did on my first bike in 1971 and this one in 2016. It’s been recommended that lightly sanding the pad with some fine sandpaper would help, or trying a different compound brake pad, or a flat rim. But that’s not happening, I’m not giving up my Rigida DEA Superchrome rims.
.
@Minnesota Expat
Have you tried “toe-ing in” the pads a little.
MAFAC brake squealing I think is inherent in the design. The design is very similar to canti brakes. Which means that when you brake, you flex the fork (and headset bearings) ever so slightly. This fork flex increases braking pressure. Which gets reduced by flexing of the of the cable hanger. The entire system will start a cycle of pulling and slackening the brake cable ever so slightly at high frequency, which is the squealing. A much better explanation can be found on the internets:
http://velonews.competitor.com/2010/09/news/cyclocross/technical-qa-with-lennard-zinn-return-to-cross_101807
I do like the look of them though. Especially the quotation marks next to racer.
@Teocalli
Are you talking about turning the front end of the pad up or down a little, at an angle to the rim? There is only one axis that be adjusted. I’ve always lined them perfectly lengthwise with the rim. Does that make sense?
I’ll give it a try. I’m going for a nice easy recreational ride with the VMH after dinner. After giving my new Jaegher a bath, it’s been wet and rainy here and she is a little gritty (insert emoticon here).
@RVester
@RVester
Really? I don’t know about that. Actually, just a few weeks ago, on a slight 48kph downhill, I literally bent myself over bars and with my ear about six inches from the front wheel and lightly touched the front brakes. I know. Stupid craziness for a 55-year old, but that’s me. At least I was wearing a helmet, right? But I swear to god it’s coming from the pad on the rim.
@Minnesota Expat
Not up or down, as far as I know – but twist the arms of the caliper a little along their vertical axes, so that the front part of the brake pad hits the rim before the aft part does – or, in other words: if you look at the brake pad from above, the brake pad holder will appear ‘angled’, with the nose turned inward towards the rim – and the rear a tad more outward. But looking at the brake from the side, the pad is still perfectly aligned with the rim.
As I recall, there used to be a lot of experimenting going on with wedge-shaped washer rings to achieve this – and you could also put the brake pad holder in a vice and try to bend the pin (or shaft) just a tiny bit to achieve the “toe-in” effect. But I could be totally wrong here (happens a lot)
@RVester
Yeah, what is up with that??? I wondered about that when I was 11-years old. They do look good, when you center them up and tighten the cables. They just look light and efficient. An attractive but functional design.
@Minnesota Expat
Re toe-in: Of course, the effect would disappear over time as the wear on the brake pads evened out the toe-in angle – but then you could simply swap the brake pads, including the holders and their tampered-with shafts, from left to right and vice-versa on the same caliper (At least, as I recall – it’s been more than thirty years since I’ve fiddled with Mafac centrepull brakes…)
Toeing in is the idea, just use a small crescent wrench to bend the brake arms a tad.
As for pad wear, the idea of toe in is that the arm will flex enough that the pads end up flush to the rim under braking, reducing/eliminating the squeal but not wearing the pads unevenly.
@ErikdR
Nice Peugeot. If I could get my time machine working I’d give you all the french components I binned off my PX-10LE in 1970s. After I cursed the French for their french threads and french diameters I slowly replaced most of the mafac, simplex, stronglight stuff with Campagnolo. I was a campag snob even back then. Never was able to replace BB or cranks. The Stronglight cranks were nice looking and some chainrings came all drilled out. mommy!
I also took my bike in to LBS and they tapped the rear derailleur hanger so I could install a real one, that was a happy day, my friend.