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 ...
@Dr C
Do it. Shimano’s crancksets are extremely ugly IMO. Campy might be out of place though. SRAM could work, or some aftermarket type brand.
@ Dr C
If the bike is full ultegra then Campy crank is a no go in my opinion.Did you consider Fulcrum cranks.I think this one would match sweet.It’s a Fulcrum Racing Torq RS dark version.
@Dr C
I may be in he minority here but I like Shimano cranks. I am also a fan of a matching set. If you have to do it go with a brand like FSA not SRAM
@RedRanger
no, that’s cool, I’ll need someone who likes them or I’ll not be able to sell it!
Liking that fulcrum crankset – I don’t really know FSA, are they a good brand?
@snoov
One tip on the tubes is to put a strip of electrical tap over the valve stem hole on the rim, and then punch the valve stem on the tube through it when you’re mounting the tire. This is important because the tubes you have are so lightweight that the rim will cut into the tube at that spot. The electrical tape seems to work wonders in terms of preventing this from happening.
@Dr C
FSA is the beezeneeze. No worries trusting any of their stuff. They invented the compact crank, in fact.
I don’t have any of the new Shimano stuff, but I’m not opposed to the looks of the cranks myself. From those who ride them, I’m to understand the front shifting outperforms any other brand, and its in large part due to the ugly if functional shape of the chain rings on that crank. If you can stand the looks of it, I’m inclined to advise that you’ll have the best luck shifting with that crank. But if you can’t stand it, there are lots of cranks out there that are great and might be more to your tastes.
@Dr C
SRAM don’t make beautiful cranks. Ultegra cranks are the best bang for buck as far as cranks go, especially since they came on the bike. So you’d have to spend more to get a worse crank, unless you upgrade significantly.
As far as cranks not spinning that freely, if they’re an external style BB there is a lot more seal drag there than square taper. Means they won’t spin as freely, but apparently under load it makes no difference.
@TommyTubolare
Quite the suggestion, I didn’t know that they made cranks. Campy actually makes these.
@Dr C
Leave the cranks. Yes, you are being a wanker. Ultegra works well.
DO NOT disassemble your cranks. At least certainly don’t make your first attempt on bike #1.
Question: my tummy is sore. Should I get out a 10 blade and whip out my appendix? Leave some things to the pros.
charming as ever Marcus
my plan is to get it swapped it when the LBS builds it up, but thanks for being Australian
@DerHoggz
Thanks.Yeah I know.
These are very good cranks that work on Ultra Torque just like only top end Campagnolo cranks now.The cheaper Campagnolo groupsets use Power Torque.I don’t think going with FSA would be an upgrade,at least not with a budget he has in mind.Usually people upgrade from FSA cranks to Shimano when buying complete bicycles.As much as I like most of the FSA parts like headsets,seatposts etc. I wouldn’t use their cranks.I’d keep the Ultegra crank over FSA for shifting accuracy.
@Marcus
You been peeking in windows again? You know most blokes would try to sneek a peek into a girl’s window, but each to their own I guess.
@TommyTubolare
Nipple lube. I was glad someone else said it about FSA cranks, I’ve never used any but they don’t have the best reputation. They make BB30 cranks that are on OEM bikes that look OK, and I hope they work well but people still seem to prefer groupset cranks.
Hollowtech cranks are real simple to take apart, if you look at the Shimano tech docs you probably won’t feel the urge to after that cos they’re so simple. Just like the small intestine ;)
@Dr C
You did ask whether you were being a “knob”…
Dr C – stick with the Ultegra cranks as everything matches and as said above, will shift very nicely. But if you want to change them, then ensure you improve the bike rather than spend more and get less or change for change sake. I can recommend these: http://www.thm-carbones.de/clavicula-road-105.html
Very nice and takes a heap of weight out of the bike. Big bucks but money well spent.
Early days I had FSA Gossamer cranks on a previous bike, they were anything but Gossamer……..
@Dr C
@Marcus
I’m with you Dr. C. I think the aesthetics of Shimano cranks is all wrong.
Anything else would be an improvement. Liking that Fulcrum.
I disagree about discouraging a tinkerer. How else is one to learn? To suggest that one is unqualified to do such work, is a denial of what can become for some the next step toward becoming a true Velominatus. It requires only a keen eye for detail and a methodical mind. Surely not beyond the ken of the good Dr.
Think of it like pleasuring your VMH. Why leave it to the Pros when you can do it yourself? (Unless of course her BB needs facing…)
@Marcus
In Ireland one may be rude about oneself, but never be rude about someone else – it’s a cultural thing I guess
What I am deliberating over here, is making my bike perfect for me, by swapping out any bits before it is built, as once built, those bits lose half their value on Ebay
This bike has all I long for, now I have decided Di2 is not ncessarily the way to go (since I have been taught how to sort my own cables and dereailleurs out, I think it adds to the joy, and I think I’d miss that) – but the aesthetic of that crankset makes me feel it is not perfect in my mind
I’ve always been an obsessive regarding detail and maintenance, be it hockey sticks, windurfing kit, golf clubs, racing sailboats – and if something isn’t perfect, it really frigs my mental state (otherwise I would keep the bike I am currently riding)
For me, total harmony and aesthetic perfection, improves my state of mind, and performance – for instance, I’m dead slow in anyone elses boat, even though it is practically identical to my own, but because I have stripped mine down and rebuilt it so many times, I am only happy when I am in it, and can kick ass in it – for some, it doesn’t seem to matter
@Anjin-san
It’s pics like this that makes me sort of wish I didn’t live in a small apartment. Space, lovely space!
Dr C, totally agree about the Shimano cranks. When I got my Ridley the factory-equipped version came with Shimano and it just looked awful so I decided to just get the frameset and buy all the other pieces.
And if you’ll forgive the question, did you not see any pictures of your bike-to-be before it arrived and notice this. Rather like an arranged marriage did she come veiled and boxed, and you were hoping love would develop over time despite the wart in the middle of her face ?
@Dr C
Another Aussie here, so disregard if you can’t see my point of view.
You’ve asked “am I being a tosser” [that’s another term for wanker] and “would I be a knob” [that’s a penis].
Your use of these terms in your question, to the people you’re asking, acts as a green light to use such language in the response. He’s not being rude, he’s matching your use of language.
You’ve essentially asked “am I a dick?” and got “yes, you’re a dick” as an answer, and thought it rude.
I don’t think you’re a dick. I swapped my 2003 Ultegra chainset for a carbon FSA back then, despite nothing being wrong with it, and mainly being motivated by looks. Won’t do it with my 2011 Ultegra, though, as it’s essentially best for the buck (and for quite a few more bucks, too), as someone else said, and I like the look. But you don’t so… you’re on your own there. Do whatever your heart (and wallet) tells you.
@Dr C
Of course, a few minutes after posting all this it clicked in my head that this is exactly what your post meant.
Sorry.
To lighten the mood a little, and illustrate the dangers of rhetorical questions…
In Arab cultures when one expresses great admiration for an object it is customary for the owner to offer it to the admirer, using a formalised phrase which essentially says “You’re welcome to take it” but doesn’t actually mean you want them to.
The polite response is “Thank you” which in general usage when offered something, actually means “No, thank you”. With me ? So, tip for anyone travelling in Araby, if you’re offered something and say Thank You, don’t be surprised if they take it away without giving it to you.
Anyway, my boss had this funny thing for his Blackberry. Basically it was an old fashioned phone handpiece (the bit that would sit on the cradle, with the curly wire attached – remember those !) and it was bright red, like the Hotline in the Oval Office or the Commisioner’s desk in Gotham City.
So he had a guest last week who saw him taking a call on it, said how much he like it and then actually accepted the offer to take it. Karim was utterly gobsmacked, and needless to say will not be going out of his way to give the guy’s company any business.
I did then take the opportunity to tell him how much I liked his Porsche but he told me to f*ck off. Guess it only works in Arabic.
@ChrisO
nice one
@Blah @Marcus
no worries, as you might say – self deprecation is one of those things that blights the Irish, as we are so ready to insult ourselves, that most people end up thinking it is a free for all – secretly we think we are significantly superior to everyone else, especially at vertical dancing and swallowing lakes of beer unnecesarily – indeed, of course, I do not consider myself to be any of those throwaway analogies, and much as there are also many levels of expletive – I consider heck/damn/bloody/frickin/feckin/frigging and ultimately fucking, to be a spectrum of acceptability – the word tosser, does in fact sit at entirely the opposite end of the masturbatory spectrum from wanker (much as fanny and c…t do), which when addressed to your average Irishman will receive not a celebratory welcoming laugh, but a resentful punch to the face of the user (eg, I would happily call my father a daft tosser, but not the other, thus preventing him punching my face)
Anyway, as you can probably tell, I’m too laid back to get excited about this, so, whilst not bringing up the matter of the reecent Irl vs Aus World Cup group game, my hatchet is as always buried (I assume that will not be taken as me wishing to attack anyone with a hatchet…..)
On the budget matter, it will always be cheaper for me to buy an entire bike setup, and switch out one bit before it gets scratched, and replace it, than to buy all the component parts (I never liked the Shimano silver plate – might even just get them to swap it for a black one?) – all other parts on this package are perfect for me
I do enjoy the cultural and linguistic difficulties webchat presents, gives more laughs than difficulties, so bring it all on! Whilst we get on like a house on fire with Kiwis and Canadians, the average Irishman and Aussie will in my experience, usually miscommunicate 3 out of every 5 attempts, which may explain <a href=" the following
what I mean to insert….
….maybe this time?
@Dr C
Good to hear we’re cool. This site is a good a place to come and lay down whatever you like without having to worry about trolls and the like. Nice to keep it that way. Apologies for any stresses caused, however laid back you are.
Aussies have historically not taken themselves too seriously, though observing from afar over the last 4-5 years, I’ve seen a trend going the other way. Funny what getting out and about will do for perspective.
Agree with the tosser/wanker richter scale observations. A few orders of magnitude separate them.
As for the Australian cricket team… Frankly, I can’t stand them. Appointing Ponting as captain rather than Gilchrist way back when sent a message that snarky arseholes was what was wanted and be damned with sportsmanship. Cricket soured with me in the 90s and I’ve pretty much wanted them to lose for quite a while.
I actually had a great time in Ireland. Granted, only there for a couple of weeks – one in Dublin, natch, and the other in Carbury in County Kildare. People were great and no-one punched me. Best in the small pub near Carbury where we whiled away a rainy afternoon watching hurling or somesuch in what was essentially the village’s shared living room.
@Dr C
International rules fights are fairly universally condemned in Australia. Well, Melbourne. Or maybe in the lefty newspaper in Melbourne that I read. They seem to pick the most thuggish, dirty bastards they can and take them on a boozy end of year trip with the promise of lots of Guinness. “Not taken seriously as a sporting endeavour” is what the VMH has just said.
@Blah
yes, I don’t think that combined rules series did anyone any favours
glad you had a good time over here – we’re a bit odd, and whilst the recession has bitten hard, maybe the upside is folk have gotten a little more like they used to be, when they weren’t up their own arses about having so much money, which of course they no longer have, and are able to laugh about the more mundane things in life
….ps. no need to agree or upgrade the “we’re a bit odd” comment!!
So – I just bought new shoes (Sidi 5, silver) and a new seat (Selle Italia SLR TT, white).
And I put put them on the bike/wore them (after installing new cleats) for the first ride today.
Feels a bit weird. Left leg is doing a lot of work compared to right, at least at the calf, and I can feel my right glute working a bit more than usual.
So what’s changed? No freaking idea. Everything.
The saddle’s shorter than the Scott OEM, and is lower (rail to top). I measured, but am inexperienced here, so it’s likely I screwed up.
The shoes may have thinner soles (maybe thicker, but unlikely, given how much lighter they are than the old).
The cleats may be differently positioned (a dead cert, given the different length of the sole for the same fit and my gumby attempt at replicating the position).
Not really asking for advice, just stating how stupid I was to not separate the new items by a week or so, so I could isolate the differences.
@Dr C
Sigh: I used to engage in self-deprecating humor, but I wasn’t very good at it.
I’m not sure your assertion is accurate, however. I’m married to an Irishwoman, and she seems to be rather good at assisting me with my self-deprecating humor, if you know what I mean…
@Steampunk
You change your email or insult frank?
Listen Dr C. I agree that ‘tosser’ to ‘wanker’ is an escalation, but that is
NO REASON TO FUCKING BRING UP THE RUGBY WORLD CUP. OK? (Stay out of this Oli, its not any of your business.)
Besides, if you want to get under Marcus’ skin AFL insults are best. Praise the Sydney Swans or something.
Swap the crankiest. Ideally a groupset should be kept together IMO but shimano have dropped the ball on that one. Too industrial.
Hey Blah, how is the riding in Singapore? I spent a week there last Jan. and it seemed so busy with cars. Is there much of a bike scene?
@Dr C
I completely understand you feeling off if your bike/kit aren’t aesthetically perfect to your taste. Therefore, you should probably get a new crankset. I know the FSA cranks have not always had the best reputation but it seems they’ve gotten much better. I’ve had K-force lights on #1 for two seasons now and I like them quite well. And while they are not as easy to adjust the shifting on as my other two ultegra groups, once the FD is adjusted the shifting is quite good.
All that said, wheels are the single most beneficial upgrade you can do for a bike. Get some nice wheels man.
@anjin-san – we have the same air compressor
@harminator
Bike scene is huge, really. Not quite Beach Road, Melbourne (refused to ride there when I lived there; too many lazy Colnago-riding basketball-smuggling posers) but is pretty busy. I live out east, which is not the best for riding. Central/west has some great roads and really large groups. A round the island is 120km, I think. Haven’t done it yet, but that’s more about my leave-pass from the family. There are lots of organised rides if I want.
I usually get, along with some lengthened commutes (34km in plus 35-40km home), 70km on a Saturday morning on a popular route that goes around the outside of the airport. I see groups of 30 occasionally, and smaller frequently. Constant traffic of singles, pairs, fives etc.
There’s bling a-plenty. Everyone is more wealthy than me, pretty much. Exaggeration, but not by too much. There’s a lot of bike porn on display. Some of it goes fast. I’ve been passed by some teams (very regional) in full kit.
Now for the big downside. Tri-hards. Lots of tri-hards. Triathlon went through here at some point like a plague and it’s infected the region. They are real tri-tards, too. So much money spent on going slow in an aero tuck. Sooooooooo many stupid things going on. Down in the bars while drafting, etc. I just sit up and refuse to work in that case, ‘cos I also stop for red lights, which a lot of guys (strangely, guys on TT bikes) don’t.
Traffic’s really good, actually. Lots of it, I suppose, but it’s polite. A bit vague at times, which is the real danger, but nothing like the bogan aggression I used to get daily in Australia. People stop for you, are happy to go slow until it’s safe to pull out and properly overtake. Really nice, I’m finding. No-one has shouted at me for just being on the road at all.
So – it’s good. It’s better than the zero kms I did in Doha. Not as good as Melbourne, but traffic’s good, if lots of it. Lack of climbing is a problem, but only because I feel I’m missing out.
@harminator
Oh yeh – also a really large MTB scene. There are a few purpose built parks, with BMX facilities, along with your usual tropical jungle trails For some reason, big-arsed duallies are in, despite there being no mountains to downhill on. Oh well.
There’s even a fixie scene that I’m aware of. I’ve seen a lot of them, so the rumours are true.
@Blah Now you know why I never went back. I don’t think it is a recent trend, it has been there for a long time – you just have to be away for a few years to see it.
My take on it…
The Kiwis know that if the rest of the world woke up tomorrow and found NZ had sunk into the ocean, they’d be quite sorry about all the wool and Hakas but the world would get over it and life would go on. And they’re cool with that.
The Aussies know that if the rest of the world woke up tomorrow and found Australia had sunk into the ocean, they’d be quite sorry about the Opera House and the koalas but the world would get over it and life would go on. And it does their heads in.
Nice! We stayed pretty central when we were there (read: Tourist) but we really dug the vibe of Singapore. As soon as we landed we could sense the order. (Travelling with VMH, miss 6 and mister 5 meant heightened awareness of potential malevolence.) Part of our trip’s purpose was to suss out possible destinations to move to. We’d like to get out of Sydney for a couple of years. Singapore ticked all the boxes for us. I’ve gathered you’re an English / Drama teacher? I teach Design & Tech, my VMH teaches PE. Hopefully something will come up there in the next year or so…
I was pretty sure there would be a bike culture but we never saw any riders out. Lots of cars and mopeds though. Shame about the climbing but I need to develop my latent rouler…
@Dr C
Based on the 54 posts that followed my use of the term wanker (sorry didn’t realize it was an escalation to your use of “knob” – I must have missed that class when I studied The Pantheon of Dick Insults 101) – well now you are sounding less wankerish and more Karolinka.
@Marcus
Careful there, dude.
@harminator
heh heh heh
@Dr C
how about this?
take 2
hmm, picture is not posting.
@ChrisO
So in reference to the Arab custom…
I really like some of your guys bikes.
@Marcus
Easy, tiger! Don’t want to have to get the hatchet out again
Anyway, the fine chaps at the LBS got an Expert built up, so I went and had a look at it – it is bootiful, and the crankset is much darker, more detailed, and less mingy and agricultural than it looks in the pics, so I’m gonna leave it all Ultegra
Now, that was a great example of a storm in a teacup, and I can go back to watching the TV again
@harminator
Heh heh heh, I’m not Oli, but since you brought it up, how about that thing we won and the rest of the world lost?
I miss the odd troll. Mostly for the united and entertainingly blazing response they get, and the fast some of them are hilarious. Having a thick skin helps.
@Blah
I’ve had a similar problem on my Sidis. My left Genius 6.6, to be exact. First thing to do is ditch the Sidi insoles; they are worthless. I’ve got yellow superfeet now which are an improvement but not all the way there. Might have to get custom molded footbeds, which is a bit irksome given that the shoes were not exactly cheap to begin with. I also need to get the cleat re-fitted at the shop because I fiddled with it and made it worse. Wearing my old Big S shoes in the mean time so I don’t ruin my Magnificent Stroke.
@Dr C
Hehehheeeee, I’ve rather enjoyed this cultural insult exchange program. Well done all the way around.
man, that is some faint praise and I don’t really know what mingy means, “oye, check the Ginger Minge who just walked in.” Related somehow?
Praise Merckx on your new bike, you will dig it the most, once you get used to the Shimano shifters…
@Blah
Not really looking for advice, but that’s what you’ll get, Ha!
Have a look at your new saddle width compared to the old. I’ve just had a BG Bike fit done and discovered that the saddle I’ve had for the past few years was too narrow causing me to perch on one side as one of my sitbones was unsupported. Might have nothing to do with what’s happening for you, but worth looking into.
@Marko
Can you get that compressor above 120 psi Marko?