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 ...
@Blah
My wife is not allowed to enter this space or else she would quickly realize just how many bikes I have out there… I am well above N+1 at this point in time.
@Blah
Sigh! For some reason, I get logged out every now and then, but the site still recognizes me (I’m able to post, but I can’t upload photos, etc.). I must have forgotten to notice. I’ve really been trying to behave…
@Anjin-san
What’s it rated to again, like 140? Mine tops out at just under 130. Does the trick for most of my needs though.
@Steampunk
When you get logged out, your browser apparently prefills the form with your old name/email address. Your name, of course, is the same, but your (old) email address is different. You can adjust that information in your browser’s settings. Aside from that, the issue is out of our control, unless you’d like us to reinvent the HTTP protocol and HTML standards.
@frank
You can do that right?
Forgive me Merckx, I know not how but I must have sinned. In the space of 3 minutes yesterday, while feeling stronger than I have at any time since the equinox, a nearly microscopic piece of glass insinuated itself into my tire tread and then worked its way into the tube. Pffft.
Flat fixed, my rear shifting jammed in the largest cog — shifters had no response to fingers or thumbs.
As penance I shall undertake to overhaul my right shift shifter. At the same time I pledge to install new cables. Merckx be with me.
@Nate
I was wondering what the life expectancy on the cables in the full internal wraparound shifters (I am sure someone will advance the correct terminology for them…) is
My right shifter cable delaminated inside the shifter whilst I was in Spain recently – the only way I could shift down was to reach down and pull the cable where it ran alongside the downtube (not sure how I’ll deal with that in my new internally routed bike) to extract some extra cable from the jammed shifter
I guess with the cable wrapping round 180 degrees through the shifter (Shim 105s), this is just bound to happen – I reckon that one went after 6000Km and lots of climbing in 9 months
What do other folk do?
I’m inclined to replace my rear shifter cable every 3 months from now on
@frank
+1 – isn’t this why we all love to be out on our bikes and as far away from the reinventors as possible!
@Dr C
No doubt Oli and the mechanically-minded could offer more expert advice, but three month replacement seems somewhat excessive, unless you’re doing an awful lot of miles.
I got about 9-10,000km over pretty much a year to the day out of my Campag (Super Record) on the Ridley.
Fortunately things stay pretty dry out here but we can get some horrible sandstorms. Rule of thumb I expect to replace gear cables and chain/rear block every year.
@Dr C
As @ChrisO says, I would suggest that 3 months is on the excessive side. It’s possible that the cable was kinked when installed (I’ve seen this lots with Sram and 7900) causing the fraying. The only other reason I can think of for premature fraying is that the housings are old and/or dirty to the point they’re causing major friction.
If I’m riding lots in bad weather I’d replace a cable inner only if it was necessary, but I replace the short section of housing at the rear derailleur often (maybe every 6 months?)…
Apologies for interrupting the flow here. On Thursday I finally got the new bike I have been waiting for.
The wait was caused by the slowness of my employer processing the CycleScheme application so that I pay for it out of pre-tax salary. It is not a road bike and is for commuting however it is infinitely better than the pogo stick below
I seek advice now from you experts and Sensei Keepers about what to do with the old bike. I have spent quite a bit of cash keeping it working (probably more than I paid for it!). I know that the requisite number of bikes is always n+1 but if I don’t use it very often the tension will build to a point where ultimata are issued.
Do I keep it, service it and return it to good working order with the stated intention of using it for the occasional mountain bike outing or do I admit that it was always a rubbish bike (even though it served well in getting me off my (then) fat arse and fit enough to commute) and there comes a time when retirement is the only way (to eBay or even Freecycle)?
I await with anticipation.
JoD
What happened to the photos??
This one (new bike)…
… and this (old bike).
Nope.Not working.
Link to photos here
JoD
Does the link work? It only seems to if I am logged into Google.
JoD
@JoD I was going to say keep it, because your main bike will need to be serviced or you may want to use the old bike on particularly grim days.
I’m not so sure after seeing the photos though.
No idea what you could eBay it for but Freecycle if you don’t need the cash – it’ll be out of your house more quickly that way ;-)
Oh and P.S. the new bike looks like a good commuter option. And OK for some off-road stuff too, if not hard-core downhills.
@Oli
excellent, thanks – no substitiute for regular strip down and cleaning – I wonder also if I should V up a bit and stop winding it into the big sprocket so often!!
@Marko
Mine quits about 120psi making it pretty worthless for tubulars…
All you guys talking about Look bicycles has gotten me doing some research… how much more rigid is the SR versus the standard model? Any opinions out there?
@Anjin-san
From the point of view of the Velominatus that is a moot point. Air compressors are for things like nailguns, impact wrenches, and sprayers. Bicycles tires should be pumped with floor pumps. That said, I use forced air (in conjunction with wiping) to dry my bikes after a good wash but never to fill the tires. In fact, this is good new Rule fodder.
@Anjin-san
I have no personal experience, but from random reviews I’ve seen the bike is stiff as is and the SR is only necessary foe fairly big people. But of course, who believes reviews?
@Dr C
I believe that particular cable (Campagnolo) is original, which means it’s run about 6500km. As I peer into the guts of the shifter it looks like a couple of cable strands have broken. Hopefully I’ll have this problem sorted once I get a couple of needed tools and a bit of free time to do the job.
@Oli
Any advice on whether I should replace all housings at 6500km or just the rear? Thanks as always.
@Anjin-san, unless you are heading out on the boards, why so much pressure. And shouldn’t we be using the correct units (bar)?
@Marko
Spot on.
@ChrisO Yes this is my problem. It is almost worthless and the costs of eBay outweigh the returns. I have a similar problem with a telescope. Freecycle would see them both fly out of the garage. If I keep it I will have to continue to spend on it just to get it back into good order.
@ChrisO
The new bike is so much better and goes like the wind in comparison.
JoD
@Nate
If you’ve got frayed cables it couldn’t hurt to start out with a completely fresh set – if in doubt, swap it out.
@Oli
While we’re pumping the Oli well for bike info, I have a set of Dura acheee 8 speed hubs, 28 hole – was wondering if it would be worth me building them up at 85 kilos. Was wondering if OPen Pros would hold up, or deeper section DT rims would be better? Only build requirement would be for stiffness. Weight weenies can choke on it. Is it worth doing?
Whoops, sorry that was for Oli, though any input would be appreciated vastly. Haven’t gone the handbuilt route for a couple of years. Cheers
@Minion
What were the tubular wheels you bought recently? Might need them for Belgium…
@brett
Shimano 600 rims with Campy rims, 36 spoke 3 cross front and back. I think you can change the freehub body, you can have em if you want.
Dammit 600 hubs with campy rims. Smoov like butter,Oli tickled em into shape and fresh grease and ball bearings.
@Nate
Are either of you using Look cleats?
I moved to Sidis about 6 months ago, and they have never matched the hype IMO. I find that even though the shoes fit my foot length perfectly, I can’t get my Keo cleats back far enough to avoid that tip-toe feeling.
I also had to replace the Sidi inner soles with a slightly thicker set out of my old Diadoras, to avoid hot foot. There could be an argument that these were already moulded to my feet, but I gave the Sidis 2 months to do the same and they failed.
@Bianchi Denti
I am using Shimano cleats. I think the problems are getting the right cleat angle and getting the right shimming between the cleat and the sole so that my foot presses squarely on the pedal, keeping my knee in a consistent plane.
The Sidis felt like slippers when I tried them on. Putting a cleat on them totally changed how they felt. Strange.
Thumbs up for watching cycling videos while working on the bike. I cleaned chain and cassette on my top three bikes yesterday and several full-length, current season cyclocross vids kept me company.
I still don’t own a bike stand (yet) but a few hooks from the garage ceiling do pretty well for minor cleaning and tweaks. Since I’ve claimed a corner of the garage, I think I’ll need to outfit it appropriately with cycling posters, too.
Argh…wrong article. Still relevant.
Shims for proper alignment on your pedals and insoles for proper support of your feet are crucial. Night and day after my bike fit. Better power, no hot spots, and (as an added bonus) effortless unclipping because the cleat is exactly parallel to the pedal retention mechanism instead of at a slight angle.
@Bianchi Denti
Yep, using Look Keo carbon pedals from aaaaaaages ago, with the grey cleats.
The Sidis feel pretty fine, if squeezing a little on the side of my right foot. Hope that eases as they break in a little, but it’s not too bad now. Ought to be fine.
The cleat placement feels pretty good, too. As I said, changing the saddle means that I have no real idea of what’s going on. Moved the saddle forward this morning and it felt better; less stretched.
As for my feet – My left leg has always felt like it’s doing less. Now it’s my right. Could be time to visit a fit specialist and cough up some cash.
@harminator
Hi, should have replied to this earlier – got distracted.
If you’re serious about shifting, contact Search Associates and/or ISS. They’re big recruitment groups who hold fairs that put teachers together with principals who are hiring. We went with Search in 2006 to find jobs for 2007. Attended job fairs in Sydney and Bangkok and took jobs in the sandpit. Both being Drama/English doesn’t help as we’re looking for schools with two of those positions.
Jobs in Singapore are plentiful but sought-after. The school we’re at now, UWCSEA is freaking amazing. Facilities, support, package, colleagues; all great. But there are schools for miles here, some really big international ones that offer some excellent packages for overseas hires. That goes for a lot of places in SE Asia. You can make and save some excellent cash, particularly if you can put up with China or places like Manila, which cost nothing to live in.
And for the rest of you, thus ends the teacher shop-talk.
@Dr C. Did your new bike arrive yet, because if not, I think I know why it was delayed.
@Marko
degree of difficulty 6.7 – deserves an ovation
thankfully my Crux Elite came by huge owl yesterday, collecting tomorrow, just in time for the 2012 Cyclocross season start on October…2012…..ggrrrr
@Dr C
Pictures, or it didn’t happen!
@frank
Thanks for the advice Frank. I have some clarification questions which I will illuminate with photos.
Do you mean this?
or this?
What do you think of this?
If the tape is to provide a physical barrier then my next photo can be ignored, but if it’s purpose is to stop the valve jiggling and causing the tube to wear at the hole then this might also be a solution. If not it will definitely assist in achieving complete silence.
Almost complete on the new Look! The picture is admittedly terrible, but it’s just a taste. Look bottle cages and an appropriate stem remain to be purchased. First ride will be 100km tomorrow. I’m trying to decide if I should stick with one white, one black, or go two black on the bottle cages. I’m a bit endeared to matching the bottle cage with the dominant color of the tube to which it is attached. Thoughts?
@Collin
That is one fine looking rig
Black or white, not both. IMNSHO.
Hot bike.
@Collin
Yep, agree with Oli. White or black. Either is fine. I’ll vote white, but it’s knife-edge stuff.
Also agree with his hot bike sentiment.
Grats on the acquisition.
@snoov
Great shots, I meant the first one. But fucking spot on on the Leyzene dealie. Did you rig that or is that a product? The second shot is an abomination, the fourth is the way to stop jiggle. Nice!
@Collin
What @Oli and @Blah said – always the same color cages. Spectacular bike, though. Love those Looks. I’d go with black cages.
Match cages, probably worth a Rule, as is @Marko‘s spot-on assertion that a Velominatus only uses a floor pump to inflate tires to pressure.
@Collin
Stunning – white cages – and some Look pedals and SL cleats if you haven’t already bankruptured yourself – just drawdroppingly beautiful otherwise
found myself trawling the LOOK website the other day – uh oh……
what is the groupset dude?
@frank
That’s a Lezyne puncture patch which I folded twice and cut the point off before sticking it to the tube. I’m so glad you didn’t mean the second picture, I only did it for the photo although I did see it done like that on a pro’s bike here. Maybe it’s technically harder with tubulars. For my tube, rim and tape combination, 3 wraps is a perfect fit.
@mouse
I would, but
1. I left it at work
2. I brought home bike #4
3. I need some space before posting it after the awesome beauty of Collin’s LOOK has subsided
my bike #4 – items such as this lead the the development of the word abomination
@snoov
tidy work @snoov – particularly impressed you sanded your operating table clear of all contaminants before commencing surgery