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 EffectRule #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 BlackGuest 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 StableDialing in the Stable
    This 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 rugMatching the drapes to the rug
    As 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 HourFestum Prophetae: Waiting for the Hour
    Everyone 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 ...

15,871 Replies to “The Bikes”

  2. @paolo
    Sounds like your FD is not adjusted properly.There should be no chain rub at 50-11 and 34-28.Your mechanic should now.Make sure your FD is aligned properly with the chainrings and 1-2 mm above outer chainring.I’d recommend 1 mm.
    Also your limit screws should be set-up well to provide enough chain clearance.
    Lastly from your description sound like cable tension is simply not high enough.Sram FD requires very high cable tension comparing to other systems.
    You don’t need Di2 to have a flawless FD shifting.Most people who think Di2 FD shifting is something special had never properly adjusted FD in the first place.

  4. @mcsqueak

    @The Oracle
    Ha, true enough.

    Yeah, I learned a long time ago that every time I did something on the bike that I though wouldn’t affect how something else worked, it always did, and I’d be stuck fiddling with the bike and a multi-tool on the side of the road during the next ride. Now I always test things out any time I make a change before I go out if possible; preferably both on the workstand and on the trainer.

  5. @The Oracle

    @mcsqueak

    @The OracleHa, true enough.

    Yeah, …

    Ha!

    @TommyTubolare

    That was the most aggravating thing about my old FD–it kept twisting ever-so-slightly so that it wasn’t parallel to the chainrings, and so within a half-hour on every ride I would get chain rub on the FD. Even though I’ve had the new one for a while now, every time I climb on and shift it effortlessly and noiselessly, I give thanks to Merckx.

  6. @paolo

    Just an extra thought. I don’t know if you run a compact. Sounds like you might. I do and I use an 11-28. I’m sure some people here would think that horrendus. I have a lot of climbing in my area and I need to lose 20 lbs and I’m no spring chicken so I need what I need and I’m good with that. Anyhooo that said an 11-28 is really the best of all worlds. Yeah the change on the two smallest cogs isnt super smooth but the rest is BUT unless you have Di 2 getting it set up so that theres no front rd chain rub at all is close on impossible even with the trim.
    So what I do is make sure that the only bit of rub I get is in the hardest gear. 50×11 isn’t used all that much and when it is used I’m going like the wind and I can’t hear it anyways. That way you ensure you get no rub when climbing and it’s all silent..coz that shit will drive you bonkers.

    @mcsqueak
    I run 11-28 almost exclusively, not that I am a model of bad-assery. Just think that its better to spin slow in 34-28 than get off and push on a 20% grade. Use it for cross and road. Have thought about using 11-23 or 11-25 for super flat racing at PIR (simply for the benefit of super narrow gear gaps in a tight pack that pushes-pulls). But as you know in PDX, if you have a bike that doesn’t climb, you have a bike that won’t be ridden often.

  8. @gaswepass
    Someone will correct me if I am wrong but I thought the FD goes parallel to the chain when it’s on the smallest (11 in my case) sprocket and the large chainring, not parallel to the chainrings.

    @paolo
    I’ve got an 11-28 cassette and have no rub problems at all although I did have a little issue when the FD was in need of TLC and wasn’t springing back enough when the cable was slacker for the wee ring.

  9. Also, I’ve found that the best way to set the limit screws is without the cable attached and pushing it out with your fingers. Then click the shifter to correct position, pull cable taught and tighten screw. Some trim adjustment may be required after and I haven’t yet worked on a Sram so I may not have a clue what I’m talking about.

  10. @TommyTubolare

    Well I do run Sram red and its fairly new, so far it hasn’t needed re-tensioning. It shifts fine, perfect, no problems. But I just can’t get rid of the last tiny tiny amout of chain rub in 50×11 and if I do then it rubs slightly in 34×28. Like I said I’d sooner it rubs in 50×11 if anything. However I haven’t tired altering the height of the FD. Since for the most part my mechanic is me I’ll look at that. I don’t recall if my previous Ultegra set up rubbed at all. I did make a tiny alteration to the angle of the FD and that helped a huge amount from the way it was set up from the shop.

    A lot of people say the Sram red FD is a bit squishey. A lot use the Force so I’ve read. I think it’s maybe a tad squishey, is that whay the cable tension must be so high? Anyways it shifts fine.

  11. @gaswepass

    Yeah I’m with you there. I had compact and 12-25 when I first started riding which was at the age of 46 ( late starter ) and my knees would get sore. Now I need my knees to ski because if I’m anything I’m a skier. 11-28 works out great.

  12. @snoov

    @gaswepass
    Someone will correct me if I am wrong but I thought the FD goes parallel to the chain when it’s on the smallest (11 in my case) sprocket and the large chainring, not parallel to the chainrings.

    I’m an improver, not a corrector.

    I make no claim on understanding the sophistication of derailleur angles. I paid for all fucken 20 gears (more than once, it feels like), I feel I’m entitled to use all of them!
    I’ve tinkered with those screws a few times, sometimes more successfully than others. Fortunately the shop is gracious to take my money and right my monkeying…

  13. @paolo

    @TommyTubolare
    Well I do run Sram red and its fairly new, so far it hasn’t needed re-tensioning. It shifts fine, perfect, no problems. But I just can’t get rid of the last tiny tiny amout of chain rub in 50×11 and if I do then it rubs slightly in 34×28. Like I said I’d sooner it rubs in 50×11 if anything. However I haven’t tired altering the height of the FD. Since for the most part my mechanic is me I’ll look at that. I don’t recall if my previous Ultegra set up rubbed at all. I did make a tiny alteration to the angle of the FD and that helped a huge amount from the way it was set up from the shop.
    A lot of people say the Sram red FD is a bit squishey. A lot use the Force so I’ve read. I think it’s maybe a tad squishey, is that whay the cable tension must be so high? Anyways it shifts fine.

    I run Ultegra 11-28 and compact 34-50 (South Wales, Brecon Beacons, peaking in several months, blah blah blah…)Where is it rubbing, front mech? Has to be the end stops, FD position or a fundamental shifter incompatibility. My Ultegra will run 50-28 and 34-11 without rubbing, not that you would but most manufacturers set their stuff up so it can be ridden by the clueless and infirm – so it should run without rubbing within sensible combinations.

  14. My Ultegra will run 50-28 and 34-11 without rubbing, not that you would but most manufacturers set their stuff up so it can be ridden by the clueless and infirm – so it should run without rubbing within sensible combinations.

    +1. albeit a bit messy. but we covered that topic in another thread- racing is racing!

  15. @paolo

    I do run a compact, I’m not man enough to need a standard. 11-28 could be a good compromise. We’ll see what happens. My current plan is to just slap my current cassette onto the wheel and see how that feels while climbing, and go from there.

    Of course, we are in the time of year here in North America where my riding is at the lowest quantity. Will be picking up volume soon after the time change, and perhaps I’ll be able to rethink the need for a different cassette range.

    Regarding your chain rubbing, it should rub at all in the small/big or big/small combos. If you were cross-chaining and trying to use your small ring down in the smallest cogs, I could maybe see some rubbing but you shouldn’t be using those combos any ways.

    Cheers all for the input! Glad I could start a nice discussion.

  17. @mcsqueak

    @itburns
    Yeah I thought about that brand as well since it’s made here in PDX. The thing I liked about the Revs over the Corsa 1.2Lite is that they have more spokes but the same weight. Makes me feel a bit better in case I bust a spoke on a ride (which has happened to me). I’m 175lbs so I don’t want to go too crazy with low-spoke wheels.

    I’m looking at a lighter build for the 1.2ACR, not the 1.2ACR Lite. Probably will end up around 1445g. Sorry for the confusion. The Rev-22s look nice too but I’m leaning toward the 30mm rim with just a bit more weight. Decisions, decisions.

  18. I want to share another bike with you. This one belongs to a friend of the family, Alves Barbosa, and was used in the 1956 TdF to a tenth place GC.

    Note the “suicide lever” on the front derailleur. The smallest gear he used was a 46 x 21. Biggest was 52 x 13. Ten years later, the fashion was a 45. It took another ten years or so for 42 to be the standard, and that stood for a long time, until LeMond started using a 41… Hampsten was one of the last holdouts of the 42, saying that he felt the switch between 53 to 39 was too much of a shock on his rhythm.

    So in a half century, we’ve gone from 46 x 21 / 52 x 13 to 39 x 25 / 53 x 11. All these tech advances, yet in that year, the average speed of the tour was the same as 1987, thirty one years later, and not too far off from the most recent ones (excluding the dark years). This, despite having longer stages and more regulations on what kind of support was allowed from team cars, poorer nutrition, bikes weighing ten pounds more, no aero advantages, etc. These were truly hardmen.

  19. Were we talkin’ about cats? I caught a pretty nice shot of one of my cats the other morning. Right at about 7:25 the sun comes up and hits our back porch. Here’s Hobo. He was discovered by the VMH as she was traveling down the highway and saw a bunch of weeds on the roadside moving about. She pulled over to discover this guy, only he was then the size of a grapefruit!

    Now he’s a Big Strong Lad. Great climber, funny attitude.

  20. @Calmante

    I want to share another bike with you. This one belongs to a friend of the family, Alves Barbosa, and was used in the 1956 TdF to a tenth place GC.

    Note the “suicide lever” on the front derailleur. The smallest gear he used was a 46 x 21. Biggest was 52 x 13. Ten years later, the fashion was a 45. It took another ten years or so for 42 to be the standard, and that stood for a long time, until LeMond started using a 41… Hampsten was one of the last holdouts of the 42, saying that he felt the switch between 53 to 39 was too much of a shock on his rhythm.
    So in a half century, we’ve gone from 46 x 21 / 52 x 13 to 39 x 25 / 53 x 11. All these tech advances, yet in that year, the average speed of the tour was the same as 1987, thirty one years later, and not too far off from the most recent ones (excluding the dark years). This, despite having longer stages and more regulations on what kind of support was allowed from team cars, poorer nutrition, bikes weighing ten pounds more, no aero advantages, etc. These were truly hardmen.

    Beautiful bike with great history. And no need for big saddle to bar drop to generate power. Just a f’ing long top tube and stem, I’m guessing.

    @Ron
    Has this opened the floodgates to humourous cat photos? You could have at least added one piece of cycling paraphenalia into your shot.

  21. @paolo

    @mcsqueak

    I start too many sentences with yeah, I just noticed. What a crutch.

    You probably just type like you talk. I’ve found it’s usually the sign of someone whos pretty personable.

    Yeah, I know exactly what you mean!

  22. @Calmante

    I want to share another bike with you. This one belongs to a friend of the family, Alves Barbosa, and was used in the 1956 TdF to a tenth place GC.

    Note the “suicide lever” on the front derailleur. The smallest gear he used was a 46 x 21. Biggest was 52 x 13. Ten years later, the fashion was a 45. It took another ten years or so for 42 to be the standard, and that stood for a long time, until LeMond started using a 41… Hampsten was one of the last holdouts of the 42, saying that he felt the switch between 53 to 39 was too much of a shock on his rhythm.
    So in a half century, we’ve gone from 46 x 21 / 52 x 13 to 39 x 25 / 53 x 11. All these tech advances, yet in that year, the average speed of the tour was the same as 1987, thirty one years later, and not too far off from the most recent ones (excluding the dark years). This, despite having longer stages and more regulations on what kind of support was allowed from team cars, poorer nutrition, bikes weighing ten pounds more, no aero advantages, etc. These were truly hardmen.

    hardmen indeed! Not to say, the distances were different as well, often longer, with perhaps a few less stages if memory serves correct.

    makes one wonder with all the advances in CF, frames…wheels…what is the difference??

    hang on to that jewel

  25. @Souleur

    @Calmante

    I want to share another bike with you. This one belongs to a friend of the family, Alves Barbosa, and was used in the 1956 TdF to a tenth place GC.

    Note the “suicide lever” on the front derailleur. The smallest gear he used was a 46 x 21. Biggest was 52 x 13. Ten years later, the fashion was a 45. It took another ten years or so for 42 to be the standard, and that stood for a long time, until LeMond started using a 41… Hampsten was one of the last holdouts of the 42, saying that he felt the switch between 53 to 39 was too much of a shock on his rhythm.
    So in a half century, we’ve gone from 46 x 21 / 52 x 13 to 39 x 25 / 53 x 11. All these tech advances, yet in that year, the average speed of the tour was the same as 1987, thirty one years later, and not too far off from the most recent ones (excluding the dark years). This, despite having longer stages and more regulations on what kind of support was allowed from team cars, poorer nutrition, bikes weighing ten pounds more, no aero advantages, etc. These were truly hardmen.

    hang on to that jewel

    Not mine to hold on to, unfortunately. It belongs to the man who rode it!

  29. @minion

    @Ron
    Velomi – Kittie!

    who clued my mother in law to this site? Carol, I mean Minion, is that you?

  30. Oh, more bike cats:

    Last picture, my cat (Noodles). I will attempt to refrain from posting any more photos:

  35. @mcsqueak

    @RedRanger
    You just need to find one that is more into cats than you are, then you’ll look positively normal!
    Here is one for you…

    I am a bad bad person. cause I was crying from laughing so hard when I saw that.

  36. @mcsqueak

    @RedRanger
    You just need to find one that is more into cats than you are, then you’ll look positively normal!
    Here is one for you…

    I always wondered what those crazy old cat women looked like when they were younger, how it started. Fuckin’ gold mate!

  37. BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAA!
    Dear god I can only imagine what kind of guys would have answered that ad…

    Speaking of which, McSqueak, how the hell did you find that? Dateless last week?

  39. @scaler911

    @Marko

    @minion
    Modern version. Where did they get the tiny Klein from?

    Gary Klein is a odd dude.

    Cyclocross kitteh remount.

    Frank’s getting the velomi – brickbat ready right now, to beat us all with.

  40. @minion

    Hahaha, no no they played the audio on a podcast I listen to awhile back. Had me dying in my car while I was trying to drive.

  41. @mcsqueak

    @minion
    Hahaha, no no they played the audio on a podcast I listen to awhile back. Had me dying in my car while I was trying to drive.

    after discovering that video and almost peeing my pants. I went to school and showed all the dudes in class. 14 mechanics just dieing from laughter.

  42. @minion

    @scaler911

    @Marko

    @minion
    Modern version. Where did they get the tiny Klein from?

    Gary Klein is a odd dude.

    Cyclocross kitteh remount.
    Frank’s getting the velomi – brickbat ready right now, to beat us all with.

    Yep. So you made some off handed reply to the sheep shearing video about accents. Did it make you laugh though?

  44. @scaler911
    All I’ll say to that is, the sheep in this part of the world have much better manners.
    Haven’t watched American Dad/Family guy for a few years, but it seemed a touch awkward.

    We all know the only reason for sheep jokes is to bait Marcus, who unlike anyone else in his country might be showing some restraint. Doubt it though.

  45. @Marko

    @minionModern version. Where did they get the tiny Klein from?

    Fool! They used a giant cat, a la…

  46. Wow, lolcats? Really guys?

    Anyway, my iClic racers arrived here at work today. Compared to my plain-jane Look-style pedals, they look like something from the future. Can’t wait to bolt ’em on and give ’em a spin tonight.

  47. @TommyTubolare

    @Mikel PearceWhat’s wrong with it?
    @The OracleProperly adjusted FD is a must.

    It seems to have a mind of it’s own about shifting into the big ring (I do run a 50-34, so it’s not that big …). Sometimes it’s no problem, sometimes it just won’t move the chain. Shifting under power (even on the trainer) is a big issue. I have heard that the Red FD is not as strong as the Force one because it is Ti instead of steel to save weight.

  49. Anyhoo, back to the bikes. Here’s my #2. Everything on it is 2nd or 3rd hand, except the cables and chain. c2000 Wilier Alpe d”Huez frame with 10 speed Centaur. It’s a pleasure to train on. The horrible (but conveniently available) Deda Electa bars will be replaced at the next cable swap.

    Please critique away…

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