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 ...
@frank
In short, no priapic stems.
Unreal how good it feels to go from 100mm (-6 degrees) to 130mm (-17 degrees) — an automatic fast(er)(ness)(est). Longer is better !!
@frank
\\ Agree again. Worked and toiled to build up a Pinarello, Corsa Extra (2010), and MX-Leader (2012). Went from 59 Corsa Extra to 60 MX-Leader, but the top tube is the same between them. But the seat tube angle is a great difference in steering. Carving thru corners.
Note on determination: the Corsa Extra was completely built up and paid up before any insurance kicked in to reconcile (later).
@paolo
Completely agree with this. Get rid of the Scott if you have to, but the Time machine is sooo much more special.
@Calmante
I know a guy who works at the Trek factory in Waterloo, WI, who rides a custom Roscoe (it’s the only purple GF bike in existence). Every time we’ve ridden together he has absolutely fucking buried me.
My two cents on bar width : I went from a 40 carbon bar to a 42 aluminum about a month ago. I don’t feel any less aero, but I do feel less cramped across my chest. I wasn’t really having problems with back or shoulder stiffness with the 40, and it’s the same with the 42. The benefit I wasn’t expecting is that the wider bar gives me a bit more leverage when I’m out of the saddle (the same reason why I prefer a wider MTB handlebar as well).
@The Oracle
I should say, it’s the only purple Roscoe in existence. He had the factory guys apply the “Klein” paint technique.
@frank
@Buck Rogers
Thank you gents, you have confirmed my gut feeling on this – it’s a decision of the heart rather than the head. And my mate’s Time really encouraged the application of The V so how can it be wrong??
I wonder would the Time be suitable for the Keepers Tour 2013???
@The Oracle
Yep. I have been humbled. I have been riding the trails this week and am absolutely wrecked. XC is a non-stop fight against things that I never think twice about on the road. I hurt in places that I didn’t know existed. This will make me a better road rider, no doubt.
@Calmante
Absolutely–although there are a lot of skills that are exclusive to either road or MTB, I’ve always found that getting better at one discipline makes you better at the other. Though I spend 85% of time on my road bike nowadays, I started out on MTB’s, and only took up road riding as in-week training once I moved to a place with no trails nearby. Since then, my endurance on the trails went through the roof (though I still get buried by the Trek guy). I used to be one of those guys who’d get to the top of a long climb on my MTB and stop for air. Now I just power right on through and hit the next part of the trail. On the road, I’ve noticed that I’m a lot less tentative than some others when going over rough roads, gravel, sand, etc., which I attribute to my MTB background.
@Ali McKee
Well, the Lion rode one…
@frank
Where was this shot taken? What’s the low down on the steeds? Sounds like an interesting story to be had.
@Ali McKee
TIME UNVEILS 2012 (NEW) RACE BIKE FOR CONQUERING COBBLESTONE COURSES
http://www.bikerumor.com/2012/01/12/time-unveils-2012-pave-race-bike-for-conquering-cobblestone-courses/
@frank
Fuck! Signed. Sealed. And Delivered.
Was distracted from KT this year as we were in Menton, Cote d’Azur at the same time – I’m sure you don’t need me to tell you how fucking awesome the riding is down there, e.g. Col de la Madone within 1km of our doorstep- but the reports and photos from Belgium are inspiring!
@Ali McKee
YES! (I live vicariously through others purchases)
@Buck Rogers
Patience, my son. The Tale of Keepers Tour has two parts yet untold.
@The Oracle
Gents, that’s what I love about cycling.
It’s such a broad church.
Mountain biking will help your road riding in that it requires a different kind of power output, more interval like. Also the reaction time for dealing with obstacles just helps bike handling skills altogether.
Before i started mountain biking, I thought that the skills I’d gained in my 15 years on a road bike would make it easy. How wrong I was.
Now that I’m going back the other way again, I’ve found that my mountain biking skills have made me a fearless descender on the road.
I’m a few weeks from my new CX bike. The perfect combination of two fantastic aspects of riding.
@mouse
CX bike? What did you get? DETAILS! SPECS!
Well it’s time for new bike mkII…the damage to the top tube was much more significant than it looked, the bike’s been written off & is being replaced. Upside is that given the cost of the new bike is being covered I might be able to wangle a way to get the Campagnolo group I wanted initially to be put on there.
Plus if all goes well with the insurance claim I should be able to score a pair of these here custom Jawbones with some Photochromic lenses
@mouse
Fucking hippy.
Just kidding! You’re right though, riding a mountain bike is good fun when you can’t be effed or are sick of riding on the road.
fucking hippy.
@G’rilla
Stay tuned.
Need to get confirmation that the frame I want is available in time, and that the custom build I’m asking for will fit into the declared budget.
Full report when I get it.
@Buck Rogers
RVV museum, Oudenaarde.
@Mikael Liddy
Merckx works in mysterious ways! May you be back on the road soon.
Just info. I am sure most of you who have ever tried Sram Red or Red Black etc will know this but boy that titanium front derailleur is a pice of shite. Like changing gear with a bit of elastic. It has to go! 20g extra for the steel cage which actually works is the way to go, just in case anyone is thinking of switching to this gruppo.
Survey; There’s a solid chance that @scaler911 is going to get a new fancy job that will leave me with some disposable income. I’ve gotten the OK from the comptroller that if this comes to fruition, I can go bike shopping (not that I don’t love the Blue). Within reason, what would you fine folk recommend? Please don’t tell me Look (not interested) or Cervelo (nice but they’re like mice around here everyone has one).
Just as a FYI, I’m liking the Ritte Bossburg, BMC Team Machine, Veloforma right now.
On two weeks experience I gotta tell ya that a Ridley Damocles ISP is the way to go for us Fat Bastards – now I’m getting used to it the thing seriously shifts.
@scaler911
Bee Emm Cee!
Oh and the “we are Belgium” decal up the seat mast has to add a little bit of something too.
@scaler911
Ohhhh wow, what a discussion. I have dreams about this very subject (but usually with many variously clad or unclad women modeling the bikes, mind you), but back on topic. Pinarello Dogma? Beautiful bike. A Prophet perhaps? Time? These would be my three top choices. As for your choices listed, I would go with the BMC Team Machine. Not a huge fan of the Ritte bikes after thinking about getting one and doing a bunch of “research”. Seems that you are paying a lot of money for a generic frame with a special paint job. But, bike choices are intensely personal so there you have it: That’s what I would do.
@scaler911
Lapierre Xelius has long been on my wish list…
@scaler911
The top-end Museeuws are the only bikes not made in Chinwan. Dooooeeeet.
@frank
If he was a “real” Portlander he’d be getting a custom-built frame from one of the “artisanal” builders here in town.
Or he could get one of these wooden bikes by Renovo:
@frank
I have no idea what i am talking about but I thought that Time frames where still made near Lyon in France and that some of the top level Pnarello’s were still made in Italy as were some top end Colnagos. And your statement is for carbon fiber, right Frank? I LOVE my scandium premium Merckx and would suggest it to anyone in a heartbeat. Stiff as hell and still comes in under 16 pounds. But no hate for chinese carbon fiber, either. Just the Ritte company as a whole seems Interesting to me. Purely personal choice. Go with a scandium Prophet Premium SL, you will not regret it!
@frank
Also on my list.
@mcsqueak
Wooden bike? Ha! And remember, I live in Vantucky, so there’ll be no long evenings discussing head tube angles with some hipster with a torch in his garage.
@Buck Rogers
Yes, the Merckx scandium frames are still made in Belgium, by hand!
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I’m not sure about Time, I think they are, like Look, just painted in France, and built off the African coast somewhere in a French colony.
Pinarello’s bikes to my knowledge are all built offshore, but the lugged Colnagos are still built in Italy – like the ones the EuropeCar team rides. So yes, I was painting with too broad a stroke.
@Calmante
It does allow us to enjoy ur pain… And who knows, mebbe race a little short track and you’ll complement your road endurance to setup for cross season- which is the whole point of riding a bike the rest of the year anyhow!
I suspect that you want a carbone frame laid up by experts in laying up carbon – the design matters but like any manufactured product you get the components made the best you can at the best price you can get to guarantee reliable delivery, wherever that might be. The money in bikes is in the brand, the IP and organising the supply chain like most other complex devices. It’d be nice if they were made by a Belgian blacksmith smelted from iron ore he’d dug up himself using a blast furnace built by his great grandfather who then sourced his groupsets from an Italian family who once made rear mechs for the Medicis but then none of us would have one – probably.
@frank
Have I told you guys how jealous I am of your trip yet? Man, I would die to walk the halls of Merckx but I had better bring about 3,000 euros with me as I could never leave without some beauty under my arm (of the scandium persuasion)! Not trying to be diaagreeable but was trying to figure out if any bike frames ARE currently manufactured anywhere but in Asia. But, bottom line, i LOVE My Prophet scandium!
@the Engine
Ha! Well said!
@Buck Rogers
I think you are right about Time still being made in France.
@Buck Rogers
I kinda have that same question. My Blue has a sticker (like many other bikes I’ve seen) that says “Hand built in USA” or wherever. Meaning, of course, frame set made in Chiawan, assembled in “wherever”. But the big question is; does it really matter?
I was at the local bike porn shop today with @gaswepass and blowing up @McSqueeks phone about all the super cool plastic to be had. As I’ve said, I really like the BMC. But what I noticed when up close to it and a Argon 18 is except for the paint and badges, they appeared to be exactly the same bike.
As @gas and I discussed over lunch, there is no denying how much performance you get out of carbon, regardless of who’s tooling it up, but much of the artistry that came with steel (or titanium for that matter), I fear is gone.
Then there’s this a 3.7Kg (fully built -wheels) Wilier: http://www.competitivecyclist.com/za/CCY?SKU=75737&COLOR=Black%2FRed&SIZE=Large&PAGE=GROUP_CALC&PRODUCT.ID=10431&size_select=29893&color_select=75737&COMPONENT_PACKAGE.ID=61&Submit=Continue
I’d be kind of afraid to race it though, so what’s the point?
I’ve been eying myself a Cyfac for a while now. Still made in France too.
@scaler911
Funny, it didn’t save my version of the build. But still.
Of course my dream bike is a Pegoretti hung with Campy Super Record rolling Ambrosio tubs.
@scaler911
The Wilier Zero.7 is a thing of beauty. I was lucky enough to test ride one with Campy EPS and Bora wheels. My current bike is a Wilier (although a much more affordable version) and I am a true fan. I have an agreement with my VMH that when we leave the frame and wheel destroying potholes of Malaysia that I can get the Zero.7. My hope is that EPS is much more affordable in a couple of years.
Of course this is completely overkill for my ability and the best place to shed weight would be from my midsection, but my argument is that I drive a piece of crap and a Porsche would cost much more than my dream bike.
@MJ Moquin
+1