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 ...
This is the real reason I was in this thread tonight. I took my baby out today in the sun with her new shoes on…
@Oli
Saw that on your tumblr thing this morning, beautiful.
@Oli
Very nice Oli!
@Oli
Super nice, nice, nice! Love the Shamals! That’s a purty bike you got there Oli!
@Oli
Perfect.
@scaler911
While I don’t currently own one (last one was the victim of divorce.)there are few colors that look more stunning on a bike that the majestic Celeste. I have to admit having named a cat Celeste and dating a total nut job of a woman for a while JUST because that was her name.
@Oli
Wow, so nice, Oli.
Tangentially; wow, you’re tall.
@Oli
Pure class, needless to say.
Marko – some slick upgrades! I’m still getting used to cantilever brakes a year into riding my cross bike. I have some nice ones, but hmm, those have me thinking. Also, love the photo setting – has me thinking “Sending my Alan back to School.”
Oli – That’s a sweet as ride! I have those older Flites on a few of my bikes. I also love those rims/wheels. Sadly, Shamals were around & gone before my roadie days. Alas, I have some Mavic CXP 33s on my do-it-all bike and they look a bit similar, in my opinion. That’s a really sharp bike though. Nice.
Snapped my chain and also the rear gear hanger on my way home from work tonight. I’m not sure which one broke the other but its a nause that I can do without.
@Marko
gave the mini-v’s a thought, but latest cx rig came with the ultegra canti’s, and stevens does a nice “hand job” and a low front brake cable stabilizer, so never had shudder issues. those trp euro magnesiums need to go to someone more fashion obsessed than I. Now to actually do something about it…
@TommyTubolare
Thanks for the offer, but I would really need a seatpost as well, since mine isn’t long enough when I move my saddle forward. I don’t want to be a bum. I almost have a full-time job lined up for the summer, so once I get school paid off, bike stuff (probably just save for an entire one, as there are many things not worth it with this one).
So a nearly complete Ultegra Group-san (judging by the brakes, it’s 6700) is headed my way for free, and is destined to replace the Sora on my lowly Trek 1-series. I need to find cranks (easy) and shifters – would any of Shimano’s 10-speed shifters work?
Which brings me to the next question: How difficult would it be to do the work myself? I’ve done limited maintenance before – changing bars, stems and chains – but changing a brake or derailleur would be a step in the dark for me. Any special tools?
@tessar
Yes any Shimano 10 speed shifter will work.
@all
Rule #12 question?
CX bike or 29er?
@RedRanger
CX, then ride it where you would ride the 29er anyways.
@tessar
What are you then considering a nearly complete Group-san, if its missing the shifters and cranks? (as those are the two most expensive components) Assuming you’re getting a 6700 front and rear mech, brakes, chain and cassette, there are two ways you could go about it:
1. Yes you will need 10-speed shifters to run the 10 speed cassette. Any Shimano 10-speed shifters will work
2. You might be able to use your current Sora crankset, assuming its 9-speed. A 10-speed chain is narrower than a 9-speed chain and, as such, 10-speed chainrings are narrower. However, I’ve got a 5700 Group-san on Bike #2 that works fine with a 9-speed Shimano 105 Octalink crankset.
As far as doing the work yourself, the ParkTool website is a great reference and has instructions for pretty much everything. If you’re not changing your crankset, the only non-standard tools you would need are a cassette removal tool and maybe a chainwhip (though I have used an old chain held with a pair of vice grips in a pinch). Everything else will go together with tools you should have on hand (hex wrenches, screwdrivers, etc.)
@VeloVita
Indeed, front and rear mech, brakes, chain, cassette and the matching 6700 “training” wheelset. It’s coming off a TT bike, so the shifters and levers are of no use to me. I also intended to get a new crank anyway, as my current one is not even a Sora, but a hopelessly heavy and flexy (you can see it move!) Bontrager triple square-taper thing.
I’ve decided to do it myself, at the LBS. Their master mechanic, a former racer, agreed to teach me – we’ll work in parallel, and I’ll install every piece that he just replaced on said TT bike. Installing a derailleur is not something I want to fuck up without a guiding hand.
@tessar
If you’re going from a triple to a double, you’re probably gonna need a bottom bracket too.
@tessar
That’s a great approach to take, having the mechanic teach you. I doubt you could do much damage installing a derailleur – they’re pretty easy to do. I was really surprised that a new Shimano 5700 front mech I installed this past weekend even had a little sticker on it with chainwheel tooth outlines to help set the cage height properly, so I was able to leave my pennies in the drawer.
@tessar
Good plan! There are some mechanics around here that do that, you just pay the hourly rate and they teach you + provide the tools. Been very tempted to do it, as I know I have the mechanical/hand skills to wrench, I just lack the proper knowledge and know-how above and beyond some very basic things.
@Oli That Bianchi is spectacular. Set up perfectly!
Shamals and CXP33s similar?
http://www.nooooooo.com
Just went testriding the new BMC GF01 this afternoon , thats the bike that the god of thunder rode this year at P-R.
The thing is just massive!
The downtube is twice the size of my r3 squoval downtube wich is allready big.
Both the front and backwheel were fitted with 28’s and there was plenty of clearance in case of mud or belgian toothpaste accumulation.
did about 7km of cobbles on a 30 km ride , and i was shoked by how smooth this thing is
anyway i thought the velominati might have a kick out of seeing the pictures
@Belgian Cobblestones
Wow. How did you get your hands on that bike? Great toothpaste shot too. That frame might not be the most aero but I bet it’s perfect for the stones. Ah, the stones.
Gianni , my LBS got one in yesterday , he seems to get all the good toys some mental bikes.
this bike likes the stones and the stones like this bike
Its buttery smooth i was allready driftnig away in my mind how this one would be over arenberg or carrefour , defenately not aero like a S5 or a venge but then again , use the right tool for the job
check out the zero’s on this one
Forgot to mention as i came back from the ride none other than BMC’s Klaas Lodewyck was in the shop to pick up some wheels.
@tomb
Funny that! I too went out with a Celeste and she turned out to be a nut job! More like Wayne’s crazy ex-girlfriend Stacy!
@Oli Nice set up! Love the shiny bits!
In homage to Bianchi, I found these pics at velogogo
[dmalbum: path=”/velominati.com/wp-content/uploads/readers/sthilzy/2012.05.04.03.53.49/”/]
@Belgian Cobblestones
That thing looks sweet. I bet it would make a great gravel bike with that clearance. I’ll have to investigate further. Nice pics too.
The Grumpy Hound: Don’t assume this dog can’t bark back at you!
In the Summer of 2011, I decided to begin cycling. I could have gone and spent up to $2000 on an entry level bike. When I started to research costs associated with bringing the bike back to the shop for any maintenance, I decided to go a more challenging route. I built my own bike. After months of scouring the LBS’s for great deals and new take-offs from bargain bins, I found my work area covered in a mix of 105 and Ultegra components, an aluminum and carbon frameset, and the bike tools necessary to make it come alive! Within 2 days and help from YouTube and advice from LBS mechanics, my bike was finished, complete with self-applied custom decals and striping. My 2011 Segugio Brontalone (Italien for Grumpy Hound, paying homage to my beagle Reeses) was complete, weighed in at 19.3 lbs, and cost me about $1100 to build, tools included.
Shortly after I started cycling, I was introduced to The Rules by a Velominata. Since then, I have ensured that the tool that I built with my bare hands has been outfitted according to The Rules. I must say that I felt more ready to V and VV once I shed the saddle bag, dropped my bars to a more correct position, and ensured that my bar tape color matched my logo color. I have always had fascination with classic vehicles, i.e. old Vette’s, square pickup trucks. I should have known that my selection of a frame with traditional geometry and straight tubes was a premonition that I should be focusing my energy on The V instead of spending my money on the latest tech.
I get great looks when I show up for group rides, but I simply wait to smirk as I turn around and look back for everyone after a climb. Recently, I rode up next to someone as we departed for our usual Saturday 70km ride at just over 40km/h. I said hello and he actually looked at my bottom tube, looked at me, and turned his head forward to ignore my presence. In about 20 minutes, he spit out the back of our group as we surged on for the rest of the ride.
I appreciate my machine more now than I thought I ever would. Having routed the cables myself, tightened every bolt, adorned it with bar tape, and applied all the oils, I have developed a relationship with my bike that is among the most intimate in my life. I feel her breathe in rhythm beneath me when I ride. I know when she is ready to help me climb and when she is ready to punish me for accidentally skipping her post ride bath – a mistake I have only made twice.
[dmalbum: path=”/velominati.com/wp-content/uploads/readers/bugleboy21/2012.05.05.15.49.09/”/]
@motor city
Also busted the rear mech and gear cable. £100 later and my bike is working again.
@Larry Dean
Great post and beautiful ride!
Anyone else ever had the “push pin” on the Park Tool CTP-4 chain tool sheer off on them? I was just trying to install a Campa 10s chain with the guide pin/rivet and the Park Tool push pin just broke off. Huh?
Looks like you can replace them, but for around $15-$17 usd. Not a bank breaker, but I’ve probably used the tool 8 times in two years of owning it. Likely out of warranty and now I’ll have to spend around 1/3 original cost for one part. Tried to call them but phones aren’t answered on Mondays. Kind of pissed off, but have had overall good luck with Park Tool tools.
Thought I was going about things properly & carefully and have installed a few Campa chains with the guide pins. Argh. I also gave away my former chain tool to a pal, thinking I would no longer need it…
@Ron
Park seem a pretty decent company and if you manage to contact the right person they may be able to sort you out.
Larry Dean – I like that story. Always good to remind ourselves that the bike is just one aspect of all of this. Being a capable rider is a key requirement as well.
I actually got a great reminder today of taking the time to have fun turning the cranks & to consider how far I’ve come instead of wondering when I’ll peak in two months. Passed a guy huffing along on a department store bike going up a very slight incline. I said hello, cruised by, he let out a stream of amazed declarations about how fast I was going. It was nothing to me. Made me smile and made me realize it’s always good to enjoy one’s current form once & awhile and not always be chasing something.
motor city – Good advice! I was hoping for that treatment. Nice, solid tool but this part seems like it shouldn’t have sheared off like that. I’ll call them tomorrow when the phones are being answered.
@Ron
I also heard the phrase, “upgrade your legs before you upgrade your bike” pretty early on in my starting phase of cycling. So true.
Larry – yup. Very true.
Called Park Tool today. Not only was the person on the phone (Mark or Marc?) totally cool, very helpful, and very knowledgeable, but he’s sending me a replacement pin. Awesomeness! A shout out to them for great customer service.
I’d like the grill cover company to talk to the Park Tool company. We have a one-year warranty, sorry. What? Your cover is a piece of junk and you know it! So replace mine. And redesign it! (and then I wonder why I was dumb enough to buy it.)
@Ron great result!
@Larry Dean
40 km/h rides? And you just started riding last summer? Dude, you must’ve ponied up for one hell of a leg upgrade! The only times my group rides get close to that average is on long flats with no wind. Chapeau!
@The Oracle
No kidding! I’m always amazed at the guns some folks possess.
My starter pistols can hold me at ~30kph solo comfortably now for awhile if I’m not going up a hill or into a headwind, but it’s still a bit of work for me. Sometimes if the conditions are right I can roll along in the mid-30’s and feel like a pimp, but that’s not often.
Fastest I’ve ever hit on flat ground was 50kph, but I had a nice tailwind and was WORKING to hit that number, and it was by no means sustainable for more than a few seconds.
@mcsqueak
Sounds like we’d get on famously, squeaks. (Except that, being from Portland, you’d likely bury me on any sustained climbs). I’ll do my shorter solo 32km rides at around 32-34km/h average, but there’s no way I could keep that up over the course of 70km’s.
@The Oracle
Bury you in climbs? Thank you for the complement! But to steal a phrase from our friend Cyclops, I drop anchor when the road points north.
Though, my perspective could be warped. When I ride with other Velominati or people who actually race, I feel like the slowest climber in the world. But I do pass normal folk pretty regularly, so I guess there’s that. Passing the dude with the shitty bike and street clothes is truly a mark of a good cyclist!
@mcsqueak
Not to “out humble” you, my friend, but if I tried something like this, I’m pretty sure the letters “D”, “N”, and “F” would be in the cards!
@The Oracle
OK OK, you win. However for full disclosure I skipped almost 300m of climbing because of horrible leg cramps (stopped at one point and my legs about seized up right there). I will do it again next year and see if I can’t pick up the extra meters.
Fans of Belgian Cobblestone’s BMC pictures above will like this nifty photo-set of the BMC service course:
http://velonews.competitor.com/2012/05/gallery/gallery-bmc-racing-santa-rosa-service-course_217145
Man, it’s a pretty slow day at work today.
@mcsqueak
On the topic of leg cramps: Man, I had my first “serious” legs cramps two weeks ago ever. I have had the occasional tightening up while riding or racing but when I watch the videos of the pros and Phil or Paul mention leg cramps, I always thought it was a bogus excuse, until last week. I was within 5 k of finishing a 115 k hilly ride and my right inner thigh, just above the inside of the knee, felt like someone just took some pliers and drove them through the skin and twisted the meat for all they were worth. God LORD, I almost fell off my bike. SOOOO painful! I tried to straighten the leg out and coasted for a bit and tried to massage it and it finally loosened up enough to finish the ride but i had never felt any cramp like that before. The ride was in mid-to-high 90’s and all sun so I wonder if I was “electrolyte” deficient or something. Just so painful!
And in the realm of completely and utterly ridiculous:
http://grist.org/list/suv-with-built-in-stationary-bike-its-like-biking-to-work-except-stupid-as-hell/
@Buck Rogers
Yeah I think some people mistakenly conflate leg cramps with legs just being sore and tired. Real cramps fucking hurt like hell and can be a show-stopper if you don’t get them worked out.
@scaler911
Good thing the model has those super-springy “athletic” shoes on, otherwise her legs/feet might not survive the impact of all the pedaling…
@Buck Rogers
Leg cramps are seriously the worst. I got some once stopped at a red light going uphill. Trying to start out and not fall over and get hit by a car with a terrible pain in both legs.
@scaler911
They are also releasing a more budget friendly version
@scaler911
Ha ha ha. The fact that people actually buy Cadillac Escalades already proves they have suspect mental capacity. I’m sure they sell plenty of them with the stationary bike.