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 ...
@itburns
Loving that bike @itburns, was tempted to go for the Pro with SRAM when I upgraded last year, but then realised it was for the black frame and not because I needed it, nor could afford it – black is so cool in the Roubaix……just thinking how awesome (Boonenstyle) some tan sidewalls would be on her sometime…..
@brett
I’m thinking walnuts and Christmas for some reason….
San Marco Regale may unlock what needs unlocking.
@kiwicyclist
it’s nice to know my idea of good parenting would probably mortify other people (Drinking? Kids riding bikes? COWBELLS?) Good work Mouse, keep those tackers keen!
I’ve been interested in a project bike for a while now. Y’all have really inspired me.
Well… Today, I brought home a bike that I think will make a good project machine. It’s an early 80’s Raleigh Super Corse. Not sure if it’s really worth anything, but it seems to be in otherwise decent condition… Pictures attached, waddaya’ll think? I’m not sure I want to keep the rims or shifters, but I’ll replace the cables, saddle, tape, and pedals for sure. Chain may be in decent condition with a good lubing…
[dmalbum: path=”/velominati.com/wp-content/uploads/readers/xyverz/2012.06.18.02.47.15/”/]
@Xyverz Apparently, this is a 1977 model. Only 5 years younger than I am…
@Oli
What? Like secret agent?
@minion
Yeah, they’re like totally committed now. Hilarious how many pictures of them are up on the race report on the Dirty Deeds CX website.
There is absolutely no question that they’ll be doing all the other races. They’d never forgive me (and their mum) if we raced and they didn’t.
@mouse I have operatives everywhere…
@Dr C
The “all grey and black” started by accident with the addition of the Selle Italia saddle. It matched so perfectly that I figured I would just go with it from then on. I need to find some grey bar tape.
Funny you should mention the sidewalls. After some of the concerns raised here about the Vittoria Rubino Techs that I have on the bike currently, I ordered some Veloflex to have on hand if the Rubinos let me down. I thought I ordered the Master 23, but after checking my order I will receive the Corsa 23. Tan sidewalls will have to wait a bit longer.
Began rooting around on eBay and Craigslist for a replacement for the #2, which cracked at the seat tube-bb weld on the way home on Friday. The #2 was the rain bike/commute to train bike. So far the “replacements” I have been finding are too good and too Italian for commuter service — what I am to do??
@Nate I’d say, “Get a huffy from Wal-Mart” but I don’t want my V membership revoked. ;-)
Why not find a mid-to-low end bike and go commuterdo on it? Get a $500-$700 aluminum bike (Trek/Specialized) and add commuter bits to it? *shrug*
@Xyverz
Nah, it needs to be a proper road bike. Otherwise it will mess up my Magnificent Stroke. Plus I want it to double as rain bike.
@Nate
Fuck it. As Andy White is oft quoted; “Life’s too short to ride shit bikes.”
Every bike in your stable should have a purpose, but it should be the best bike you can afford. You should be able to look at your commuter bike with the same sort of lustful glint as your #1.
@mouse
Agreed — the problem is, a couple bikes have put some hooks into me, and I would never use them for commuting. And I don’ t currently have something modest enough for that purpose that won’t wreck my form otherwise. Ah, n+1.
Just know this is the perfect forum for this…bit pissed off after getting the bike back from the LBS after the second 10 day service where I got them to change the original bar tape to Fizik microtex, pick up the bike this arvo & neither the Fizik bar plugs nor the finishing tape were there.
Yeah it’s a little thing but still not impressed.
I tripped onto this site http://campagnolodelta.blogspot.com.au/ and slowly scrolled through the ‘older post’.
Found myself drooling at all the “‘la-bicyclette’s” that are on the site and I thought you might like to have a look-see!
If you want to find out how to take photographs of your steed, study this guy’s angles!
@Mikael Liddy
Perfect forum for someone to tell you that you should have done it yourself?
After the first couple of frustrating attempts there is there is a great feeling of being at one with your bike to be had from wrapping tape. In my case it only lasts as long as it take to get the finishing tape on and have a really good inspection to realise that there is something that is perfect. I’m almost there though. Next time.
@Mikael Liddy
What the hell were you getting them to do that took ten days? I mean, you could order everything off the interwebs, get it delivered and build it yourself in less time than that.
And seriously, learning how to do your own bar tape is home maintenance 101. Go to you tube and check out the vids and save yourself $$ and riding time.
@Nate Have you already got CX bike?They stand up well to the rigours of commuting with sensible sized tyres (and fenders if you need them) and then you can take it gravelling or whatever that you wouldn’t normally want to do on your #1. Doesn’t seem a lot of sense in having a low end version of something you’ve already got just to commute on.
@brett
That woman has really nice guns. I mean that in the I’m jealous of her guns way, not in a I want to touch her guns way, okay, maybe both.
@Nate
Nate – Here is what happened to me. I got a decent, but not stunning De Bernardi to use as my commuter/rain/lock-up do it all bike. It was nice, but not irreplaceable or pristine. I wanted to run full fenders but could only fit 23 mm tires. No fun for a do it all bike. I also realized that locked up Italian steel was a crime, both against the paint job and in tempting thieves. I could no longer do it.
I picked up a steel cheapo cross bike from a big as bike dealer. Liked the LBSs and all, but the deal was too darn good. Solid bike, new 105 group (5700 10 sp.) and a matte finish with no labeling. Full fenders, 28 mm Four seasons, a bit more relaxed set-up since I commute and rain ride on it.
I couldn’t be happier. It is awesome to have a nice bike the functions well but that you don’t mind locking up, riding in the rain, etc. Maybe I’ve just been bitten by the cx bug but for me they’re such awesome do-it-all bikes. Oh yeah, and it has eyelets for racks so I can finally do some multi-day touring!
PS – that female cyclist sure does have impressive guns! Wow.
@Nate
Also note: rain bikes should be either alu or carbon – not steel. Steel rusts; you want this thing to last. For my rain bike upgrade, I just got an alu version of the same basic frame as #1 on eBay, a few years old, for a few c-notes. Awesome.
@marko
I know I’m on this site too often when I look at this picture and almost immediately think “her socks are too long and a rule violation.” Sad really . . .
@marko Yes, she’s hot, and those guns are FABULOUS!
@motor city, @Ron, @frank
Thanks for the helpful comments — II’m reaching the shocking conclusion that I may need to replace the dearly departed with more than one bike.
@Nate
Or, another thought would be Chinese Carbon. DengFu or the others. Build you up a great bike cheaply. The fun is working out how you’re going to build it up.
@wiscot
@mouse @Gianni @brett @Kiwicyclist @Dr C @Oli @marko @wiscot
Only one of you (Oli) commented on Kiwicyclist’s Merckx. Interesting but wholly understandable.
@gaswepass
Great that we take on the dirty task for ourselves. At this point I get a glare from my mechanic if I ask him to clean the drive train or change the stack. He knows that I can do it, should do it, and have tools to do it. To avoid any suspicion, I just do it myself.
@Xyverz
Your Raleigh project is going to be rewarding. Bringing it back to life is a good deed.
@brett
Her shorts telegraph that she is a FOX — backwards.
@Chris @wiscot would normally take the task on myself, the ’10 day service’ is part of what they do when you get a new bike through them, over the first month they’ll get you to bring it in a couple of times for a quick tweak of the gears & what not.
As it was, I had some store credit left from the insurance payout so got a new saddle, tires as well as other bits & bobs to use it up and part of that was the tape. They we’re going to keep the bike for the arvo to fit the new saddle so I asked them to fit the tyres & tape while they were at it…
@versio
Yup. Actually its kinda fun but not when you start doing it enough that you forget what you were told how to do it right. Then learn all the things not to do by doing them. Like leaving the skewer on when removing the cassette. Still don’t know how i “pulled that one off.” that was a trip to the shop… Ironically, these days get a lot less push back about bringing a dirty drivefrain- people like to get paid for work occasionally. But yeah, there is somewhere there that dirty disapproving look.
@Marcus
These big rings truly demand some reverence, especially when they are clean. The Sword (my bike) seems like it has been patiently waiting on me to mount the 54/44. Well here ya’ go!
@versio
Thanks man, I needed that. I took the wheels to my LBS yesterday to have their wheel guy take a look at them to see if they were worth saving. The guy at the shop I talked to basically told me that it wasn’t worth the money I was planning on putting into the bike to fix it up. It’s taking a lot of self-reaffirmation on my part to get myself motivated s’more. When it comes down to it, I’m not looking to make money off this bike, I’m looking to learn from the process of getting it rideable again. If the bike turns out to be a nice one to ride, I’ll start working on upgrading the components to make it better. =)
@Xyverz
Oh, and the guy at the shop who I talked to was NOT their wheel guy.
In talking about this to one of my coworkers, he highly recommended buying a truing stand and learning how to true my own wheels. (It’s on my bucket list…)
@versio
Very shiny indeed! I’m guessing this is not a climbing bicycle? Either that or your guns are admirable and you’re full of V and VV.
My Raleigh project has a 52/40 in the front and a 6-speed 14-28 in the back It’ll be interesting to ride; I’m looking forward to it.
@mouse
Do I recall correctly that you got one of these a while back or was it another antipodean? It’s not a bad idea but it’s too rational for my taste.
@Xyverz
Perfecto! Use or replace original parts and see where it stands. And you may find an era wheelset to use. It would be great to see and a great experience to build it “back like she wuz”. Your perspective may be very different from the guy at the bike shop.
@Xyverz
Working to make this climb when I must. That is an 11/21 in the rear and will swap for 13/26 to go off climbing for a day.
@Xyverz, @versio
I’m 100% convinced that bigger rings are more efficient, mechanically. Provided you can turn the gear which is the big question – because when you can’t turn it around you’re fucked completely.
But boy, if you can, it’s beautiful. I’ll take a 42 or 44 x 26 over a 39×23 any day. The only reason I haven’t done it is because I need my 39×26 to get up the several 30% grades around town.
This is a proper big ring.
@frank
Jeebus what is that thing? Reverse trail fork, and a big ring so big you can’t exactly lean into a right hand turn — I guess you could ride it on a track though.
@frank
How did you get a pic of my rain bike?
@Nate
‘Sokay: I’m left-handed.
@versio
Good Gawd! An awe inspiring sight, especially with the 21 granny gear on the back. I’m not man enough to own that set up…cough, cough, compact, cough. aaaaack.
@Gianni I like it today, but will settle back to 52/42 in Sep/Oct. I found an advantage with more riding in the small (big) ring 42 or 44. I did go into a 54/11 to finish a hard ride last week. This 54 is turning me into a true murderer out to kill.
@Nate
Is it a “Stayer” bike? If so it would only have to turn left on a track…
@Nate
yep, twas me. Rational? What’s your take?
@Xyverz
Or, turning the bike upside down and truing the wheel in the frame. I can get my wheels pretty straight that way, and the more you do it the better you get. Take the tires off and use the brakes to check for left-right movement. For lateral true I’ve never bothered, but can also be done. Again, Park tool website has a good run through of how to do it on the bike.
@mouse
Personally too much of a sucker for Italian stuff.