The Velominatus’ machine is their own manifestation of personal taste and demonstration of adherence to The Rules. We each, in our own way, meticulously maintain our bicycles and adorn them with the essential, yet minimal, accoutrement. Yes, we must Obey the Rules pertaining to bar tape, tyre selection, saddle choice, stem height, color matching and so on. But within those parameters there lies flexibility and choice.
Furthermore, this site is a refuge we turn to for brotherhood, community, and belonging. However, cyberspace is a vacuum in that we apply and practice our craft apart from one another, spread to all corners of the globe. With this in mind, I offer an experiment, Il Gruppo Progetto, inspired by Brett’s Il Progetto: Bosomworth. The intent, dare I say charge, of Il Gruppo Progetto, is for our community of Velominati to come together in designing my new build project, a Serotta Colorado AL.
I picked up the Serotta frame and fork recently to further my adherence, em, obsession over Rule #12. Although not a top shelf Serotta (think of it as Maker’s Mark as opposed to The Glenlivet), it is a platform worthy of respect, care, and craftsmanship. As fall arrived I found my foul weather steed in need of replacement and the Serotta was the perfect combination of material, style, and economics. My mind was flooded with ideas of how I might build her up. Then I thought of all of you, your experience, ideas, and of course, passion.
So as fellow Velominati, I humbly ask of your counsel for this build. The basic platform is as follows:
As you can see from the list above this worthy steed is in need of much more. Bars, stem, bar tape, saddle, seat post, possibly a fork, tires, chain, headset, and cables. Please keep in mind the following:
So there you have it. My proposition is for us to come together in a modicum of further connection than what cyberspace allows. My hope is that the finished build will be a tangible symbol of our collective wisdom and a reminder to me of what we, the Velominati represent, as I ride this bike.
Thanks in advance for playing.
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View Comments
@Marko
I was ready to jump on that 3T Motus quill stem for my rain bike, but there are some reports of it cracking easily. What do you think?
My rain bike is a LeMelvis and has a top tube that's proportionally as long as Frank's stem. I'm hunting for a shorter quill stem or short-reach handlebars.
In other news, earlier today the iPhone tried to autocorrect my search for "Vittoria" to "buttocks." What?
@roadslave Not sure I want to introduce that sort of calculation into our household. The only weapons grade plutonium permitted is permanently under lock and key of SWMBO. While in Chianti I tried tentatively suggesting a wee 500k round-trip Pirata Pilgrimage to Cesenatico, but one look was sufficient to indicate that the plutonium safe would be in danger of opening were that idea pursued. (And, if it is of any assistance re the green eyed monster, I came back from the trip 3.5kgs heavier than when I left ...).
@Steampunk Yes, I wondered about the LeakyGas effect. But that doesn't explain the Trek thing. I rather suspect it's more to do with simple economics.
BTW, Marko, nice post. Cool idea. Next time Brett suggests some modification to a steed of mine I may submit it to the wider group for discussion ...
@Geoffrey Grosenbach
I heard the same thing about the motus which is why i went with the cinelli. One thing I read was the Motus, having the two-piece clamp, although convenient, is not as strong. I actually read something about Cipo not riding them for more than a race or two, not that i'd ever crank on them like Cipo.
James has mentioned the mid 90's and earlier cinelli quills typically have 26.4 clamps which limits us to cinelli bars. not a bad thing, just limiting these days.
i have found a ebayer with a shit ton of NOS 3ttt and cinelli stuff. and don't tell Gianni, but they have rolls and rolls of Benotto bar tape in original packaging. Where to these people find this stuff?
@G'phant
Thanks, I figured what the hell. I've learned quite a bit from these peeps today and think I'll end up with a cool bike.
Bars done. Cinelli Campione Del Mundo.
Now, saddle and bar tape.
Marko, you have us all in a lather with a project like this. It's like 50 of your most obnoxious friends standing there in your shop, beer in hand, giving conflicting advice.
Does a rain bike get fenders? If it does I know the fenders it needs.
I have that Motus stem on my steel bike. It's nothing great but I installed it because I was shipping the bike enough it was one of the only quill stems that let you remove the handlebars like all modern stems do, all at once.
I just put a new SRAM chain on zeee Merlin and the power link no longer comes apart, grrrrrr. At least I couldn't get it apart. Though I never owned one, I would suggest the connex stainless steel chain. This is a rain bike after all.
Headset...a silver Chris King would rule, their blue wouldn't match. I'd stick with the Al fork for now, to keep it regulation. Lastly, cable housing, blue would look sweet, silver jagwires would work, Brett is a little hard-assed about all black, maybe he has been living in NZ for too long(obscure All Black Kiwi uniform reference).
@Cyclops
That is some funny shit.
So you now have a car? Don't live with your mum? And don't listen to Slayer?
I need an update on your lifestyle.
@Gianni
not that it wasn't cherry to begin with but the aluminum stays shined right up. stuck a few of my bits on but am stuck until the headset, bars, stem arrive.
Interesting note about this bike is the seat and downtubes are tapered, surely to stiffen the BB. Serotta called it their concept tubing back in the day. Seems to me it would have been fairly radical back then but maybe someone could chime in. Luckily i had 34.9 clamp front derailleur hanging out in the shop.
@Gianni
I am guessing our friend Cyclops is still living with mum (good to see you Americans using the correct spelling - but they are mudguards FFS) as he needs to borrow her sewing machine to do the Velominati saddle covers?
Man - that Serotta is cool. I've always been a Serotta fan - they make fantastic frames. Then add in Ben Serotta's fit system that he designed years ago, that to me, makes the most sense. Serotta also has quite a bit of old school history. If I was building up a new bike, a steel Serotta would be on the list.
That aluminum Serotta looks great. I'm a sucker for unfinished welds - looks "factory" - and I mean that in a '70s motocross way, meaning "trick". Oops, sorry - showing my age once again.
I'd build that up with mid-level stuff, like Ultegra - compact crank - nice wheels and the fattest tires that fit. Old Flite saddle for my old ass, and I'd be happy.
Damn cool bike. Keep the pictures coming.
@G'phant
"I can't afford it..."
Whatever, lawyer boy! If ever there's a candidate for having a bling Italian Stallion between his legs, it's you. Obviously no balls between there though...
@Dan O
Cheers Dan O. That's pretty much what I'm doing.
I'm a fan of fat welds too. My P.K. Ripper was welded like that and I thought it was so rad in 83 or whenever it was.
Serotta definitely have their following, Ben being the svenjolly of it all. As for fit, it's interesting as well. my numero uno steed is a BMC which are known for their own unique fit. The BMC is a "57" and the Serotta is a "60". Seems like a huge difference eh, but it's really not. The headtube of the serotta is only 1/4 inch longer, the toptube is 3/4 inch longer, and the seat tube is only 1/2 inch longer. I can't find specs on anything else for the Serotta, not even on their forum, as these Colorado AL's aren't that common. Again, it's far from an Otrott but still a cool bike.
What do we think of this?