Reverence: 3T Rotundo Pro
Mimic those who are better than you; this is the underlying principle of nearly everything I do in life, whether in my work, in sport, or hobbies. The less I know about something, the more inclined I am towards this, and the more faithfully I mimic. As my skill and knowledge develope, I mime less and reason more, applying my own mistakes as well as those of others to the process we commonly refere to as becoming ‘experienced’. This process continues until I grow into an opinionated sponge; while I continue to mop up any and every piece of information and advice I can get my hands on, I follow the path that is influenced still by advice, but dictated largely by the unique journey that lays behind me and the lessons I’ve learned along it. But still the underlying premise remains: The Pros must be onto something.
So it was that I became obsessed with classic-bend bars; Gilbert, Hushovd, Basso, Potato, Cadelephant, the Brothers Grimpeur – many of my favorite riders cruised into my heart aboard classic-bend bars. Not to mention the likes of Coppi, De Vlaeminck, Merckx, and Maertens – none of whom had a choice but rode them nevertheless. Over time, the swooping curve of a classic, round drop has found its place alongside the Quick Release, Delta Brake, and Record Hub as some of the Most Beautiful Bits of Kit.
I love the way the bars sweep up from the drops and position the hoods at an elegant, upward pitch as the bar continues it’s journey upward to meet the stem. Each classic-bend bar does this, yet the particular sweep of the 3T Rotundo does it more elegantly than any other; the exact radius of its bend and the pitch of its rise is perfection. I have another set of classic 3T bars which predate the Rotundo whose radius of the bend is within a millimeter of that of the Rotundo and yet the aesthetics are not it’s equal. Like all things of sublime beauty, there is something intangible about its curve that sets it appart from others.
But aesthetics are only skin deep, and the real measure of the bar is how comfortable it is. Since getting ahold of my first Rotundo, I’ve moved to classic bend bars on all my machines. I was apprehensive about the move from an ergo bend, which I’d always ridden, to the round bend of the Rotundos. Whereas I had always assumed that a flat section of bar would be more comfortable to grab hold of, this turns out not to be the case. Evidently, my hand is not straight and is in fact quite good at bending and forming to various shapes. Riding in the drops, wrists pointed inwards towards the V-Locus, my fingers grip the curved surface of the drops perfectly. The classic bend also reduces the reach from the drop to the brake lever, which means that long descents with frequent use of the brakes are also much more comfortable.
The positioning of the hoods is a slightly different matter and depends somewhat on the groupo. Bikes Number 1 and 2 both wear 10 speed Campa Record, while Bike Number 3 wears Dura-Ace 7700. The design of the Campa hoods resemble the Power Triangles of Merckx, while the design of the Shimano hoods more closely resemble pegs. The transition from the bar to the hoods on my Campa bikes is smooth like Keith Stone, allowing you to choose multiple positions along where bar meets hood. The design of the Shimano levers, on the other hand, cause them to stand up from the bar more abruptly, meaning that there are fewer comfortable positions available. It’s not really a significant issue, but it does provide less positions which can play a factor on longer rides.
As an aside, the matching 3T ARX stem meets nearly every expectation one can have of a stem; it’s light, stiff and simple. My only complaint is that it is only available in a 6 or 17 degree version; those of us who pay careful attention to how low or how high our bars are find that these two combinations don’t provide enough flexibility to dial in the position; I’m running the bars on Bike Number 3 and am stuck riding my bars about 5mm higher than on my other bikes. To be fair, this is not a shortcoming of the ARX stem in particular; very few manufacturers offer choices outside 6 or 17 degrees. However, for perfect positioning, 3T and others should add an 8 or 10 degree stem to the mix.
@marko
Your BMC is stunning!
I had a fun conversation with a racing friend a month or so ago. I went on a Saturday morning group ride. It started at a coffee shop. About 40 or so riders were there. I looked at the parking lot and commented about how much money all those bikes were worth. The bikes ranged from around $1500 to $10,000 retail. I stated that cycling in general and bike racing in particular was no longer a blue-collar or lower-middle-class sport. My friend disagreed. He pointed out that the barrier to entry into nice bikes can still be crossed even with the tightest of budgets, whereas the barrier to entry for the automobile equivalent is pretty much out of reach for 98% of those who would like to own a state-of-the-art racing car.
Your BMC is the perfect example. It’s car equivalent might be a 2012 Porsche 911 Carrera S–a mere $97,000.
My friend was right. I think I’ll stick to bikes.
@scaler911
I jumped my first set of BIG doubles at the BMX track next to the Alpenrose Velodrome back in the 80’s
@Dr C
You should see a doctor, Doctor. Sometimes an infection can wreak havoc on the inner-ear even though you don’t feel sick. Worth having it checked out.
@Dr C
It’s carbone with aluminium lugs. Thanks for the compliment.
Yikes, the thought of needing sealegs on a bike is haunting. I’ve experienced uncontrollable speed wobble in the rain on descents from being colder than a well digger’s crotch. That’s scary enough, but vertigo, whoah.
@Jeff in PetroMetro
Interesting analogy. I typed in my bike last year on Wrench Science with the same build (although with my Zipps not OP’s) just to see what it would cost me to buy complete. I can’t remember exactly but it was just shy of $7 large. Fucking nuts. I’ve got a lot of cheddah in that bike but not that much. A few closeouts here and there, used demo wheels, and savvy ebaying pays off for the Velominatus Budgetatus.
@Jeff in PetroMetro
Thanks for the advice JiPM – one of the few benefits of being a Doc is knowing what is wrong with yourself as it happens (though this sometimes goes wrong and you end up dead, but usually not) – I have tinnitus and hearing loss in my left ear, so I suspect it is Meniere’s Disease, but nothing a dose if Rule #5 won’t deal with
Thanks for the concern though – you’d make a great nurse
@Chris
you must have the same layout as I have in the bathroom, as I ended up in the shower tray once too, whilst having a pee – vertigo again, so I didn’t even have the benefit of a good night out before it – must get a bigger bathroom
You make the differential diagnosis between vertigo and severe drunkenness, by the fact that you get back into bed after you fall into the showertray with simple vertigo
@Cyclops
It’s a pretty cool facility; the ‘drome, soccer fields, kids go-cart track. And the first race of the Cross Crusade, the biggest field of racers in the world (so we say).
That’s the start of just one category there.
@marko
Potentially a problem if, god forbid, you ever had to make an insurance claim. Even if you had all the receipts to prove the componentry compared to the bike you started out with, you’d struggle to convince the insurer that they should pay you the replacement cost rather than the ebay/velomintus bugetatus price.
@marko
I’m going to sound like a bit of a wingnut here, but when you say Carbone, does that mean it makes you horny, or it’s made of carbon? I’m guessing, with my don’t-know-much-about-bikes-yet head on, that lugs are the cups that form the joints between the bars? In which case I’m guessing….. oh arse, wish I knew more about this sport!!!
@Dr C
Severe drunkenness had my lie there for a bit trying to work out why I was there. It then had me try and fix the shower door which had joined me in a heap in the tray. It’s still not quite right, but has been classified as a “winter job”. It was Mrs Chris who told me to get back into bed and stop ‘rsing about.
There you have it – and Paolo had the tumerity to question my medical credentials!
@marko
Just how cold is a well digger’s crotch?
@Dr C
Note to self: never ride beside Dr. C in a double paceline…
Second note to self: Never use shower belonging to @Chris or @Dr C.
@Chris
actually, I think Mrs Chris owes you an apology – not many people would be offering to fix a broken shower door in the middle of the night – sometimes there is no pleasing them!!
@Dr C
Lugs are what the end of the tubing goes into connecting them into the ‘three triangles’. Like the joints in a Tinker Toy set. Drops (or dropouts) are what you slide your wheel into.
Seat tube: self explanatory
Top tube: same as above
Head tube: what your fork goes thru
Down tube: connects head tube to bottom bracket
Seat stay: goes from seat/top tube to rear drops
chain stay: goes from BB to rear drops
But you probably knew most of that.
Note to @Steampunk: I would suggest that riding behind @Dr C in any sort of paceline might to be too clever either.
Second note to @Steampunk: Floor was dry, I would therefore conclude that I’d finished my business before back flipping into the shower.
@marko
@Steampunk
I bet a well digger’s crotch is no colder than a witch’s tit. Wait. Are we talking English or metric?
@Steampunk
in an effort to save my reputation, regarding shower pissing, I must add that I was actually peeing in the latrine, when the vertigo came along, and I fell backward into the showertray – can’t comment for Chris, who seems to be a filthy dog who pisses in his shower when he’s mullah’d
I’ll also save your blushes about the time I visited my parents and, after much imbibement, couldn’t find the door out of my old bedroom – rest of the story involves a laundry basket, but I’ll spare you the detail
@scaler911
Speaking of cross, there used to be a great site that posted full videos of cyclocross races, primarily broadcast on Sporza (I forget what the web address was, but last I checked it was defunct anyway). Does anyone know of any sites similar to Cyclingfans, ProCyclingLive or Steephill that post links to the European cross races when they are televised?
I am unable to accept the big, loopy cable routing on some of the Cervelos.
Asked a page or two back, but I think the Deda Newton shallow bars are a “traditional round.” I don’t know if they qualify as classic or what, but a pretty standard round curve.
The Deda Zero 100 bars are awesome. Really like the slightly flat top. Not as pronounced as RAM bars or others, but a nice flat/ovalized top section.
@Jeff in PetroMetro
Usually when I refer to my own crotch I use metric terms. Doing so makes it sound more impressive than it is especially when it’s cold), just like cycling distance and speed.
@scaler911
actually, that’s bloody helpful mate, cheers – I take it you can’t have carbon tubes going into aluminium lugs, so I am assuming Marko’s just feeling horny about his bike, which is entirely appropriate, as it is a stunner
@Chris
can’t fault you on your conclusion regarding paceline – that said, you should see me in a bunch sprint – chaos!
getting a bit nervous – should we get back onto subject of handlebars before we get another bollocking from our new friend Paul What’sisface?
@Dr C
I think we’re more likely to get a bollocking from @frank
btw don’t all blokes wee in the shower, mullah’d or not?
@Dr C
Carbon tubes into alloy lugs aren’t that common, I think, but the BMC has them as do some Cannondales. Not sure about others.
@Jeff in PetroMetro @marko
I’m so confused! No way that’s 6cm, though!
@Steampunk
me too – what are you actually measuring SP?
@Chris
….possibly
@minion
This is why Zoolander was not a track cyclist.
I haven’t even hit “submit post” yet and already I’m sorry I made a reference to Zoolander.
@Dr C
It has carbone tubes going into aluminium lugs.
@mouse
Indeed. But without that phenomenon, not one of us would love cycling, yes?
@marko
I understand now, thanks
Phillipe Gilbert’s rivals are delighted now that he has been given a new bike for the World championships in Copenhagen. I still wouldn’t bet against him though . . .
http://www.sporza.be/cm/sporza/videozone/MG_sporzatips/MG_sporzatips_gevuld/1.1109749
@Chris
It actually took quite a bit of innovation and awesomeness to get to the point of making carbon lugs. Look, TVT, and Vitus worked exclusively with Carbon (and kevlar) tubes running into alu lugs. Man, those things were sexy. I think Calfee might have been the first to build working carbon lugs, except Colnago generally gets credit for that innovation. Guessing a bit on the timing of those.
There are few things sexier than carbon tubes running into polished aluminum luggs, as shown here on Greg LeMan’s 1990 stunner:
(Click the shot for a full-sizer. Also more detail on his bike over at Bikecult. One of my favorite bikes ever. I bought both a Regal saddle and a pair of Scott Dropins after the 1990 Tour.)
@frank
There are few things sexier than carbon tubes running into polished aluminum Luggs,
But one of them is the Campy Delta brake – I get the brake-caliper-equivalent of carbone every time I see a pair
@frank
My first ‘real’ race bike was a Trek 2300 lugged carbon bike. I took all the decals off it, and sold all the Ultegra, and installed Campa C-Record with Delta brakes. It was sexy to look at, but as I grew as a racer, it was too soft in the BB. Lost a lot of power climbing. Then as it turned out, carbon does’t stand up to side impacts from cars very well (someone in a Honda Civic blew a stoplight and hit me, breaking it in half). Did love the Scott Dropins though. Kinda wish you could still race ’em.
I love the look of my Deltas, just wish they stopped me a bit better. Oh well, they are on my Sunday cruising bike, so I can put up with them & their lack of response. Seem to work better from the drops than the hoods.
Similar to the way in which the “Denim Shit Kit” bibs apparently transcend The Rules based on the V channeled through those that wore them, can a component, such as the Delta, transcend arguably sub-par performance in serving its sole function based on its unequivocal beauty so much so that it would warrant a ‘Reverence’ article?
Those photos of LeMans bike has me leaning towards a steel steed for tonight’s ride over the carbon machine.
Damn, lots of nice stems about there. Love the Deda Zeros. Love my Ritchey WCS in glossy white. The 3T’s are sexy as well. I have my eye on the newly introduced Richey Classic bars/stem in silver. Replacing a nice Thomson stem just because it isn’t quite sexy enough? Madness.
Hey, an aside. I have a Ritchey WCS alloy post on my winter bike. The damn thing slips every single ride. Have a Thomson post but need more setback than it offers. Contacted Ritchey and they told me to dissemble, clean, lube with carbon paste. Not sure if they caught that it is the alloy post. Should I try carbon paste on metal? I’m up for trying anything. I tighten the hell out of it and as soon as I hit a speed bump or hole, my saddle moves.
@scaler911
And don’t forget about ALAN and the old glued and screweds .
@Marko
Hell ya, with a Spinergy on the on the rear!
@VeloVita
Yes, especially if you don’t have to ride a bike with them. Except that the Deltas actually work great, despite their reputation for otherwise. They just have to be adjusted correctly, which is very hard to get right. But, if they are, they stop as well as anything.
@Ron
You should check the adjustment on them; they are very finicky. Oli probably has some more constructive input than I can offer.
@Ron
Been considering the same for my own bike. Can’t think of any reason why carbon paste would be an issue for a steel frame. You wan’t to avoid grease on carbon because it may deteriorate the enamel on the finish and compromise the component. With alloy, however, you won’t have that problem, though you may have a seizing issue if you leave it too long without removing it, though I don’t know for certain.
The beauty about carbon paste is that it increases friction considerably; you don’t want to over-tighten your carbon stuff but you dont’ want your post dropping, either. So, here comes carbon paste, which basically just has sand mixed in with a lightweight loob. Increases friction like crazy. Problem solved.
My post is sliding as well on my TSX, gonna try the trick myself.
Intrigued by Ritchey classic stuff in silver.
@frank
I’m sorry for you too. All I can think about now is a male model turning right and riding over the top of the wall in the corners…
@Ron
Do you have enough post in the frame? Sometimes that helps, especially with the shaping of the inside of the seatube. The patterned part of the seat tube has a smaller internal diameter that the rest of the seat tube,and you want your seat post to be in contact with all that area to work well. If you are above your minimum insertion, or have chopped down your post this may ‘splain it.
Otherwise if it’s al seatpost on aluminium or steel you can shim it using aluminium from a coke can. Endless hours of fun.
Srsly
a new music video for your enjoyment.
@frank
Carbon paste is all good for steel bikes and carbon or aluminium seatposts/components.
It’s a total fallacy that grease is bad for carbon. There’s no chance of the resin degrading in contact with grease, and the only reason it’s not advised for seatposts is that it makes them slip more easily!
@mouse
Bubinga is an African wood similar to Rosewood. Hard stuff with lots of resin. Amazed they would spend the bucks for it although I’m sure it made for a good surface.
@VeloVita
I don’t. You might check the Cross Crusade website, and contact one of them. They know all that is ‘cross. Send a e-mail to Brad Ross (old teammate of mine and runs that and Cascade Cycling Classic). Good guy. Might take him a day or two to respond, being start of season and all.
I really like the bars that are on my new bike. its part of the reason I went with the C’Dale. I don’t know what they are called though.
@minion
What he and @Oli said………