It’s crazy to me how fast two months from peaking goes by. At Christmas time I remember thinking how distant the Keepers Tour 2012 felt and that I’d have plenty of time to train. Now that time is measured in weeks instead of months and my feelings tend more toward doubt about my form. Cycling in Northeastern Minnesota in January, February, and March entails a mix of trainer time and wondering how well skate skiing will translate to riding a bike fast and far. I hope those frites are fried in clenbuterol.
Of course there are myriad other ways the other Keepers and I have been preparing for the Keepers Tour. Aside from the mundane tasks of making plane reservations and figuring out train schedules from Amsterdam to Lille, there are the fun tasks of acquiring new gear for our #1 Steeds which we’ve chronicled on these pages. We’ve had numerous shouting matches that have ended with at least one of us storming out of the boardroom over t-shirt designs, Gianni’s VMH has been frantically sewing musettes (they live on Maui so how frantic could it be?), Brett has been scouring travelogues of Amsterdam’s red light district in between training and racing with Rigid in the Austral summer, and I shudder every time I think of what Frank’s to-do list is like. I’ve seen it – it’s three pages long. All this, when executed perfectly, is surely going to amount to the most rad week of drunken debauchery Flanders has ever known and that’s really saying something. There’s no way they’ll let us back there which is why we’ve also begun planning the next Keepers Tour in Italy for the Giro.
With these preparations we are excited to announce fi’zi:k as the official contact point supplier of the Keepers Tour. We’ve extolled the quality, style, and passion fizik has for cycling since we started this site. In fact, I’d say most of us in the community ride, at a minimum, their bar tape. As it happens, the good folks at fizik aren’t offended enough by what we do and are followers of the site; a partnership was the next obvious step for two groups of people so unyieldingly devoted to Cycling.
What this partnership represents to us is affirmation of our community from the broader cycling world – a community that has grown with us and continues to contribute to our identity and which challenge us to be better. fizik values what we do and have agreed to support us in doing more of it, in style, with rad gear. This partnership doesn’t mean tiles or ads cluttering up the clean look of the site any more than fizik clutters up the clean lines of their saddles and shoes with unnecessary accouterments. It does mean that you’ll see more Keepers riding with more fizik gear and consequently a few articles related to fizik products, some tweets, friendfacing, and a few embedded links (per usual). Keepers Tour attendees will also find a few fizik goodies tucked inside their Velominati Mussette. And, if you haven’t already noticed, pay attention the next time you type “f-i-z-i-k” into a post, our boy-genius programmer did something nifty there as well. We’ll also emphasize that it is our strict policy that no Reverence article will ever be written by request of a vendor and, while we may elect to continue to Revere the fizik line of products, designation of a product as Reverence-worthy is solely at the discretion of the author.
For our part, we approached fizik because we believe in their products. Reverence for the best gear available is the domain of the Velominatus and we know that while you may disagree with our specific choices, you feel the same way in principle. That’s why you’re here. fizik is one of us; have a look at their site, check out the feedzone newsletter, even subscribe to them on twitface if you’re so inclined. They do a lot of insightful and behind the scenes posting about some of our favorite teams and riders – stuff you won’t get from the usual suspects.
What it boils down to is that fizik is Rule compliant. That’s something we can all get behind.
I know as well as any of you that I've been checked out lately, kind…
Peter Sagan has undergone quite the transformation over the years; starting as a brash and…
The Women's road race has to be my favorite one-day road race after Paris-Roubaix and…
Holy fuckballs. I've never been this late ever on a VSP. I mean, I've missed…
This week we are currently in is the most boring week of the year. After…
I have memories of my life before Cycling, but as the years wear slowly on…
View Comments
@scaler911
Thanks! I like it here. I think I'll stay.
Looks like my comments are being screened. All I can say is, for the love of Merckx, will someone give JIPM a hug.
As usual am late to all this mind blowing stuff - the Fi'zi:k conection, Keepers to Giro/Worlds and a future report on the inner workings of post ride Amersterdam - It just does not get any better!!
@frank
Thanks for the info, Frank I'll give that a go. By the way you are in serious breach of Rule #26.
@frank
What does the mode button on the campag shifters do?
@snoov
It is used when you mount and connect Campagnolo ErgoBrain computer.By pressing the button you skip between different functions of your computer.
@RedRanger
3T LOVE !!!
@Shepster
I have petitioned the council on an amendment that while riding in the big ring is badass, there is nothing badass about parking your bike in a gear you can't start in. I have had no success in this matter.
On the plus side, it proves that I'm not a dictator, as has been suggested even by my closest Keepers.
I am, on the other hand, a pig-headed, stubborn bastard with what usually winds up being the loudest voice in the room.
@frank @eightzero @chrisO @anyoneImayhaveoffended
I have decided to show my face once more with a little explanation:
1. If I came off as a dick in my post, it is because I am a total snot about bar wrap jobs. Bicycles are works of art and the bar wrap is the equivalent of putting the lovely glow on the Mona Lisa's brow or halo on the Madonna.
2. I have been a mechanic for 10 years and have learned at the hands of first rate mechanics in first rate shops the FINEST points of cycling repair. The call of a keeper of the cog is to prevent erosion of the dearest of cycling traditions and I do my part at the most sacred level: every day in the shop. From making sure you could eat off of your drivetrain to the meticulous art of gluing tubulars, I take great care in my work and taping bars is my absolute favorite thing to pain over.
Here is a broad view of my of the honey Brooks tape on my classic Pinarello.
here is a tighter shot of the top of the bar. Notice that the direction of the tape will tighten as I ride on my hoods at the center of the V locus. Note that the tape is neatly trimmed to end squarely and the end thereof is covered neatly by complimentary brown vinyl tape.
Here is the origin of my tape sans cork for your viewing satisfaction. Start the roll tight, covering the end of the bar and then maintain the pitch of the wind meticulously up to the hood.
Here is the tidy figure-eight at the back of the hood. This should be wrapped with the same attention and reverence of the priests wrapping a mighty Pharoh in his death clothes.
Here is the side view of the figure-eight section. The provided short strap can be seen sticking out in this position. It should be aligned with the collar beneath the figure-eight. Look beyond and you will see the perfect end of the bar with cork in place. If you are in a public place, please hide your erection.
@eightzero You may be commended for your beautiful image gallery. I envy your web chops. Watching your bar tape enter the your lever zone however, leaves much to be desired, and much to be evacuated from the stomach upon seeing it.
This is where I stand. I would mini pump battle even my own mother to the death if that is what it took to defend my position.
I close my epistle in the name of Merckx. Amen.
@prowrench
Gorgeous... best bar tape photos ever.
Exactly the look I was hoping for, but failed to achieve, with the 'honey' Fizik tape to go with my honey Brooks saddle. Please tell me you have a matching saddle.
I would have gone with the Brooks leather instead of the Microtex but I was worried about the amount of sweat that it would soak up here in Abu Dhabi.
The saddle obviously also gets sweaty and is quite discoloured now after nearly 2 years, but I figure the harder leather (and regular proofing) keeps it OK.
Having seen yours I think I might get the Brooks leather anyway - let me know where to send the air ticket so you can come and wrap it for me ;-)