Il Gruppo Progetto: Resurrection of a Pirate
The corollary of Rule #12 is that one focusses the bulk of their energies on upgrading Bike #1 with the result that upgraded gear typically cascades down to Bike #2 and on down through Bike #n. This is The Way of Things; Bike #1 gains the most, but in the end, they all benefit as upgrades trickle through the stable, with the oldest and most worn gear falling from the bottom where they are either discarded or await enough accumulation to justify another build.
There comes a day, however, that we find ourselves needing to inject an upgrade into the hierarchy, an upgrade which disrupts the Natural Order. This was the case when I reluctantly replaced my XL EV2 with my new Soloist frame. My EV2 holds a dear place in my heart. I built her bit by bit, from components scavenged from eBay over the course of an entire winter. She was at my side (under me, actually, if we’re going to pick nit) as I rediscovered La Vie Velominatus. She was built from scratch in homage to one of my all-time favorite cyclists, Pantani, and his elusive 1998 stallion. She was the first bike I owned that fit me the way I wanted. She was the first bike I had with compact geometry, she was the first bike that cleft my heart in two when I crashed during a crit and destroyed the frame. (I quickly replaced hers with another, identical frame, which is the one I have today.)
Suffice it to say, to have her hanging from a nail in my workshop is a dishonor to this beautiful, loyal friend who carried me back to fitness and through some of the greatest ride’s I’ve been on. Never once did she complain that I was too heavy. Never once did she cringe in agony as I pushed harder on the pedals. Never once did she point downhill when the road pointed up. She carried me through the 2003 L’Etape du Tour and up l’Alpe d’Huez on the morning of the stage. She carried me home after bonking in the heat of North Carolina. She guided my rear wheel back to safety as I was slipping to certain death under a passing semi-trailer on a rain-slicked railroad track.
We have been through a lot together; she must be resurrected. But the question is, in what form?
Bikes are meant to be ridden. I have a carbon Bike #1 and a steel Bike #2, both of which are generally ridden in good weather only, although accidents do happen and they do find their way onto wet roads occasionally. I have a sublime Alu Bike #3 which boasts an identical fit to Bike #1 and serves as my rain bike, thereby getting by far the most use. As far as road bikes go; I have the spectrum fairly well covered and I fear that adding another will mean that she lives out her life being overlooked for my daily rides and go largely unridden, a dishonor almost as great as her current state of limbo.
What I don’t have, however, is a commuter bike; a bike to ride to the cafe or farmers market. A bike to hop aboard and pedal to the office. Do I build her into a commuter which gets ridden, if not in the spirit for which she was intended? Or is this a bigger dishonor than not riding her at all? If I do build her into a commuter, do I rider her with drop bars and my old STI shifters, or do I opt for a set of commuter-friendly mustache bars which I’ve fancied ever since I spotted my first Bridgestone X0? Downtube shifters or bar-end shifters? Full funders and wide tires, I think, though how wide is possible on her tight racing geometry?
Or do I build a funeral pire and set her ablaze, allowing her noble soul to return to Merckx on Mount Velomis to be reborn to someone else’s stable?
Fellow Velominati, I submit to your input: how best to honor this noble steed?
@frank
Shiny, simple Campa bits. Pantani would be proud. NO SHIMANO!!
Here’s the video of Pantani at what I believe was his best day on a bike ever. The way Virenque bridges up and then cracks is just amazing. And il Pirata looks so amazing, and his bike is perfect, and – be still my beating heart – it’s raining.
I don’t know if there has been a better day of racing in my lifetime.
@frank
Rouleur, Edition 25, page 71–“Resurrection”.
In order for Sr. Gios to resurrect RDV’s P-R winning Gios torino, the bike frame and shiny bits were first broken down and stored. For decades. Why not do the same? Come back to her later and restore her to stunning glory when you’re older and you’ve got the time and discretionary income to do so. No rush. No need to do something right now.
Ah, Frank – I’m going through the exact same decision with my 2006 Bianchi 928 lugged frame. Perhaps you could make your Bianchi a travel bike with compact gearing for those long days in Il Dolomiti or Schweizer Alpen? Face it, you wouldn’t care as much if some luggage gorilla in the aeropuerto turned it into modern art as you would if #1 became expensive toothpicks. Treat it as you would any respected elder: give it a retirement gig of world travel with much rest between trips. This way, the Bianchi still earns its rightful place in the stable, even a cherished place that #2 or #3 would do well to achieve. The compact gearing wouldn’t be for your legs, mind you. You would offer that to your aging pirate to ease the burden on its osteopenic and arthritic bottom bracket. Perhaps one trip, you could gently lay it down amongst the alpenglow at the top of St. Gotthard Pass and mark its grave with a Jolly Roger. Viva La Bianchi!
@MJMoquin
@Steampunk
@Kyle
@bob ubble
Also over on Twitface, this suggestion is gaining momentum. Difficult choice. I would necessarily need to be convinced that the new owner is worthy. Applications being accepted now.
@Bob Ubble
Fucking beautiful. Never heard that before. Track fork end. That’s my new insult. Used in a sentence, “You’re acting like a track fork end, you fuck waffle.”
@FNG
There are several of you on this thread and I wanted to say to each of you: welcome. We’re all fuckwits, but welcome.
@Otoman
This is a tantalizingly beautiful thought. Even if this never comes to fruition, this is clearly the most fitting plan I’ve seen thus far. Build her up in a way befitting her grace, and take her along on the business trips. The fact is, I travel a lot for work at the moment, and my status with the airline means I should have no trouble packing a bike. This could solve what I call my Logarithmic Fatness Quotient Condition I suffer during the weeks away.
@Otoman
Wow. This is a great idea. Apart from burying it. That would be silly.
@frank: You must do this. Apart from being a honorable way to, well, honour a retired friend, it will provide a constant impetus to travel. Put a compact chainset on it and it would provide a constant impetus to travel to mountainous regions. As the groupset would be campa, it would a provide a constant impetus to travel to mountainous regions of Italy.
@Blah
A+1
yup, The travel bike is the best idea yet. this way you have no excuse to not ride when you spend time traveling for work.
FWIW, my vote is to make it as original as possible. All components and pieces as near as what the tech was at the time of manufacture. It occupies a specific place in your stable. You don’t need another race bike, everyday bike, or trophy. (Heck, the latter is what we have VMHs for…) But classic shiny bits say “I’ve arrived.”
And if the sacrifice to the prophet is needed, it can be specified in one’s will. Read as the sun rises over Mt. Velomis, the whole stable is committed to the fires from which they were forged. We wink, we smile, from Velominotopia, and what is old…is new again.
Or fuck, just have the VMH put it all up on eBay and spend the proceeds all on blow and orgies with rock stars.
@eightzero
So you’re saying to pull a Boonen? Great idea!
another FNG. being a big believer in fit, I say just sell. the less you ride it, the more its going to hurt when you do ride it (not that any of us are getting older or more creaky…). then you will hate this innocent, beautiful bike. and hurt again the next time you ride it. We all have stuff that just isn’t quite right but we can’t/won’t let go. FWIW.
Also, I firmly believe the kick-around town bike needs to be something with little attachment- parked bikes get stolen. This sounds too sentimental a bike to wonder if its gonna be there when you exit the store. And then you don’t want to take it to public places. then it sits in the garage. Being already at s/s-1, I go thru this algorithm of which bike to take to the store…
Hehehehe, how many human gorillas are there on this site over 6 foot a trillion tall? Whoever has the best hard luck story/need/money to buy it off of Fronk at the next cogal, provided it fits.
That or a fight to the death between overly tall, skinny cyclists with co2 clubs and whips made out of inner tubes, with the bike going to the winner like an ancient concubine.
@Buck Rogers
I say we need to add this to the Lexicon. “Boonenize: throw it all away on booze, blow, and orgies with rock stars and supermodels.” Example: “Yeah, I was all Jens on the climb, but when we went over the top, I Boonenized my lead, and finished in the pack.”
@wiscot
OK, you’re VERY right there. I appologise to everyones opthalmologists for the trauma they’ll be dealing with following that NSFL image.
@frank
It took such an important project to lure us out from our lurking.
@frank
How about building it up as close as possible to Pantani’s bike and keeping it as a Cogal bike? It looks like many more cogals will happen and many velominati might like to pay homage to the Seattle area but be in need of a bike. This would allow you to enjoy the process of building the bike as it was originally used and give others the chance to experience the ride. You’d also be able to ride it now whenever the urge took you.
Just a thought, I’m not suggesting velominati turn up at your door and demand a bike, some you know well already, it’d obviously be your call.
@snoov
ride it now and then, when ever the urge takes you
Well I’ll say this Frank:
@fishandsteak
This little issue you have with the ol’ girl, sure brought a lot of new guys (gals) out of the woodwork!
@all FNG: Welcome! It’s good to know there are more folks around that love bikes, riders, history of those, and have the balls to fuck off at work on VM!
@scaler911
Fucking off at work implies that Velominati have jobs. With all the posting that goes on here, I have serious doubts.
@Minion
The first test should be if one can dunk a basketball.
Um, haven’t seen it mentioned but maybe it was…to extend the travel bike idea, maybe get some couplers put in it and REALLY make it a travel bike? I don’t have the cash for this, but I have a bike I’d really love to have couplers put on, make it an easier travel bike.
Regarding the mustache bars; spotted this several years ago and thought it was a rad looking machine, despite it’s race heritage.
@those suggesting the classic rebuild:
Are you suggesting she be rebuilt as she was ridden by me, by Pantani in 2001/2002 when he rode this frame, or try to mimic the build from 1998 which was on a different frame, but was what inspired my setup (despite the fact that mine was built in Shimano because I couldn’t afford Campa)?
@frank
By Pantani in ’01-’02, without a doubt.
Go with a fixie.
@Jeff in PetroMetro
While standing on the ground. I’ve got dibs on selling the footage to TV.
@frank
Take it on the Keepers Tour, destroy it on the cobbles, then set fire to it in the Arenberg…
@frank
@brett
Burn it??
a la pantani of course
What about this bike doesn’t fit? Why can’t it be made to fit?
@frank
I heard a new one last night. Me and my training partner were out for an easy spin and were talking about how we got into racing and he was describing his first race as a 250lb. out of shape noob on a course with a lot of climbing. He was off the back and finished 30 minutes behind the leaders but vowed he would not give up. He said on the last climb that he “was ‘paper boying’ all over the road”. I thought that painted a nice mental image.
@frank
Think I said what I meant, meant what I said. No fixed gear (you fucking kidding me, it doesn’t even have the right drops for that). It’s an Italian bike, it needs Campa. DT shifters on the left Ergo on the right. DO IT!!!. I’d consider buying the frame set, but I’m only 5’10”. It’d look pretty silly with the seat slammed down to the top tube.
@gaswepass
Say’s the guy with a small bike shop in his basement………
Oh FFS I just realized what it’d be perfect for. You’re American, you all have to have flags flying out the front of your house, while a four fingered cross eyed child wails on the Banjo from your porch. Bang it on the front yard and hoist the flag on the seatpost every morning.
God I feel short. Even without wheels on that frame’s probably taller than me.
@Minion
Fixed your post.
@frank
Well I guess now would be a good time to make an introduction.
Hello Velominati,
My name is Shane and I like to ride my bike. It all started a little more than two years ago when I was in a particularly bad mood. I just needed to get out of the house and do something so I decided to get on a cheap Target full-suspension mountain bike I had at the time. That day I rode 6 miles and enjoyed it so much that I went out again a few days later. I rode that bike up until about the spring of this year when I was given a somewhat better department store mountain bike. I would ride 8 or 12 miles a day (this was of course before I realized how stupid that system of measurement was) while occasionally going on longer rides of about 20 miles. These rides were all on roads, and I eventually came around to the realization that I would be much better suited to have a road bike. At the time I was considering a hybrid or something with some flat bars. However, I was on a budget and was (luckily as it would turn out) not able to find anything of that description. I ended up finding a 1981 Fuji Gran Tourer on Craigslist for $85, and picked it up the same day. That was about halfway through this past summer.
At this time I still considered myself a recreational cyclist, although I did try to push myself. When one of the pedal’s bearings failed, I took it as I sign that I should upgrade to clipless pedals. This next part is tough to admit, but I feel full disclosure is needed. I bought a set of Crank Bros. Candy pedals and the cheapest pair of shoes I could find around the area. Since I still thought of myself as not a roadie I mistakenly believed that the mountain shoes would be better since I they would be more walkable. (How foolish of me to think of walking when I could be on my bike.) I also added some modern brake levers for some sleek aero routing, as well as bar-end shifters to get rid of the oh so inelegant stem shifters.
This brings us to The great month of July and the 2011 Tour de France. Through a cycling thread at a bassist’s forum I ended up watching stages of the race on days I was not working. I was amazed by these hardmen and their ability to just go without stopping. I wanted that. As I watched these giants of the road ride day after day I could only imagine how it must feel to willingly punish oneself and force your legs around once, twice, and thrice more without fail. What did these skinny guys on bikes have that allowed them to accomplish such feats? I would hit the road in search of what it was that enabled them to have such grace after so many long and hard hours in the saddle. This is when I decided that I would become a roadie.
Thus I rode looking for their secret, but never quite finding what it was I was missing. I was riding up to 30 km at this time, but I didn’t feel like I was getting anywhere. I started my freshman year of college studying physics and engineering, and continued riding whenever there was free time. I enjoyed my rides, but I did not have the most important ideal yet. Then one glorious day I hit the Stumbleupon button and landed on The Rules. I was immediately convicted. I used mountain pedals and shoes on my beautiful machine. I had a pump strapped to the top tube. My stem was not slammed, and the bars were about level to my saddle. My helmet had a visor. My valve stems were still wore their covers. I wore athletic shorts and a cotton t-shirt. I had unknowingly abided by some rules and had positioned my saddle all the way back, and remove the kickstand and mirror that were originally on the bike, but I was still responsible for many major violations. I quickly remedied these problems and restored the clean lines of the bike. (The pedals are still the same, as is the clothing, but that is because of a lack of funds.) Rule V however required intense meditation and I slowly began to realize its inherent truth.
Just. Keep. Going. Even if your body says no, you tell it yes.
On Tuesday I rode 80 km, but haven’t been able to get out because of the weather and lack of warm gear. I am still working on getting up to snuff by beating the crap out of myself. A bad day on the bike is still a much better day than not being on the bike. My bike has 27″ wheels which are slowly going out of true and sport huge old 32mm tires. Despite it not being the best, I still love it and religiously clean it. The other day I was replacing the chain and decided that I should clean the chainrings and cassette thoroughly since I had them exposed. An hour later the bike was disassembled on my dorm room floor with a newly greased freewheel, new brake and gear cables ready, and the 30 year old mechanicals gleaming. Then I rode it.
I plan to race next summer and have been following the Training Bible as I work up to real cycling. I am aware of the pain and suffering that I need to put in to reach this goal, and plan on riding through the winter. I am getting a job at the LBS come spring and will be commuting by bike. Currently I am a sub for my school’s cafeteria. I am paying my way through school and as such I don’t have a lot of spare money for cycling. I love my bike her lugs are beautiful, her fading and cracked lettering a testament to her long life, but she is not a racer. I would definitely like something a bit more modern and light for when I race, and I think your Bianchi would be great. I’m about 6’2″ and I would certainly appreciate her and take good care of her.
A repentant Rule-breaker.
Shane
@DerHoggz
I forgot to include that I will most likely be in charge of the road side of a cycling club that will be getting started at my school within the year. I definitely do not want to break Rules #2 or #3 and be responsible for leading others astray.
@frank
I am all for you giving it away. But let’s be honest that’s gonna be hard to give it to one of us. I think you should find a student who needs a cycling sensei in your area. That way you can still visit the bike from time to time and
We may have a winner…
Pantani esque is cool, but I still think you want to restore her to the way she was intended. Imagine her in the showroom. What was the coolest, best grippo and wheel could you have then? Might take some research, but the path is the fun part.
While it’s not my bike to give away (or sell at an unreasonably low discount), I have to give DerHoggz a tip of the cap.
@DerHoggz
Are you also rediculously tall? Like at the very, very least, 189cm?
Well done on embracing The Rules. When you have questions that The Rules cannot answer (I can’t think of one question regarding human existence that cannot be answered by either Rules V or 10), look to Merckx.
@Jeff in PetroMetro
I’m closer to 184cm, but that looks like a lot of seatpost. Fit might not be too much of a problem. Heck, I figured I might as well try.
On an unrelated note, I also sleep with my bike hanging like 15cm above me. If I jerk awake in the night it is probably going to be a fork to the face.
@DerHoggz
Strong entrance. You are still young and new to the bike, so maybe you can adopt your body to the bike rather than the other way around.
@DerHoggz
It is too late for me to be converting in my head, I’m actually about 188cm.
@Minion
This, X infinity. Stong turn at the front @minion …
@scaler911
Agree with you on not going fixed gear on Frank’s Bianchi progetto. They do make a hub allowing conversions with vertical dropouts. Thinking of going this route for my crap 24-speed (!) commuter.
@DerHoggz
Well done on the genesis story. And for getting in at your age. And for pursuing the ethos with what you have.
@DerHoggz
I’m totally ballparking the size of Fronk’s frame by looking at the length of the headtube. I’m guessing it’s about a 61-62cm. I’m about 180cm, and I ride the modern equivalent of what was once referred to as 56cm center-to-top (before those crazy wizard-like bicycle engineers stopped making bikes with parallel top tubes). It’s true the photo shows enough seat tube to scare most flagpoles into submission. Even if you lowered it to more reasonable heights, you’d still need to be pretty tall. If you’re 188cm, you might be close.
Oli’s your man for bike fit by internet from 12 bazillion kilometers away. He knows his shit.