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?
I’m afraid all this talk about “restoring” the EV2 to it’s original or Pantanish state is impractical romanticized drivel. Frank has a steed (a Bianchi mind you) that fills that slot. If he rebuilds it with full kit it won’t get ridden as he has a rain bike as well. And a picnic bike? I’m not even sure what that means. He retired this frame partly because it’s gotten fatigued and doesn’t have the snap it used to. Furthermore, he was able to replicate the fit of the r3 with the soloist for his rain/crit bike.
Therefore, the only reasonable suggestions are
Single speed townie (you realize this can be done with vert drops right?)
Or three speed townie like Bretts specialized (without flat bars tho, the DT shifter is a great idea)
Configuring the bike in one of these fashions would put less stress on the frame and ensure the bike would get used as it would fill a practical need, not a romantic notion (that he’s already met, mind you). Personally. I’d go as simple as possible. Flipflop with a low gear free and higher gear fix and a 50 tooth on the front. This would be a cool bike, geared for riding to the store or mashing laps around the cafe and would not break the bank.
@Minion
What about my front porch?
@Jeff in PetroMetro
If anybody says anything about JeffinPetroMetro having a pretty mouth, I quit.
@DerHoggz
@RedRanger
@brett
Nipple lube………
BTW @ DerHoggz, Welcome. And what part of the world you living in? If’n you’re close, I might have some parts that I could spare.
Devil’s advocate
http://deathtodropbars.tumblr.com/
@Logan
Devil is right. Clearly those blokes have never ridden a properly fitted bike.
@Jeff in PetroMetro
Oh man, you had to go there. That’s one disturbing movie, and book as well.
Another way to look at building this bike might be to intentionally piecemeal it toether. Campy bits from different years, two different wheels, and two different tires. Ragged tape on a scuffed-up bar. The bike could look like it’s been through absolute hell. Yet, beneath it all is a maintained gent of a machine. From the old tote full of forgotten parts rather than over the counter of the LBS.
@Marko
No, crazy talk. You can never have too many amazing steeds that evoke a particular rider or time frame. Being able to pull it out, all perfect Pantani, is the only justice for this beauty. It is a classic, don’t destroy it, bring it back to it’s true beauty and purpose.
@Nate
I definitely can say that I’m not at so great a level that my bike is necessarily holding me back, but there are some problems. The geometry is more laid back, so when I tuck in a lot I end up clamshelling due to the shallow seat tube angle. The wheelbase is pretty long as well, but that isn’t so big a deal. I forgot to mention the wheels are steel, which is not helping me at all. My LBS can get me a proper set of 700c x 23mm alloy ones for the freewheel and frame spacing but I just need to pull some money together.
@Jeff in PetroMetro
My current bike is 60cm and I have maybe 20cm or so of seatpost above that, (just guessing since I am at home away from the bike, a shame I know). How tall is this Frank, I had just figured it was a smaller frame? That headtube is really long now that I look.
@scaler911
What is this nipple lube, it is the only thing I’ve been confused about while reading the comments. I understand the lubing of spoke nipples and runners having bleeding nipples and possibly lubing them to avoid it, I guess its some inside joke, but what is it referencing?
My school is about an hour north of Pittsburgh if that is anywhere close to you. I would definitely be down for some parts.
@Logan
How can those north road bars possibly be comfortable on track frames? Are they going for some Obree style position? Drops are incredibly comfortable IMO, especially since you don’t need to rotate your wrists. That poor TT frame with the curved seat tube being used by some hipster is just sad. Also I lol’d at the HED aero wheels with the north road bars with a basket on them.
@DerHoggz
Nipple lube, is something JIPM came up with to describe something good. Kinda like a Google +1 but way more fun to say. Nipple lube, see!
I live in the PNW so I’m nowhere near close. Just thought I’d ask.
@Buck Rogers
Therein lies the conundrum. Bringing it back to it’s beauty is not the challenge but if that were to happen beauty would be the only purpose. frank mentions in the article he’s got the spectrum covered and would rarely ride the bike if it were kitted up. This is why I say re-purpose this beaut as a classy ss. Hell
@Jeff in PetroMetro
Since you don’t have to duck walking through doors and smack your head on light fittings you only get to use the little person flags, and so don’t need such an impressive flagpole.
Damn phone….hell. He could throw some campag cranks, ITM bars, and classic hoops on there to channel the spirit of il pirata. And as he rode to the market or beer store he would always be reminded of L’Etape. North Carolina and great rides gone by still knowing the bike has purpose and is in loyal, regular service.
If he does a build up as a SS might I suggest these cranks if not Campy? Specifically the Royal Flush version.
@Marko
I hear you. I just think that he should rebuild it classic, use it if he will and, if not, sell it/gift it to someone who will appreciate the beauty of it.
Anything less is an insult to it, in my opinion.
He is, afterall, taking suggestions and that is mine.
Go for the full freak build with the mustache ‘bars and whatever parts you can dig up. You already have a stable of cool “normal” road bikes. Make this bike one of a kind.
You can always change it back to normal down the road. I’d bet after riding it in freak mode, it stays that way…
@Frank
Re-bild her Pantani style. If you find your not riding her, do what some of the pros have done – sell her for charity to a worthy rider.
Heh, heh.
Nipple lube, nipple lube, nipple lube, nipple lube, nipple lube, nipple lube, nipple lube.
@Minion
Seatpost envy is the new stem envy. I have a 140mm Cinelli 1a on my Mercian from the Dark Ages. Just sayin’.
@DerHoggz
I think Frank is something like 194cm. Can’t remember, actually.
@Jeff in PetroMetro
@minion–While I was typing about my stem, that sounded absurd, so I measured. My Cinelli 1a is 130cm center-to-center. The older I get, the longer I was.
Ok, that was even more absurd. What I meant to type was 130mm. Hobson, where’s my drink?
I really should stop drinking and getting on the internet.
Nipple lube.
That is all.
@Jeff in PetroMetro
I say the same thing every time I drunk text or drunk facebook.
@RedRanger
Oooooo! Drunk text. Heh, heh. Who can I drunk text? On a Sunday night. Where’s my boss’s cell phone number?
@Jeff in PetroMetro
Haha. Careful with the texting. There have been many a morning I roll into school to hear that my previous nights texts have gotten there before me. At least with Facebook you can scramble to delete those posts.
@RedRanger
Too late. Heh, heh, heh, heh. What’s the best text ever? “Nipple lube.” Heh, heh, heh.
130cm stem you say?
@minion
Yes. Yes I did.
I’m coming late to the discussion, but unless I have not been paying attention, I don’t believe that you have any bikes in your stable with 28mm pave friendly tires. If her fork can accomodate such rubber, it would give you a great machine for commuting, and for hitting the occasional gravel Strade Bianca.
I once made the mistake of setting up a bike with moustache bars, and made the further mistake of riding it for about a year. Moustache bars are an abomination, pure jackassery. Now all bikes set up for pavement, pavé, or fire roads have proper drop bars. That includes the commuter/utility bike.
@Semilog
What Jeff in PetroMetro said.
@all
Thanks for all the input, insight, and advice. Here’s my plan:
I’ll take a two-pronged approach. In the interest of using it in the short-term, I’m going to set the bike up for commuting; drop bars, simple gears (maybe downtube, maybe old STI), a chain protector, pedals with clips, mud guards, the widest tires that the frame will accomodate.
In the long-run, I’ll collect an old, inexpensive Campa groupo – Veloce for instance – and build her up in the style in which she was intended, if not with the gear. As a bike that won’t get much riding, it doesn’t make sense to build her with Record from an investment standpoint, but the idea of having her as closely as is reasonably built to her original specs makes sense. I will certainly use a dt shifter on the left, Ergo on the right. Just because it’s fucking cool.
@DerHoggz
Quite an entrance. At this point, I’m just not feeling quite ready to part with her. She’ll continue to be well-cared for and if I ever do feel she’s in need of a new home, I’ll keep you in consideration. Cheers.
@Scaler911 – embrace the japanese duds on an Italian frame. Wonderful combination.
Check out big JM absolutely tearing the shine out of his dura-ace. I loved the Mapei bikes.(sorry pic link fail)
http://www.sirotti.it/foto2/PIC51710WM.jpg
@frank
Finally sense prevails.
Late to the thread but if my humble experience is anything to go by you are doing the right thing. Bike no. 1 for me is my training and racing carbon steed. Bike no.2 is the Merckx max steelie that only gets ridden on special occasions. The bike I probably ride the most is bike no.3 a Nos Motta SL that I built up with 9 speed chorus and mavic open 32 open pros. I commute on it about 4 days a week for a 26k round trip, ride it in the rain, events like Melburn Roobaix etc and consider it the ‘thrash’ go anywhere bike. I ran it as a singlespeed for a while but grew tired of it – the gears help.
For the ill informed out there converting a road frame to fixed is a compromise that for most is not worth the hassle – the bb height is somewhat lower and the risk of pedal strike much higher than riding a track frame (with a higher bb) on the street – you have to take corners extra wide to be safe. I found that out the hard way after running a road frame as a fixed conversion for a while.
Frank, you can’t go wrong putting nice functional campy gear on the bike and then riding it everywhere whenever you need transport. You will still love riding the bike (each time you swing a leg over and spin the pedals you will be reminded of all those good memories) and frankly the lower specced older campy stuff (eg Chorus 9spd) works fantastically.
As a friend recently said Life is too short to ride shit bikes.
@kiwicyclist
Since when did you get yourself a humble opinion?
You had my respect until you mentioned “compact geometry”. Pfft! A real bike doesn’t have gimmicy geometry. A real bike is either custom made steel or a classic carbon (read C40).
@pistolpete
Classic…
Carbon…
Hmmmmm…
@kiwicyclist
Thanks mate – point well taken. The SS conversion is weird as well with the chain tensioner gimmicks as well…and, in a town as hilly as this, it just doesn’t make sense. But simple, easy, low-maintenance is all good. Then on to a nice build when the money works out for it.
@Marcus
I don’t know @Kiwicyclist, but that comment makes me feel like I do.
@Joe
As in:
@pistolpete
Loves me some standard geo for sure, but I love the new stuff as well. Simply: bikes are beautiful.
I thought all the Il Pirata fans out there might appreciate this. Found it while randomly browsing for the next bike, though this is way out of my price range… Anyone got a spare $7500? It’s an absolutely beautiful bike though I’m not sure I could bring myself to ride it.
@Benj
If you get it, ride it, because it’s not a Pantani replica, it’s a Merconne Uno team replica. No compact geometry, wrong stem, and wrong saddle. And whoever put those yellow hoods on there should be shot.
I wish they made a replica that actually looked like his bike, but its hard to even track down designs of his original bike, let alone anything that comes close to looking like it.
Wrote a bit on this several years ago: http://www.velominati.com/racing/il-piratas-1998-bianchi-the-elusive-stallion/
Mid-term update on the XLEV2;
I decided to use her as a commuter for now, with the idea of moving her towards a Pantani config in the future, as I find appropriate parts. Currently, she’s built up with parts I had laying around and some that I couldn’t resist from eBay. Eventually, I’ll build her in period parts with the left-side shifter’s guts removed etc.
For now, she’s something different for me, and easy to jump on to run to the market etc.
[dmalbum: path=”/velominati.com/wp-content/uploads/readers/frank/2012.04.24.17.27.29/”/]
@frank
Nicley done man. I assume you got that bar tape as a goodie item. I can see now why you guys steered me clear of that black tape a while back.
@frank
I like it. That should shut the hipsters up when you leave the wine store on that belle mezzo. Commuter toe clips, why not? It still looks light and fast. Nice work.
@RedRanger
Yup, thats the bad stuff – go for the soft touch and it looks much better. Just had that laying around. “Just had it laying around” is the motto for this edition of the build, by the way.
@Gianni
You gotta love down tube shifters, too. Shimano 8 speed rear derailleur, 7 speed Campa down tube shifters, 9 speed shimano cassette…it all works like magic!
@frank
wait a minute, i spy fenders!
@gaswepass
You gotta love fenders!