Categories: EtiquetteLe GraveurMusings from the V-BunkerNostalgiaThe Bikes

On Rule #12: The Bike #1 Paradox

This helps make a bike special.

[rule number=12/]

The only parents who proclaim to have a favorite child are the ones who have only one; all the other ones pretend they don’t have a favorite because they are each “different and special in their own way”. It’s complete bollocks, that, and we all know every parent does in fact have a favorite, but we like the lie more than we like the truth, so we all play along.

Rule #12 poses a similar conundrum, one in which we tell ourselves the same lie: we love all our bikes equally. Which we don’t, of course; we all have a favorite. A friend recently asked me how one goes about the business of judging which bike is your favorite and even as I told the usual lie, I was performing the calculus as to which actually is my favorite.

Sentimentally, I’d have to say my favorite is my first love, my Bianchi EV2 which currently hangs in disrepair in the back corner of the basement, waiting to be restored to period-correct glory. Either that or my steel Bianchi TSX with simplex downtube shifters and sexy silver Campa hubs and bits. Or my Cervelo R3 which was my first carbon steed and who loyally carried me over two Cobbled Classics Keepers Tours and currently faithfully serves as my Nine Bike. Or my Veloforma CCX which was my first custom-painted bike, gloriously flying the colors of the Velominati with a V-Lion headtube badge. Or my Veloforma Strada iR which is my go-to featherweight road steed on summer rides. Apparently I’m sentimental about any bike I’ve ever suffered on, so measure turns out not to be a helpful one.

From a utility standpoint, one might suggest the #1 would be the one you ride most often, but no bike should go unridden, and we should endeavor to ride them equally. That has that one sorted as a useless measure as well. The next obvious measure would be the one we take out on special rides, irrespective of the weather or road conditions. Or perhaps it is simply the one we spent the most money on, the one that helps us observe Rule #25, but cost seems like a silly reason to prefer one bike over another.

My Bike #1 is the one that makes me feel most free, that returns me most dearly to the reasons why I started riding a bike in the first place: my Graveur. It carries me through the backcountry forest roads in Washington State, on rides that almost always start and end accompanied by my other loyal steed, our pitbull-greyhound mutt. You can’t feel more free on a bike than that.

I’ll say it again: the road is where my heart lies, but the gravel is where I find my soul. VLVV.

frank

The founder of Velominati and curator of The Rules, Frank was born in the Dutch colonies of Minnesota. His boundless physical talents are carefully canceled out by his equally boundless enthusiasm for drinking. Coffee, beer, wine, if it’s in a container, he will enjoy it, a lot of it. He currently lives in Seattle. He loves riding in the rain and scheduling visits with the Man with the Hammer just to be reminded of the privilege it is to feel completely depleted. He holds down a technology job the description of which no-one really understands and his interests outside of Cycling and drinking are Cycling and drinking. As devoted aesthete, the only thing more important to him than riding a bike well is looking good doing it. Frank is co-author along with the other Keepers of the Cog of the popular book, The Rules, The Way of the Cycling Disciple and also writes a monthly column for the magazine, Cyclist. He is also currently working on the first follow-up to The Rules, tentatively entitled The Hardmen. Email him directly at rouleur@velominati.com.

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View Comments

Ron says:

Sep 27 2015 at 3:53 am

Posted this in the article on the bike, but hey, a few dog photos deserve another...I run mine by bike if I can't fit in a good hike with them. (though not on my Tommasini, this was a special photo op). Both rescue dogs, the smaller one was supposed to grow! She hasn't, damnit, and has small dog yippie tendencies, but she is smart as hell and determined. One left by hunters in the woods, one found roaming the city streets.
Marko says:

Sep 27 2015 at 4:30 am

I couldn't agree more. In fact, I'll see your Graveur and raise you an adventure bike. Once I bought my fatbike last winter a little lightbulb went off. Super fun and had me riding in the dead of winter over lakes and trails that were formerly inaccessible on two wheels. But the white hot light of a thousand suns shown down on me when I put 29+ carbon hoops, 3" tires, and drop bars on the thing. A whole new world opened up. Load it with packs and go to the mountains, get lost in the 100 mile swamp, roll fast on gravel, single-track - why not. This bike has been my go-to this summer. So bloody fun. And although I'd never tell my C40 - ssshhhhh - I think it's number 1.
Teocalli says:

Sep 27 2015 at 6:34 am

Variety is the spice of life, so I have a #1 Carbon, a #1 9 bike, a #1 Vintage and a #1 modern Steel, each is #1 as the mood takes me.
frank says:

Sep 27 2015 at 10:33 am

@Teocalli

Variety is the spice of life, so I have a #1 Carbon, a #1 9 bike, a #1 Vintage and a #1 modern Steel, each is #1 as the mood takes me.

I like this line of thinking.

@Marko

I couldn’t agree more. In fact, I’ll see your Graveur and raise you an adventure bike. Once I bought my fatbike last winter a little lightbulb went off. Super fun and had me riding in the dead of winter over lakes and trails that were formerly inaccessible on two wheels. But the white hot light of a thousand suns shown down on me when I put 29+ carbon hoops, 3″ tires, and drop bars on the thing. A whole new world opened up. Load it with packs and go to the mountains, get lost in the 100 mile swamp, roll fast on gravel, single-track – why not. This bike has been my go-to this summer. So bloody fun. And although I’d never tell my C40 – ssshhhhh – I think it’s number 1.

That's gotta happen. Looks like so much fun! But I still cannot abide the EPMS.
MangoDave says:

Sep 27 2015 at 10:40 am

@Uncle V

For a hammerfest my Parlee Z5i ,for just a solo rip through the countryside I sure love my new 40th anniversary Marinoni ,I could honestly just look at it for hours ,a modern classic without a hint of carbon on the build. Strangely the Stainless Pegoretti gets the least use of them all .

That really surprise me. My Peg is my #1 and I rarely want to ride anything else. Why is yours the least used?
Teocalli says:

Sep 27 2015 at 10:55 am

@frank

@Teocalli

Variety is the spice of life, so I have a #1 Carbon, a #1 9 bike, a #1 Vintage and a #1 modern Steel, each is #1 as the mood takes me.

I like this line of thinking.

A #1 Graveur would however be nice.
Uncle V says:

Sep 27 2015 at 6:44 pm

@MangoDave
I just find that the bike does most everything well but does not shine in any one department ,like a jack of all trades and master of none. Its really just kinda boring. If I were to choose between my lugged steel Marinoni which is a gorgeous frame at a fraction of the cost of the Peg to take me on a Zen like trip. Hands down the Marinoni wins. To me Pepe (Mr Marinoni) can still deliver the magic into every one of his frames, more so than the iconic Dario Pegoretti .
KogaLover says:

Sep 28 2015 at 12:17 am

@frank "If you’re going to try to call me out on a Rule Violation, you’re going to have try harder than that."

Just trying: Rule #52 Bidons are to be small in size. 500ml maximum.
chris says:

Sep 28 2015 at 9:57 am

@Marko

I couldn’t agree more. In fact, I’ll see your Graveur and raise you an adventure bike. Once I bought my fatbike last winter a little lightbulb went off. Super fun and had me riding in the dead of winter over lakes and trails that were formerly inaccessible on two wheels. But the white hot light of a thousand suns shown down on me when I put 29+ carbon hoops, 3″ tires, and drop bars on the thing. A whole new world opened up. Load it with packs and go to the mountains, get lost in the 100 mile swamp, roll fast on gravel, single-track – why not. This bike has been my go-to this summer. So bloody fun. And although I’d never tell my C40 – ssshhhhh – I think it’s number 1.

That thing looks pretty awesome but you would appear to have put the drive train on back to front.
DeKerr says:

Sep 28 2015 at 10:42 am

@Marko

I couldn’t agree more. In fact, I’ll see your Graveur and raise you an adventure bike. Once I bought my fatbike last winter a little lightbulb went off. Super fun and had me riding in the dead of winter over lakes and trails that were formerly inaccessible on two wheels. But the white hot light of a thousand suns shown down on me when I put 29+ carbon hoops, 3″ tires, and drop bars on the thing. A whole new world opened up. Load it with packs and go to the mountains, get lost in the 100 mile swamp, roll fast on gravel, single-track – why not. This bike has been my go-to this summer. So bloody fun. And although I’d never tell my C40 – ssshhhhh – I think it’s number 1.

While in context of the Cognoscenti the Rules Violations on this steed abound, however; viewed on its own for what it is, it is a thing thing of beauty.

That said, the current EPMS (while arguably necessary on such a rig) still looks like an unnecessary testicle. I humbly suggest something that tucks up closer to the saddle, thereby interfering less with the otherwise smooth lines.

@Oli gorgeous bike, the photo of which is diminished by the presence of dishwashing paraphernalia on the counter.