White is a troublesome color; hard to keep clean. I have a white dress shirt that I never wear because even if I manage not to spill on the front of it, the cuffs and collar will look crap by the end of the day regardless. I mean, I can keep from eating something all day, but I can’t keep from drinking coffee or wine, and before very long some of it is going on the shirt, right were people check out my man-boobs.
I can’t keep my dress clothes clean, the ones I wear to my office. That’s a clean business, going to the office. And Cycling is a dirty business, even on sunny days there is a road grit and chain grease to contend with. And our feet and hands get the worst of it. Who in their right mind would ride with white socks and bar tape?
In my younger days, I started a website called ControlFreak, for which the tagline was “a term used by lazy people to describe someone with standards.” Obviously my writing skills had some room to grow and I was also too young to understand the practical complications of having things like “standards”. Nevertheless, I am proud of the sentiment. It was a first (malnourished) seed of Velominati; its uncompromising attitude built a fiber of the vein that runs through our heritage in this community. In the ControlFreak sensibility, white socks and bar tape are for those of us with standards of cleanliness; they are for the aesthetic steadfast who are willing to invest both the time and inventory to maintain a matching set of curtains and drapes. Black is for those who are too lazy to keep a clean house.
My Number #1 has always had white bars. The other bikes can have black tape because white bar tape is for leaders; Bike #1 is Alpha, the others are Beta – no matter how much I love them.
So why is it that I have been attracted by the blackness of my handlebars every time I unwrap the tape from them? I’m not talking about the Betas, I’m talking about my Alpha: my Veloforma Strada iR. It was a time of turmoil, maybe. Perhaps some unrest in the Force, where the Dark Side grew in strength. Or maybe I enjoyed too many Recovery Ales that day. The event was too long ago and too poorly documented for anyone to be certain, but the fact is, I wrapped Bike #1’s bars in black tap.
Let me say that again in a separate paragraph: I wrapped Bike #1’s bars in black tap.
No one else. Not the guy down the shop because he didn’t have anything else. Not the VMH. Not my sister. Me.
And I loved it.
The bike was so stealth I felt like I was riding a Sith. Actually, maybe not – I don’t think a Sith would stand for that sort of thing. Maybe I felt like I was riding a Sith Speeder.
But something was missing. I didn’t feel right. I felt a few centimeters off-center, so one night I picked up a new roll of fizik microtex and rewrapped the bars in white.
It felt good to go back, like taking a shower after a long camping trip. Or brushing your teeth after a night on the piss. There was something visceral about it. I brought the bike up to the bedroom and leaned her (gently) against the wall so I could gaze at her as I fell asleep. It felt good to know I had come back to my center. I had come back to expecting more of myself. I would keep my bar tape clean.
Darth Sidious said, “If one is to understand the great mystery, one must study all its aspects.”
Just because he’s a jerk doesn’t mean he’s wrong. Just so long as we find our way back to The Path.
That night, I slept soundly.
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Yikes, and here I was planning on cruising into the weekend with a peaceful last few hours of the work week. Not with the Green Monster on our hands.
A few of you smarter lads have already said some important things that I agree with. What bugs me though is that you'd do all that to save some money...and then dump money into that big stupid computer on there. If you're a cheapskate, ride with a damn V-Meter.
Or maybe it's just an old RCA remote meant to trick us.
Imagine if someone proudly posted pics of fake CR wheels. I don't own a set, but because I know Dan better than I know VF I'd be seriously lit up. And this is, after all, the same thing.
@wiscot Clearly the guy knew he was buying/creating a knockoff/fake/counterfeit. His rationalization--in this place, of all places--suggests to me that he simply didn't understand the effect his behavior would have on people here. That's what I meant.
@DragoRosso
There you go, friend! Good on you.
@PeakInTwoYears
Seconded... although I don't think it derailed the thread. Instead it seems appropriate that "the Green Monster" has appeared in the comments section of and Article titled "the Dark Side" wherein @frank it describing his own discretion.
Also, someone should put @DragoRosso in touch with COTHO et al. ^That^ is how you do an apology.
@DragoRosso your bar tape and colour scheme (infringement notwithstanding) is pretty sweet!
Getting back to bar tape & saddle color, this is Sith-like no? (though I never realized the similarities until @BuckRogers post.)
I have considered going white-white or black-black, but I have been enjoying the red-red for the last couple of years.
@DragoRosso I am happy to hear that you will be fixing the frame set. Great colours and a nice idea, but Veloforma is a great little company that works hard to distinguish itself in a very competitive market. As a note, I get asked to have wheels painted with the Velominati "V" all the time. I kindly tell my customers that while I will do custom paint and even no paint, I do not do other peoples logo unless granted express permission. In fact, Frank and I have gone through a few different designs that have been painted on various rims sets, which have not been built due to design flaws or "it looked good on paper" or just plain decision changes. These extra rims, I keep aside for repainting. Or if built up, they go into destructive testing. hehehe, yeah it can fun...
I'd suggest keeping the colours and going with a dragon theme finish. Now that could be cool.
Gorgeous wheels, Dan.
@DragoRosso
I didn't like that the first time I saw it, but it's growing on me. I'm still not sure that there are any other legitimate bar tape colours than black or white ( but never together) but I'm open to new experiences as they say.
You really do need this, though:
@DeKerr
In fact, the green bar tape on that Velofauxma actually strengthened my intention to go orange for the first tape job on my V-painted Veloforma, when it finally comes (and I involuntarily do something of the same name).
Oh bullocky fuck, that'll teach me to post after experimenting with gin, vermouth and campari ratios. Kids, read the article and post before posting.
In no fucking interpretation of anything do I condone or approve of @DragoRosso's pikey illigal and imoral use of copyrighted material. Cunt.