There was a time when bicycles were lovingly handmade by artisans who themselves loved the sport more than those for whom they built the machines. Lugs were filed to become Luggs; chain and seat stays were beautifully chromed for durability despite the grams it added to the frame’s final weight; spokes were chosen for their purpose and laced to hubs and rims in a pattern that suited the specific purpose the wheel was intended to serve. Throughout the process – from building the frame to manufacturing of the components – extra care was taken to make every element of the bicycle beautiful; these bicycles, when you are in their presence, radiate La Vie Velominatus.
As was customary at the time, components would be pantographed and frames repainted and rebranded, leaving behind little evidence of their origin. But hidden in the components and frames were symbols that the manufacturers stamped into their wares to preserve their identity; Colnago their Fiore, Cinelli their C, and Campa their Shield. These symbols have come to hold great meaning within the sport and we of a certain ilk scour the photos of our heroes’ bikes for evidence of their existence.
For a variety of reasons including cost, proprietary tube-shapes, and repeatability of production, these practices have largely died away in mainstream bicycle manufacturing; in fact, nearly every element in the art of bicycle building that requires attention and skill is slowing being eliminated from the craft. Ahead-set stems have replaced the need for a carefully adjusted headset and stem, sealed-bearing bottom brackets and hubs have eliminated the subtle touch required to hold a race in place with one hand while tightening the assembly with the other. By and large, the machines and riders are stronger than the terrain they race over, leaving little practical need for the attention to detail and customization that once came as a matter of course.
There is, however, one magical week of racing where the terrain is still stronger than the riders: the cobbled classics of de Ronde van Vlaanderen and Paris-Roubaix. This is the one week during which the Pros still require highly customized machines and we, as fans, can scour the photos of our heroes’ kit, looking for the symbols tucked away in the components to discern their origins. One such symbol is the brass badge affixed to the valve-hole on Ambrosio rims.
These rims are chosen by the Specialists for their strength on the stones regardless of what wheel sponsorship obligations might exist within the team. Their mystique is further deepened for those of us living in the States because they aren’t available here. It follows, then, that the Golden Ticket, as I call it, is something I’ve coveted for as long as I can remember (which, admittedly, isn’t very long and, upsettingly, keeps getting less long) but have never had a good enough reason to justify procuring from Europe. But Keepers Tour, Cobbled Classics 2012 provided the perfect justification to go about finding a set and I wasted no time in doing so. Upon arrival, the rims spent the better part of two weeks sitting in my living room or next to my bed, patiently waiting for me to pick them up and rub my thumb over the badge, just to reassure myself they were still there.
Not long after the rims arrived, I excitedly loaded a picture of Boonen in the 2010 Ronde and turned the laptop to show my VMH.
Frank: Hey, what do you see.
VMH: Boonen. Goddamn, he’s a stud. Don’t let me too close to him; I can’t be responsible for my actions.
Frank: What about his wheels.
VMH: What?
Frank: Don’t you see? He’s got my rims.
VMH: You can’t possibly know that.
Frank: Openly shows his exasperation by groaning audibly and rolling his eyes. Yes, I do. Check it. You can see the Golden Ticket on his back wheel. Its obvious as shit. What’s wrong with you?
VMH: Sighs, pours another glass of wine. Exits stage left. Hopefully not for good.
*Coincidentally, on the same day that this article was being written, Inrng published a similar (better) article on a related subject of hand-built wheels. Well worth the read: The Dying Art of Wheelbuilding
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@Chris
Sod. Looking at it in the cold light of morning, whilst the rear went on OK, it's on the wrong way round, the label is not on the drive side!
@Chris
The best way now is to refresh the rim by doing one thin coat and stretching the pre glued tire again.Make sure the tubular doesn't have thick patches and pieces of glue on it.If it does remove them just by scraping it off,do not use solvent like acetone to clean the tubular base.
If you care to take off the tube for the rear wheel do the same as for the front.Remember that this >>>>>>>>>>>>>> is forward.By having label of Vittoria tubular on the drive side you take care of the direction.
Just take it easy,remount it and enjoy riding.
@Chris
Oh yeah by stretching I mean mount it directly on the rim again after you're done with fresh thin coat of glue.Don't wait,stretch the tubular over the rim and immediately begin aligning process.
@TommyTubolare
Just tried again as per your instructions, went on a treat. Thanks.
I'm going to leave the rear as is for the moment but flip it round next weekend.
@TommyTubolare
Yeah, the Pave' tubulars do NOT have directional arrows like their other models. Trust me, I have looked super close. @Chris
I did the EXACT same thing!!! Fortunately I realized it super quick and justpulled it off and switched it around. Not really sure how much difference it would make anyways?
@Buck Rogers
See Chris, here's the evidence in a post a month or so ago right on this thread!
@Buck Rogers
Yes Buck agreed.Corsa Evo CX does for example.That's not a problem.That is why I mentioned that as long as Vittoria label is on the drive side you don't need to look for no arrow.And by this >>>>>>>>>> I mean forward direction of the tire threads.
@Buck Rogers, @TommyTubolare
The annoying bit about it was that I'd read both of your posts about the tyre's direction, I'd worked out that there were no specific arrows (a la Evo CXs) but that regardless of whether the design was directional or not any Velominati worth his electrolytes would want the labels on the drive side.
Regrettably, though, the whole bad karma brought on by unwanted Michael Jackson tunes and the errant valve core proved too distracting.
First ride on them tonight, a 2 x 20 session on the rollers, fuck me, what a difference! Previously, I was dying at the end of each interval, 100 - 105rpm in 50 x 16 was the best I'd managed but tonight, in the same gearing, I was in pretty good shape and feeling comfortable enough to go for a few smaller cogs over the last few minutes of the second effort.
I've not ridden seriously for two weeks due to work and family so it wasn't me. The tubs were pumped up to 130psi rather than 120psi for the clinchers on the old wheels. How much difference the super smooth feeling Dura-Ace hubs make, I don't know but the whole set up felt awesome.
I can't wait to get out on the road now. I'll try and drag myself out of bed at 5am tomorrow morning for a quick 32km.
@Chris
Man, the road is where you REALLY feel the difference. I was riding the same roads on my tubs that I had only ridden on clinchers and it was truly remarkable, no placebo effect there. The truth was in the pudding and the tubs make a WORLD of difference. Now I just have to wait three weeks for my rear wheel to be rebuilt. Rim was toast from the accident but the local shop is going to order another rim and rebuild the wheel. Hub was fine. But, as I have to go to Honduras tomorrow for 17 days, it will not cramp my riding style too drastically! Got to LOVE the tubs!!!