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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View Comments
@frank
just wondering on this, from beginner point of view - if doing a long windy descent in hot weather, what is the best tactic for keeping the rim temperature down apart from taking a break upside down in a ditch (which one is trying to prevent in asking this question?
(or is this only an issue with tubs and not clinchers?
@Dr C
I'm sure others have some thoughts on this as well, but keeping your rims/brakes cool follows the same principles as driving your Bimmer in the mountains (a Beemer/Beamer is a motorcycle, a Bimmer is a car - http://www.bmwccbc.org/misc/tech-and-trivia/bimmer.html), meaning you don't want to sit on your brakes the whole time. If you don't want to go too fast, sit up and make yourself big (like braking on the motor using low gears) and then do all your braking at once as you approach a corner or as you start to go faster than you're comfortable with. Get off the brakes again before entering the corner and coast through the turn. It goes without saying that the front brake is more effective than the back for slowing down.
Bob Roll, somewhere, has a great story about sitting on his brakes on some descent and melting the glue on his tires and - I think - he may also have melted his brake pads...In classic Roll style, its a very amusing anecdote.
@frank
cool, that all Stracks up
@frank
Not so sure. Like any engineering process, it depends on the execution. Like you, I have no real complaints with my current braking system. But then, I had no particular problem with using a PC until I tried a Mac. Game over.
If a manufacturer can make a disk system that is competitive in price, weight and maintenance qualiities, that is even compatible with surrent sti lever, I think they'll be on to something. I'm told by Those That Know, that dedicating wheel rims to holding a tyre will make them even more reliable, give them better safety margins, make them faster, and make them last longer. The trick has always been weight and some aero considerations. There's that blob of disk puck sitting out there no one likes. And it is possible that a disk would require a dished wheel in front. I say ugh to that.
I spend a lot of time thinking about a electromechanical brake system, much like a electric car regenerative system. After all, a wheel is a rotating mass of metal, and that's half a generator/motor that could be an effective, elegant braking system.Yes, UCI would have kittens over what spartacus might do with that clandestinely, but there are ways to fix that. Carbon materials have come a long way, and while caliper brakes are refined and acceptable technology...well..so were down tube shifters. Merely taking the whirling mass off the rim of a wheel with a braking surface on it wil make it faster if you can solve the disk weight and aero factors. I see Scott has a fork with the brake calipers built in to e fork arms. Expensive, elegant shitte, but wait for the trickle down.
Electric shifting is supposed to be the nuts. I can see the attraction, since the shifts are supposed to be really smooth and reliable. But the cost now is simply unjustifiable. Still, that is true of my custom Ti frame. I wanted because...I wanted it. It was an extravagance that I get a lot of enjoyment from.
All that said, I agree and respect the concept of cycling traditions, elegance, and dedication. However, is is never a reason not to innovate, develop and deploy what might, eventually, become better technology enabling faster, cheaper, all around better Machines.
That's the engineer in me talking. I need to just shut the fuck up and ride my fucking (silent) bike. La vie velominatus.
Better braking = faster bike due to better control of the machine.
Bike disc brakes are amazing pieces of technology these days. I have my doubts that they'll ever be light enough to make a road racing bike under a skilled rider go faster... but any machine that consistently sees wet weather and hills will be faster with disc brakes. Current CX brakes are like a bad joke.
Anyone know where I can get a (or pair) of Ambrosio Excursion Rims? The extra width over the Excellence or Excellight S.S.C.is what appeals to me. Plus the dual internal channels should give me a bit more support. (not quite at climbing weight.)
@tomb
Set up an eBay search. Or get some HED C2 wheels, either the factory ones or you can get rims.
@Nate
C2 aren't eyeletted. Plus the Ambrosios are classier. I have found them on Google, but only at UK dealers. The shipping makes them silly cost. My other option was DT Swiss 540's.
What I would really like is to find either a Classics Pro or Elite rear to match my front. But that has been a futile search.
a timely piece frahnk, cos I've given in to my inner demon and bought my first pair of tub rims; campy victory strada which are being built up with record hubs for my beloved orange gazelle. handbuilt wheels... hmmmmm
@Tomb
Ebay is where I found mine, and I've seen some others. Also, if you get the right vendor in the UK, they should discount the VAT when they sell them to you, which will offset the cost of shipping. Mine came from a guy in Italy, though, and the shipping was about 1/3 of the total cost, so yeah, shipping is stupid expensive.
Its worth it, though, if you want them badly enough.
@zalamanda
This is my first foray as well. Really looking forward to it. After the Reverence? Tubs bit, I've been very interested.