The Seduction of Symbols
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
@Buck Rogers
Hey Buck, the FMB P-R are only 160 dollars a tyre….
Wouldn’t need to puncture too many times at that price!!
@Dr C
God LORD! Damn two of those plus two spares and that’s the round trip airfare from TX to France!
But, on a slightly unrelated topic, the VMH asked what NON-CYCLING item she could get me for my birthday which is just after New Year’s (guess she doesn’t see that cycling is all-encompassing). I told her about the Harris Tweed shop that I found about here on the V site and she just ordered me a jacket and trousers from them!
I guess if it cannot be a cycling item, Harris Tweed will do! :)
@Buck Rogers
will the trousers have a built in chamois?
I’m riding clinchers, and with the money I’m saving, planning on paying the pro’s to give me their wheels, stop and fix mine, then catch up, and whilst I am taking a leak, form the huge volumes of fluid they are constantly handing me, pop mine back in (my wheel)…..should save me a lot of fingernails and still have change for some Belgian Ale (which might happen earlier than planned, as no doubt they will drop me when they suss my plan!)
Actually, I’m thinking of going with Conti 4S, but some reviews not so good….what are you going to use on the pave? (or are you a tubs coonvert?)
@Dr C
I’m currently planning on riding Vittoria Open Pave Evo CG’s. I have only heard great things about them and that they are pretty much bomb-proof.
Now trying to get a bombproof wheelset and that’s why I am looking for the Ambrosio Nemesis equivalent in clincher form (yeah, yeah Fronk, I know, their IS NO equivalent to the Nemesis in clincher form)
Might have to alter the trousers without the VMH knowing about it.
@Dr C
the beauty of getting them from Europe without VAT; they’re “only” about $120 through my guy. But still, that’s one pricy tire.
I assume they come with a lifetime warranty.
@Dr C
The GP4000S (which I assume is what you meant) is my go-to tire for sure. Not sure what could be said negatively about them, though I’ve certainly never seen a Pro riding them on the Pavé.
@Buck Rogers
The only reason I stopped riding Vittoria’s is they their rubber is too soft for riding over debris; I’d be very concerned about riding them over bad roads like that, though based on their prominence in the peloton for this purpose, they can’t be that bad. But then you’ve got your 15-car suppor model from above to destroy any hypothesis about the quality of any product ever used by a Pro.
We’re probably better off just buying diapers and hoping for the best.
@Dr C
I purchased a Conti 4 season 28mm to make sure it would fit my bike and it did easily, more like 26mm, grrrr. The bigger the better to avoid pinch flats with clinchers. Those might be my primary clinchers, with sealant in the innertube. I’m still worrying about it in the middle of the night as I was the king of pinch flats until I switched to 25mm tires for regular Hawaii roads.
@frank
I’m sure that my choice is also a bit nostalgic as I always ran Vittoria sew-ups “back in the day” and, ideally, would love to run sew-ups on the pave’.
Good thoughts, though. Fortunately, I have some time to think about it and I currently have a set of the Vit Open Pave’s at home that I bought on sale and will install shortly to get a feel and see how tough they really are.
Still looking for someone to weigh in on the clincher rim of choice for a non-supported ride on the P-R cyclo. Maybe it has already been addressed in the Keepers Tour thread. I need to go look there a bit.
@frank
the Conti 4 Season Clincher seems to be a slightly heavier duty version of the GP4000
Are there inner tubes that are more resistant to pinching that might reduce the pave flats a bit??
@j.king
@jaja
Alright, seems like I have proved that I am an idiot once again.
The clincher versions are right here on this thread. So does the quality of Ambrosio clincher rims increase from the Evolution to Excursion to Excellence to Excellight SSC? Which is the best one to use on building a bomb-proof wheel in all of your knowledged opinions? Is the Excellight not great for Pave’?
@Dr C
Latex might be worth considering, as they’re more suple and probably won’t flat as easily, but be careful, some of them are too light and thin and tear at the valve. Vittorias seem to be the best ones. I have no experience with the 4 seasons.
@Buck Rogers
Would the wider HED rims or Velocity A23s be a good idea? Hed Ardennes I think are 22mm wide, and to my eye appear relatively deep. Could be a good way to get some comfort without tubs.
@Minion, @Buck Rogers
I was going to suggest these too. I have a pair; the rim is 23mm wide, which spreads the tire out more and reduces the chance of pinch flat. Also it’s pretty grippy. You can buy the rims now, and build up handbuilts. I’m running mine now with the Open Paves. The factory HED C2 wheels are lower spoke count which you probably won’t want for cobbles. I think they also have a “clydsedale” option for a beefier rim. If my Nemisis wheelset ever gets un-stuck from the FedEx warehouse in Ohio where it’s been stuck for 48 hours I’ll be able to offer a comparison of the HEDs and the Nemisis, which are going to be shod in the tubular Vittoria Paves.
@Buck Rogers
Not sure but I think the Excellights are lighter and probably not pave-grade.
@Nate
What HED rims are you guys talking about? The Ardennes series? Do any come in more than a 28 spoke count? I am searching but cannot find any.
@Buck Rogers
I have the factory Bastogne model, which is now one of the Ardennes models, think it’s 24h/28h. The standalone rims are called C2. They come in 24, 28 and 32h. Google search here.
@Buck Rogers
This is just my opinion, and you guys seem to run a lot more exotic gear than I do so here goes…..Here in tthe TN/Ky country side we have a lot of chip seal/gravel pavement with glass and radial wire debris along the sides just for good measure. Among the folks I ride with, those with the high TPI tires flat more often than those of us on budget rubber. I only flatted twice in the last year, once w/ a piece of wire, and second only because I hit a hole in the pavement and pinched a flat. Lucky I did not bang the wheel out of round..still shaking my head on that one. Anyway the Vittoria Rubino Pros serve me well from the standpoint I spend more time riding, less time changing flats on the side of the road. Incidentally, my son ran some cheap CSTs that had to be all of 30-45 TPI, rode the same rides as me and did not flat over the last years. I just upgraded him to the Rubino Pros this year and so far everything is cool.
My wheels are not high tech, but what I like about American Classic’s is that they are trouble free, and stay true despite the crappy roads I ride. I have also got a pair of Vuelta Corsa Lite’s on my “rain bike” that are also bomb proof. Again, I am just looking for a nice balance between economics, function, and trouble free-riding.
Good luck as you find your own balance. The cobble ride sounds really cool, maybe it will be in my cards someday.
@Buck Rogers
Should have also said this: If you are searching “Ardennes” you’ll find HED’s factory wheels. To find the rims you have to search for “C2” which is HED’s trademark for their wide rim technology. The C2 rims come in clincher or tubular.
@Nate
NICE! I’m liking the HED Belgium C2 wheels (what’s not to like? They even have the word Belgium on them in cool Belgian colours). Still would love a 36 hole count for the pave’ but these seem to be pretty strong with a 32 count. Might be headed (pardon the pun) in this direction for the pave’ wheelset.
Nate: Are you riding the Keepers Tour and are you using these wheels?
@GottaRideToday
Where in KY/TN? I lived in Adams, TN and rode there and out the Angel Gate off of FT Campbell quite a bit when not deployed over the last 3 years before moving to TX.
@Buck Rogers
Not doing the Keepers Tour unless I win the lottery between now and then. The Nemesis (that “these wheels” you are referring to?) — I’ve wanted a pair for a while, found some, and rewarded myself for enduring an Arenbergesque last month at the office. Plus the budget situation being what it is in California, the roads I ride are getting worse and worse.
@Nate
Sorry about the wheel confusion. I was referencing the HED C2 Belgium rims and what you think of them: Their sturdiness and would you ride P-R on them if you had to go with a clincher wheelset?
@Dr C
I just ordered a Vittoria Rubino Pro Tech 28mm clincher, I’ll let you know how it looks. Cheaper than the Contis and if they really measure 28mm they will be my go-to Roubaix tire. As I said before, I believe for Roubaix bigger is better, lower tire pressure for a smoother ride on the stones and less chance of pinch flat.
@frank
Yep, that and sharp fingernails – tell me about it – nearly got caught out a few times as a student days, well before I started cycling
@Gianni
Gianni:
I know that you probably already posted this somewhere in the thread but I cannot find it: What wheelset are you running for the Keepers Tour with the Vit Rubino Pro’s?
@Gianni
cool
how did you measure the 28s as 26s? Is the a caliper job?
@Buck Rogers
The factory version I have seem plenty durable; I have two seasons on them now. The spokecount on my set is too low for real cobbles duty, but I’m not afraid to hit ordinary rough stuff or the odd short patch of dirt or gravel with them. Part of the beauty of the wide rim is you can run lower pressures and not risk a pinchflat. Summer I run Vittoria Open Corsas at 95/105 or 90/100. Winter I run Open Paves at pressures as low as 80/90 if it’s damp. FWIW I weigh 72 kg.
Based on my experience with them I would certainly consider handbuilts on the 32h rims for cobbles duty (not that I’ve actually ever ridden something so brutal on a road bike). Here is a pro who says he’d be a lot more worried about how hard it is to source Ambrosio if it weren’t for the HED C2 rims (scroll down to the bottom of the post).
@Nate
Cool link. I think I’ll just have to get some C2’s for the clinchers and a set of Nemesis for tubulars. Might have to wait a bit for either, though, as with Christmas and all, will have to save a bit!
@Buck Rogers
w+1 (or w+2 in this case). Obviously a Rule #12 corollary, and a sound strategy for sneaking gear purchases under the budget radar as a wheelset is a lot less obivous than a new bike.
@Buck Rogers
I was going to beat my factory Campa Scirocco wheels to death, maybe kill them there and throw them in a muddy field. Radial spoked front and some crazy lacing pattern in the back, 1x drive side, radial non-drive side for the most part.
@Dr C
oh yes, get thee the $30 digital calipers for all things, instant metric/english switch, very useful
@Buck Rogers
Near Cumberland Gap. We ride TN-KY-VA. Every ride here involves climbing. Compact cranks are popular here in the hills.
@Gotta Ride Today
Ahhh, great area. I, unfortunately, was in the much flatter western part of TN/KY without too many hills (but still more than here in TX but no where near the hills and mtns of VT/NH that I grew up in).
By the way, I’ve never found a place where compact cranks are popular :)
Franks’s Abrosios get a shout out in Zinn’s new tongue in cheek column.
@Tartan1749
Wow, I didn’t realize Zinn could be such a colorful writer. Great stuff!
@Gianni
Soudns like it might make for an interesting ride. I’ll be waiting for the ride report with bated breath!
At the risk of beating the dead horse:
http://velonews.competitor.com/2011/12/bikes-and-tech/the-torqued-wrench-disc-brakes-coming-soon-to-a-drop-bar-near-you_200057
Choices, Choices, Choices. Don’t disagree with anything @Frank (a/k/a Sensei) asserts elsewhere in this thread. Maintenence is surely an issue, as is cost, and of course, simple aesthetics. Is a flawless shift preferable to the “art and feel” of a cable pull shift? Maybe no. Depends if you’re a pro, want to look like one, or prefer to look like an old pro, and feel what they did.
But ya know…most bars have lots of beer to choose from. Some of it shitte beer, some…kinda good.
I’m pretty proud of these rare beauties: Mavic’s GEL 280 36 hole with DT Revolution 17 guage spokes and alloy nipples on *cough* Shimano XT hubs. It was a bit perchance that mountain bike hubs were used, but the front alloy axel was somewhat intentional. I built them up in ’01 for the Mnt Washington, NH climb that I never got to race. The first and only time I used these was last summer, 2010, on a local mountain in BC. Noticably light! Lighter than my Mavic R-Sys that I just got last week to replace my Ksyrium SL’s.
What have we here?
@Nate
You realize that this obligates you to come on Keepers Tour, yes? Better start scheduling your trips to the blood bank.
@frank
Uh-oh, I am in trouble now. I think there is a phial of EPO hidden somewhere in the packing material.
Chaps I have a question. And it’s just open to anyone who knows more than me which frankly is probably all of you…
If I was going to ride the cobbles and if I was going to do it on clinchers what would be the best ( sturdiest) wheel/tyre combo ? Nutin’ fancy just some regular stock clincher wheels.. I currently run Dura Ace what are now C24’s. Light strong a much under valued wheel I think especially if you get them from Northern Ireland for half the US retail price..sorry for breaking a rule but $600 is $600. But are they strong enough? Theres no weight limit and I’m 190lb
Opinions please.
Frank, thanks for the article and the link to Inner Ring’s article. As a wheel builder, of course I embrace the art in cycling.
My next wheel build will be a set for myself – NOS F20s, 28 holes, laced to some chrome-silver C4 hubs (US made) with Sapim Lazer spokes. I get stiff thinking about them!
Chapeau bon homme
@paolo
Here is my two cents worth. I’m liking 28×700 conti GP4000 4 season tires and some tubes with sealant, not that I’ve ridden cobbles with them but that will be my tire for Keepers Tour and I’m 195, big as a house. The bigger the better=lower pressure and less chance of pinch flats.
Paris-Roubaix has been won on Michelin Pro 3 clinchers, I suspect 25 x 700 so it’s not crazy to get through on clinchers.
I believe wheels are less of an issue, there are plenty of pros on radially laced front tires in P-R. Tradition has kept alot of people on 3X tubs but look at Johan Van Summeren’s wheels.
A carbon rim and what looks like metal spokes, the front was radially laced. So we will find out this spring if my old Campa factory clincher wheels make it. Clincher rims must be sturdier than box section aluminum tubular rims so I think tire choice is what will do it.
@Gianni
This is comforting to hear. I was worried I would be the only one on The Tour with clinchers.
My plan is to take the rotors off my new cross wheels and use them. They’re Velocity A23s with CXRay spokes (28 front, 32 back). So I think they’ll be super tough and the wider rim is supposed to help reduce pinch flats. And they’re still pretty light: about 1,400g.
Since I already ride Continental GP4000S, I think I’ll go with the Continental 4 Season for the trip (on your recommendation). I have to figure out how big a tire I can fit. I think 25mm would work with no problem, but I’ll try to do 28. The wider rim might accommodate a larger tire without protruding into the frame or brakes.
@G’rilla
I’ll be on DT Swiss Axis 3.0 clinchers, mind you only because I don’t know any better – only saying coz you’ll defo not be the only one
Looks like 4S Contis for me too, 28s if they will fit my forks, as the Spesh Roubaix Pro’s that came on the bike look a bit saft for such abuse
@Gianni
Thank you very much. Good to know. I will not be in attendance in Spring. I am fully committed to numerous ski adventures one of which is in Aspen just prior to the Keepers Tour but it’s something to keep in mind for the future be it through Velominati or elsewhere.
I envy you all for the adventure it’s going to be, not just the riding and the activities you have planned but the coming together of new like minded friends.
Plenty of pictures chaps please…video is good too!
I could get really into wheel building – that was a lot of fun. Anyway, now its just down to skewer selection and mounting some training tubs to go beat the shit out of them for the coming months to make sure everything is good with them.
@frank What’s the final weight?
@G’rilla
V.V grams, not counting skewers.
Great work, Frank!
@frank
V. nice. Better photos please.
@G’rilla
Not light! These are solid rims, solid hubs, and solid spokes!
@mcsqueak
Exactly. Strangely, with skewers, they also weigh V.V grams!
@Oli
Could not have done it without you Senseing me on wheel-building. Seriously. Full article to come on the project, but your help was invaluable and much appreciated. We tend to disagree on the finer bits around here, but your unhesitating willingness to help me out and offer advice was a life-saver. Fantastic.