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
@Nate
This is something I was wondering about: tire wear on rollers. I know that the stationary trainers eat up rear tires but do regular rollers have a higher wear than the road? I would not think so but curious as to what you all think.
@Buck Rogers
That’s something that I was wondering about as well. My rear is a Michelin Krylion Carbon with 1,171km on the road and 410 roller “km” on it. There doesn’t appear to be any wear on it but being a slick there’s no tread to gauge it against.
I was planning to keep the Paves and Nemeses for the road.
@Buck Rogers
There’s always more wear on the road than on rollers,however tire wear is higher on alu rollers comparing to plastic-pvc rollers.And comparing trainer to rollers there’s more wear on a trainer.
If you use rollers a lot and tire wear worries you use slick profile tires,conti sprinter for example,pumped up to max.or just below max.Apart from wear a flat spot in the middle can develop especially in the rear tire so swapping tires can help.
The best to do I think is to get yourself a cheap set of any slick tires and use it just for rollers.
@Buck Rogers
@Chris
@TommyTubolare
Don’t know if it’s ok to post a link to a product. If it isn’t, let me know and I’ll refrain from doing it again:
Vittoria Indoor Trainer Tires
@Chris
Definitely Chris keep those Michelin tires for rollers and Paves for road.In the future you can get yourself new set of Michelin tires for road and keep those slightly used only for rollers.Having two sets of wheels helps however if there’s no way you can get out riding for example for a week due to weather changing tires is not a big deal.
@Calmante
A far as I’m aware there’s no problem with posting links to products as long as it’s for the benefit of fellow velominati. If you were trying to advertise stuff you’s probably get short shrift. The approved way appears to be to send the first of the production run to @frank for his approval!
@TommyTubolare
Thanks, the bike came with some budget Alex rims and Schwable tyres. (one of which died a death when I got my braking wrong when someone pulled out in front of me on a decent. Tiny lock up and it was through the outer layer) Those are to be relegated to indoor use and emergency back up while the Paves and Nemeses become the road set. I’ve just picked up a used Corsa CX on ebay that I’ll fold as per your instructions and pop under my seat. Some carbon aero rims will be added in due course.
My VMH gifted me a Continental Hometrainer tire this year. I really like it, if anything for the quietude.
@Dr C
Awesome tank mate!Shame you put those bloody clinchers in the way.You see the yellow fish doesn’t like it either.She’s looking right back at you.She definitely wants to be included in the photo.
Just kidding mate,nice tires so I hope you’ll enjoy riding them.
@Marko
Might have to give one of those a go. Rode with a new drum on my rollers last night having laid down too much V and destroyed the old one (that or old age had done for the glue holding the end cap on). The silence was blissful during the intervals but the rear still squeaks annoyingly at lower revs.
@Chris
Nice! Photos please.
@Calmante
Nothing wrong with posting links to products, especially when it bears relevance to the conversation. The only time it would be an issue is if you were shamelessly self-promoting, but that extends beyond product links and applies to behavior in general.
I didn’t know Vittoria made a trainer tire; I’d only ever seen the Contis. Personally, I’m lucky enough to live in a climate where I can ride year-round with the exception of a few days here and there, so I treat my trainer like it has hepatitis and only use it a few times a year to smooth out the ol’ stroke when I start to feel choppy.
@frank
How does hepatitis help you smooth anything out? I don’t get the analogy.
@frank
As soon as they’re rebuilt and the tyres are on. They’re radial on the front and radial/three cross on the rear at the moment. Perhaps not the most cobble friendly.
@TommyTubolare
I just grab a couple of Hutchinson Fusions when they go on sale at Performance for $12 each. Shitty, shitty tire for the road and I recommend to NEVER use it outside of the trainer.
@Marko
Maybe he’s trying to say he’d rather avoid it, but if he’s gone months without a screw and is desperate for a lay and its the only option, he’ll chance the disease now and then.
@Tartan1749
The tubeless ones ? Bloody hell I pay 30 or 40 dollars for those in AD.
They aren’t that bad, though I wish I had some more choice in tubeless.
@tomb
Why ask first? A woman would never suspect a pair of bike tires costs that much.
@Buck Rogers
My rollers (Kreitlers) don’t seem very hard on tires, at least on my Paves. I’ve been on the rollers on average 2x a week this winter and the tread isn’t wearing much at all. Nothing like a stationary, where you have to crank the drum against the wheel.
@ChrisO
No, my mistake – I meant the Equinox clinchers. Total Fail on my part with that previous statement.
@frank
Sorry about your rollers. Please ride safe.
@King Clydesdale
Exactly.
@Nate
My VMH (who most certainly knows the value of a tire as she bought me several pairs FMB Paris-Roubaixs and which put any clincher to shame when it comes to price) will make you regret ever saying such a thing, should you ever meet her. She’s Irish, Scottish and Norwegian, so he holds a grudge, is trained in the dark Scottish Art of Fuq’yu and isn’t afraid to fight dirty. Fair warning.
@xyxax
That guy’s wearing like a polartech vest on a spin bike. Must be one lazy bastard if he needs that to stay warm. Maybe that’s why everyone else bailed on him.
@frank
You are correct for calling me out for painting with an overbroad brush. Chapeau to your VMH, she obviously knows this stuff. I forget sometimes as mine does not ride, much less understand the finer points of tire choice, nor would she ever guess I could spend more on 2 bike tires than 4 automobile tires.
@Buck Rogers
I applied 1 coat on wheels and tubs so far, and still have probably half a 30g tube left. For comparisons sake, it seems I am putting it on WAY to thin? I have plenty of glue so I’m not worried about running out, but when I was spreading it about, any thicker and it would have been lumpy and that didnt seem to be the desired effect?
Hello to all cobblestones enthusiasts
People who are joining the keepers tour and are hesitating about the tire width they shoud run and clincher vs tubulars.
At the risk of sounding like a sinner to the rules , i rode both Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne and Omloop het Nieuwsblad cyclosportif(some serious cobbled sections) last weekend as a warming-up for the keepers tour on my regular conti gp4000s clinchers with absolutely no problem and no flats. Same thing goes for a couple of RvR’s i rode last year
However i haven’t ridden the French cobblestones so i can’t vouch for how the tires will hold up there.
@Belgian Cobblestones
Firstly, awesome. How nice it must be to be able to ride those roads that frequently. Secondly, how wide are your contis? 23’s?
@Belgian Cobblestones
So far we are safe, Frank may lobby for an all tubular Rule eventually. Glad to hear clinchers are working in Belgium.
@marko
I don’t know how I missed this but your BMC looks fantastic. It makes me feel a little guilty not to be riding some fancy 3X wheels for this trip but as I said before, if my old factory Campa wheels don’t make it out of Belgium, at least they got closer to home.
I’ve got a tight line on some 16 spoke Shamal tubs – can’t wait to stick them on the old Bianchi!
@Oli
Nice! The Columbus decal looks like it’s a TSX or an SLX, or EL maybe… I had a Minimax and a EL/OS; unfortunately I cracked both. That celeste paint with chrome stays and fork is iconic. That era of Reparto Corsa frames was when I was working at the local shop. At the time my employee discount was the only way I could afford the Minimax frame and Chorus 8spd Ergo gruppo.
That’s one sweet ride Oli!!
@gravity bob
Cheers! My three (greedy!) identical frames all came from my time in a Bianchi dealer LBS in the 90s. Of the three, the one above is the only one without cracks, although it was probably the one that’s done the most kilometres.
My daily ride has just had a frame swap – I’ve been riding around for the last few years on one that had cracked around the b/b and been repaired ten years ago. The repair cracked again almost immediately in two small places, but then last week the cracks started growing so I swapped it out for another spare that also has a seemingly stable small crack. I guess I’ll find out how stable over time, but it’s held up for the last few hilly rides anyway, and even withstood a few efforts from my, er, powerful build…
I’m going to see if the repaired one can be re-repaired, so that I always have two built up and a frame in reserve.
@gravity bob
And good spotting, they are indeed TSX-ULs…
@Oli
I’ve never really been a Bianchi fan, possibly from seeing too many tossers riding badly maintained examples (not in anyway meant as a slur on your character but those who decide that it’s got to be Italian for reasons that they aren’t even aware of but get no further than Bianchi when googling Italian bike) but those two are damned fine. Seeing them in your shrine could force a change of attitude. Chapeaux.
Good luck with the re-repair and the cracks in the other one remaining innocuous.
Thanks, Chris. I’m still (obviously) a big Bianchi fan, but it’s the ride I love not the somewhat agricultural build quality. I’m lucky to ride a lot of really nice bikes, but the TSX holds up really well against anything I’ve ridden in terms of geometry and ride quality – even with the cracks they are the perfect bike for me.
@Belgian Cobblestones
ah, I was there too…
@Oli
Always nice to see the Bianchis! I might have to make a trip out to my man and pick me up a spare frame too. Come to think of it I think he had a ‘Genius’ in my size in celeste.
Now, how to explain to the wife that I really need a back up frame for my number 2 bike??.
@Oli
Oh yeah, the Shamals should look hot!!
@marko
yep regular 23’s straight off the rack
@Oli
I’m with you totally on that – there are lots of lower-line Bianchis that lack the little bit that might lack the beauty to make your eyes go crossed, but the top-end stuff is absolutely top notch. Love the ride as well – both the TSX and the XLEV2 just have a feel to them that feels right whenever I throw my leg over them.
The TSX is also great for the lower BB – get that center of mass low, baby!
@JC Belgium
The cold feeling you both have right now is my icy stare of jealousy.
@Belgian Cobblestones
Yes – though I have used this excuse to build an extravagant wheel set and glue on even more extravagant tires. But in reality, even P-R has been won on clinchers.
I’d stay away from riding carbon wheels on them if you can avoid it, just because it would be expensive to replace them if something went sideways. But sure, just ride whatever wheels you’ve got and you’ll be fine. There may also be some difference between the Pro’s speed and ours over the stones.
@Oli
Nice one!
@frank
Going faster over cobbles is quite possibly gentler on wheels.
If I get the opportunity to ride a Paris-Roubaix sportif, I think I’ll spend most of my ride on the shoulders of the road.
@Calmante
You’re right to a point there, I think. I’ve no experience of riding cobbles, yet, but from spending a good bit of time on downhill mountain bikes, for the rougher route to be gentle the rider needs to relax their grip and let the bike have some freedom to move around under them and let it float. Easier said than done when you’re relying on gravity but even harder when you’re trying to pedal hard.
As for the shoulders, if it’s wet that the last place you’ll be able to go.
@Calmante
Thats always the question – ride the crown where its rougher or ride in the gutter where the debris collects and you get punctures. Its a crapshoot, but it seems the riders who end up winning tend to spend more time on the crown – I think largely for the reason you mention: going faster lets you skip over more of the stones and makes it smoother, so the roughness in the center isn’t such a concern when you’re Boonen and you’ve got the cannons to do it.
(As it happens – if memory serves correctly, Big Georgie ended up puncturing a few moments later.)
@frank, @Calmante
I had this in mind when I made my comment about the shoulders
@Chris
@frank
Those two pictures are perfect examples. I’d ride the crown on frank’s stretch of road, and the shoulder on Chris’s.
@frank
Just made that pic my screenshot. What a pic!
Also, FINALLY rode my HED C2 Belgium wheels with the Vittoria Pave’ tubulars on them to work today. Raining and dense fog with a real crappy road surface. Just felt AWESOME. Even if the amazing feel and grippiness and contact with the road on tubluars vs clinchers is all imagined (which I do not think that it is) it was still stirring to me when I was riding in, knowing that I was on wheels that I had taken hours to clean, prep and meticuloulsy glued and fretted over for days. Just something a bit beyond when riding tubulars.
Also a plus was when the Army Post gate guard, some ex-infantry contactor dude, looked at me when checking my ID and said, with a firm head nod, “You’re a Man with a Plan, Sir” and then the front desk clerk at work said, “You rode in THIS weather???” What a way to start a day.
@frank
Alas the lure of the golden ticket was too strong.
Even riding those cobbles last weekend and proving i could very well bounce on my 23’s a little anoying question keeps popping up in my head how good a ride would i have on those ominously named nemesis.
Thus a slight detour was made from the morning ride. And in a moment of weakeness i caved in and went on spluging myself on some rims and dtswiss hubbs.
Now how to sole those hoops? fmb roubaix, vittoria pave …
@Belgian Cobblestones
Now THAT is an impressive splurge right there!!! Hope you’re not married b/c those rims are hard to hide!
@Marko
Beauty in the form of a bike. How do the Pave tires ride? Are they appropriate to use as training tires?
@Oli, @Frank, This was my holy grail of Bianchi frames from the ’90s; the Ti Mega Tube.
I found this for sale in a cycling forum and picked it up around 2004. The celeste decals were pretty beat up so I spent hours hand repainting them. Amazingly Bianchi USA had touch up paint that matched the decal color almost perfectly; from a few feet away you couldn’t see the minor difference in shade. I built it up and rode it; Record/Chorus 10spd gruppo, Ouzo Pro fork, and Nucleon tubulars… what a ride! Ultimately I could never get comfortable on the frame. It’s a size 55 and I need 57 for Bianchi. I sold it a few years ago and would grab another in my size if I could find one.
Another unique thing about this frame is that it’s 1 of 100 produced. In 1997 Bianchi could not supply the demand for Ti Mega Tube frames in the US. So Bianchi Italy authorized Bianchi USA to go to Litespeed and have them make 100 Ti Mega Tube frames. That’s why it has a natural ti finish with celeste decals, not the standard celeste paint with dark blue decals. My team at the time was sponsored by Bianchi USA (and the president of Bianchi USA was a member) so we had several of these in our ranks. When these came out I was “stuck” with my EL/OS as a replacement for my Minimax. I never heard of or saw any problems with this version of the Ti Mega Tube.
Probably the Bianchi frame Oli and I should have been using rather than torturing lightweight nivacrom steel frames with our svelte statures…
@Anjin-san
Not sure what Marko thinks but I have mine sitting next to me on my bike from this mornings commute and they ride amazingly well and I am using them for training and the two “rough road” races that I have coming up in the next 4 months. Also, I am running the 27 Vit Pave’ as I bought my wheels specifically for rough rides.