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Cobbles, Carbon, Silk, and Dust

The Café Roubaix Arenberg paired to FMB Paris-Roubaix

I hadn’t planned to ride them every day. In fact, I had planned to only ride them once and let other people ride them. But, genius that I am, I forgot my ceramic brake pads and had to source some new ones which was a maddeningly difficult process given that Europe observes something in the neighborhood of 363 holidays per year.

I was more than a little apprehensive, to be honest, of riding a lightweight set of carbon wheels down the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix – let alone on three separate occasions and two days on the kasseien of Vlaanderen. At long last, I got my hands on some brake pads, but then my hopes of riding my Golden Tickets died with the harp hiss emitting from Stefano Museeuw’s back when when he took my FMB-clad Nemisis through a hole big enough to lose him in. One thing for sure, the young talent has the “Look Pro Stop at the Side of the Road in Disgust” nailed. I suppose it helps when you’ve got the Lion of Flanders as your dad and mentor.

But truth be told, the Cafe Roubaix Arenberg wheels were amazing to ride, especially on the tarmac. On the cobbles, they were noticeably less compliant than my box-rim tubs, but they more than made up for it in speed and featheriness on the tarmac bits. And that is the element we so often overlook about Roubaix: we identify so heavily with the 50km of Pavé, but we so easily forget there are 200km of tarmac to deal with as well – which is why Museeuw ultimately lost to Tchmil aboard his ill-fated Bianchi “Throne”. When judging a wheel, all these aspects must be weighed against one another.

One thing of note, however, is that on the roughest secteurs of pavé – in particular the Trenchée and Carrefour – I found it more difficult to discover my rhythm than I did last year. Could it be that the lightweight wheels bounced too much and spent too much time going up rather than forward? I find that notion easier to digest than the notion that there was something amiss with my riding.

I proclaim this knowing full well the wrath I’m sure to receive: even for the enthusiast, the carbon wheel is the future for every discipline of cycling. While my Ambrossios are much more lovable in terms of nostalgia and good-old-fashioned hardman looks, the strength and stiffness of the Roubaixs outmatched the classic box-rim of the Nemesis in every respect from weight all the way down to trueness. On the other hand, three-cross bladed spokes on a deep-dish rim are a real bitch in a Flemish crosswind.

frank

The founder of Velominati and curator of The Rules, Frank was born in the Dutch colonies of Minnesota. His boundless physical talents are carefully canceled out by his equally boundless enthusiasm for drinking. Coffee, beer, wine, if it’s in a container, he will enjoy it, a lot of it. He currently lives in Seattle. He loves riding in the rain and scheduling visits with the Man with the Hammer just to be reminded of the privilege it is to feel completely depleted. He holds down a technology job the description of which no-one really understands and his interests outside of Cycling and drinking are Cycling and drinking. As devoted aesthete, the only thing more important to him than riding a bike well is looking good doing it. Frank is co-author along with the other Keepers of the Cog of the popular book, The Rules, The Way of the Cycling Disciple and also writes a monthly column for the magazine, Cyclist. He is also currently working on the first follow-up to The Rules, tentatively entitled The Hardmen. Email him directly at rouleur@velominati.com.

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View Comments

Dan_R says:

Apr 12 2013 at 8:38 pm

@Frank. Thank you for what was the final or confirmatory test run on my carbon wheels. Made specifically for tough conditions that usually meant a strong set of alloy wheels were needed, I wanted to build wheels that would withstand a rough ride or two, thus being of value to the non-professional rider. You can spend significant dough on carbon wheels and you can spend a whole lot less on "questionable" carbon wheels. The go-pro video and pictures have been great too. Carbon may be here for a while and I am more than happy that it looks like Cafe Roubaix has a wheel worthy of the name!

Oh, and various Ambrosio rims hang ready for builds in the studio too. I still build with alloy.

And I am getting a shop jersey autographed by the Lion Of Flanders.
Dan_R says:

Apr 12 2013 at 8:47 pm

@eightzero you'd have to be in the 275lb range with Kurt Harrnet type power to crush a real set of carbon wheels. Just saying that for every carbon fiber horror story on the Internet, there are thousands of satisfied users. People are willing to use frames,forks, crank arms, stems, etc. Oh, and I am not calling you out per se, just putting it to the forum that tradition is technology in cycling. Think of the people and companies that have moved equipment forward. Campagnolo, Zeus, Cinelli, etc were the forefathers of Rotor, Cervelo, Enve, etc
Deakus says:

Apr 12 2013 at 9:08 pm

@starclimber

I wonder if it isn't a question of harmonics. Perhaps the Golden Tickets' rim rebound frequency is lower than that from the carbon rims, thus the bounce/flex energy is not directly transmitted up the fork but tangentially instead, resulting in larger fork/seat stay oscillations. This force would combine with the immediate impact force to lengthen the duration of the force but reduce its amplitude. So, at Frank speed, this longer wave rebound would result in greater apparent compliance.

A stronger, faster rider, say your Faboo or your Tommeke, moving many km/h faster, would find the harmonic tuning of deeper section wheels to be just right.

Heh. Or not. Russian Imperial Stout for the win. That bitch is ALWAYS at the right rebound frequency and wavelength.

I have no idea what all of that meant, but fuck it sounded mighty impressive, and to polish the science off with a malted beverage reference is pure genius....that's like the unstoppable force meeting the immovable object!
Deakus says:

Apr 12 2013 at 9:10 pm

@eightzero

I dissent from the majority opinion "even for the enthusiast, the carbon wheel is the future for every discipline of cycling" and write separately.

My Jan sized ass is insupportable on even the finest of Carbone wheels. While I might get away with it for a few hundred miles (!) the end result would be a crushed wheelset, and a crushed ego. All fine you you brave young cyclists and all, but I'm a traditionalist.

Metal hoops, please.

Bravo....although, they are trying to move me on to steel reinforced concrete hoops....note to self, every ride does not justify another curry!!!!
pistard says:

Apr 12 2013 at 9:35 pm

@Deakus

Bravo....although, they are trying to move me on to steel reinforced concrete hoops....note to self, every ride does not justify another curry!!!!

But the ride justifies the beer. It's the beer that demands the curry (or chipper).
eightzero says:

Apr 12 2013 at 9:38 pm

@scaler911

@eightzero

I dissent from the majority opinion "even for the enthusiast, the carbon wheel is the future for every discipline of cycling" and write separately.

My Jan sized ass is insupportable on even the finest of Carbone wheels. While I might get away with it for a few hundred miles (!) the end result would be a crushed wheelset, and a crushed ego. All fine you you brave young cyclists and all, but I'm a traditionalist.

Metal hoops, please.

Have you ever even tried a set? If you're running Shimano or SRAM, you can take my Reynolds offset tubs (on White Industry hubs, and TUFO tyres) for a spin at one of the Cogals. Then get back to us. I've met you, and you're not that big.

This is a kind offer, and I am flattered at your words. I come from the sect of velominatus that believes in a systems approach to the Bike. With unlimited resources comes an unlimited selection of components and combinations. Sadly, I live in the real world where simplicity and tradition must be kept in balance with innovation and technology, and naturally cost effectiveness. While I have absolutely no doubt the carbone wheels and tubs offer superior ride quality and enjoyment, I must balance that system against the realities of durability and cost. Cost here is key, since little bits add up, and every dollar spent on a tub is a dollar I could spend getting to a cycling destination.

Like a Cogal.
starclimber says:

Apr 12 2013 at 9:49 pm

@Deakus

@starclimber

I wonder if it isn't a question of harmonics. Perhaps the Golden Tickets' rim rebound frequency is lower than that from the carbon rims, thus the bounce/flex energy is not directly transmitted up the fork but tangentially instead, resulting in larger fork/seat stay oscillations. This force would combine with the immediate impact force to lengthen the duration of the force but reduce its amplitude. So, at Frank speed, this longer wave rebound would result in greater apparent compliance.

A stronger, faster rider, say your Faboo or your Tommeke, moving many km/h faster, would find the harmonic tuning of deeper section wheels to be just right.

Heh. Or not. Russian Imperial Stout for the win. That bitch is ALWAYS at the right rebound frequency and wavelength.

I have no idea what all of that meant, but fuck it sounded mighty impressive, and to polish the science off with a malted beverage reference is pure genius....that's like the unstoppable force meeting the immovable object!

I suffered a short-lived life threatening malt-powered mirth chortle upon reading your response, for which I thank you. If only one phase of water would fall from the skies tomorrow, I could get through this weekend exfurioused. I mean c'mon, Vancouver, pick one for fuck's sake: liquid/solid/both/neither. Then, I could dress poorly for just one eventuality, not all of them.
starclimber says:

Apr 12 2013 at 9:55 pm

Here's the forecast, verbatim, I shit you not:

SaturdayMainly cloudy with 70 percent chance of rain showers in the morning and 30 percent chance of rain showers or ice pellets late in the afternoon. Risk of a thunderstorm late in the afternoon. 70 percent chance of wet flurries over higher terrain early in the morning. Windy near the water late in the afternoon. High 10. UV index 4 or moderate.Yeah. UV index. Where, exactly, did I miss the part about 'glorious sunshine' in all of that?
G'rilla says:

Apr 13 2013 at 12:58 am

Unrelated, I'm in downtown Dublin now through Monday noon. Are there any Velominati here who want to get together for lunch or a beer? Dr C? The Engine?

Email me: boss@topfunky.com
Deakus says:

Apr 13 2013 at 2:55 am

@pistard

@Deakus

Bravo....although, they are trying to move me on to steel reinforced concrete hoops....note to self, every ride does not justify another curry!!!!

But the ride justifies the beer. It's the beer that demands the curry (or chipper).

And here lies the path to true enlightenment.....thankyou for inserting the correct logic, I had spent some time claiming that my barrel chested physique was the result of a Big Mig engine....but sadly I feel it is more to do with the above!