My first bicycle opened a new world to me, one where range was measured by will and pedal revolutions, not steps; the only objective was seeing how far out I could push my range. First, to the border of our community, then to the nearest gas station, and on it went. It was a big yellow contraption with 10 speeds – twelve if you count “crashed” and “out of control”, which were the two most commonly used of the lot.
I didn’t know I could customize it. I assumed all saddles were steel with a foam and plastic coating, just as I assumed all brakes were ornamental beyond producing a screech that served to deter dog attacks. When the seat became too low, I declared that the bike no longer fit; I had no idea I could raise the saddle.
That bike was a Sears Moonlight Special, and I am quite sure it was made of solid lead pipes and had steel wheels. The bars were possibly wrapped in asbestos. I don’t wish I still had it, but I wish I still had my second bike. She was a beauty; a Raleigh with a gorgeous Weinmann group and a stunning metallic paint of brown and black, a color combination that every tailor on Savile Row will tell you is the most beautiful. Fitting, then, that it was an English bike.
At first, all I wanted was to rid the bike of her unsightly brake cables that jutted from the brake levers in the traditional way. This was the late eighties, and all brake levers on modern bikes were “aero” (under the tape). So I bought some DiaCompe levers and set about changing them out. A friend at County Cycles in Saint Paul, Minnesota (famous for being the place where Johnny Cash met “Her“) convinced me to buy some Benotto bar tape, and I spent the next few days basking in the amazement of my ability to single-handedly alter the look of my machine so dramatically. (Indirectly, my test rides also taught me about tightening cable bolts enough.)
This experience opened me up to the notion that every bike can be adapted to serve our needs. Every bike has a soul, and every soul has a bike. It could be our #1, or it might just carry us to work, or down to the farmers market. But like a dog with it’s pack, it’s happy so long as it knows its purpose, its reason for being – and has the opportunity to fulfill that purpose. And whenever we help a bike find its purpose, it bonds to our soul and never leaves us.
You need vision to see a bike’s purpose, and Grant Peterson might be the greatest bicycle visionary; he lived La Vie Velominatus long before we put that term to paper. He sees opportunities in bicycles without judgement; it doesn’t have to be a racer, or a tourer, or a trail bike – it just has to ride well and be fun. He’s been an inspiration since I learned about Bridgestone bikes, and his vision continues with Rivendale Bicycle Works. When time came for him to design a hybrid bike, he chose mustache bars with race-inspired geometry in the belief that just because it’s hybrid doesn’t mean it shouldn’t ride well. I’m proud to walk in his footsteps.
The Nederaap CX-V may have served her run as my main CX/Graveur, but she lives on as the loyal steed carrying me to and from the grocery store, the markets, post office, pub, and any manner of fun and casual expeditions around town. I don’t kit up, I don’t pump up the tires (although I do thumb-check the pressure, I’m not a savage), I don’t plan the route. I just get on, and I ride. And she rides great, is fun, and gobbles up single track just the same as she does tarmac. It makes no difference to her, I just jump on and start pedaling like I did when I was a kid. That’s good old-fashioned fun.
Plus, now I can enter the Commuter Grand Prix.
[dmalbum path=”/velominati.com/content/Photo Galleries/frank@velominati.com/CX-Mustache/”/]
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View Comments
@EricW
JeeeZHUS! This is GREAT! I foresee this keeping up with the Assos woman posts in the future!
@Ken Ho
You're misunderstanding what I'm trying to say; I'm not inferring or implying anything about what you know or understand about cycling - I'm saying that you seem unclear on the purpose of the site and The Rules. They're about fostering passion and having fun and getting people out on their bike, so when you say something like "less rules, more riding", you're missing the point. Its about having fun and getting out doing the sport we love and if our approach works for you, then great. If not, then that's also great so long as you still love the sport in your own way.
You seem to have spirit and a good sense of humor, and those are the most important parts. It just seems you're rushing to put people in boxes rather than taking your time to figure out what they're about. Take your time, and enjoy the place. The Path will reveal itself to you.
It doesn't matter, I'm not here to manage your experience. Just an observation and that's all I'll say on the matter.
@DCR
Damn that's gross.
@Frank: thanks. Your and @velovita's 'stache bikes are intriguing.
@frank
I tried to manage your experience one time, and the neighbors (4 houses down and across the street) wondered what the fuck I was doing in my back yard at 2am with a dozen people. Which is funny, because there was only 3 of us.
@scaler911
I'm laughing and thinking you should have been at the hot tub on the Saturday night of the V-to-V cogal. We got chased out of there on multiple noise complaints. Which was probably a good thing, as we had another gazillion meters to climb Sunday.
@Gianni
Thanks Gianni.
And don't take it too serious, as far as the rules go I give you a pass on everything just because of your awesome sense of humour. I'm not sure Frank does though.
@frank
Thanks mate.
I am more for classic bars because of the looks, that's all. I know it's a commuter so you are not going to do your personal best on it however on classic bars you still get two comfortable positions-on tops and on the hoods. Plus if somebody overtakes you and you decide to chase on, you can always stretch the shirt on your back a little bit by falling into the drops.You don't have to sit in them all the way back and forth from the groceries. On the other hand the bars you have at the moment have you pretty much locked in a place and on one level.
@frank
I still am. I use Record 10 on my red/black soloist carbon. I have 11 speed on S3 since 2010 and it's the first Super Record edition. I really like the look and finish on the derailleurs and brakes- all black with white letters. I replaced the crank with Rotor 3D + with noQ rings 53/39. Cassette,chain and shifters are Chorus 11.
The major difference for me are the shifters- 10 speed shifters are less comfortable but as far as changing a gear or inner cable goes they are much better IMO. The click on them is also stiffer and I prefer it- some hate it and I can't understand why.
I'm not sure if you care but you can use 10 speed Ergos paired with 11 speed derailleurs and the shifting is absolutely flawless. All you have to do is to use 10 speed cassette. You can keep 11 speed chain and it's the quietest chain you can use on a 10 speed cassette. The inner links measurement of both 10 and 11 speed chain is almost identical however 11 speed chain being slightly narrower, if you measure outer plates, so it runs really smooth between the sprockets.The wear is almost identical too.
If I decide to run the same shifters on both bikes to have identical bar/shifters set up I will simply install a spare record 10 shifters and a 10 speed cassette but so far I have been very comfortable switching between both bikes.
@TommyTubolare
Fantastic stuff. Yet another reason to love Campagnolo. In anticipating the migration from 10 to 11, they engineered compatibility rather than planned obsolescence. Love that mindset. My n1 is 11, while n2 is 10. As you, I've found switching between them to be no problem. Even the freehub is interchangeable, which makes swapping wheels as easy as changing the cassette.
@TommyTubolare
For fuck's sake don't take it too seriously because if Frank, Gianni, and Brett are off the path that leaves Jim and I as the only shepherds. If that were to be the case, Velominati, hell, cycling itself, would cease to exist.