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
Has anyone successfully paired v-brakes with full fenders? I guess you could cut a notch, but now that I put v-brakes on my cross bike, I'd kind of like them on my commuter too, instead of cantilevers, but I have full fenders.
I came to road riding through MTB then commuting, and can appreciate any kind of bike. I think mustache bars always raise interest, they always show a more custom build is on the road ahead, had a few conversations start up with my comments they are riding a 'nice bike!'.
Look fantastic and comply with rules while riding the roadie, otherwise roll with what suits on other bikes..
Mudguards/Fenders are awesome for keeping clothes clean, you want a flap or extended fenders down to like 10% of the wheel diameter, to keep splashing off your shoes. Amazing how much just a wet road can soak your tootsies and ass without them.
Racks or baskets are awesome for getting backpacks off your back, which tend to make things sweatier on a nice day.
I can dig it Fronk.
Please let me know where you get the chainguard from, been looking for an affordable one big enough for a 52t for ages..
BTW, don't you commute like 30k each way or something?
And how do you find the bar end shifters? Passed a guy with some on his Surly LHT yesterday and wondered how they go.
@Ron
v-brakes or mini-v? I've seen photos of bikes with fenders and v-brakes so I assume it works (although I have no experience with it), but v-brakes won't work with road levers unless you run a travel agent. Mini-vs on the other hand have shorter arms to match the cable pull of road levers (thereby doing away with the need for a travel agent) but as a result that means that there isn't as much clearance (and not enough for fenders)
@Beers
My commute is roughly 30k each way. My Ti bike works wonders and allows me to attempt to kill segments along the way. I don't think I would ride a bike like yours @frank for those distances. My 70's steel bike gets the grocery runs.
@Ron
I should say that my statement about mini-Vs is assuming a larger tire size - something like a 32mm. If you run narrower tires, you might be able to run a narrower fender that could work I suppose. You may have to play with the sizes a bit to see what you can fit. Some of it will also depend on how wide your rims are. Wider rims won't require the pads to be set as close which could give you more a little more clearance on the arms.
@frank
I might read the article without posting but I never post anything without reading.
I don't use a Dutch bike. When I had one it served me well. It did exactly what it was design to do.
How much shopping can you carry home from groceries on your commuter without taking a rucksack?
I don't commute to work. I ride to work. Always on a race bike. I usually do 35-40 km one way through East Flanders. But since I'm going to work does that make the pictured bike a commuter so I can flip the stem up now? You are comfortable on your race bike for 5-6 hours rides and yet you need to install the stem upwards on your commuter to get an extra comfort? For what - 15 mins ride down to groceries or post office? I get the fenders and bell idea but the stem up and the bars are just wrong. Classic bars and 'normal' stem and the bike is perfect.
@VeloVita
Whoa. Instant nostalgia rush. Seattle to Portland in a day on a red Club Fuji in the late eighties. I think that was the last time I rode that bike, only because an Erickson found me.
@frank
I said, I said, Christ who wouldn't?
That's a joke, son.