The Bikes
The Bike. It is the central tool in pursuit of our craft. A Velominatus meticulously maintains their bicycles and adorns them with the essential, yet minimal, accoutrement. The Rules specify the principles of good taste in configuration and setup of our machines, but within those principles lies almost infinite room for personal taste.
It seems in some ways like a kind of Stockholm Syndrome, the way we honor our machines. We love them to a point that lies well beyond obsession. Upon these machines upon we endure endless suffering, but also find an unending pleasure. The rhythm, the harmony between rider and machine, the outdoors, the wind in our faces and air in our lungs.
The Bikes is devoted entirely to our machines. Ours, The Keepers, and yours, the Community. It features articles devoted to our bikes, and proves a forum for uploading photos of your own machines for discussion. We will be harsh, but fair; this is a place to enforce and enhance our observation of The Rules.
If you’d like to submit an article about your own beloved bike, please feel free to send it to us and we’ll do our best to work with you to include it.
- Rule #12 and the Cascade Effect
That is a very reasonable opening salvo for the Rule about bike ownership. Three is good and certainly a minimum, and we are talking road bikes here, if there was any doubt. They naturally become ordered: the #1 is ichi-ban, top dog, go-to bike for every and all rides. #2 was the old #1, ... - Guest Article: Black Is Not The New Black@kogalover is singing my song here. Bikes are beautiful. ’nuff said. VLVV, Gianni With all those posts on riding in winter and being visible, either by putting Eyes of Sauron or other car melting devices on one’s steed, or by even considering a YJA instead of donning plain black kit, it was about time to finally get ...
- Dialing in the StableThis was going to be an article about Rule #45. It is amazing how much time is wasted and matches burned when professionals stop for that second bike change to get back on their #1. With all the jigs available to team mechanics it would seem they could set up five bikes exactly the same. And ...
- Matching the drapes to the rugAs a longtime titanium bike owner, I’ve always been jealous of a beautiful painted frame but Ti and carbon frames don’t need paint like a steel frame needs paint. But I want some painted beauty. It’s like buying a white car; I can’t do white, need some color. So between a Ti frame and a ...
- Festum Prophetae: Waiting for the HourEveryone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth. – Mike Tyson The one thing everyone should always plan for is that however well-conceived a program might be, things will never go to plan. The high level plan for my Festum Prophetae Hour Ride was as follows: Have a custom Hour Bike built by Don Walker. Because reasons. Reasons like custom ...
@Hapsmo
If you go down this path you’ll be pumping singles up constantly as good singles have latex tubes. Even latex tubes in clinchers need to be constantly pumped, before riding as well as top up in-between rides.
Enjoy the single life!
@ChrisO
Sorry, what was an example of an anecdote?
@chris
The stories of rolled tubs… whether glue, tape or blue tack. I was contrasting it to the request for some data rather than stories.
@Teocalli
I wish…
But I suppose that was the point of saying that they wouldn’t use tape on a tubular, even for a TT.
@sthilzy
Which of course is the justification for buying a decent track pump!
@Teocalli
If airing my tires becomes work then I don’t deserve to ride my bike… I do however own one of these
. Style cant be left to just the bike :)
@Hapsmo
Pump away!
@sthilzy
Still using my trusty old Silca – 30+ years of service! (replaced leather washer/seal a couple of years ago!)
So I found this today, more tubular testing of roll off.
@Hapsmo
Is it ok that I’m sitting here on a Saturday evening quite enjoying reading that research?
@JohnB
Haha Yeah I am with you. Saturday night and I am reading about glue….
@JohnB
@chris waves a scientific study at @ChrisO…
Very good. Did you actually read it?
Glue is slightly better than tape (9%). I wouldn’t argue with that.
It confirms that anyone who says they wouldn’t use tape in a time trial is talking out of their arse though.
@ChrisO
Read it? Why the fuck would I do that when its charts and tables? And I read the caveat that more research was required. But:
9% isn’t insignificant.
It’s all personal choice but when there’s potential for skin/tarmac interface, 9% is a big percentage.
Why would you use a product that’s 9% more shit than another when there’s no real cost benefit and there’s no significant difference in the level of faff installing the two?
Do the pro teams use tape? I’ve heard of teams using clinchers which doesn’t suggest they’re doing things as they are because that’s the way it’s always been done. Using tape if it’s 9% more shit would seem to be though.
@chris
@ChrisO
Do tubulars seriously roll off the rim? Often?
Because I can’t think I’ve ever heard of a clincher coming off the rim (unless punctured).
@RobSandy
Yes, but I’ve no idea how often.
I’ve had one roll off but that was the result of hitting a fence whilst crashing.
I’ve also punctured at reasonable speed on tubulars and it’s a much more pleasant experience than it is with clinchers.
@chris
Choosing tyres for the puncture, not the ride, seems a bit like dressing for the crash. But maybe that’s just me.
I’ll stick with clinchers.
Just did an online survey for British Cycling and after ticking lots of boxes saying ‘commuting cyclist’ ‘recreational cyclist’ and ‘racing cyclist’ this is one of the last questions they asked.
WTF? Where’s the ‘today’ button?
@RobSandy
It’s ride quality during and after a puncture is a benefit but by no means the main reason for buying them.
The ride is better than clinchers and you get to sniff glue.
@chris
Aren’t clinchers still faster?
I do like a good whiff of glue from time to time though.
@RobSandy
I read an article some time last year by the manufacturers that (as far as I remember) concluded that Tubeless was fastest and clincher/tubular were on a par but all depended on the pressure you ran. This was based on like for like within their own range. I think the thing for pros is mainly safety if you have a blow at 80 kph with tubs and also that with a mechanic to fix and a following car full of spares the safety factor far outweighs any inconvenience. I also seem to remember most pros ride clinchers when training – but I expect I’ll get shot down on that………
@Teocalli
Stop bringing logic and reasoning into my attempts to wind up @chris
Urgh, no, no noo.
http://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/product-news/aqua-blue-sports-new-single-chainring-team-bike-unveiled-2018-357446
@RobSandy
Yeah I saw that too, you’ve gotta feel that pros would not want the gaps/jumps that come with such a setup.
@RobSandy
I wonder at which race next year they’ll announce their switch to double chainrings.
@Monty Stubble
I would guess early in the spring.
@Monty Stubble
The second race of the season.
@Teocalli
Interesting challenge to sort out the gearing for sure. Run a 50 up front with the wide range 10-42 cassettes?
So, a 50×10 is a little bigger gear ratio than a 53×11. And a 50×42 is more than a little smaller ratio than 39×28. So, would look like they have the bigger range available with the 1x 10-42 cassette. Just have to get used to the bigger jumps between gears I guess.
The 48 and 50 rings can be swapped on the 110 bcd cranks. But, if they want to run for whatever reason a 52 they’ll need to swap cranks and run a 135 bcd.
Neutral service ? Not with the wide range XD driver cassettes I’d guess. I suppose could run a regular old 12-25 or 11-28 or whatev but then would probably want to change wheels again when team car came was available ?
Of course with neutral service they also have the issue of disc brakes and thru axles…
Interesting idea: anyone think Tommeke ever shifted in to his little ring at PR when he was running SRAM Red ? They can run a 52 or 54 ring and a regular ratio cassette and have zero worries on dropping chains.
@Randy C
Is dropping a chain a common issue on a well set up bike ridden by someone who knows which gear combos he should be using?
And wouldn’t you be more at risk on a single ring set up when the rear derailleur has to cope with a huge gear range? Isn’t that why you commonly see chain retention devices on 1x cross bikes?
Are Aqua Blue, as a small team no doubt in need of any cash they can get, being used as a guinea pig to sell us something we don’t need?
Anyway, it just looks wrong.
@chris
! This!
@sthilzy
Possibly the whole thing is clickbait / promo anyway. What advantage does it give bearing in mind the bikes are probably close to the minimum weight limit anyway?
@RobSandy
Most of the bikes have to add weight to be at the weight limit as I understand it, though there was talk of UCI reducing the limit for 2018.
Which of course does make you wonder about switching to a climbing bike……..
@Teocalli
My new bike weight 7.5kgs. Just thought I’d get that in there.
I wonder how much weight is saved by removing inner ring, front derailleur and associated gubbins?
@RobSandy
It does add up between different group sets and components https://thebikelane.com.au/2015/06/2015-road-groupset-weights/
The 1x’s have been developed on mtn bikes. And the clutch systems used in the rear detailers all but eliminate chain slack. Plus, in a true 1x, the front ring is designed w/wide-narrow teeth to hold chains and not designed to allow for derailing chains. You simply don’t drop chains with a designed 1x. In mtn bike world the 1x’s provide for more design options around the BB, seat tube and chain stays. You can see that on the 3T bike.
You know, come to think of it, is it mtn bikes where all the really cool tech and development happen and that ultimately trickles down to road bikes?
I suppose not entirely… electronic push button shifting isn’t as big on mtn bikes as road. Especially now going to mostly 1x’s. However, Shimano did developed the synchro shift front derailleur first with XTR before DA. And I guess you don’t see aero being the consideration with mtn bikes.
Anyhoo… they potentially have more gear range with the 1x and wide ratio cassette which is a plus. So, just have to deal with the bigger jumps between gears. And I don’t think that the big jumps is same issue when riding mtn bikes because changing gears all the time.
@chris
Lets go back to this…
@Randy C
We’ve discussed this before…
http://www.velominati.com/racing/dirty-innovators/
@RobSandy
And Bretto was wrong. Suspension still has no place in road cycling other than to sell Pinarellos to fat rich idiots, the chap in the lead photo looks like a mushroom and the Giro Air Attack is hideous. I know, my lad has one.
@Randy C
All of this has brought out the retro-grouch in me. I’ve been riding and racing mountain bikes for a long time (since late 80’s). I hate the 1x trend. I like having a 12-28 rear cassette for small gaps on my MTBs.
I hate the different wheel sizes. Can you imagine if road bikes started switching to 750c wheels and the 700c standard was abandoned? How many of you would be happy? Not me.
Disc brakes, too. For 90% of my off-road riding, give me a good set of V-brakes. Discs squeal, rub, warp and are a nuisance to change wheels. I don’t see the point on a road bike at all, unless you’re constantly riding in the rain descending big mountains, and even then…. they still look wrong.
@RobSandy
The bikes section seems to open away and with pictures.
You might as well give it a go with your build problem.
@chris
Goodness
@RobSandy
@chris
Must be just a problem with me.
Yeah works again here too.
@RobSandy does that cable route up through the frame and do I see that correct that it will prevent the derailleur cage going to the small ring?
@Teocalli
Yes, and yes, sporadically.
The two suggestions I’ve had as fixes are to run the cable around the top of the bolt rather than underneath (Shimano say to run it exactly as shown), or to use spacers to shift the chainrings out a little so the FD isn’t so close to the frame. Not convinced either would work.
@RobSandy
I’m just seeing the FD. The other thought is around the FD Frame/mount bracket. Is that bolted to the frame, riveted or glued? It seems pretty bulky and maybe you could source one that fits that is a bit thinner – even if you have to put on an Aluminium one.
I don’t think you want to be trying to shift the chainrings outwards as that cold lead to a whole bunch of issues.
@Teocalli
The mount appears to be riveted and glued. No adjustment there.
I’m still puzzled.
This isn’t quite the same but does have some bearing on it in the shape of the Groupsan lever arm and also mentions routing the other side of the bolt.
Another thought is to add a washer to the cable clamp to move the cable route aft of the pin that is fouling but you would likely need a longer bolt and if you need more than one washer than could compromise the leverage on the lever arm pins.
@Teocalli