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 ...
@Steve Trice
We had just that at our service hub on Ride London last year. Someone needed a new tyre and was complaining that they could buy it cheaper on line – he wasn’t being too nice about it – so we basically told him he could order online and wait for it to be delivered or pay the standard LBS price and finish the ride that day. His choice.
If this is grounds for a divorce, how many marriages are in trouble?
http://cycling.today/woman-files-for-divorce-over-husbands-bicycle-obsession/
@Rick
What’s her problem? According to the article he only has one bike. Obsession? She doesn’t know the meaning of the word!
@wiscot
Exactly my thoughts! I initially assumed he went past the n-1 rule.
@Rick
Making S – 1 = 0 is plainly unreasonable.
@Teocalli
THAT would certainly be grounds for divorce as it is clearly and absolutely unreasonable. I was surprised to find that he only had 1 bike.
@Teocalli
https://eroica.cc/journal/bike-of-the-month-1983-gios-professional-proto?utm_source=Eroica.cc&utm_campaign=90324b8fe2-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2018_02_27&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_8fe5a24a55-90324b8fe2-35971873
@KogaLover
Yes I saw that too. I have a 1978-80 version with chrome forks – but not the 50th Anniversary Gruppo. Though I am considering sending my frae to Gios in Turin to get if finished back the correct blue as my frame was resprayed before I bought it and it’s a bit dark.
@Teocalli
Really? It staggers me that people are so obsessed with cost and oblivious to value. Was he at all cowed by your “order online and wait until tomorrow” retort, or did he remain indignant about you “fleecing” him?
I just had a great (or possibly insane) idea, but to put it into practice some input from the Velominati would be most helpful. I’m hoping to go to a gravel/road race in mid August that generally is raced on cyclocross or gravel specific bikes, I have neither. This is about 80km on decent asphalt and 25km on really bad gravel. Last year the winner rode a cyclocross bike with road gearing and 40mm tyres with the kind of tread you’d expect to see cyclocross riders using on dry and fast packed dirt courses, and he even had a bad crash on those. I floated the idea of buying a cyclocross bike for this (and winter commuting of course) to the home finance committee to a promising response, but for various reasons that purchase is far from certain. So I needed a backup plan…
On a whim I decided to inspect the clearance for wide tyres on my old road bike, a Specialized Allez 2010 model and to my untrained eye I get the feeling that I might be able to squeeze 30mm tyres in there. I’m certain 28mm fit. The brakes are Sram Rival 22 and do not seem to be a problem, what I worry about are the chainstays and of course the fork. I know I won’t be able to put anything with knobs on there but something like the Challenge Strada Bianca Pro Open 30mm seems like it should be sufficient for most of this, if it fits. If I lose some time picking my way slowly through the roughest stuff (or crash…) I should at least pick some of it back up on the much longer asphalt sections.
So, finally, my questions: Can anyone here tell me how to be sure about the clearance (I have 25mm tyres on there now and there are more than 2.5mm free in all directions everywhere, but is that enough to be sure?), or better yet, have experience fitting these tyres on this frame? Or are there any other suggestions?
@Steve Trice
He remained indignant and even emailed the following week about being ripped off!
@Quasar
I ran Challenge Paris Roubaix 27mm tyres on Strade Bianche last year with a similar ratio to road/gravel for a 140Km total and it was something of a mudfest. I was slithering around in parts but overall was fine, I didn’t really feel the need for knobblies. I guess the key would be how gravelly is the gravel – by that I mean whether you need something with decent sidewall protection. Also ran them over cobbles last year and was planning on the same tyres for this w/e (till EasyJet pulled the flight) but will use the same on Ronde van Vlaanderen. The Challenge P-R do apparently measure up more like a 28mm. I was happy with them last year and I think they are wide enough unless you will be tracking deep gravel.
In terms of measurement I think it’s quite hard unless you can borrow something to check it out. I guess you could try cutting out some cardboard discs to see what would fit……in theory……..
@Quasar
I do not know your frame, but on my old 1982 vintage bike I put 30mms Conti Pros 4000 for Eroica rides. Gravel/cobbles & pave. No punctures. Enough clearance in the front but… I did chafe off some bits of paint of my chainstays, before I discovered I could adjust the rear wheel with screws to set it back a bit more. Didn’t need CX tyres though.
@Teocalli
Most of the gravel surface is really packed dirt (packed enough that even with lots of rain it will form puddles but little mud) with big pebbles and small rocks between the ruts and to the side. Then there are some small patches of deeper gravel that I may actually just pick up the bike and run over…
The cutout discs are a great idea, I’ll try that, thanks! A good way to be sure of not just being able to put the tyre in but also to have some “breathing space” around it.
@Teocalli
FFS, that’s somebody with too much time and way too little empathy. Should be pitied really (or euthanased :-) )
@Quasar
Sounds similar to Strade in Tuscany.
@Teocalli
Good to know, maybe I’ll try to get a place there someday!
@RobSandy
Had that happen to me just before Christmas. 36×11 for the second half of my ride. Had to have one of the few mechanics I trust sort it out. It was a bitch.
I’m just going to leave this here…
@RobSandy
Are those spd sandals?
If the UCI were to spend it’s time hunting these people down rather than setting up pointless enquiries aimed at punishing teams and riders for working within their broken set of rules, cycling would be so much better served.
And please don’t just leave things like this here. It’s on par with coming home to find your dog being very proud of the turd he’s left lying on the carpet.
@chris
Sandals – check
Triathlete (clearly) – check
1 x 11 drive train – check
Fat TT bike – check
What’s not to like?
I like being that proud, proud dog. I’m sure I can leave a worse mess than that here if I really try, so don’t challenge me.
@RobSandy
Sure, it ticks all the boxes but surely the question is just, why?
You misunderstand me. It wasn’t a challenge it was a plea. Don’t forget the masturbation principal, just because you might like looking at pictures like that it doesn’t mean you have to post them. We’re all capable of doing that sort of “research” alone.
@chris
The weird thing is that he appears to be holding it down rather than carrying it – Helium balloons for tyres?
@chris
I just don’t understand what this bike is for, and I’m someone who will defend people’s right to ride whatever the hell they want (I’m currently considering a cargo bike with a bucket in the front, as my wife and I have a baby on the way, and we don’t have a car). But what even is this?! Fat tyres grant extra control on loose surface, but they’re slick. And if you want control, then why the aero bars? My feeling on 1×11 groups is that they are best suited to CX, but you wouldn’t want to take that thing off-road.
I’m so confused, you guys.
@mulebeatsdrums
Yes. No idea. Where do you even get slick fat bike tyres?
@RobSandy
The museum I work at is doing an exhibition with Trek this spring. I’ve sent a copy of this pic to my contact there for his opinion. That bike’s just not right . . .
BTW we’re planning on having Voight’s Hour Record bike, a Cancellara Strade Biache bike, two Contador bikes, a Rachel Atherton bike, a Degenkolb bike and many other bikes including a bunch that Trek design staff “pimped” out.
@mulebeatsdrums
Is the History Channel developing a new series: Ice Road Time Trialists?
@Rick
Funny enough, I found a the pic as a guy I ride with was stuck in a different city because of the snow. He joked it was the only reason he’d ever heard to own a fat bike and as he’s a very strong time triallist I searched the web for an appropriate bike for him.
On today’s ride.
@chuckp
Cool. Where is that?
@Teocalli
The National Arboretum in DC. http://www.usna.usda.gov The columns are from the Capitol. http://www.usna.usda.gov/discover/gardens-collections/national-capitol-columns
@chuckp
Pretty sure there’s an episode of 99% Invisible about those columns and various other bits of the Capitol that got dumped in the middle of nowhere. If any of you are not listening to that show, assuming that you’re all as aesthetes of some kind (hanging round here and all), I highly recommend it .
Hello all (again), I’ve wandered, come and gone, lurked and now after my latest “project” am ready to post a few photos.
In my travels I acquired a very lost soul of a broken 1970s/80s(?) Bianchi made in Japan. Sure it was nothing special to the guy who left it in the rain and snow for several years, but like walking through a dog shelter and finding one that just talks to you- I thought this one is the one to put some effort into and get it back out on the road where it belongs.
Took it home and started peeling it apart, finding rust and spiders where there should never be any. Wrestled a seat post like pulling Excalibur from the stone and BB bearings and the “things” that used to hold them in place crumble in my hands.
Searched and picked up bits and pieces here and there, other awesome cyclists went into their garages and would produce another needed part or three and finally here it sits awaiting your keen eyes and wicked sharp wit.
Fun to ride, shifts well and of course as we well know, brakes have come a very long way since then, but it is fun to watch peoples faces light when the older ones say “hey I had one like that”.
Ride safe guys.
Dean
@Dean C
Love it. Awesome project!
@Dean C
Nice. I do like a vintage cruise. I keep thinking that I do need a Bianchi……..
Oh FFS. Really? Do we really need 12 at the back?
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/campagnolo-12-speed-could-soon-be-here/
@wiscot
I’ll be surprised if it’s Campagnolo who are the first to do it if it does happen. It’s usually Shimano or SRAM who are on the leading edge, then Campy make a higher-quality version a long while later (e.g. they only brought out disc brakes last year!)
I can see the appeal of 12-speed for 1x drivetrains, but for doubles and triples, completely pointless. Just adds more cross-compatibility issues between bikes.
@wiscot
Yeah I saw that and thought the same – unless they are thinking of a 1x as @mulebeatsdrums says. Then again with the trend to 32+ cassettes it helps avoid too many jumps.
VSP Picks:
E3-Harelbeke:
Ghent-Wevelgem (M)
Ghent-Wevelgem (F)
Also, why isn’t Steephill covering any women’s racing?! It’s 2018 FFS!
I’d love to fit in a trip to Milan sometime https://www.facebook.com/pelotonmagazine/?hc_ref=ARRaKq0vYD-K9nFE3qhyTdky6nhPUSrzrtzMemr1ti2TNai0Cfbfx8C6fESQ-MkMT_g
….and on the subject of team kit………. http://www.clifbar.com/athletes-events/our-athletes/tcb-cycling
@wiscot
Yes. Really!
I run an oddball 50/36 front chainring set up. 12 speeds would allow me run a 12-13-14-15-16-17-19-21-23-25-27-30 rear cassette.
Right now, I’m running a 12-28 11-speed and now that Shimano is making a 12-30 cassette, will change out to that when it’s time to replace my chain/cassette again (just installed a new one so either at the end of this season or beginning of next).
@Teocalli
Perhaps for this
Hmmmmmm………I fear I am likely over the age limit, which is such a shame……………
Interesting article that puts some scale to Obree’s genius.
http://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/latest-news/graeme-obree-old-faithful-bike-put-test-wind-tunnel-heres-373769
Not least this bit – assuming it was not starting from a spare frame …….
I am a little disappointed to find the bike isn’t actually Old Faithful, but a replica he’d built two days earlier when he realised that the original was in the National Museum of Scotland and he couldn’t borrow it.
Re the position not being used in racing these days we do have the Froome Supertuck ………
Check out the name of the street
I wanted a longer stem. I bought a profile designs 17deg stem, 130mm long, compared it to the 3T 17deg 110mm stem I have on the bike and it’s the same length. WTF?
@RobSandy
How do they measure c-t-c? Sounds like potential good cause to get your money back – unless it’s the old one that is long…..
@Teocalli
I have a 3T 120mm -17 degree ARX Pro stem that is actually more like 130mm (maybe even longer) c-to-c when measured in the horizontal (negative rise) position. But it’s 120mm when measured along the positive rise axis. It’s the stem I originally installed on my Felt FC when I built it because 120mm is the correct length for me when combined with 545mm top tube length. I ride a pretty stretched out position for my height (5’8″) but after riding it for quite a while, I couldn’t figure out why I felt like I was “reaching.” The stem was too long! I found a 110mm -17 degree ARX Pro stem on eBay and that measures more like 120mm in the horizontal position. Don’t ask me why 3T stems are this way, but they are.