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 ...
In addition to being an Irwin Cycling/Wheels ambassador, am also a Marque Cycling (a sister company to Irwin) ambassador. A bit of a PITA to do, but did a 2-color wrap job. Using Marque Diamond tape which is similar to Lizards Skins and Supacaz. Padded and grippy. Perfect for riding sans gloves. The diamond pattern/texture gives it grip purchase and I don’t think it will get too slippery even in hot and humid weather. I love the finishing tape that’s a match to the bar tape.
https://marquecycling.com
@chuckp
Nice look but is it Rule #8 compliant?
@Rick
No one gives a shit about the Rules anymore anyway…
@RobSandy
Yours truly still does. Call me old-fashioned.
@KogaLover
The last bastions of the faithful will rise Phoenix like from the ashes………….
@Teocalli
*slowly stands up and salutes*
@RobSandy
I think the few guys that are still here are the very definition of “last bastions of the faithful.” Even though we are basically a stubborn few, I think it does speak well of the community this site has created. I’d surely miss it if it was gone and have no desire to post on something like Cycling News. Frank has clearly abandoned us, the keepers also have their reasons to stay away, but we hang in there. Particular kudos to Teocalli for keeping the VSP going.
@wiscot
Including those of us who don’t follow all the rules to the letter. Remember, Greg LeMan said, “Rules are meant to be broken.”
@KogaLover
I’m conflicted. I used to weigh in on any discussion in other places when people took the whole Rules/Velominati thing out of context to point out that it wasn’t meant to be serious and there was a lot more to it in terms of the people and discussion.
I’m afraid the shitty way it’s been left has made me question whether it was always flawed, and slightly embarrassed to be honest. Although I agree the small core of faithful, or deluded ;- ) , is a worthy tribute and justifies some of the talk about community and unique spirit.
I still follow the rules, mostly, but then I was reasonably compliant to begin with and the Rules are 80% just stuff that roadies do anyway.
However I can’t and don’t defend it to anyone else nowadays.
@ChrisO
I hear ya and understand where you are coming from. I am also familiar with the M-principle as a get-out-of-jail card. Yet as you know, there are few of these.
@chuckp
Okay, so it’s not my computer that’s screwing up here. I’ve been away for quite some time, returning to see only articles from the archives. Can anyone either describe the attenuation of activity here or direct me to some momentous occasion when things went south?
Glad to see there is still activity.
@Bespoke
I’m digging deeper and finding a bit more information in the Keepers section (where these posts should likely be).
In the meantime, greetings to all stalwarts.
@Bespoke
Yes it’s a bit like writing The Causes of WW1… Franz Ferdinand was only the final straw.
In no particular order – obviously this is what was seen from a public-facing point of view, and there may well be other elements:
Apart from (I think) one post there’s been radio silence from Frank. The articles are just on a random carousel selection.
I get that people don’t want to do something forever which is why it was disappointing not to take the chance to let it evolve into something else. I’m afraid it rather makes all the stuff about community and La Vie Velominati or whatever it was look like bullshit, but hey ho… sic transit gloria mundi.
Talking about the community, is anybody else getting frequent friend requests from “12”? Seems an odd thing, “12” has never posted (not under that name, at least) but has sent me several requests. Can’t decide whether it’s a scam, a bot or somebody who is a bit needy.
@Steve Trice
Yes we are all getting that best delete them it seems to be some sort of clone.
@ChrisO
Thanks for the post. I’ve certainly contributed a few articles to the site (always through the kind and gracious Gianni) and even sent a few more to Frank (ignored), but the site has evolved into a few diehards who won’t let this thing (community) die. It started off great as a forum for bike geeks, but once money got involved, that’s when things got messy (as they often do).
@Steve Trice
Yep I think they’re selling nipple lube, but the wrong sort…
@ChrisO
Hi ChrisO,
Thanks for your response, good to hear from you. As someone coming to this sport/culture, late in life, I learned a lot from this community so glad to know some semblance still exists and that the discussion continues.
@Bespoke
You’re not alone in this. I can trace my entire life as a Cyclist through this site. From buying my first road bike, to learning how to kit up properly, to my first time trials, then bunch races, my first race win, my first 100km, 150km, 200km ride, my first big rides abroad and also going from taking half a day to change an inner tube to building my own bike from the frameset up. Witness:
Me cycling at the velodrome in early 2014 – note general fatness, trainers, baggy clothing and hairy legs.
Me racing an E123 crit last week, getting in the winning break and generally just about holding my own with the big boys on a bike I built.
Thank you Velominati.
@RobSandy
Quite a transition !
Just number-pinning to go then ;-)
@RobSandy
Same transition with me although I do not have the evidence in pics nor do i so races but i stacked up on bikes since landing here, changed kit, overcame the first shincuts and love the altitudemeters. You still need a second bidon btw.
@ChrisO
Everyone, my wife included, tells me I’m terrible at pinning numbers on. TBH I care more about access to the pockets.
@KogaLover
@KogaLover
Actually, Rule #78 states I need one less cage, not one more bidon…
Giro Picks
Froome
Dumoulin
Miguel Angel Lopez
Pinot
Aru
@RobSandy
Chapeau Bro!
@sthilzy
Chapeau indeed. Looking great in that 2nd pic. You’d be quite justified in feeling pretty damn chuffed with yourself.
I think you guys will love this. Sorry if it’s been posted elsewhere.
@RobSandy
Two words … Photo … Shop … :-)
Me at Flèche Buffoon last Saturday. F*ing hardest ride I’ve ever done. Essentially a half version of Liege-Bastogne-Liege. 75 miles. 14 Belgian Ardennes-like climbs. Shortest about a kilometer and the longest more than 2 kilometers. Steep, steep, steep. Even on climbs with single digit average grade, significant sections that are mid-teen double digit. Steepest climb is Uhlerstown, which is 11 percent average grade. But that’s deceiving because that includes a shallow run-in (the only climb with one, the rest are immediate left, right, or 180 then just up) and leveling off at the top. The steep section (it’s own segment on Strava) averages 23 percent! The steepest bits are … wait for it … 40-50 percent! My lowest gear was 36×28. I barely made it up. If we do it again next year (yes, we’re already talking about it), I’m putting on a 34×30 lowest gear.
@chuckp
Chapeau – I was glad of my 30 on RVV. Worth every penny.
@Bespoke
I’ll go with both. Rode against Graeme many times in the 80s. Fast as hell as as nice a guy as you could meet. Still looks absurdly fit.
He should be on the inspirational speaker circuit, or teaching classes in creative thinking.
@Bespoke
STUD
@RobSandy
really super stuff!
@wiscot
So cool that you rode with him. You’re so right: he looks amazingly fit and he is a real character; very funny: “air molecules come in bunches”!
Interesting comment re: speaking about creativity and problem solving. You are spot on.
@Bespoke
Yeah, whenever I see/hear Graeme, I think “Christ, he should be doing TED talks.” The enthusiasm, creativity, out-of-the-box thinking.” You can’t teach that stuff.
I played tourist over the weekend.
@chuckp
Nice – but Rule #26……..big dog and photo from the drive side!
@RobSandy
Indeed, either remove cage or put same bidon in it.
@KogaLover
I don’t think there’s anything in the rules about empty bottle cages – correct me if I’m wrong.
But there is a specific mention of removing the extra cage if you’re riding a short crit.
I’ve taken the 2nd off now anyway as I’m not road racing for a while.
@Teocalli
I neither live nor die by The Rules :-)
@RobSandy
Rule #78
@KogaLover
That’s what I just said!
No rule saying if you have 2 cages they both need a bottle in.
Go on, check!
@RobSandy
So we agree.
Haven’t posted a bike picture for a while but I’ve just finished glueing tubs to my new wheels. Hand built 60mm deep on Hope Pro RS4 with 25mm Vitoria Corsa G+ tubs. Can’t wait to ride them on Friday. It’ll be an especially good one as the family are over for half term and my son has brought his bike.
These have got to make me significantly faster!
Shit picture, I know. The lighting is all wrong so it came out yellow hence the B & W.
@chris
What frame is that? Not seen it before.
That whole set up looks the mutt’s nuts.
Thanks. I am deeply in love with it.
It’s last year’s Cannondale CAAD12 Black Inc (Basically a CAAD 12 with a sexier paint job and a hi-mod carbon fork off the top end SuperSix rather than the standard fork).
It’s currently decked out in 10 speed Sram Red that came off my crashed SuperSix and Cannondale cranks.
The SuperSix is just about to return from the carbon frame repairers so I’m thinking about putting the Sram Red back on that (the groupset is a cannondale specific one with green highlights instead of red) and getting E-Tap for the CAAD 12.
The CAAD12 will remain 53/39 and, being aluminium, will be the rufty tufty race bike, throw into a bike box and stick on the turbo trainer. The SuperSix will get a compact, the shallow section carbon tubulars and be the climbing bike.
@chris
Badass! And looks especially so in B&W.
Getting my daughter to work on her photography skills shooting pics for my PEZ review of Lake CX402 shoes. Scheduled to be posted on Friday.
New daft mechanical alert – Set off on my commute this morning on my alloy Felt F75. At the first set of traffic lights I pulled away and something ‘lurched’. I pulled over and looked down to see that my left hand crank had slipped on the BB spindle. I’d forgotten to tighten the pinch bolts on the crank.
I popped home and managed to get it off using some amount of brute force and persistence, and put it back on correctly.
All seems fine, my question is though, what damage may I have done to the crank, BB spindle or BB itself?
Obviously by having it slip I might have damaged the splines on the BB spindle and on the inside of the crank, but it fitted back on nicely enough.
My bike felt like crap this morning, but that might be due to what was sitting on it, rather than a problem with the bike.
@RobSandy
Visual inspection of the splines should be able to tell you if it is damaged. Any damage is likely to be confined to the ends of the spline so once fully engaged it is likely to be OK assuming you have not crunched a mash of broken splines into the whole thing……….
Though if it all went in easily it is most likely fine.
It’s funny how things seem to ride better after a bit of TLC and conversely feel crap after some negative TLC even though mechanically it is all as it was before.