0.02% aero lost, 236% cool gained
Tradition and innovation sit mostly comfortably alongside each other in Cycling. The bicycle itself is inherently a very simple machine, the basic design of which has remained the same for centuries; frame, two wheels, cranks, saddle, handlebars. It’s what has been done to these elements along the way that has shaped what the modern road bike (because mountain bikes are way out there and another realm altogether) now looks like.
To me, they look like crap.
The ‘advancements’ made through the use of carbon fibre have without doubt benefitted those who really need to benefit in incremental steps, and that is Pro riders. These guys and gals are paid to ride a bicycle as fast as they can and to get it across a line hundreds of kilometres away from where they started before hundreds of others, sometimes by the barest of margins. That’s not us. We ride because we love the freedom, the health benefits, all that bullshit that Bicycling magazine will give you 7 tips on how to do it. We don’t need aero-tubed frames and deep dish carbon wheels, but we want them. Sure, all this stuff makes our experience better, and I’m not suggesting we all ride around on K-Mart bikes, even though we’d still probably have some form of fun if we did. Even if you race, even A grade at club level, or have a crack at Nationals, the bike isn’t going to make you win. I’ll repeat; you’re not a Pro.
This whole ‘aero’ frame fad that has taken over the peloton is all well and good when the sport’s top prizes are at stake. When rolling around with your mates and having a coffee before and a beer after is the modus operandi, then why not do it with a modicum of style? Aero bikes are not stylish. Those oversized, flattened, sharp edged carbon members (I refuse to call them tubes) are just downright ugly. The curvy swooping lines and bent-six-ways stays are an abomination. And some of the stems popping up now look like tumours growing from Frankenstein’s neck. I don’t like them, in case you’re not picking up on that.
The more I look at the new crop of ’boutique’ builders working with steel, the more I realise how much of a blight these carbon race frames are. My eyes are attuned to the simplicity of round, straight tubes, with a sensible diameter, and if they’re held together with lugs, well that’s not a bad thing either. But even these simple things of beauty can be sullied by another modern invention, the sloping top tube. A lot of the bikes that appeared in my feeds from the recent NAHMBS featured quite radically sloping tt’s, and whenever a flat tt’ed bike popped up it was even more apparent that flat is where it’s at. And I’m not saying this because I own such a bike; in fact, there was a period after purchasing my Jaegher where I questioned whether I should have had some slope built in. But the more I witness the glut of ugly that is is the Pro peloton, I’m glad I listened to the denizens who lovingly handcrafted my beauty, and kept the tubes like they are meant to be: flat, round and straight.
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I enjoy looking at the comparison - American Flyers style
@brett
yeah, it's an amazing bike as long as the stupid BBright bottom bracket isn't creaking. Doesn't stop me lusting after one of these that a local mate (and expert beer source) has started making.
Rogers Bespoke
@frank
Well FUCK! Must have been something in the air! I ordered my Hampsten Ti Gran Paradiso yesterday as well. Spoke with Stephen and it is a done deal. Will get the measurements set in May when I come out your way and Kent Eriksen will be doing the frame welding.
The VMH still a bit in the dark, that is why I can still type with both hands (a la Paul Newman and The Hustler).
How did your VMH take it? Perhaps we should not let them meet this May after all???
Watch out fellow Velominati, it might be catching!
And Congrats, Frahnk on ordering your next family member!!!
@Buck Rogers
Congrats yourself, Buck. I've heard nothing but good things about the Hampstens -- particularly in Ti -- and about working with Steve.
@Buck Rogers
The other one that springs to mind is the scene from Misery. Though I'm not going to post the clip......
@cognition
Thanks!!! I have replied twice to this post (yesterday) and it has said that "your post has been published" two times but I am not seeing it so forgive me if my replies show up three times!
Well, to paraphrase my other responses, as my British college roommate used to say, I'm properly chuffed about it! Or as we Yanks say, I am incredibly fucking psyched!!! Cannot believe that it is happening! It is going to be fucking perfetto! Kent Eriksen is going to make the frame from Steve's measurements and his geometry. Talk about a bike-building marriage made in fucking heaven (the type of heaven I hope to go to).
I already have the 2014 Super Record 11spd non-electric (should us the term "mechanical" and electric should be called "non-mechanical", eh???) Groupo all bought and paid for and I am commissioning Big Al in Scotland to build me a set of 32 hole Nemesis Tubular/Royce Venus wheels this fall (for bombing the pave' all over Europe for the next 6 years while living in Germany) when the next pound of flesh can be carved off my body.
Future's so bright, now where did I put my old blue Rudy Projects???
@Teocalli
E-Gad! Yup, that scene was brutal. Stephen King sure knows how to screw up ones mind, doesn't he?
@Buck Rogers
That build sounds absolutely amazing! Love the wheel choice. Jealous about you being able to bomb pave all over Europe.
@MangoDave
It should look very similar to this pic I found on google of a Gran Paradiso Ti. But I'll do "the bits" a bit different and have the Nemesis/Royce wheel set.