Categories: NostalgiaTradition

The Hard Way

Doing things the hard way is a luxury. It says to the world that we’ve beat evolution; intelligence is no match for technology and economy is no match for indulgence. We need only step a bit outside our bubble to realize the scale of the illusion, but nevertheless it has become reality for many of us who live our lives happily and fortunately in the middle and upper classes of the developed world where survival has nothing whatsoever to do with being the fittest.

One of the things that struck me within weeks of moving to the Pacific Northwest was the frequency with which people die here; not from disease (although Ebola can go fuck itself, pardon my francais) but from tucking into the wilderness for some weekend relaxation. The PNW has some of the world’s biggest cities, but most of it is untamed wilderness – including radical weather systems, cougars, rattlesnakes, bear, The Sasquatch, and possibly ManBearPig. This place will mess you up, son; your GPS or iPhone isn’t going to be your savior.

The first-hand experience of the realities of a system provides a more intimate learning tool than does the passive observation, although in an evolutionary sense the latter is the more effective method for the survival of a species; our ancestors learned to stay away from bees by watching the guy who drew the short straw poke at a hive and die from anaphylactic shock without needing to then poke at the hive themselves. Nevertheless the tangible nature of repercussions forges an indelible bond between action and result.

It is also interesting that complexity and abstraction are inversely bound; the more complex the system, the farther the user is removed from its operation. The simplicity of the friction downtube shifter is in sharp contrast to the complexity of an electronic drivetrain. My steel bike has friction downtube shifters, a fact that makes itself especially well known while climbing. To shift requires planning and skill; I have to find a part of the climb where I can be seated, unload the chain, and shift by feeling the chain as it slides across the block and listen for the telltale silence when the chain is securely seated back onto an adjacent cog. At that point, I’m committed to that gear until the climb grants me the next opportunity to shift. On Bike #1, I can shift under full load at my whim and without consequence. The artistry of shifting is lost, though I wouldn’t go back to downtube shifters on any bike I plan to ride seriously.

I love the contrast of evolution and tradition in the modern racing bicycle, with carbon tubulars being perhaps the most fitting contrast where the most modern technology is dependent on the oldest form of affixing a tire to a rim. Gluing on a set of tubular tires is no longer a necessary skill in our sport with good clinchers being readily available. Gluing tubs takes time and careful attention, two things that are in short supply in our modern society. But to glue on a set of tires brings you closer to the machine and from where our sport has progressed. To build a set of wheels does so even more, and I imagine building a frame by hand builds the ultimate bond to our history.

We live at a time when the things that are irrelevant to survival take on their own crucial importance; we return to tradition in order to remember where we came from so we may understand where we are going. Doing things the hard way is a beautiful way to remind ourselves of the history that built the luxuries we surround ourselves with.

frank

The founder of Velominati and curator of The Rules, Frank was born in the Dutch colonies of Minnesota. His boundless physical talents are carefully canceled out by his equally boundless enthusiasm for drinking. Coffee, beer, wine, if it’s in a container, he will enjoy it, a lot of it. He currently lives in Seattle. He loves riding in the rain and scheduling visits with the Man with the Hammer just to be reminded of the privilege it is to feel completely depleted. He holds down a technology job the description of which no-one really understands and his interests outside of Cycling and drinking are Cycling and drinking. As devoted aesthete, the only thing more important to him than riding a bike well is looking good doing it. Frank is co-author along with the other Keepers of the Cog of the popular book, The Rules, The Way of the Cycling Disciple and also writes a monthly column for the magazine, Cyclist. He is also currently working on the first follow-up to The Rules, tentatively entitled The Hardmen. Email him directly at rouleur@velominati.com.

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View Comments

Haldy says:

Oct 7 2014 at 7:33 am

@Ken Ho

@frank

Does carbon love acetone ?

No...Carbon wheels and Acetone are not a good combo.
freddy says:

Oct 7 2014 at 7:34 am

@Haldy

What the modern systems have helped us with are shifting more often since the controls are at our fingertips. With them a finger stab away we can keep our cadence in the optimum range more easily by constantly shifting. But, more shifting and wonderfully designed chain ring cutouts, profiled teeth, etc., still don't make up for the artistry of paying attention of when to shift. I bet you could roll along in any group and see what I am talking about if you pay attention.

I was rolling along with the team that my shop sponsors on my pre-work spin Sunday morning...and let me tell you, I could tell you who the old guys on the team were, and those new to the sport( as in post STI/ERGO) just by the shifting noises. And these guys are all on the same bikes and component groups.

I did the Paris Ancaster race on a single speed and noticed two simple things: 1) when guys in-front of me downshift, they usually slow down, 2) to keep my cadence up I have to push down harder on the pedals. When the above two points are in play, it usually means I end up passing the guy in-front of me.
leftsideoverhere says:

Oct 7 2014 at 7:40 am

@RVester

I understand if you're not impressed by just some guy on the internets, so I've compiled a list people also thinking lever espresso machines are better:

The entire city of Naples
Kees van der Westen (http://www.keesvanderwesten.com/mirage-idrocompresso.html)
The H-B lever machines subforum

I feel you should get some kind of award for citing the entire city of Naples in support of your argument. Although Kees van der Westen claims only 90% of the city uses lever machines, so perhaps you were over-reaching somewhat?
ChrisO says:

Oct 7 2014 at 8:05 am

@RVester

@ChrisO

The critical question for me is whether the hard way offers some advantage - it may be quality, cost or beauty but if you do it just for the fact that it is more difficult then it's a bit masturbatory.

Shaving for example - a safety razor is better than a cartridge but a straight edge blade is just for the sake of telling people you use one.

Tea, coffee and beer also seem to give rise to these questions.

I do not know about tea. I don't know if there is a hard way with beer.

However, I do take offense at the implied notion that coffee doesn't get better with effort.

I'm sure you're correct, although a little more detail might have allowed us to make a better judgement.

However just for the record, I didn't say that doing things the hard way was wrong or didn't produce better results. It often does, and in that case I'm all for it, whether that is a better taste, a cheaper solution or a more beautiful aesthetic.

It's only when people do it for the sake of being contrary or luddite or just plain showing off that I quibble.

If instant coffee tasted as good then it would be pointless to have a hand pumped espresso, but I think even non-Neapolitans would not argue that.

And whoever brought Di2 into this thread... shame on you.

There is no place for electronic shifting in cycling - it should most definitely be a Rule.
Haldy says:

Oct 7 2014 at 8:11 am

@ChrisO

@RVester

@ChrisO

The critical question for me is whether the hard way offers some advantage - it may be quality, cost or beauty but if you do it just for the fact that it is more difficult then it's a bit masturbatory.

Shaving for example - a safety razor is better than a cartridge but a straight edge blade is just for the sake of telling people you use one.

Tea, coffee and beer also seem to give rise to these questions.

I do not know about tea. I don't know if there is a hard way with beer.

However, I do take offense at the implied notion that coffee doesn't get better with effort.

I'm sure you're correct, although a little more detail might have allowed us to make a better judgement.

However just for the record, I didn't say that doing things the hard way was wrong or didn't produce better results. It often does, and in that case I'm all for it, whether that is a better taste, a cheaper solution or a more beautiful aesthetic.

It's only when people do it for the sake of being contrary or luddite or just plain showing off that I quibble.

If instant coffee tasted as good then it would be pointless to have a hand pumped espresso, but I think even non-Neapolitans would not argue that.

And whoever brought Di2 into this thread... shame on you.

There is no place for electronic shifting in cycling - it should most definitely be a Rule.

Ummm...did you READ the article? @Frank mentions electronic drivetrains in it....
Haldy says:

Oct 7 2014 at 8:26 am

@freddy

@Haldy

What the modern systems have helped us with are shifting more often since the controls are at our fingertips. With them a finger stab away we can keep our cadence in the optimum range more easily by constantly shifting. But, more shifting and wonderfully designed chain ring cutouts, profiled teeth, etc., still don't make up for the artistry of paying attention of when to shift. I bet you could roll along in any group and see what I am talking about if you pay attention.

I was rolling along with the team that my shop sponsors on my pre-work spin Sunday morning...and let me tell you, I could tell you who the old guys on the team were, and those new to the sport( as in post STI/ERGO) just by the shifting noises. And these guys are all on the same bikes and component groups.

I did the Paris Ancaster race on a single speed and noticed two simple things: 1) when guys in-front of me downshift, they usually slow down, 2) to keep my cadence up I have to push down harder on the pedals. When the above two points are in play, it usually means I end up passing the guy in-front of me.

I love singlespeeds..as a trackie by primary form of racing it's amazing the difference in the fluidity of pacelines on the road and on the track. One of my favorite races to do is the Team Pursuit and I am blessed to have 3 teammates who when we ride together have a good fluid flow. We can hum along at 30+ just inches away from each others wheel at no problem. But..when I get into groups on the road..I find myself slowing, speeding up, slowing etc, due to the uneven tempo set by riders in front of me. And this is on dead straight, flat roads. These same people like to leave me at the front to plow along...cause I manage to keep an even tempo. Something to be said for learning a fluid pedal stroke by spending hours on a fixed gear.
ChrisO says:

Oct 7 2014 at 9:12 am

@Haldy

Ummm...did you READ the article? @Frank mentions electronic drivetrains in it....

First, it's a long-established rule that reading the article is by no means mandatory, in fact it's almost perverse - the literary equivalent of down-tube shifters really.

And yes he mentions it but not using it - now that you've made me go and find it, it was Wilburrox who was saying how much he liked it.
Haldy says:

Oct 7 2014 at 9:53 am

@ChrisO

@Haldy

Ummm...did you READ the article? @Frank mentions electronic drivetrains in it....

First, it's a long-established rule that reading the article is by no means mandatory, in fact it's almost perverse - the literary equivalent of down-tube shifters really.

And yes he mentions it but not using it - now that you've made me go and find it, it was Wilburrox who was saying how much he liked it.

Well played..I sense some of Frank's Creative Dutchery in point reversing at use....and I guess I am old school as a born( as a cyclist) down tube shifter user. Are you suggesting I stop reading Frank's drivel and just comment as I see fit?
Gibson says:

Oct 7 2014 at 12:23 pm

Hi All - first post here, so let me preface by acknowledging my awe at your collective knowledge and commitment to the essence of cycling. I've found that the Rules become more true as one spends more and more time on the bike.

All I have to add here is an example of personal experience. Because of a last-minute packing decision during a coast-to-coast move, my only bike with Ergos remains in storage and I now must choose between indexed downtube shifters (Superbe Pro as it happens) and friction downtube shifters...and I am convinced that the advantage of being able to shift front/rear simultaneously and across multiple cogs goes a long way to counter the benefit of being able to shift while standing. I did my first 200 km in the Vermont mountains a couple weekends ago - friction shifters and half dirt roads, and pure joy.
Ken Ho says:

Oct 7 2014 at 1:04 pm

@Haldy

I did wonder about the solvent effects.

Acetone does do a neat job of cleaning a surface like a fibreglass surfboard though, when applied briefly and rubbed carefully. Too much will clearly have undesirable solvent effects.

I'll need some more research on this topic. MIght be a bazinga moment from Fronk. Youtube shall be my saviour.