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 9:26 pm

@frank

@Haldy Its so frustrating when you put so much effort into an argument that was actually an agreement.

@markb

@frank

A friction shifter, for all intents and purposes, has the barrel adjuster of the RD built into the lever; you pull the lever to tension the cable and move the derailleur up the cogs. Too much and you overshift, too little and you undershift. That cascades to the brifters and ultimately gets turned into hocus-pocus with some totally different operation of solenoids and whateverthefuck.

Nevertheless the experience of the stone age informs the wisdom of the silicon age.

Have to agree with this. I'm always amazed when I see some City-boy commuter on a £10k bike wondering why their drive-chain is shagged after trying to change gear when stationary. Electronic, index etc. are all great innovations, but if you don't know what they are actually doing you'll make bad mistakes and one day end up 50 miles away from home with a rear mech wrapped round your £200 spokes. I promise I will laugh as I (slowly) pass by.

If they spent so much on their bike, why are they riding with 200 pound spokes? Seems a bit heavy?

@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'll discuss espresso since that's the preferred way to drink coffee for a cyclist. the most labor intensive way to pull a shot is done with a lever machine. These machines combine mechanical simplicity, thermal equilibrium and pressure profile perfectly. The advantages of a lever group cascade through the design of the entire machine. I'll explain (taking all kinds of shortcuts since there is a ridiculous amount of variation within the subset 'lever machines')

A key advantage is the pumping of hot water, instead of cold water as in an electric machine. An electric machine pumps cold water into a boiler, or into a heat exchanger after which water of roughly the correct temperature comes out, and then your temperature depends on external variables. A lever machine pumps brew temperature water, and only pressurizes a small part of the machine, leading to reduced chance of failure/less required material in the rest of the machine. A lever group allows for mechanical tuning of the pressure profile and the temperature profile. An electric machine needs complicated electronics to do any sort of profiling. Also, the lack of pump and the lack of electronics mean that for the same external volume, a lever machine can pack a larger boiler or more insulation. Which leads to an increased duty cycle, more steaming power and less power use.

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 love coffee, I love beer. Tea is a suitable substitute when I can't drink one of those or get started on some wine.

I have a Rancillio Silva and Rocky gringer and love the fuck out of it. I am now browsing http://www.wholelattelove.com/ for a manula lever machine because obviously the gear I've relied on since 2003 are inadequate. They cost the same as a set of wheels. Easily worth it, from the romance you paint. Chapeau, sir; I'll soon be founding espressominati.com.

Somebody here has to keep you on your toes!
frank says:

Oct 7 2014 at 9:32 pm

@Ken Ho

@frank

Does carbon love acetone ?

I don't know, I black out every time I use it.

@Ken Ho

@ Geraint

So did sheep's intestines for condoms and arsenic for syphilis.

BRILLIANT! +1 badge to the Big Brain Ken Ho.

@markb

@Ken Ho

@ Geraint

So did sheep's intestines for condoms and arsenic for syphilis.

If you got the first one right, you wouldn't need the second. Those that failed provided the lesson for the rest, the same way the guy with the bees did in the original post. Greater love hath no man than to lay down his life for the education of others. Probably.

Haven't laughed this hard in a while. This is brilliant stuff. If I could give out two +1 badges at once, I would.

Greater love hath no man than to lay down his life for the education of others. Probably.

Even better to be the one making this observation about someone than to be the guy who does it.
ChrissyOne says:

Oct 7 2014 at 9:35 pm

@Adrian

@ChrissyOne

When building/fixing bikes become one's job, a lot of riding goes out the window.

That said, I probably put as many miles on my 2Ã—8 downtube commuter as I do on my 1Ã—10 XC race sled.

Of course, but we're talking about post-lottery winning here, not for a living. Quite a different thing if I can drop what I'm doing at any moment and go to Mallorca for the weekend. I'd have a bike shop on my yacht anyway.
frank says:

Oct 7 2014 at 9:38 pm

@wilburrox

10-4 to that. Though even on Di2 there are good shifts and bad shifts. And I'm always playing around with the FD position and the micro-adjust on the RD in an effort to make the shifts even more seamless. Or at least give me the best opportunity to make good shifts. A really good day on Di2 is better than a really good day on mech.

I've been talking to the guys at Brandford Bike about electronic sets and all that, and they love the setup of the Shimano rig - its so easy with plug and play connectors etc. The bemoan the Campa system and how hard it is, and invariably a customer will take it home, decide to adjust it, and fuck the whole thing up.

I asked, "So, you think the Shimano is better?"

Doug, "Oh, I hate setting up the Campy system, but there's no way I'd ever put that shit on my bike (points at Di2)."

I think that sums up the Campa/Shimano camp. Its engineered by Italians, for fucks sake - its more beauty and performance than it is ease of use. Have a bottle of wine (alone) and maybe you stand a chance to work out the details on the first try.

Regardless of the system, anticipating the right gear and getting in to it right before it is needed... that is where I see my young daughter having most opportunity to making smoother shifts. And that is learned skill especially critical for fast mtn biking.

This is the heart of it, no question; eat before you're hungry, drink before you're thirsty, and shift before you're fucked.
frank says:

Oct 7 2014 at 9:40 pm

@VeloSix

I upgraded to SRAM Red this season, and was not previously aware just how hard you could shift this stuff. When I have it dialed in just right (which seems to take a fucking oscilloscope and a scale of justice), all gear changes are like silk. If I haven't sit with it, and got it just right, there are a few gears that shift with slight delay and annoy me to no end. But it will still shift flawlessly under load. Out of the saddle, up hill, click... No problem. (I never even attempted such a shift until a fellow club member did this in front of me, pulling away with multiple shifts, climbing out of the saddle)

It is taking practice to do it well, but what a thing of beauty.

Ok, just between us two girls: I fucking love SRAM Red. Upgrade to Yokozuna cables and the shifting is flawless after you sort it all out. And the downshifting with the flick of the index finger...ohmamma! That is some serious buddah right there.

I have had some blackouts where I've thought about putting it on my next #1 (whenever that happens) but the record doesn't show it because I'm a Campa guy.
conrad says:

Oct 7 2014 at 9:47 pm

I still use down tube shifters. Even on my race bike. I can shift easily whenever I want to, even on a hill, using the same skills that you would use with any other shifting system. Its not hard when you are used to it. So easy to set up, lightweight, very little maintenance required. What is not to like?

The thing about electronic shifting.... you are screwed if the battery dies. And if you ride long enough, or forget to charge them up, it is just a matter of time.
Nate says:

Oct 7 2014 at 9:48 pm

@frank I am sure the campagnolo stuff works great. After all italian auto manufacturers are rightfully famous for qulaity electrical systems.
frank says:

Oct 7 2014 at 9:49 pm

@antihero

I feel very strongly that all Pedalwan should first ride the path upon an old bike. Wrought from alloy, graced with downtube shifters, 32-spoke box-section wheels, and massing in excess of 12kg, this bike should cost less than $400.

The bike must be maintained with total commitment to perfection. Rides in excess of 200km must be undertaken. Carbon craplets must be passed on climbs. Snide comments from fools must be ignored.

Only then shall the Pedalwan make the purchase, and thus emerge from the LBS as a fully-fledged Velominatus, possessed of carbon, unobtanium, and modern shifting.

In all seriousness, there's no better way to learn to shift with precision than to learn on a set of downtube shifters. All the better if it's like @frank's and running a 10-speed cluster that demands total precision.

I love this. This belongs somewhere in the tenets of The Velominati Manifesto. If not the first experience (its hard to come by at this stage) like with the Jedi Trials, this needs to be part of the Pedalwan's path.

@ChrisO

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

This is as reprehensible as taking the easy way because it's easy. Its about the genuine value that an individual gains from the experience that matters to me. Posers are posers (we've been accused of it more times than I care to consider) but when the emotion is genuine, then its authentic.
frank says:

Oct 7 2014 at 9:58 pm

@Haldy

@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?

This seems to be the modus operend-V, so go for it. I hate to see you expose yourself and having a clue what we're arguing about. Mostly we just latch on and dig in. Its great fun.

@Ccos

And yes, comment away, one does not need facts or logic to sound authoritative.

You've come far, Pedalwan. Mostly you need volume.
frank says:

Oct 7 2014 at 10:04 pm

@Gibson

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.

Ok, first of all, I had a minor reading orgasm when I read "Superbe Pro Friction Shifters" (it might not have been in that order, orgasms - even small reading ones - tend to distort time and order.

One of my great regrets in life is that SunTour went out of business and that I didn't keep any of my Superbe Pro stuff - glorious stuff that worked like a horse.

And if you ride Campa, you can still enjoy the pleasures of shifting multiple gears on both the front and read - all while standing if you have some skill.