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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frank says:

Oct 7 2014 at 10:10 pm

@Haldy

@Ken Ho

@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.

While acetone won't do anything to the actual carbon fiber, it does attack and break down the resins that hold everything together.

Have you noticed how quickly that stuff evaporates? Apply it lightly to remove excess glue from the braking surface and there is no conceivable way it can impact fully cured resin. Just sayin', maybe don't put the wheels in a Acetone bath, but rub down the outside? No sweat, your brake pads and the forces of pedaling are causing much more structural damage at a practical level.

Also lets not think about our wheels breaking.
frank says:

Oct 7 2014 at 10:15 pm

@MangoDave

@Rob

Aside from not liking the mechanical feel on the integrated, both modern systems are way too complex. My shifting is simple and accurate and virtually maintenance free. Yes if I win the lottery, I mean the BIG one I will get a Felt with Di2 and along with spending 14 thou it will be maintained by an on call mechanic.

A mechanic? Not for me. I love working on my bikes, and if/when I ever win the lottery it will afford me the luxury of spending MORE time caressing and fondling all things velo in my workshop.

This is a nice dream.

@Puffy

@freddy

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.

Something I work on in training in the hills. Change down a gear, to bring the cadence back up, BUT keep the power/speed the same. It is natural to take a break after the downshift and ease off. The other thing is riding over hills, not just up them. Most folks will start to back off as the grade eases near the top. Don't do that, keep pushing and accelerate right to the top and down the back side.

This is the hardest part, mostly because your body is used to the pressure and rhythm it went into during the climb. Its agony to accelerate over the top not because it gets faster but because your heart and lungs are in sync and you need to force them into a new pattern as the gradient changes.

Says a self-proclaimed diesel.
frank says:

Oct 7 2014 at 10:17 pm

@Adrian

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

True enough; but I think the point of winning the lottery is that you don't ever have another job again; its all just hobby - which has its own challenges, not riding not being one of them if I can type that many double negatives.

@ChrissyOne

@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.

Or this. Exactly.
Haldy says:

Oct 7 2014 at 10:35 pm

@frank

@Haldy

@Ken Ho

@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.

While acetone won't do anything to the actual carbon fiber, it does attack and break down the resins that hold everything together.

Have you noticed how quickly that stuff evaporates? Apply it lightly to remove excess glue from the braking surface and there is no conceivable way it can impact fully cured resin. Just sayin', maybe don't put the wheels in a Acetone bath, but rub down the outside? No sweat, your brake pads and the forces of pedaling are causing much more structural damage at a practical level.

Also lets not think about our wheels breaking.

Ahh....yes...lightly applied it's probably safe, but in my line of work I often see the results of folks that think that if a little is good, more is better.
Haldy says:

Oct 7 2014 at 10:39 pm

@frank

@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.

I shall try to not read your drivel, and just wing it.
Haldy says:

Oct 7 2014 at 10:49 pm

@frank

@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.

Do it, put it on the #1, I won't tell anybody.
Gianni says:

Oct 7 2014 at 11:48 pm

What are we arguing about? Why friction shifters are great? Is a Bianchi a Bianchi if it is not celeste?

@RVester

Well played on the level espresso machine diversion, but no one went for it. Those machines don't have enough dials and valves for my taste. Plenty of chrome but too straightforward. But then again, I need something to research and obsess about so this will do nicely. Grazie.
Ken Ho says:

Oct 8 2014 at 1:27 am

@Haldy

I was more concerned that Frank was giving queer advice ti get revenge for the amount of shit I've given him over the stupid mirror rule. As noted, I've seen acetone used to clean up a surfboard. I had a fit initially, thinking it would smear the polished finish, but it just buffed it up nicely.

@ Frank, yes, I have often changed front and rear simultaneously while standing under load, attacking a climb, with both Veloce and Record I didn't ever think anything of it, taking for granted that any drive-train would acceot that. I've done similar with the fishing gear on my MTB without hassle, mind you it's pretty high end stuff on there too. True, I probably feel the changes through my tootsies, and adjust my stroke accordingly to keep thing smooth, but that's not exactly difficult to do, is it ?

Do people really have that much trouble changing gears on a bike ? FFS, it's 2015. The average housewife can fire up a computer and construct web-pages that baffle me, but a bunch of middle-aged twats in lycra get confounded by a derailleur gear ? It's about as complicated as the horse-collar, not the horse.
Geraint says:

Oct 8 2014 at 1:43 am

I think the point is that being brought up on primitive equipment develops skills that (mostly) remain valid even though the technology has advanced. One can sit stationary at the lights pressing one's Di2 buttons all one likes, the buttons are still operating a mechanism that needs to be rotating in order to work. This is plainly obvious to most of us, but not to everyone.

Down tube shifters are primitive, but refreshing one's skills by using them occasionally, and putting the modern technology into perspective, can bring enjoyment.

I'm not really a retro-grouch, my old steel bike with down tube levers hasn't turned a wheel in decades, but I can appreciate the enjoyment in going back there occasionally.
markb says:

Oct 8 2014 at 2:15 am

@wilburrox

Like it ? More specifically, love it! I'm guessing it'll be a couple years when most road bikes in my garage will be made predominately of carbon and have fully functioning electronic and hydraulic systems on board. Hard to believe we can plug a bike in to diagnostics software nowadays. And ya can't order a Ferrari with a manual stick shift. Cheers!

Hmm, this sounds suspiciously like a moped to me, maybe it's time to brush up on the High-Wheel skills, in readiness to defend True Cycling in a few years' time.

P.S. Saw an exhibition race of High-Wheelers (penny-farthings) at Herne Hill Velodrome earlier this year. Not a piece of electronics, Lycra or carbon-fibre in sight.