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

wiscot says:

Oct 7 2014 at 4:37 pm

@Teocalli

@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.

A bit like the analogy of "reading" The Sun newspaper..............

I never get past the third post to be honest . . .
Haldy says:

Oct 7 2014 at 5:06 pm

@Ccos

@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?

Careful there homey, as mentioned in previous posts, Frank reads this drivel too.

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

No worries..one, I am sure that Frank knows its in jest( it's the point here after all isn't it), and two...if he doesn't, he knows where to find me. ;-)
MangoDave says:

Oct 7 2014 at 5:10 pm

@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.
ChrissyOne says:

Oct 7 2014 at 5:48 pm

@MangoDave

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.

+1 - I'd be building bikes whenever I wasn't riding them.
wilburrox says:

Oct 7 2014 at 6:13 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?

@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.

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!
Puffy says:

Oct 7 2014 at 7:50 pm

@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.
Adrian says:

Oct 7 2014 at 8:07 pm

@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 2x8 downtube commuter as I do on my 1x10 XC race sled.
Haldy says:

Oct 7 2014 at 8:21 pm

@wilburrox

@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?

@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.

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!

It wasn't me that was dissing electronic shifting..it was @ChrisO, I was poking a bit of fun at him...I am of the opinion that electronic shifting doesn't in itself solve any problems we were having, but in it's creation mechanical systems have improved. Example- much stiffer chainrings to withsatnd the electronic mechanism make the mechanical shifting much smoother, and also help us get more V from the pedal to the ground.
frank says:

Oct 7 2014 at 9:19 pm
@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 win.

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.
frank says:

Oct 7 2014 at 9:26 pm

@Geraint

@markb

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.

Agreed 100%. I read about the benefits of full-power gear changes with Di2, but I've never been able to bring myself to do it, it just doesn't make sense to me. Just because the mech is capable of shoving the chain across irrespective of the load on said chain, doesn't mean it's good for the chain, or the rings or cassette, to do so. I still anticipate the need to change gear and soft-pedal slightly to make life easier for the mechanical parts, just like I had to back in the distant past when I had six cogs and down tube levers.

I think shifting under full load is a totally Pro benefit - I think Cav and AndrÃ© like being able to crank down the gears under load - in their 1200 watts - but its going to fuck their shit up.

Me, I'm like you, even with my best stuff, I always unload the drivetrain - even when shifting standing up. If you have any kind of weight distribution skills (probably from climbing steel hills offroad) then you know how to get your load off the chain for the instant it take to shift, even if its for the instant the chain moves over the peak of the cogs. Its a beautiful thing.

As for doing things the hard way, I'm not one for wearing a hair shirt for the sake of it, but in some cases I do relish the additional involvement it brings, and also the peace of mind that comes with knowing something has been done correctly. Building wheels is a great example.

What the fuck is a hair shirt? I blacked out for the rest of this.