Do you have a "signature" move that sets your bike apart?
01-28-15, 09:57 PM
#1
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Do you have a "signature" move that sets your bike apart?
Someone on another C&V thread made a reference to "put a Brooks on any pig and the C&V crowd will go crazy over it"... the C&V crowd does seem to brooks-centric. And, for a lot of the pictures I see on this forum, there are reoccurring "certainties" you will see, even if they may-or-may-not be totally "stock" or "period correct". Brooks saddles, leather bar wrap, bells, Kool Stop brake shoes being a few. And, don't get me wrong, these are all fine, if they are your thing. These thoughts got me to wondering, is there any small thing or item that I do that sets my rides apart?
There are certain "tweaks" that I like to do, but I think the one obvious one is putting a pinback button of some type on my seat bags. This is a tweak that I first re-remembered from my buddy's ride. When I first saw his bike, he had a pinback from our mutual university, which states "Heart (love) and engineer". Since pinback buttons were definitely an 80's thing (lots of us had them on our college book bags and denim jackets) it seemed totally at home. And, I use to have a bag, before it blew out on me, with a Grateful Dead emblem on it. I've now have amassed a small collection of pinback, with 80's or 90's dates and/or local festivals on them. I tried to match the date on the pin to the date of the bike. Anyone else have something like this?
There are certain "tweaks" that I like to do, but I think the one obvious one is putting a pinback button of some type on my seat bags. This is a tweak that I first re-remembered from my buddy's ride. When I first saw his bike, he had a pinback from our mutual university, which states "Heart (love) and engineer". Since pinback buttons were definitely an 80's thing (lots of us had them on our college book bags and denim jackets) it seemed totally at home. And, I use to have a bag, before it blew out on me, with a Grateful Dead emblem on it. I've now have amassed a small collection of pinback, with 80's or 90's dates and/or local festivals on them. I tried to match the date on the pin to the date of the bike. Anyone else have something like this?
Last edited by uncle uncle; 01-28-15 at 10:28 PM.
01-28-15, 10:15 PM
#2
What??? Only 2 wheels?
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All my currently rideable bikes but one have the same saddle and they are not Brooks. Does that count?
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01-28-15, 11:02 PM
#4
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My Austrian bikes came with Weinmann brake handles and centerpull calipers, which I have happily left on them. I put Weinmann handles on the Peugeot, as well, because I cannot as easily grab a fistful of brake on a panic stop with a MAFAC lever. Similarly, the otherwise-Italian Bianchi has Shimano aero brake levers, because I likewise find Modolos and Campagnolos a bit too long in the reach for effective panic stops.
I have also converted all three of my 10-speed bikes to 12 speeds, using an ultra-6 freewheel on two and a standard 6 on the other, along with a rear triangle spread. I simply cannot get both the range and ratio step I need with a 2x5 setup, so I long ago discovered I need at least a 2x6 or 3x5 to do the job.
I fit the mold on brake pads -- KoolStops all around -- and saddles -- original Ideale on the 1960 Capo, 40-year-old Brooks Pro on the 1959, Brooks Team Pro on the Schwinn.
I have also converted all three of my 10-speed bikes to 12 speeds, using an ultra-6 freewheel on two and a standard 6 on the other, along with a rear triangle spread. I simply cannot get both the range and ratio step I need with a 2x5 setup, so I long ago discovered I need at least a 2x6 or 3x5 to do the job.
I fit the mold on brake pads -- KoolStops all around -- and saddles -- original Ideale on the 1960 Capo, 40-year-old Brooks Pro on the 1959, Brooks Team Pro on the Schwinn.
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Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
01-28-15, 11:46 PM
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I run all different tires, saddles, and parts. The only thing I can think of is that all but one of my road bikes have stitched leather bar wrap. And because of an old separated shoulder injury, the left brake lever was about five mm higher than the right. After getting hit and breaking my collar bone on the same side, I had to drop them all back to level with each other as it moved my arm again. That was a pain, with the stitching.
Other than that, as a registered nerd Sci-fi geek, almost all my bags have a patch of some sort from the short lived show Firefly.
Other than that, as a registered nerd Sci-fi geek, almost all my bags have a patch of some sort from the short lived show Firefly.
01-29-15, 12:11 AM
#6
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Handlebars 3 degrees to the left. 
01-29-15, 12:18 AM
#7
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Regal saddle, often recovered.
01-29-15, 01:16 AM
#8
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I have absolutely no idea what a pinback button is.
I do like my Brooks saddles, and Unicanitors, and my RHM. Anything really, really firm, I guess.
I tend to run handlebar bags, since I've worked out a system that moves from bike to bike in seconds. I guess that's my "thing."
I do like my Brooks saddles, and Unicanitors, and my RHM. Anything really, really firm, I guess.
I tend to run handlebar bags, since I've worked out a system that moves from bike to bike in seconds. I guess that's my "thing."
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● 1971 Grandis SL ● 1972 Lambert Grand Prix frankenbike ● 1972 Raleigh Super Course fixie ● 1973 Nishiki Semi-Pro ● 1979 Motobecane Grand Jubile ●1980 Apollo "Legnano" ● 1984 Peugeot Vagabond ● 1985 Shogun Prairie Breaker ● 1986 Merckx Super Corsa ● 1987 Schwinn Tempo ● 1988 Schwinn Voyageur ● 1989 Bottechia Team ADR replica ● 1990 Cannondale ST600 ● 1993 Technium RT600 ● 1996 Kona Lava Dome ●
● 1971 Grandis SL ● 1972 Lambert Grand Prix frankenbike ● 1972 Raleigh Super Course fixie ● 1973 Nishiki Semi-Pro ● 1979 Motobecane Grand Jubile ●1980 Apollo "Legnano" ● 1984 Peugeot Vagabond ● 1985 Shogun Prairie Breaker ● 1986 Merckx Super Corsa ● 1987 Schwinn Tempo ● 1988 Schwinn Voyageur ● 1989 Bottechia Team ADR replica ● 1990 Cannondale ST600 ● 1993 Technium RT600 ● 1996 Kona Lava Dome ●
01-29-15, 01:36 AM
#9
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my neighbor's tomcat "signs" everything around here with his you-know-what, including my bikes. 
01-29-15, 01:45 AM
#10
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Brakes. Not universal because I have very different set-ups on my different bikes. But: commuters and my "new" super dirt road bike get Mafac Racer fronts, Weinmann rears. Great stopping combo! And any sidepull/dual pivot bike where it is feasible, I run the rear brake forward of the seatstay. Currently just my best bike where I had the builder run the brake recess on the back side. (I run the rear brake on my good road fixie in the normal position to lessen the vertical effect of moving the rear wheel long distances forward and back.)
Oh, so far I have only done this on one bike, it may happen again. V-brake levers with dual pivot brakes. That set-up shares with the Mafac front set-up in that I can grab all kinds of lever and the stop is just very fast, nearly no skidding. Much more confidence on really steep descents.
Fun part of those Mafacs: there are thousands of them out there in boxes in stores for sale for like $10 and in very good condition. When upgrade time comes, they are one of the first parts to come off. And the test for good ones is reall simple. Can you feel play in the pivots? No? That brake has years of life left.
Ben
Oh, so far I have only done this on one bike, it may happen again. V-brake levers with dual pivot brakes. That set-up shares with the Mafac front set-up in that I can grab all kinds of lever and the stop is just very fast, nearly no skidding. Much more confidence on really steep descents.
Fun part of those Mafacs: there are thousands of them out there in boxes in stores for sale for like $10 and in very good condition. When upgrade time comes, they are one of the first parts to come off. And the test for good ones is reall simple. Can you feel play in the pivots? No? That brake has years of life left.
Ben
01-29-15, 04:41 AM
#12
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Usually my bikes are repainted, I like to buy hopeless rejects and bring them back to life. All my modern builds get Fizik arione saddles with Fizik bar tape. All my vintage get regal saddles with cloth tape, no exceptions.
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01-29-15, 05:20 AM
#13
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Road bikes get bar-end shifters. Mountain bikes get bar end shifters on Paul Thumbies. All bikes get index shifting with a friction-mode bailout available.
Back wheels get Alpine III spokes on drive side, unless said back wheel is for fixed gear or single-speed applications. They stay straight.
Saddles are either Brooks Pro or Brooks B17, depending on the bike and its use. When conventional padded saddles are applicable (for weight savings) then a San Marco Rolls Ti is used.
Tires on recent road builds have tended to be tubulars or tubular-clinchers and are sourced from Continental, Vittoria or Tufo. They ride better on PA asphalt and chipseal.
My inclination is to use Shimano parts, and (exclusively) HG clusters on everything because they work. I do use Crank Brothers clipless pedals, though, as they are easy on the knees and shed just about all dirt and mud.
Back wheels get Alpine III spokes on drive side, unless said back wheel is for fixed gear or single-speed applications. They stay straight.
Saddles are either Brooks Pro or Brooks B17, depending on the bike and its use. When conventional padded saddles are applicable (for weight savings) then a San Marco Rolls Ti is used.
Tires on recent road builds have tended to be tubulars or tubular-clinchers and are sourced from Continental, Vittoria or Tufo. They ride better on PA asphalt and chipseal.
My inclination is to use Shimano parts, and (exclusively) HG clusters on everything because they work. I do use Crank Brothers clipless pedals, though, as they are easy on the knees and shed just about all dirt and mud.
01-29-15, 05:58 AM
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I do prefer Brooks over other saddles I have run across. My major rides have them and the others will likely get them when I find good deals. Koolstops too, same approach with one or two exceptions. I am one of those who like to know what is going on so I often have a computer on each. I like the CatEye Strada Wireless II. Sometimes I find them at 1/3rd new price on CL. I am slowly converting "race" bikes to tubulars with tire savers. I like the feel.
The final thing I can think of is a preference for Cinelli bars and 1A stems and Campagnolo parts with a few exceptions of other high-end parts like Superbe and DA. Oh yeah, all my frames are steel, Columbus or Reynolds lighter tubing, except the tandem.
The final thing I can think of is a preference for Cinelli bars and 1A stems and Campagnolo parts with a few exceptions of other high-end parts like Superbe and DA. Oh yeah, all my frames are steel, Columbus or Reynolds lighter tubing, except the tandem.
01-29-15, 06:06 AM
#15
Zip tie Karen
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Simplicity and understated style set my bikes apart. Free from garish logos or extra contraptions beyond what's necessary for the bike's intended purpose, my bikes have a clean fresh appearance.
I maintain them carefully and touch up scratches. I don't add gizmos, doo-dads or electronics, and have tape colors chosen for the most tasteful complement to the frame color. I also do not sport "colored" tires (gumwalls are okay, but attempting to match a trim color in rubber, a no-no), or employ signs or stickers with catchy slogans.
Come to think of it, my car is the same way...
I maintain them carefully and touch up scratches. I don't add gizmos, doo-dads or electronics, and have tape colors chosen for the most tasteful complement to the frame color. I also do not sport "colored" tires (gumwalls are okay, but attempting to match a trim color in rubber, a no-no), or employ signs or stickers with catchy slogans.
Come to think of it, my car is the same way...
Last edited by Phil_gretz; 01-29-15 at 06:08 AM. Reason: parenthetical tire expansion
01-29-15, 06:19 AM
#16
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DT mounted Retrofrictions!
01-29-15, 06:26 AM
#17
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This thread needs more pictures! For me, it's almost always Benotto tape. I can't get enough of it. Probably because when I was an impressionable teenager all the high end bikes were rocking it.
01-29-15, 06:47 AM
#18
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When I build a wheel, I first put a rubber band around the hub shell. That way, when people who don't know how wheels are built look at it, they say, HUH?
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Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
01-29-15, 06:54 AM
#20
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I guess if I have a "signature" it would be Newbaum's Handlebar Tape with twine!
And...I do love my Brooks saddles...
And...I do love my Brooks saddles...
01-29-15, 06:58 AM
#21
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Italian knockoffs of Brooks.
1953 Bianchi Selvino 018 by iabisdb, on Flickr
Cinelli_Model_B 054 by iabisdb, on Flickr
Italia Saddle 1 by iabisdb, on Flickr
1953 Bianchi Selvino 018 by iabisdb, on FlickrCinelli_Model_B 054 by iabisdb, on FlickrItalia Saddle 1 by iabisdb, on Flickr
01-29-15, 07:00 AM
#22
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Italian knockoffs of Brooks.
1953 Bianchi Selvino 018 by iabisdb, on Flickr
Cinelli_Model_B 054 by iabisdb, on Flickr
Italia Saddle 1 by iabisdb, on Flickr
1953 Bianchi Selvino 018 by iabisdb, on Flickr
Cinelli_Model_B 054 by iabisdb, on Flickr
Italia Saddle 1 by iabisdb, on Flickr
01-29-15, 07:05 AM
#23
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Balilla calipers instead of Universals
Frejus070 by iabisdb, on Flickr
Cinelli_Model_B 110 by iabisdb, on Flickr
Balilla Calipers by iabisdb, on Flickr
Balilla 01 by iabisdb, on Flickr
1948 Frejus 090 by iabisdb, on Flickr
Frejus070 by iabisdb, on FlickrCinelli_Model_B 110 by iabisdb, on FlickrBalilla Calipers by iabisdb, on FlickrBalilla 01 by iabisdb, on Flickr1948 Frejus 090 by iabisdb, on Flickr
01-29-15, 07:05 AM
#24
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