One of the worst things about this blog for you, the reader, is that I, the blogger, go on for days on end about whatever it is I happen to be obsessed with at the moment–and currently what I’m obsessed with is this bike:
Today was a warm and sunny (albeit quite windy) day so I finally enjoyed a ride on the road-ified Faggin that was free of mechanical problems and snow, although I did need to change course at one point due to flooding:
That’s a highway under all that water.
As I rode, I contemplated the similarities and differences between it and the Cervino, which is the other classic lugged Italian bicycle currently in my possession:
Whereas the Cervino hides its true nature coyly between its legs:
The Faggin is loud and proud, and from headtube to dropout there’s scarcely a tube on the frame that doesn’t bear its name:
The Cervino is also one hundred percent Italian (apart from the Nishiki decals) whereas the only Italian parts on the Faggin are the saddle:
The stem:
[Start Digression]
Yes, I know that certain Modolo stems were recalled. No, this is not one of those stems. (Though the stem on the Vengeance Bike could have been, which would make sense, since we all know Paul is trying to kill me.) Even though it is not, you’ve got to admire the manner in which the Italians prize form over function when it comes to the bicycle stem, even though it’s one of the most important components when it comes to keeping your face off the road surface. This approach continued well into the threadless era, as you can see from the disconcertingly schlong-like “Mutant,” a stem I once actually owned:
[Via here]
This isn’t to say the Mutant is unsafe–I have no idea–but it is to say there’s no reason for it to look like a schlong except someone clearly wanted it to look like a schlong. And of course high Italianate stem design reached its apotheosis with the Alter stem:
[Via here]
Which you could customize with scantily-clad ladies:
[Via here]
Of course none of this would fly today, even from an Italian company, so now if you insist on having a pornographic cockpit you’ve got to go to eBay:
So do they mean after the ride or during? Because if the latter that sure adds a whole new dimension to riding in a paceline.
[End digression]
And the brake levers:
Those were of course made by the storied Italian cycling component maker Leechi, which is Italian for milk:
I just assumed those cheap brake levers I dug out of the parts bin would be temporary, but as it happens they feel great, and in conjunction with these funky-ass Tektros the braking is as good as any rim brake road bike I’ve ridden:
There’s also plenty of clearance for 28s:
I have no idea what kind of tubing the Faggin is made from, as there was no decal even before I applied my own:
I’m assuming it’s Columbus. I’m also assuming it’s not fancy Columbus because the bike takes a 26.8 seatpost, and as I understand it the fancier stuff usually takes a 27.2. However, I can’t imagine this makes any difference apart from weight. There’s also lots of chrome detail on the bike:
Though it’s in pretty rough shape:
Particularly the fork, which I should probably try to clean up at some point, but probably won’t:
I heard you could rub it down with wet aluminum foil or something, though that sounds like it would make your hair stand up straight. Rust aside, it’s quite an elegant fork; note the seamless crown-to-blade thing it’s got happening, which I’m sure there’s a proper frame-building name for that I can’t think of at the moment.
And while it may not have the overall cohesion of the Cervino what with its Super Record parts all of the same vintage, there is a little Ultegra theme going on:
Despite its ubiquity I’ve always liked the look of the 9-speed era Ultegra crank, which looks kind of puffy, like it’s having an allergic reaction to something:
I bought this crank years ago for next to nothing since it’s a 165mm with 53/42 rings, which is a configuration only a complete freak would want, though in the years that followed I eventually discovered crank length really doesn’t matter all that much, who knew? Clearly I’ve come a long way from the Fred who used to bolt a 130mm schlong to his bike.
For the moment I’m using toe clips and straps:
They’re the pedals from the Univega I owned for about 48 hours:
And of course I’m using them with the Jobst Brandt bowling shoes:
The wheels are on their second freehub and the rims are growing disconcertingly concave:
And the shifters are Rivendell Silver, which together with a Hyperglide cassette yield the smoothest shifting it’s possible to experience without resorting to electronics:
In all, the bike looks pretty rough, but it certainly doesn’t ride that way even in the slightest. If I had to pick two adjectives to describe it I’d pick “elegant” and “refined,” and if I had to pick three I’d also pick “cattywampus,” but only because it’s a funny word.
It may just be the ultimate Dirtbag Road machine.