tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post116628964223047588..comments2024-03-18T10:19:55.782-04:00Comments on The Velo ORANGE Blog: Velo Orange Randonneuse, frame #1Velo Orangehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02835615331417822722noreply@blogger.comBlogger37125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-71742892086321994702009-12-27T16:37:43.777-05:002009-12-27T16:37:43.777-05:00This is fantastic. I own 3 vintage steel road bike...This is fantastic. I own 3 vintage steel road bikes, and my next project is a randonneur...no, a french style randonneuse. I am very interested in what You are doing. Of course, an Alex Singer bike is amazing, but unaffordable.<br />What You are doing here sure will be. Not cheap, but affordable and of perfect quality. Congratulations.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-1169159005770188092007-01-18T17:23:00.000-05:002007-01-18T17:23:00.000-05:00OK Chris, you've got things well in hand regarding...OK Chris, you've got things well in hand regarding stress risers. It's a great seeming bike. My only issue is a personal aesthetic one. While the seatstay top eyes ARE classy and as good as they get, personally I like seat cluster lugs in which the seat stays plug into sockets. It looks more finished, whereas seatstays with top eyes seem like a tacked on afterthought. That said, two of 3 steel bikes I've owned have used top eyes. The other was a 1993 Specialized Allez that had a gorgeous seat lug. <BR/><BR/>Regards,<BR/>WayneAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-1168963504432416072007-01-16T11:05:00.000-05:002007-01-16T11:05:00.000-05:00Wayne, The reason for thinning lugs is to minimize...Wayne, The reason for thinning lugs is to minimize them as stress risers and that is also the reason for using long points. They are rounded on the underside. The down tube and seat tube are traditional 28.6mmVelo Orangehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02835615331417822722noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-1168894416177548912007-01-15T15:53:00.000-05:002007-01-15T15:53:00.000-05:00The pointed lugs are beautiful but are stress rise...The pointed lugs are beautiful but are stress risers. At the least, you should round off the point on the under side of the lower headtube lug, which can't easily be seen anyway. I've had a Trek frame break at this point from the stress riser. <BR/><BR/>Are the down and seat tubes 1 inch or 1 1/8 (28.6)?<BR/><BR/>WayneAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-1166795314027746842006-12-22T08:48:00.000-05:002006-12-22T08:48:00.000-05:00Chris,What a lovely job you and Johnny have done. ...Chris,<BR/><BR/>What a lovely job you and Johnny have done. I especially like the long scallops at the top of the seat-stays. They feel very French even though I don't recall seeing them in the past.<BR/><BR/>But what a lot of pocket engineers you've found. Folks, if you're not a builder, you don't need to know about the materials. A good bike shouldn't be fixed on the road by a blacksmith. Even old tubing is thin-enough in gauge to require frame-building skills. <BR/><BR/>If you don't trust your builder to make the right decisions, find another builder or do it yourself.<BR/><BR/>Beside, not knowing has the pleasant side-effect of allowing you to concentrate our your ride rather than your bike.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-1166583010820593972006-12-19T21:50:00.000-05:002006-12-19T21:50:00.000-05:00OK, your quality work for price is very generous i...OK, your quality work for price is very generous imo.<BR/><BR/>Show one of the blue colors please.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-1166578560858548032006-12-19T20:36:00.000-05:002006-12-19T20:36:00.000-05:00The tubes in most of our frames come from Columbus...The tubes in most of our frames come from Columbus and Dedacciai. But the important thing is the tubing match the rider's weight and strength and preferences. <BR/><BR/>Being a big ex-sprinter my frame is 9-6-9, but the same size frame built for someone else might have completely different tubes. That's the great thing about custom frames: the frame matches the rider. <BR/><BR/>To ask about the the tubes in my bike is a little like asking about the length of the sleeves on my sport coat. They have nothing to do with how long the sleeves on your sport coat should be. You have to trust the tailor.Velo Orangehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02835615331417822722noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-1166571790306271192006-12-19T18:43:00.000-05:002006-12-19T18:43:00.000-05:00Materials can significantly effect owner care. For...Materials can significantly effect owner care. For example, I just recently learned Reynolds 531 was not AL (I also had Norton Commandos with Reynolds 501, and thought they were both AL). And until just then, I didn't know you needed a TIG welder for 531 steel alloy.<BR/><BR/>By wild chance for 35 years, I would have had my frame welded on the road if needed by a TIG welder because I thought it was AL. But until just a moment ago, I would have had it MIG welded because I equated it to >95% Steel.<BR/><BR/>So care, force, rigitiy, and rust properties are areas I like to understand as well as possible. It always seems easier to substitute before, rather than after the fact which happens more than I like :-(<BR/><BR/>I was just hoping the main stock Chris considered might be listed.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-1166569831948574582006-12-19T18:10:00.000-05:002006-12-19T18:10:00.000-05:00While tube makes and models may not be truly impor...While tube makes and models may not be truly important (it's all good stuff at this level), tubing diameter, gauge and butt profiles are important. They'll determine not only a frameset's weight but also it's ride characteristics.<BR/>Are your main tubes 8/5/8?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-1166569394327212602006-12-19T18:03:00.000-05:002006-12-19T18:03:00.000-05:00Seems to me what matters most is the builder. Fro...Seems to me what matters most is the builder. <BR/><BR/>From what I have read and heard, Johnny Coast is an excellent builder.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-1166568972640151812006-12-19T17:56:00.000-05:002006-12-19T17:56:00.000-05:00Neil is exactly right. People do get into big argu...Neil is exactly right. People do get into big arguments and obsess over the tubing. But once you start using a good quality product the differences, at least for the rider, are almost non-existent. To quote an old professor: "I can not stress strongly enough how very very unimportant this is."Velo Orangehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02835615331417822722noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-1166568384815768742006-12-19T17:46:00.000-05:002006-12-19T17:46:00.000-05:00The pros over on the frame builders list discuss a...The pros over on the frame builders list discuss and argue tube specs continually. Everyone seems to have a favorite. I know just enough to be dangerous. 531 and 753 both have manganese along with the chrome molybdenum which makes them less easy to work at the higher temperatures involved in TIG welding. As lugged steel with low temperature silver brazing are a shrinking market it makes sense for Reynolds to try to discourage 531 unless you are willing to buy a big run. That doesn't mean 531 isn't a great product for a lugged frame. More than I know.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-1166567033564791382006-12-19T17:23:00.000-05:002006-12-19T17:23:00.000-05:00Well, it is Chris' business, but this returning Ve...Well, it is Chris' business, but this returning Velo customer with more than a passing interest in the frame is not all that sure what an ingredients list would do for a specific buyer. <BR/><BR/>I don't make bikes. I've ridden a few. Someone saying a bike has Reynolds this, or Columbia that tubing really does not mean anything to me.<BR/><BR/>Now the fact the bike is steel, the geometry, the available braze-ons, that means something to me. And Chris is giving plenty of that information.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-1166558077689361622006-12-19T14:54:00.000-05:002006-12-19T14:54:00.000-05:00Chris,I looked on Reynolds site and they said sinc...Chris,<BR/><BR/>I looked on Reynolds site and they said since 631 is superior to 531, 531 would have to be special ordered. I need to look at material pdf comparing materials on their site.<BR/><BR/>631 is probably cheaper to produce or made for some other high volume use, so they may have wanted to jack up 531 as an incentive NOT to use it. 531 is very robust, but I've only had a $100 Huffy mountain bike as a comparison vehicle. <BR/><BR/>I would be interested in a materials summary if you have a chance in your busy schedule. It would give your customers a chance to matriculate to the new steel technology as well, so they can understand your frame specifications better.<BR/><BR/><BR/>Thank YouAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-1166556637802571062006-12-19T14:30:00.000-05:002006-12-19T14:30:00.000-05:00Reynolds 631 has no advantages over what we use no...Reynolds 631 has no advantages over what we use now. Johnny and I are not concerned with brand names, but with getting the ride and feel of the bike right, so a single frame might have tubes from more than one manufacturer. <BR/><BR/>We've been talking about building a few frames from Reynolds 531, not because it's better, but because it's what the old constructeurs used so it would offer a sort of neat link to the past.Velo Orangehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02835615331417822722noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-1166554634469200212006-12-19T13:57:00.000-05:002006-12-19T13:57:00.000-05:00Are Reynold's 631 frame and chrome moly forks unre...Are Reynold's 631 frame and chrome moly forks unreasonable specs for your frames? Or are they artificially high or an additional option? Your frames are a treat to look at.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-1166543773024237852006-12-19T10:56:00.000-05:002006-12-19T10:56:00.000-05:00Thanks, sounds good!nvThanks, sounds good!<BR/>nvAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-1166541666440690452006-12-19T10:21:00.000-05:002006-12-19T10:21:00.000-05:00That's c-c; overall it's 20cm.That's c-c; overall it's 20cm.Velo Orangehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02835615331417822722noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-1166539603381554892006-12-19T09:46:00.000-05:002006-12-19T09:46:00.000-05:00Chris,Are you sure the head tube is 12cm in length...Chris,<BR/>Are you sure the head tube is 12cm in length? That seems awfully short – especially for a 61cm frame with a HT extension. For comparison, my bikes (in sizes 58 to 60cm) have head tubes ranging from 16 to 20cm in length. <BR/>Thanks!<BR/>nvAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-1166536972732189622006-12-19T09:02:00.000-05:002006-12-19T09:02:00.000-05:00NV, the head tube length is about 12cm. Johnny has...NV, the head tube length is about 12cm. Johnny has the plans so that's just a rough measurement.<BR/><BR/>David, That's what I meant, the rack attaches to the eyelets below the brake, not to the dropout.<BR/><BR/>Lesli, I'll post the new paint codes soon. I want to make sure they are the one we are actually using, since we changed them so many times :<)Velo Orangehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02835615331417822722noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-1166504336764743062006-12-18T23:58:00.000-05:002006-12-18T23:58:00.000-05:00Chris--Is there a specific imron number attached t...Chris--<BR/><BR/>Is there a specific imron number attached to this shade of silver or is it a custom mix?<BR/><BR/>Very nice.<BR/><BR/>LLLesli Larsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13008748945065043600noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-1166453177113996362006-12-18T09:46:00.000-05:002006-12-18T09:46:00.000-05:00Got any 27" wheel frame sets? Too retro?Got any 27" wheel frame sets? Too retro?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-1166451148081118472006-12-18T09:12:00.000-05:002006-12-18T09:12:00.000-05:00Do you know what tubeset/mix was used? Butt profil...Do you know what tubeset/mix was used? Butt profiles? Fork blades?<BR/>Looking good!<BR/>Thanks.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-1166413197069628092006-12-17T22:39:00.000-05:002006-12-17T22:39:00.000-05:00Chris,Congratulations. Nice job.Looks like Santa ...Chris,<BR/><BR/>Congratulations. Nice job.<BR/><BR/>Looks like Santa has been nice to you this year.<BR/><BR/>RonAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-1166391529286278012006-12-17T16:38:00.000-05:002006-12-17T16:38:00.000-05:00The funny thing is, for Velo Orange frame owners, ...The funny thing is, for Velo Orange frame owners, is they can get a complete equipped painted frame for about the same cost as just painting an old frame with chrome fork tips and crown, decals, pinstrips, forks alignment, and water bottle frame brazes. But you get so much more with the Velo Orange frame. Just that main frame picture is a tutorial on proper utilized frame logistics. It takes a while for all of the engineering to sink in from the simple elegant frame pic.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com