tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post3840081947345118092..comments2024-03-18T10:19:55.782-04:00Comments on The Velo ORANGE Blog: Branding and Saddles and Great GrowthVelo Orangehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02835615331417822722noreply@blogger.comBlogger108125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-19646248697454574702010-01-31T21:51:32.350-05:002010-01-31T21:51:32.350-05:00You can use a normal spanner for the Brooks tensio...You can use a normal spanner for the Brooks tension nut, not that you ever need to turn it.Andrew Fhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08917065225850153006noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-50875742966791946752010-01-31T17:21:39.761-05:002010-01-31T17:21:39.761-05:00Commenting on another old post here... I'm abo...Commenting on another old post here... I'm about to order a model 3 saddle and I'm pretty stoked about it. A honey B-17 is <em>on sale</em> at Amazon right now for $83 but that means shorter rails, non-skivved skirt, no lace holes and most frustratingly, a hidden extra $10 or so for the spanner to adjust tension (vs. an allen wrench for the VO). Conclusion: the VO is better value. I'm not knocking Brooks. The reputation for quality seems unassailable and is no doubt well deserved, but I only have enough cabbage for one purchase so I gotta put it where I think it will do the most good.<br /><br />As for the branding all I can say is that I only recently discovered VO and after looking through the on-line store in depth I'm amazed at the overall value. I will always look there first for anything I need and wouldn't hesitate to buy either Grand Cru or plain VO stuff. Keep up the good work.Rexnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-79733312858453306322009-11-22T16:59:06.058-05:002009-11-22T16:59:06.058-05:00Chris -- Just received the Model 5 sprung saddle f...Chris -- Just received the Model 5 sprung saddle from V.O. Thank you. It's on my Trek 720 now ... hard as a rock, but already giving me a comfortable ride over bumps, pot holes (small ones), half-ass (phalt) patches here in the Twin Cities metro. Your saddle replaces a B-17 with about 1500 miles on it. I was a little reluctant to try VO, especially after investing so much butt capital in my Brooks. After reading the review on EcoVelo,however, and after only 25 miles in the new saddle, I'm psyched that I switched over to V.O. Not an ounce of buyers' remorse. Keep up the good work! Thanks again. Seth Hoyt, Long Lake, MN. hoytse@gmail.comPoppy H.https://www.blogger.com/profile/00257393647571688063noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-47777080303805526202009-11-22T13:48:24.586-05:002009-11-22T13:48:24.586-05:00Just to present an opinion on the matter, I think ...Just to present an opinion on the matter, I think Grand Cru sounds really pompous. As a professional marketer I spend a lot of time splitting hairs over such matters and I think, in the case of bike parts, it's best to go with a family name. For example, Brooks, Paul, King, etc. <br /><br />Bicycle parts can be artistic and beautifully designed, but ultimately they are utilitarian and functional. A family name, rather than a play on luxury item, emphasizes the fact that craftspeople designed and built the parts and believe in them enough to put their name on it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-48734504618415229782009-11-20T19:59:31.457-05:002009-11-20T19:59:31.457-05:00All this talk of big ugly logos does not dissuade...All this talk of big ugly logos does not dissuade anyone from buying a brooks, nor do I see anyone sandpapering off the brooks embossing and popping off the metal plate to go logo free. <br /><br />You like the saddle, ride it, use it, despite the letters on the hide. it doesn't make you a tool or a follower or an ordinary person.Tomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01015305191743399671noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-18085539361265058122009-11-19T11:41:51.872-05:002009-11-19T11:41:51.872-05:00I think that Typenschild Delete has it right--Velo...I think that Typenschild Delete has it right--Velo Orange is the brand, GC is the level.<br /><br />I was about to suggest a line of basic stuff for basic bikes called "plonk" since you seem to like that name, but I think I'd stick to VO and VO_GC (I'd go for GC as a superscript, actually). <br /><br />One of the things I like most about the VO stuff I have is that it has little or no logoing--but people who know, know what it is. For more on this, read the novel Pattern Recognition.<br /><br />As an example of the way to do things, I'd burn the VO logo into the *bottom* of the saddle. Nothing to distract from the thing itself. I don't wear shirts with labels on the outside...Andy "What?" M-Shttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00678292315368970018noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-80737706161782450812009-11-19T01:50:01.071-05:002009-11-19T01:50:01.071-05:00Respectfully, I don't know you guys, on the ma...Respectfully, I don't know you guys, on the main page I press the "Gran Cru" logo and get that enlarged picture, looking a bit like obviously, a wine bottle label maybe down to the moisture marks, I think that looks 'cool' or 'classy' maybe elegant too not to be trying to shine the VO people because I'm not sure if Gran Cru is the best sounding name, I think it's okay because that's the language it's portraying and being it's own thing and not indeed, copying others.<br /><br />That's what I've always liked about the Campagnolo logo, it looks cool when you see it and I just mean the word itself in that written language and maybe it's a bit in Italian bike products, Giordano clothing for example with the Centaur with a bow and arrow, etc.<br /><br />And some other logos tend to look real business-like, Shimano is a good example and I guess, they are actually a big company producing multiple products. Trek looks busy as well, Cannondale non-descript to me. Simplex is alright.TSVDPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08799437719101782398noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-51655072160074478392009-11-18T17:21:49.045-05:002009-11-18T17:21:49.045-05:00If you want any help from a graphic designer for t...If you want any help from a graphic designer for that logo, Audrey Marier of Pendleton, OR is the woman you need. www.immers3d.comk.sawyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04503794419280344995noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-6708981694692882612009-11-18T14:27:16.667-05:002009-11-18T14:27:16.667-05:00King, Phil Wood, Paul Comp, White Industries... ju...King, Phil Wood, Paul Comp, White Industries... just don't up the vo price tag for some silly nameAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-66569669227319279492009-11-18T14:09:39.075-05:002009-11-18T14:09:39.075-05:00First off, thanks for all the great feedback.
As ...First off, thanks for all the great feedback.<br /><br />As for fictitious back stories, they work and we enjoy them, though we may also realize that they are silly. I have nothing but admiration for those with the chutzpah to pull them off.Velo Orangehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02835615331417822722noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-86980695097703422262009-11-18T14:02:13.045-05:002009-11-18T14:02:13.045-05:00The complicated backstories, whether imaginary or ...The complicated backstories, whether imaginary or not, of characters such as Homer Hilson, Glorius, Saluki, etc, are imho mostly lighthearted, intended for those with a sense of humor. It's not too different from Gunnar the hound dog, say, or any one of a thousand other slightly silly product names. On the whole, I think too much time blogging is unhealthy, folks!<br /><br />best,<br />mwAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-18127999554897254472009-11-18T12:14:51.047-05:002009-11-18T12:14:51.047-05:00Wow, the Rivendell slight seems unnecessary. I do...Wow, the Rivendell slight seems unnecessary. I don't think they're any less than honest about designing products in-house and having them manufactured elsewhere, exactly what you and many other companies do. <br /><br />And I can't see how their branding is intended to mislead anyone with references to complicated imaginary backstories, as you're implying. "Sackville" is not particularly evocative. They're folks who ride, who design stuff for folks who ride. So are you, right? It seems reasonable to stick together.Danielnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-61541546299873567022009-11-17T20:12:14.012-05:002009-11-17T20:12:14.012-05:00Eric Meyer: Respectfully, I myself having Polish a...Eric Meyer: Respectfully, I myself having Polish ancestry would not appreciate someone telling me such things about "Red China", especially where a last name is Meyer. Of course, we're all Americans down to my Yuengling Brews.TSVDPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08799437719101782398noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-15162942264006181852009-11-17T19:07:31.771-05:002009-11-17T19:07:31.771-05:00Eric wrote: "I'd actually kind of like to...Eric wrote: "I'd actually kind of like to have a red star logo chinese saddle... with a little logo of Mao on the hangtag maybe... and the green beret hats with the red stars..."<br /><br />It's close to been done, these fixed gear types, I was out one day and I saw a bicycle parked and it was all painted red but for the headbadge was the hammer and sickle painted on in silver and painted well. I even pointed it out to a few people, "look at this". It wasn't a professional paint job as far as what we are familiar with but it looked like the fellow knew what he was doing, maybe powdercoating or something.<br /><br />Also, per above that "Brilliant Orange" book, I wished to point out that if anyone goes over to amazon or anywhere else and sees that book (btw, 2 different editions, one has a different cover and also, should it really interest someone, amazon.co.uk sells it at a reasonable price, but it is a soccer book mainly after all), it is a bit creative that that is NOT an orange on the cover: that's a round piece of cheese, fromage with the orangish/reddish waxy covering cheeses have. A bit creative so I thought that might be of aid to some.TSVDPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08799437719101782398noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-17873752475103654642009-11-17T17:29:29.029-05:002009-11-17T17:29:29.029-05:00Maybe Chris should start a brand called RED CHINA!...Maybe Chris should start a brand called RED CHINA! and go with the whole communist party vibe from the early days... the propaganda posters etc. He could make some big rod brake cargo bikes..("smugbikes" bikesnobnyc calls them!)... or just the classic Chinese rod brake commuters like what 5 Rams in Guangshou builds. I'd actually kind of like to have a red star logo chinese saddle... with a little logo of Mao on the hangtag maybe... and the green beret hats with the red stars... maybe even the green pantsuits for the employees at the Hand Built Bike Show... Black boots...<br /><br />I can see it now... everyone marching in unison singing...<br /><br />Ok... no more beer for Eric...<br /><br />BTW<br /><br />BrainwashVictim... You are absolutely right... I am not very proud of Vision Street Wear's supergraphic logo usage... but it worked in the 80's... and was what sold unfortunately and was what the owner wanted me to make. Simple Shoes was a reaction to that... when I quit Vision to start my own brand.Eric Meyernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-84609412117415910362009-11-17T12:19:44.714-05:002009-11-17T12:19:44.714-05:00Very well stated, Tom SVDP.
My perception of &quo...Very well stated, Tom SVDP.<br /><br />My perception of "the good life" is not the lap of luxury, but simple plesures on a regular basis. I feel the VO home page intro sums it up beautifully... relaxed, comfortable style, centuries, inn-to-inn, dirt road rambles. Ahh...<br /><br />Keep the name. Keep improving quality and don't applogize that quality does, in fact cost something. Nobody can afford cheap stuff. That is a real problem that the American consumer needs to face. Alas, I digress.Cyclo Carpenternoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-69123966588432934802009-11-17T10:42:42.828-05:002009-11-17T10:42:42.828-05:00"As it stands, VO wreaks of passion for cycli..."As it stands, VO wreaks of passion for cycling and the good life."- Cyclo Carpenter<br /><br />Most of what this reviewer said, very well stated and "wreaks of passion for cycling" but I don't know if I've ever had "the good life" which sounds a bit like living in the lap of luxury. <br /><br />But Velo Orange, I know, it is very catchy, not just talking about French bikes, but the symbol for Netherlands/Nederland/Holland is orange a symbol per William of Orange (I don't mean to get off on a tangent, but that is what I think of often when I see VO items, especially at first), Orange is the color of Holland and of Dutch Royalty seemingly, I don't know if VO intended to infer that but it does come out like that to me some (interestingly, in the UK, I guess there is a mountain bike company called Orange and in Sweden, for a long time, premier Crescent bikes tend to be Orange, so Orange speaks a lot when talking about bikes in the first place).<br /><br />For more on this, websearch out the Orange Army of Dutch football/soccer and images... ('Hup, Hup, Holland' is a bit of their 'USA, USA, USA' chant) or better yet, an in depth treatise on the subject of the sport in Holland is in fact, 'Brilliant Orange' ( http://www.amazon.com/Brilliant-Orange-Neurotic-Genius-Football/dp/0747547084 , I don't know what links are acceptable but you'd find the cover of the book intriguing ) speaking of which, Holland has it's football hooligans as does England and all the other European countries. I talked about the Clubman bikes in the UK in my prior post and the great cycling clubs in the UK that were very popular in the past. I've got to think, to a large extent but not totally by any means, they got away from their great bike-making history and many towards their "football is life" philosophy and which tends to lend itself more to tribal conflicts, Nationalism, etc.<br /><br />Bottom line, I can be on my bike and the idea of VO via it's entrepeneurial style is inspirational. Not only do I purchase some products per VO; it gives one ideas just like written on the VO site, that giving some eloquent fenders to some bikes can make even some otherwise unremarkable bicycles look real elegant, this kind of a thing, I mounted a light on my fork per the same kind of reasoning which has worked out in an outstanding way on a trial run. Now maybe, one would see some of this in places like in France, Holland or even Japan, giving them their due but I haven't seen it much stateside. VO has a wide appeal while some of the other "specialty" shops do seem to cater to a narrow elitist type of mentality.<br /><br />Sorry, I just had to write that little bit, I was going to keep it to myself and then, I saw my book of "Brilliant Orange" on the shelf and decided I'd go ahead. I had some things to say about Belgium as well which might be an untapped resource, but that's for another day, I thank you for the good graces to allow my comment.<br /><br />The passion, I think Sheldon had it and it's not like the passion is a novelty of a few, I think the 'American bike boom' largely had it in the '70s and '80s, check out some older Bicycling magazines, they had it, the new magazine 'Bicycle Times' which I noted VO advertises in has it too on conditions from what I've seen. From the issues I have seen they seem to run with a lot of the well-worn ideologies out of the Northwest/maybe Boston too so far with their Univega-this and Bridgestone-that while, not to be patronizing, I find VO to be refreshing and different, outside the box.<br /><br />'Hup, Hup, Velo-Orange'<br /><br />TCTSVDPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08799437719101782398noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-45312867012620985932009-11-17T00:59:07.453-05:002009-11-17T00:59:07.453-05:00FWIW. Please do not dilute or confuse by offering ...FWIW. Please do not dilute or confuse by offering GC products. I spent 11 years with Patagonia and can name three different sub-brands that they launched, none of which still exist.<br /><br />Beware of price point products (in either direction) in order to appeal to a larger audience. You will drive away authentic, long term customers for fad-followers. If fad followers choose to buy high quality products, more power to them but they are just gravy.<br /><br />Yes, everyone loves a story. And VO has a story. Keep running with it. I also caution against a total redesign of the identity. As it stands, VO wreaks of passion for cycling and the good life. Keep VO, VO.Cyclo Carpenternoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-3493943319205278872009-11-17T00:32:33.081-05:002009-11-17T00:32:33.081-05:00I agree with Eric Myers comments 100%I agree with Eric Myers comments 100%Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-32872586333331662482009-11-16T13:33:17.812-05:002009-11-16T13:33:17.812-05:00Chris:
It's smart marketing to use a brand na...Chris:<br /><br />It's smart marketing to use a brand name but "Grand Cru" is filled with soft syllables, whereas many distinct brands have hard syllables in their brand name. Just a thought.<br /><br />By-the-by, I just installed a set of 43 mm Honjo hammer fenders on my Miyata 1000LT touring bike - purchased at VO. They look awesome. Thanks for bring back the components from the golden age of cycle touring.RODnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-60247558951577721692009-11-16T12:36:27.867-05:002009-11-16T12:36:27.867-05:00Personally, I take logos off just about anything I...Personally, I take logos off just about anything I can.<br /><br />I figure I paid for them, I have no desire to advertise for the people I bought them from. <br /><br />If someone really wants to know where I got my headset, they can ask me. My ultegra rear derailleur works just as well without a screen-printed logo as do my shimano brake levers. A little steel wool goes a long way.<br /><br />Here's a thought: If yer gonna have a grand cru line that's slightly more expensive or higher quality, Make that line sans logo. If I'm paying more for something, I don't want a logo on it. Never understood the desire for a logo on something you paid for- someone gives me a shirt, I don't care if it has a logo. I buy a shirt, I don't want to advertise.buck-50https://www.blogger.com/profile/08208894051289539066noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-74306984079790329552009-11-16T11:52:07.043-05:002009-11-16T11:52:07.043-05:00Slightly off topic, but what bike does the owner o...Slightly off topic, but what bike does the owner of the factory in Taiwan ride?John S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/09522163058060634596noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-32536855618472241082009-11-16T10:52:03.828-05:002009-11-16T10:52:03.828-05:00"it would tremendously valuable to pay a prop..."it would tremendously valuable to pay a proper graphic designer to develop a well suited and classy web page."<br /><br />"What you need to develop GREATLY is the graphic design quality of the logo and corporate Identity."<br /><br />I couldn't agree more.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02419550857423725812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-72302315213484233982009-11-16T09:02:31.454-05:002009-11-16T09:02:31.454-05:00drop the Logo completely. Mystique is always bette...drop the Logo completely. Mystique is always better. Ther is nothing prestigious about a Logo when that Logo is on a taiwanese product.Chris LePortnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-37520197652123334112009-11-16T03:17:34.793-05:002009-11-16T03:17:34.793-05:00I always thought Vision Street Wear was all brandi...I always thought Vision Street Wear was all branding--those logo shirts just seemed like wearable billboards. Those first Simple shoes were a complete 180.<br /><br />On the other hand, I can barely remember what an Alex Singer logo looks like (I know it's kind of cool looking, though), but I think I can identify the bike, unpainted. Rather than emulating those old French logos, just keep doing what you've been doing. Keep the branding amateur and the quality supreme. I do wish you'd lose the laser etching though.brainwashvictimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14430614919754814198noreply@blogger.com