tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post4533647342239031879..comments2024-03-18T10:19:55.782-04:00Comments on The Velo ORANGE Blog: Tom's Ugly GripsVelo Orangehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02835615331417822722noreply@blogger.comBlogger46125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-73491424950408151112009-06-29T17:09:36.633-04:002009-06-29T17:09:36.633-04:00What size is the security hex? Google "securi...What size is the security hex? Google "security bit set" and you'll find many places to obtain those types of bits, as long as it's a fairly common size. you'd still need something to drive it with, like and old 1/4" box end wrench or something.jimmytheflyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10060952522546330342noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-41743112461783494872009-06-28T21:27:19.988-04:002009-06-28T21:27:19.988-04:00I got the anti theft skewers in the mail and a few...I got the anti theft skewers in the mail and a few things stood out. <br /><br />The key is pretty small and pretty unique. Shouldn't you get a duplicate or make one available? <br />It would be great if it could be put on a key chain. I used to use the pitlock and kept one socket on my keychain and a spare in my toolbox. It is a pretty short allen tool and seems pocket friendly, so why not make it keychain compatible? As it is I'm not sure where I'd keep it. Loose in a pocket? In the saddle bag? I'd rather not. <br /><br />Mine seemed poorly machined in places and the allen tool was a poor fit on one skewer. If the allen tool only goes part way in and at a slight angle might durability not be questionable? <br /><br />The hole in the allen tool wasn't centered properly. I'm also worried about the strength of the material. I've seen both pitlock and lesser anti-theft skewers suffer from key and nut deformation. Perhaps it's less likely with a short tool, but I'm still concerned. <br /><br />Seems like a good idea poorly executed. Perhaps VO should specify higher grades of steel and better quality control.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-24193516303305095392009-06-28T10:41:38.005-04:002009-06-28T10:41:38.005-04:00I've used PayPal for my own little business an...I've used PayPal for my own little business and in a medium-sized business where I was in charge of internet sales. In the latter I also accepted credit cards through a processor.<br /><br /> PayPal was not only always cheaper for us (by about 1/2%) but had much better fraud protection. We NEVER had a bad sale with PayPal, working in an industry notorious for fraud (photo equipment); we lost in the five figures through our credit card transactions.<br /><br />PayPal always had our back in a problem--and problems were rare. The CC companies basically told us to get lost.<br /><br />For me, at least, PayPal works. I couldn't afford to pya CC processing fees otherwise and still stay in the bike clothing biz at my stage of the game.Rick @ Bicycle Fixationhttp://www.bicyclefixation.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-14874121467114607242009-06-28T09:26:51.471-04:002009-06-28T09:26:51.471-04:00Since you're asking...the grips aren't so ...Since you're asking...the grips aren't so pretty. They look like something I would expect to see on a department store bike.John S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/09522163058060634596noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-66326564019476869402009-06-27T21:06:57.158-04:002009-06-27T21:06:57.158-04:00To the Anon above with the Toei and Riv: Consider ...To the Anon above with the Toei and Riv: Consider yourself shot. So VO should raise its prices to what the market will bear? What a cliche. I'm so glad it is a businessman like CK and not an armchair capitalist like you who are the force behind VO. <br /><br />Unlike you sir, not every VO customer has the means to pay top dollar for his bike jewelry. You may be hanging yours on frames worth 3 large a piece, and wish to have matching names on all the aluminum bits, but I suspect many of us here are riders with a taste for Champagne but pocketbooks only thick enough for IPA. <br /><br />I personally am hanging my VO on vintage production steel and am more focused on functional finesse than your platonic perfection. <br /><br />And do you really think that all who post here would be so ready and willing to give feedback and suggestions were VO trying to squeeze every last dollar out of the demand curve for Grand Cru seat posts? I think not. <br /><br />VO is low hanging, delicious fruit, and I hope it stays that way for a long time to come.SARENnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-16290614791833121262009-06-27T19:09:25.481-04:002009-06-27T19:09:25.481-04:00What is so ugly about them? I think they are kind ...What is so ugly about them? I think they are kind of HOOTTTT!Major Taylorhttp://marshalltaylor.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-15449423199828375482009-06-27T16:51:23.083-04:002009-06-27T16:51:23.083-04:00I also have the Grand 'Crouton'(!) seat po...I also have the Grand 'Crouton'(!) seat post.<br /><br />I happen to prefer the laser etching, it is very discrete, like Chris King's new sotto voce laser etching on thier head sets (google it and see).<br /><br />The only question I have is whether there is a clear coat over the anodizing? There is a slight rainbow-ish hue, you can see it in the photos in this blog article...keithwwalkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11808096138218041326noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-44524627918783975902009-06-27T15:04:37.091-04:002009-06-27T15:04:37.091-04:00Chris -- you ever been to Portland? Lemme treat yo...Chris -- you ever been to Portland? Lemme treat you to some Stumptown Porter next time you're out this way.<br />Because those grips are OMG-Hideous.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-62792459504958770882009-06-27T12:01:16.754-04:002009-06-27T12:01:16.754-04:00Greetings,
I'm beginning to "O.D." o...Greetings,<br />I'm beginning to "O.D." on all this bruhaahaa about handlebar grips, paying with PAYPAL, some rube paying more on ebay than from the source.<br />I've got better things to do.<br />But,....<br />An idea has been born from this stimulating conversation.<br />Let's bypass Paypal and paying money altogether(we are in deep financial trouble), and use beer as a replacement for money-the V.O. barter system.<br />We could even send Tom an extra special double IPA for special service as a kind of tip.<br />This would stimulate sales of your porteur racks to further transport the new "money" from the grocery. It's a win-win situation.<br />I'll drink to that!<br /><br />Best regards.Kilroynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-17744025204710810732009-06-27T01:32:18.259-04:002009-06-27T01:32:18.259-04:00Honestly, the levers are not pretty.
Regarding th...Honestly, the levers are not pretty.<br /><br />Regarding the seat post: I have a Jaguar on my Toei and a VO on my Rivendell. They're equally functional, but the VO seat post is definitely better looking. The laser-etched VO logo looks cheapo, though. Maybe you could engrave instead?<br /><br />Someone's going to shoot me for saying this, but VO is ridiculously inexpensive, particularly considering that VO is the sole supplier for many of the parts we need. <br /><br />You should raise your prices substantially. Not because I like paying more money, but because more capital means more products. Someday I'm hoping to have a completely VO-equipped bike. I want VO hubs and derailleurs, and drilled aero brake levers, preferably with something more subtle than that ugly laser-etched VO logo.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-28052908725741417632009-06-26T21:31:54.447-04:002009-06-26T21:31:54.447-04:00Why do folks think PayPal is evil? I regularly tak...Why do folks think PayPal is evil? I regularly take it from customers of my business, and if you are a heavy user of PayPal, it can cost as little as 1.9% to accept it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-37893055011046536722009-06-26T20:11:03.761-04:002009-06-26T20:11:03.761-04:00I like the grips. When do we find out who won the...I like the grips. When do we find out who won the six pack?Prestonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-71650661696995031422009-06-26T20:09:38.724-04:002009-06-26T20:09:38.724-04:00I like the grips, but mostly I just
want to know w...I like the grips, but mostly I just<br />want to know who wins the six pack.Prestonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-62712963685351581272009-06-26T18:33:31.638-04:002009-06-26T18:33:31.638-04:00I would buy them and then wrap over them with clot...I would buy them and then wrap over them with cloth tape. I usually use track grips in this manner, but I like the cable groove on the dia-compe grips. Also they are cheaper and I wouldn't have to cut them down to length.Andrewnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-32589881185074382092009-06-26T17:13:41.383-04:002009-06-26T17:13:41.383-04:00Well, sorry Tom, but as much as I'd love to co...Well, sorry Tom, but as much as I'd love to contribute to the enjoyment of a sixer of double IPA for you (the fact that you like that indicates you do have taste in some matters, at least), those grips (and levers for that matter) are some of the ugliest things VO has offered yet. COunt my vote a nay.<br /><br />Mel, SFAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-26045761788363878472009-06-26T15:49:07.264-04:002009-06-26T15:49:07.264-04:00Chris, I appreciate your comment about the evil na...Chris, I appreciate your comment about the evil nature of Paypal. It is refreshing to see a person not pull punches when speaking of a large company. My hats off to you.Simame Ugoobooganoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-40518893356898514712009-06-26T15:20:09.341-04:002009-06-26T15:20:09.341-04:00Just a quick thanks. You folks at VO kick some se...Just a quick thanks. You folks at VO kick some serious tail when it comes to bringing something to the market that nobody else will. Few others seem to understand that a bike can be a thing of beauty as well as practicality.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-8911018959612672292009-06-26T13:54:51.225-04:002009-06-26T13:54:51.225-04:00Paypal is evil! It's a pain to process with ou...Paypal is evil! It's a pain to process with our system and very expensive. That's why few large companies accept it. E-Bay or individual-to-individual transactions are really what it's designed for.Velo Orangehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02835615331417822722noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-59466748489774454842009-06-26T12:09:56.303-04:002009-06-26T12:09:56.303-04:00How about PayPal, Chris? I'd love to see that...How about PayPal, Chris? I'd love to see that as well.Stevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18127635083892565152noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-14404973722462702772009-06-26T08:39:09.506-04:002009-06-26T08:39:09.506-04:00Anyone who has read this blog regularly should kno...Anyone who has read this blog regularly should know that my comment about raising prices based on an E-Bay sale was tongue-in-cheek.<br /><br />My basic principle regarding pricing is to base prices on making a reasonable profit, not on what the market will bear. There are a few exceptions, such as the porteur chain cases, that we offer at a lower margin simply because I think they are so cool that someone should make them.Velo Orangehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02835615331417822722noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-87141371032944082042009-06-26T08:31:34.399-04:002009-06-26T08:31:34.399-04:00Sometimes I will buy something on ebay before VO b...<i>Sometimes I will buy something on ebay before VO because they take paypal. Alot of people already have funds in there paypal accounts, so it's easier to spend the money. I wish you took paypal as well. I'd be spending a fortune here!</i><br /><br />One of my favorite features of Paypal is their one-off credit card creation! I use it whenever I order from Peter White Cycles since you have to call or send him your CC info in an email.Justin Augusthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16652461082265558086noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-14940075621207152792009-06-26T08:26:01.921-04:002009-06-26T08:26:01.921-04:00You owe no one anything, it is your responsiblity ...You owe no one anything, it is your responsiblity to take whatever the market will bear.Ronald Rumpnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-30289900268271133152009-06-26T03:16:07.300-04:002009-06-26T03:16:07.300-04:00Please do not raise prices based on ebay trends. I...Please do not raise prices based on ebay trends. I don't often need seat posts, but I value Velo Orange as a source for quality product and fair prices.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10497054255433578176noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-13038328642905642452009-06-25T22:16:22.881-04:002009-06-25T22:16:22.881-04:00Why not sell some of the plastic derailleur cable ...Why not sell some of the plastic derailleur cable covers - or whatever they are called - for use over brake cable on moustache bars with reverse levers? If you plan on taking advantage of a moustache bar's multiple hand positions you might use tape or cloth farther from the lever. The plastic cable covers could be used in such case. By moustache bar I mean all types, french, rivendell, upside down north road etc.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24415034.post-87861458713752026922009-06-25T21:26:15.205-04:002009-06-25T21:26:15.205-04:00Tom,
I have the black Dimension grips on 4 bikes, ...Tom,<br />I have the black Dimension grips on 4 bikes, two are 22.2 and two are 23.8. The only bike that currently has cable housing running under the grips is a 23.8 bar (although I've done this a few times in the past as well). I rotate the grips while pushing them into place using rubbing alcohol as a lubricant - it's not that difficult.nvnoreply@blogger.com