The long awaited Pass Hunter frames arrived yesterday. The Pass Hunter frame is designed for spirited riding on pavement, gravel, or smooth dirt roads. It's like a randonneuse, but with cantilever brakes. The canti brakes allow for wider tires with fenders and more powerful braking. The Pass Hunter is built using slightly lighter tubing than the Polyvalent or Campeur. It has mid-trail geometry and shorter chainstays than our other frames for stable, yet sporty, handling. In addition to randoneuring and pass hunting, the Pass Hunter would make a nice sportiff or a fast credit card tourer.
Pass Hunter build kits are also available.
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I need a new frame, and I do not intend to hunt passes, complete brevets, become a randonneur, or do loaded touring. I already have several steel frames with carbon forks that I use as my fair weather commuters, but since I cannot mount fenders or racks (I have tried, and p-clamps don't do it for me), I don't enjoy using these frames over 95 degree heat or in rain or snow. What I need is a frame that will take all the components, wheelsets (700c), and accessories (1 1/8 threadless) I already have, but that can also handle fenders, and carry enough rack for me to get my groceries home without having to wear them. Also, I have to carry my bike up several sets of stairs every day. I also really like to ride fast (I know this is taboo here) and enjoy passing the spandexed peloton in my work clothes during my commute.
ReplyDeleteCan I get enough rack on the Pass Hunter to get my 40 lbs of groceries once a week one mile in a pannier? Or do I have to go with the Campeur for the extra pedal clearance, rack mounts, and stiffness and ignore the threaded fork and extra weight? Or wait for the Polyvalent to be back in stock in my size? 53 seems like about the right size, and I weigh 195 lbs. Comments and advice welcome.
Dude, A little advice from Tim Gunn : "Make it Work."
ReplyDeleteAny more info you could pass along regarding "built using slightly lighter tubing". Are the walls thinner? Is the steel different?
ReplyDeleteWhat are the tubing specs?
ReplyDeleteAnon, The Passhunter would be fine for the use you describe. There is no need for a Campeur just to carries groceries occasionally.
ReplyDeleteThe tubing is double butted cromo with slightly thinner walls than our other bikes.
I know sometimes tire clearance proclamations are sometimes conservative, since tire sizes aren't always as big (or small) as they claim on their sidewalls. I'm hoping something like a 35mm Pasela would fit on the Pass Hunter with fenders – if you've tried an actual width 35mm with fenders and it worked it'd be nice to know. Or if you have a picture/measurement of the gaps at the front fork and chainstays that'd help too. Looks like a great bike!
ReplyDelete35mm tires will fit with fenders, but we always prefer to have a bit of extra fender clearance.
ReplyDeleteAny Chance of offering the black finish on the 1" threaded Grand Cru headset?
ReplyDelete1. On the 53cm frame, would you expect toe overlap with fenders and a size 40 shoe?
ReplyDelete2. What are the exact tubing specs? 8/5/8?
Is a taller frame size (63 cm) completely out of the question?
ReplyDeletecan you give me the headtube length in the 57 and 59 size, i need that to make a election...
ReplyDeletethanks
63mm frames just don't sell well for us. Small sizes do, but 63s sit forever.
ReplyDeleteIf you guys need odd specifications on a particular frame size, please e-mail or call us. We'll be happy to help, but we'd like the blog to be for more general questions.
We'll even give you the head tube lengths. But please consider that HT length must be weighed against BB height, fork leg length, fork crown thickness, HT extension, etc, before it really becomes useful, And even then it's not very useful.
head tube lengths is useful with the seat tube lengths (which you provide) for knowing the amount of spacer or rise of the stem to put the handlebar where you want respect to the saddle height
ReplyDelete