10 July, 2014

The Campeur 26

Smaller frames should have smaller wheels. It makes for more balanced and better handling bikes. There are lots of design compromises in trying to fit 700c wheels to very small bikes, compromises we've never been willing to make. That's the reason there haven't been VO frames smaller than 51cm.

It's been our intention, for a long while now, to offer smaller sizes, but with so many other ongoing projects... Anyway, we've finally made some progress. The Camargue is already available in 47cm and 50cm sizes. And we finally have a 26" Campeur prototype. Unless we encounter something unexpected during testing, we'll order a production run soon. They'll be made in 47cm and 49cm sizes. Larger sizes will continue to use 700 wheels.

A few short rides around the neighborhood reveal that the 26"-wheeled Campeur prototype handles very much like the 700c version, no surprises at all, which is exactly what we'd intended. Now the serious testing begins with Adrian making a 350-mile trip from Pittsburgh to Annapolis. She'll ride this prototype, loaded with camping gear, along the Great Allegheny Passage and the C&O canal towpath. That's a lot of gravel and dual-track, as well as some excellent camping opportunities. We await her report.

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

Very nice. The only real alternative to the already very nice Long Haul Trucker. Bet your frame/build is lighter.

What bars are those in the picture? They have a friendly profile.

VeloOrange said...

@Anon 4:08pm,
The bars are our new Dajia Shallow Bars: http://store.velo-orange.com/index.php/dajia-cycleworks-short-and-shallow-handlebar.html

Jake said...

Good stuff, over the last couple years, I've come back around to the humble, utilitarian joys of the 26"/559 wheel and tire. Any chance we'll see a 26" Campeur in the larger frame sizes too?

MDGColorado said...

Adrian has a pretty sweet job !

Mark Holm said...

Very glad to see that you are coming around to the wheel size goes with frame size way of thinking. Perhaps your example will help convince some of the bigger bike marketers to do likewise. It would also be helpful to convince the tire makers that 559 isn't just for knobbies anymore.

upriver said...

Gah! This is torture. I love my Campeur, but toe overlap is a huge issue with it. Yeah I am used to it but I have started to flirt with selling it and seeking out something with smaller wheels.

I don't suppose you have a trade-in program?

Tim Joe Comstock said...

That might be the best looking bicycle I'll see this year. Just right. Keep it up, Chris.

tj

Anonymous said...

Wow been waiting for this for awhile. I thought the Carm was a good idea, but I like the clean look of a quill, plus I didn't need some too heavy duty. Already got my 80s stumpy for that. I thought to myself I wish VO made campeur in 26 and smaller frame as I'm short. So glad to see this!

teamdarb said...

Awesome, can I borrow it over winter? I'm heading back out to the PNW to ride and bow hunt until Spring. I am currently in mid Ohio heading back home to southeast D.C.to drop the dog home. I was originally planning to switch from my 520 to a more "road less travel" Bridgestone MB3. Cough cough, if you want a real test of beaten pathway.... I am available. Facebook.com/Teamdarb. Wilson

doodlepuffy said...

i'm needing that frame right now...
when oh when will it be ready?

TM said...

I don't suppose you'd consider including a 51 cm version of the 26" Campeur? It'd be so awesome to ride a rode bike without having to choose between toe strike or pubic bone strike on the top bar.

Anonymous said...

GREAT NEWS!!!! Hope to see more photos of it.... What's the total weight of the frame & fork?.. Hope it can be in sale soon: )

VeloOrange said...

We don't know exactly when we'll it'll be ready, depends on testing and on how busy the frame factory is. We might do a 51cm 26" version in the future.

Anonymous said...

Beautiful!! I'm hoping this happens soon. I'm about to pull the trigger on a re-build but will hold off as this may better match my needs. What about tire clearances???

Anonymous said...

Where can I get that saddle?!?