by Clint
We just received our final round of prototypes for the Piolet mkII and they look great! We made them 69% shreddier without taking away any of their original touring capability. As of now, they're set to be released in the Spring along with the new Polyvalents.
Geometry updates! We've slackened and stretched a few tubes to tweak handling and dial in fit. Flat bar builds have been pretty popular for this frame so we've adjusted accordingly. Top tubes are slightly longer and slightly steeper. This lets you size up if you want to run flat bars, without running into standover issues. Other than that, chainstays are a little longer on the smaller models, and headtubes are half a degree slacker on the larger models (putting it more in the realm of XC headtube angles vs touring headtube angles). All of these updates have felt great on our test rides!
Aesthetic updates! Right off the bat, you'll notice we're switching colors. More discussion on that to follow. If you look closely, we've swapped out the rear dropouts for the hooded model we use on several of our other frames. It's a nice consistent look across our lineup and all use the same durable, replaceable stainless steel derailleur hanger.
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| Hooded rears. |
Other than that, there are a few small changes to the fork. The most noticeable is the new larger segment plug. It lines up nicely with the headtube and makes it easier to mount a rack.
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| Stout, Angular. |
Now for the controversial color options. We're split between Desert Stan and Poppin' Purple. Desert Stan is nice. Somewhere between sand and tan. Seems to be trendy now. Pairs well with black or silver. It's a pretty neutral color so makes your anodized bits really pop. I dig it!
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| Desert Stan |
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| Basket compatible |
Poppin' Purple is fairly tame as far as purples go. It's quite nice. If you want to spice it up, it's dark enough that bright colors look nice against it without being too crazy, and if you want a more tame touring build, the usual black and silver also look fantastic! I think this frame color looks amazing with gumwall tires.
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| Not too bright Purple |
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| But it pops when light hits it! |
We also just got in these VeloORANGE water bottles. They're a nice alternative to metal bottles for offroad ventures and they hold water really well. Find them
here!
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| Hydration Station! |
+1 for poppin' purple!
ReplyDeleteTan? Not my thing. I have a tan car that I only got because it's the color the used car happened to be. Purple is cool though!
ReplyDeleteIs Desert Stan a medium? Just curious what it takes to squeeze the fatter rubber into the frame. I currently ride a size S Piolet with 1x drivetrain and WTB Ranger 2.8s on Blunt rims (31mm inner). The tire width comes in at 2.6 giving me about 3mm of clearance on each side of the tire. I'm also wondering if the longer chainstays on the new small frame would make the fattest part of the tire come in at a wider area of the chainstays - at the very least I might be able to run a 2x setup, which does not work right now. Kudos for addressing the few issues many riders had with the original!
ReplyDeleteyes what size is the dirt drop bar frame and what are the specs on that particular stem? How tall is the rider who gets to rock that one as well?
ReplyDelete@OC
ReplyDeleteStan is a medium! We've kept the original tire clearances for both models. That hasn't changed. As far as drivetrain compatibility, we'll report back before the release of the updated frame! Longer CS does make a difference for chainline clearances.
@MMcG,
ReplyDeleteIt's a Medium and that is our Cigne Stem in the 90mm sizeway. I'm 5'9" without shoes!
-Igor
Poppin' Purple
ReplyDeleteIf two colors are offered one should be bold and one classic. The purple is bold...the tan is just blah. Just my 2 cents worth.
ReplyDelete+1 for Desert Stan
ReplyDeleteAnother vote for Desert Stan
ReplyDeleteput me down for the purple ....when can we buy them.....with a Klunker handle bar !!!
ReplyDeleteDoes a Piolet work well with fenders for using that phat rubber on pavement commuting? Or am I barking up the wrong frame?
ReplyDelete@smitty,
ReplyDeleteThe Piolet works great with fenders, it is a VO frame after all.
-Igor
On platforms such as iBOB, The Paceline and Velocipede Salon, there's a handful of ex-Piolet owners who've commented on how overbuilt the frame felt for all but the most loaded of touring. One even suggested it was more dead than the infamously tank-like Long Haul Trucker.
ReplyDeleteWould you be willing to release the tubing diameters and wall thickness profiles for the mkII version?
Thanks!
@anon smith,
DeleteYou can't satisfy everyone! We have done extensive, real-world testing and we're happy with how the bike rides loaded and unloaded. It tracks well and is simply a fun bike to ride, and isn't that the point?
The Piolet is a purpose-built bikepacking machine first and foremost. If you're looking for something lighter weight, we have several options current and upcoming to suit those needs.
The tubing isn't a secret, double butting all over and the fork is tripled butted. I don't feel the need to publish wall thicknesses since that is a tiny portion of bicycle design and handling characteristics.
-Igor
Sweet rig!! Put me down for a medium Piolet in tan!
ReplyDeleteYou have to go with Desert tan on this frame, it's a fat tire juggernaut, not a purple people eater with is better suited for skinny tires.
ReplyDeleteI have an old Bridgestone RB-2 in a color pretty close to that purple... I like it.
ReplyDeletePoppin' Purple x #100
ReplyDeleteTubing diameter has more to do with ride than wall thickness, anyway. I love the purple, but I'm not buying a piolet, either.
ReplyDeletePurple, of course.
ReplyDeleteAny more specifics about when we might be able to purchase one of these beasts? Thanks!
ReplyDeleteIt has to be "Desert Stan" Tan!
ReplyDeleteCan you make the tan less skin colored? If so, I vote tan!
ReplyDeleteLess "skin colored"?
ReplyDeleteJohnemeryjohnson, you seem to be a deep sleeper--culturally speaking. Please note that, while your statement might imply otherwise, there is no single 'standard' or 'normal' skin color. Crayola and other forces may have led us astray, but waking up reveals a beautiful even more colorful morning.
And I'm voting for purple anyway.
"dessert" stan is tastier!
ReplyDeleteLooks awesome!
ReplyDeleteI would absolutely get one in purple.
Probably wouldn't buy the tan.
I own a large V1 Piolet. I set it up with a 90mm stem and a Jones bar and have always felt that I wanted it to be a little more stretched out. If I were to order again, would you say that the geometry updates would still land me with a Large, or should I consider sizing up to an XL?
ReplyDeleteI'd stick with the Large. The mk2 size L is about 3cm longer.
DeleteThanks for the reply. Wanna buy a Large V1 Piolet frame/fork?? ;)
ReplyDeletedesert stan.
ReplyDeleteI'm sold 26" wheels, but if hybrid (smooth center tread) tires are available in 622/2.4, I'd be interested in an XL. or larger. I want an all-road touring bike. This could be it.
Poppin purple!! Desert stan is just... meh.
ReplyDelete@unknown,
ReplyDeleteI was looking for a Large MKI Piolet!