by Igor
Doug approached us with a vision of his Pass Hunter build: sporty, lightweight, wide 700c tires, fenders, and the perfect mix of modern and traditional. Of course that sort of build is right up our alley!
Starting with everything that rolls, we went with front and rear VO Touring Hubs laced to RAID Rims. Panaracer's 700x38mm Gravelkings present a confident and comfortable ride for the varied terrain Doug plans on riding through. They measure a bit narrow (36.5mm), but that was expected and leaves enough room for the 50mm Snakeskin Fenders we sneaked in.
We selected Shimano's 11 speed 105 component group. That level has been Shimano's workhorse for a very long time and has never let us down. This generation's shifter body is supremely comfortable and pairs exceptionally well with the 44cm Nouveau Randonneur Bars. Don't mind the uncut steerer tube. Doug requested it be left as is so he can do the final fit when the bike arrives. It's currently all done and capped with a VO Knurled Stem Cap.
I think every multi-purpose bike should have fenders. They don't weigh much and add a ton of value to the bike's function. In addition to keeping your backside and drivetrain significantly cleaner, it also makes a more "filled in" visual appearance. Form and function. Function and form.
The Pass Hunter was really intended for 45mm wide fenders, but with the added size of the tires, we needed to step up to the next fender width of 50mm. To make them fit accordingly, I dimpled the fender slightly to sit snuggly against the chainstay and within the fork crown.
An additional fender strut was mounted to the front fender as well. Notice how both fender stays are parallel. It's the little things that take a bike to the next level.
Matching Rustines Rubber Bar Plugs add a nice touch of color.
This turned out to be one terrifically versatile and fun ride. If you want your own VO build, simply shoot us an email and get the process started!
You can find the complete build list right here.
P.S.
You may be wondering what's up with the Pass Hunter. It isn't being discontinued. It's being shelved for now and is in the process of a total refresh. We'll provide more details as we have them. But for now, if you're interested in a Pass Hunter and are between 5'9" and 5'11", now is the time to get your 55cm Pass Hunter. They're on sale and we won't be getting more in.
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3 comments:
I was thrilled with working with Velo Orange to do this build. Not only did they totally get what I was after from the get-go when I sent my “dream build” list, Igor and the team came back with ideas that I had not considered -- and that made this whole experience that much better.
I’m not a racer and as such don’t feel like bike shops tend to appreciate my perspective on cycling, so to have such a positive experience with Velo Orange has been really amazing.
I have always wanted an orange frame, and now I’ve got this classy, and fast, ride!
Hopefully you are going to offer a cantilever brake version in the refresh.
Yes to a canti version. Two bosses would be better...650 or 700 on the same frame/fork combo!
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