Happy Halloween!

Aardvarks and Saddles

With winter weather coming we've had lots of requests for Aardvark neoprene saddle covers, which we've had a hard time keeping in stock. So I wanted to tell all of you who've been waiting that we just got a big shipment and have plenty in stock.

It's important to keep leather saddles reasonably dry. A little rain won't hurt, but repeated wetting can cause leather saddles to loose their shape.

Surprisingly, Brooks saddle covers are not really waterproof and their fit is rather baggy. I also don't care for the big logo that might as well say "Steal this expensive saddle". I think the tighter fitting and waterproof Aardvark covers are far superior. Note thatAardvark makes two styles of covers. The thin and inexpensive Lycra cover is not very durable, but the neoprene model (the one we stock) is very nice and longer lasting.

This is also a good time to treat your leather saddle with Proofide, which is still the best. Don't forget the under side.

Speaking of saddles, another shipment of VO model 6 saddles will be here next month and we'll have a new VO saddle specifically for city bikes.

Finally, Aardvark covers are also available wholesale to other bike shops from VO Imports, as are VO saddles.

Choosing Fenders

With today's cold rain at VO world headquarters it's time to recycle some posts about fenders. This one is about choosing fenders. The next one will be about installing them. Yes, I've written about this before, but we still get more e-mails about choosing and installing fenders than any other topic.

Fender Basics

Riding with fenders can be transformational. You'll find your bike far more useful. You won't get a wet streak up your back every time you ride through a puddle. You're feet will no longer be soaking wet just because the road is damp. And you'll stay dryer in anything but heavy rain. Your clothes will be cleaner. It's not surprising that most non-racing bikes in Europe and Asia have fenders.

We stock two brands of fenders, Honjo and Velo Orange, in 15 models. All our fender models are metal, 14 are aluminum and one is 1 stainless steel. They come in sizes for 26", 650b, and 700c/27" wheels.

Most experienced cyclists prefer metal fenders because they provide better weather protection than plastic and are very durable. They also look much nicer than plastic. In fact a nice pair of fenders can make even an ordinary bike look rather elegant.

One of the reasons that plastic fenders don't work well is that they are too short. The front fender, must come down close to the ground to keep spray off. All the fenders we sell are made to our specifications, even the Honjos, to ensure that they offer adequate coverage.

Measuring for Fenders

The basic rule in fender fitting is that the fender should be at least 8mm wider than the tire; 10-12 mm is better. So a 35mm fender will fit up to a 25-26mm tire; a 43mm will cover a 32-35mm; 45 covers 38mm, etc. The reason for this clearance is that otherwise little pebbles, sticks, and other debris that are thrown up by your tire will get lodged between the fender and tire. Of course many tires are smaller than their advertised size, so it's wise to actually measure the inflated tire.

A fender's width is measured on the outside, not inside. So to determine if a fender will fit you'll check clearance at the brakes, in the fork crown, and in between the seat stays.

To check the brakes apply them, so the pads touch the rims. Now measure the width between the arms. Also check that you have at least 9-10mm vertically from the tire to the brake. Short reach caliper brakes typically can accommodate 35-37mm fenders. Long reach brakes can usually fit 43-45mm fenders. XL reach brakes like Tektro R556 can fit 50-52mm fenders.

Next check the width and height of the fork crown. Finally check that the seat stays are far enough apart and that the brake bridge is at least 10mm above the tire. You may have noticed that I've not mentioned the chain stays. Those are easy because you can always trim the bottom of the fender to clear.

Of course metal fenders are flexible and can be bent, so if the fit is close you can always squeeze the fender in a few millimeters at the offending spot.

It's important to also get fenders of the proper radius. 27" and 700c wheels are close enough to use the same fenders. 650b and 26" fenders are close and some folks do use one size on the other, but fender line is not going to be perfect.

Fender line refers to the fender following the radius of the tire. In other words, the gap between the fender and the tire should be constant along the whole length of the fender. It's one of those things that may not matter much in practice, but it effects the bikes appearance a lot.

As for fender length, that's easy: get the longest fenders possible. Long fenders keep you a lot drier. And if you live in the Northwest, get a mudflap for the front fender too. If you ride brevets or in pacelines, your fellow riders will appreciate a rear flap as well.

Fender News

There are a few fender developments to report.

We're dropping 35mm smooth Honjo fenders and have ordered 37mm smooth polished Honjos instead. The idea is that the new 37mm size will fit 28mm tires. These should be here in a couple of weeks

The 52mm 700c VO smooth fenders will be replaced by a new model, 52mm Zeppelin profile fenders that are pre-drilled. We expect them in about 2-3 months.

A small shipment of 35mm Honjo hammered fenders has just arrived. We bought these from another importer since our own shipment won't be here for months. The specs are a little different than the VO version, but close. When these sell out we might not see more before spring.

We are also talking about three new models. The first is a VO 36mm smooth fender, a less expensive alternative to the Honjos mentioned above. We are also considering a wider 700c fender, something between 58mm and 64mm. Finally we might get a wider polished stainless steel 700c fender, maybe 50 or 55mm.

As we re-order Velo Orange fenders we will start getting them pre-drilled at the fork crown, stays, and chain bridge; the seat stay attachment is still a sliding bridge. We are hearing from our customers, and especially shops that sell VO fenders, that almost everyone prefers the pre-drilled type. In our experience they fit perfectly on 99% of bikes. This might add $2 to the price, but will save installers some work.

Any thoughts on new fender models you'd like to see?

A VO Fixie? UPDATED

Just an idea, but with winter coming I wonder if there would be interest in a proper fixed gear training bike from Velo Orange. Remember when fixies were primarly winter training bikes for racers? Of course you could use this bike for more than winter training, but that's where the idea comes from.

Various French constructeurs built the occasional fixed gear bike with proper mounts for fenders, long reach brakes, room for comfortable tires. This was back when racers in training still rode sensible bikes. Our thought was for a TIG welded frame, a bit like the Pass Hunter, but with a higher bottom bracket, no shifter bosses, track ends, and long reach caliper brakes. Of course it would have low-trail geometry and handle well with a handlebar bag. The track ends would make removing the wheel a hassle because of the fender. Maybe we could come up with a quick fender stay release.

Tom (VO Import's manager) is interested since he commutes on a fixie that, like so many, has no fender clearance and 23mm tires. He wants the prototype and is willing to do all the testing.

Please understand that there are no firm plans to build the VO fixie yet. We just thought we'd run the idea up the flagpole and see who salutes.

UPDATE: Thank you for all the comments and great info. We've decided to have a prototype built for Tom. If it looks good it will become a semi-custom bike and possibly a production frame.

Also, this frame by Adam Hammond is lovely, much like what we want to make. (Thanks for the link Jim)

Pass Hunter and 2CV

I had our Citroen 2CV at the VO shop today. So I snapped a few pics of the newly built-up Pass Hunter leaning against it. Not very good photos really, but I like the contrast. I'll take some proper ones soon.

It took me a long time to figure out how to build up this bike. I almost went with flat bars like this Toei Pass Hunter. Then I though about fenders, like this Alps or this one. In the end it was a compromise. The great thing being at VO is that I can always switch out the parts.

Here is a link to a post about the frame. These are the official pass hunting rules. And here is a cool Japanese site.

I think the VO Pass Hunter will do better in the hills than the 29hp, 600cc-engined Citroen.

VO on E-Bay, an Experiment

I've decided to try a little experiment. We have lots of sample parts, one-off items, and odd bits laying around the shop and I want to try to sell them on E-bay. I'm curious to see what folks think these various items are worth. It also seems that more people will find out about VO from the
listings.

In any case we have a new E-Bay identity "veloorange". I'll add lots of component and accessories listings as over the next few weeks.

Apparently it takes a few hours for the items we list to start showing up in searches or in the "Items from this seller" link, so please check back this afternoon.

Backorders and Shortages

As our longtime customers know, we often run out of certain products. There are several reasons for this.

With new products we typically place a smaller first order. I want to know if the production quality is as good as the samples we saw. It's not unheard of for a sample to be the very best example from a run. I also want to know if a new product will be popular before committing to a large inventory. For example, I thought the Grand Cru long reach brakes would sell like crazy given how well they work; they have been a good, but not phenomenal, seller. The VO Stem Adapter, on the other hand, a product that I thought would be only a modest seller, has proven very very popular. Being a new company, we have a disproportionate number of new products. Of course, there are also occasions when I blow it and simply order too few of something.

Production delays often cause items to be out of stock. Some popular items are made in small factories that that take as long as six months to make and ship orders. Unfortunately, it's not as easy as just ordering early. Our business is not static. VO continues to grow quickly so it is difficult to predict what we'll need in six months.

So why don't we simply take backorders? One of the reasons is that I try to keep this business simple and enjoyable. Another is that our software does not support backorders. But more importantly, we couldn't guarantee when, or even if, something will be back and at what price. Most people would be hard pressed to order something if they didn't know when it would arrive and how much it would cost; I wouldn't. And many folks will find a substitute in the meantime.

Our plan is to eventually have a function that will allow customers to sign up for automatic e-mails when an out of stock item they want is back.

Porteur Racks Are In Stock Again

We have a new shipment of Porteur racks, but I'll bet they won't last long. These racks usually sell out almost as soon as we get them in.

They are in short supply because shop that makes them for us can't increase production to meet demand. But we've found a couple of willing factories to supplement supply. There is one issue, however; one factory can make them at considerably lower cost, but can't polish them. They would come with a "sandblasted" finish. So the question is, would our customers prefer a rack that was $20-$30 cheaper, but not polished? Before you ask, we can't have both; the minimum production run would be too large. I'm leaning toward getting them polished.

By the way, the upper photo shows an older version of the rack (different back loop), but I thought the pumpkin was appropriate to the season.

Update: The racks are already sold out; sorry

Bicycle Commuter Act Passes House, Senate

The 700 billion dollar bailout bill that was enacted last week has it's share of detractors. In the opinion of many economists it had to be passed, but it wouldn't do much good. Events over the past couple of days seem to bear that out; of course it's still early. In the end though, this downturn, like all previous downturns, will pass.

In any case, to get the last dozen votes needed to pass the bill a lot of extensions were added, some good and some bad. One of the good ones was The Bicycle Commuter Act which will provide a $20 tax credit per month to employers of bike commuters. That's only $240 a year, but it's enough for tires and some bike of upgrades. Be sure to ask your employer to participate. Here's a link to a Wired post with more details.

I can't help but wonder if the money spent on this act might not have been better spent on bicycle infrastructure? Will getting $20 a month convince more people to commute by bike than, for instance, having a proper bike lane or good bike storage facilities at the subway stop? Hmmm....

If you want to read more about economics and the credit crisis I highly recommend (the only occasionally wonkish) Economist's View blog.

Handlebar name

A lot of folks suggested great names for the new French-style VO city bar. Thank you all! Read the comments to the last post; very clever names indeed. After polling the VO staff and thinking about it myself we came up with our three favorites:

Brian suggested Espresso bar. That's actually Italian, but still sounds great.

Kevan's suggestion Flarrow, from flat and narrow, was also a favorite.

The winner, however, is Matt's suggestion of Belleville, another Parisian neighborhood in keeping with our VO Left Bank and Montmarte bars. And, as he says, "a nod to a great bicycling movie, The Triplets of Belleville."

All three folks mentioned above will get free handlebars. Please send me an e-mail with shipping info.

I wanted to mention a few other great suggestions. Flaneur, suggested by Pavel is a super name, but we were thinking of calling the production mixte the Flaneusse, so too close. Chris' Cintre-Ville is neat and noteworthy; maybe for the next bar. As are Melvin's Bridget Bar-Deaux and Tony's Camionnette (which we are saving for a rack name). Finally, Libraridan's Madeleine, with it's link to Proust, is a wonderful suggestion.

Getting Stuff Made

Remember the vintage French bars in the photo? They were a standard bar on countless French city and utility bikes for many decades. I wrote about wanting to make them again a few weeks ago. Here's what happened; I found it interesting.

I made some measurements and drew a rough sketch that we gave to our draftsman. He made a proper set of plans that we sent to our agent in Taiwan. The agent contacted several manufacturers.

The first manufacturer was a large company whose name you are certainly familiar with. They asked a large fee for tooling and a huge first order. The second company, a medium sized handlebar manufacturer, wanted a smaller amount for tooling and required a much smaller order. The third company was a new and rather small manufacturer who would absorb the cost of tooling and required an order of only 200 bars. Their per piece cost was a bit higher, but still reasonable.

Since this bar is narrow and very simple in shape I felt we could trust this new company with it. Besides, Tom had already worked on a project with them, in his former job, with good result.

We had almost settled on the third company when our agent sent us a new drawing that was virtually identical to the one we had sent her. It varied by 2-3mm in one or two dimensions. Obviously someone else had had the same idea as us. They had copied the same bar. It seems a fourth manufacture had once made these bars for an unknown company and so already had the tooling and experience to produce them. The cost was somewhat higher as was the minimum production run. But this company has a great reputation and we could skip all the prototypes and minor revisions and inevitable tooling delays.

We should have these bars in 60-90 days. They are narrow, about 44cm (O-T-O) for slipping through traffic. There is zero rise. The bar diameter is 23.8 to accept inverse levers or bar-end shifters. Clamp diameter is 25.4mm. Cost should be around $20.

So the question is, what should we call them? I'll offer a free set of these handlebars for the best suggestion!

New Stuff

I thought I'd post a couple of photos of the final VO handlebar bag design. It's a little taller than the last prototype. The production version will be of treated canvas; this one is plain canvas. Otherwise, this is it. The projected price is around $90.

Also we received a few items that have been out of stock for some time, including:

• Nitto M-12 racks
• Honjo 650b hammered fenders
• Nitto model-T water bottle cages

There are also a few new items in stock:

• A larger selection of Kool Stop pads including pads to fit old centerpull brakes
• Tange Techno Glide headsets
• Tange Falcon headsets

Interbike Report

My trip to Interbike was quite different from previous years. I spent more time rushing from meeting to meeting than walking around looking at new products. And for the first time we talked to about as many shops who wanted to buy our products as manufacturers who make them.

Another change is that we've shifted most Velo Orange buying to VO Imports, my new wholesale-only company, and we've started buying in larger quantities for the 50-odd shops that carry at least some of our products. Tom Martin, VO Imports' manager, and I met with several new dealers who were interested in stocking more VO products. We are adding 2 to 3 dealers a week so you may soon be able to buy VO and Grand Cru components and accessories at a local bike shop.

We also attended the usual meetings with manufacturers and discussed a few new products:

• There has been some progress on 50.4bcd VO cranks. That is, the project has move up the list to the point where the manufacturer is actually starting to work on the design and estimate mold costs, etc.
• We are moving ahead on the 50.4bcd chain ring project. Given the recent TA price hike this has taken on some urgency.
• It's possible that we'll have a new inverse brake lever next year that fits MTB and city size (22.2mm) bars. This project is just starting, no plans have been drawn yet, but a manufacturer is interested.
  
• We are looking into silver, double wall, eyeleted, VO brand rims in both 700c and 650b size. At this point we are simply exploring options, but if one of the manufacturers we spoke with can provide rims with the quality and at the price we want we'll have them made.
• Another project discussed is mid-priced wheels using currently available rims in both 700 and 650b sizes. These would be hand-built wheels, but available from stock. We still have to pick the best rims and hubs for the job. We are also planning hub dynamo front wheels.
• Our frame manufacturer is working on the last version of the VO production frame prototypes. There have been some more delays, which is very frustrating, but I'm still aiming to get these frames into production very soon.
  
• The VO handlebar bag design is finished and will soon be in production. The last hurdle is getting the right material for the interior stiffener; these little details take so much attention. The manufacturer thinks we'll have them around the end of the year.
  

Interbike and Pass Hunter

I'm off to Interbike for the rest of the week. So no more posts or e-mail until next week. Otherwise VO will be open and filling orders as usual, though the showroom will close at 3pm for the next 3 days.

The photo is of my new Pass Hunter. It's just back from the paint shop and I can't wait to build it up as soon as I get back. The plan is to use as many VO components as possible. Currently the wait for Pass Hunter semi-custom frames is about 6 months and the price is $1550.

City Bike Brake Levers, and Stuff

Many people have asked us where they can get old fashioned city bike levers, the type that CLB, and Mafac, and a dozen other companies used to make. They particularly wanted them in a size that would fit bars made from road bar tubing, 23.8mm. Our super popular Montmarte, and Left Bank bars, for example, are made with 23.8mm tubing so they fit bar end shifters. And we'll have two new 23.8mm bars this winter.

This type of lever is still made, but mostly in low quality models for kids bikes and third-world markets. Most are heavy steel and have rust-prone zinc-plated mounting bands. Many are also too small for big western hands.

We found what's probably the best model still made. They actually come from Taiwan, not China. They are all alloy with good quality castings with a nice shiny finish. The manufacturer made them for us with a stainless steel clamp, which we think is a big improvement.

But best of all they are available in both MTB (22.2mm) and road bar (23.8mm) sizes. So you won't have to scour E-bay or the back rooms of old bike shops looking for vintage levers. And the price? It's a hefty $11 a pair.

One caveat though, they take the button type cable housing ends used on some BMX levers, not the common tube-type used on road bikes. Almost any bike shop will have them for under a dollar, but our shipment of cable housing ends is not due until next week.

Also we now have the Pletscher double kick stands in stock. They are a fascinating bit of engineering.

We also have some new aluminum city/MBT bar plugs and some new inexpensive expandable road bar plugs.

Our Leather Has Holes

I've always loved the aesthetics of perforated leather, be it on old car seats, wheel covers, gloves... After a couple of tries we found a company that could make VO handlebar tape in a perforated version. It's soft, available in black or tan, and it's long enough for even a 46cm bar. And at $55 it's a lot less expensive than the Brooks version.

Grand Cru Sealed Bearing Headsets

The goal was to make an absolutely top-of-the-line 1" threaded silver headset. It took a few tries and a larger minimum order than we would have liked, but we think the result was worthwhile. look at the details:

• Over-sized sealed bearings
• Alloy construction
• A discrete logo; no huge and garish lettering
• The bearings can be replaced by simply dropping them into place, not be pressed in.
• The fork crown race is split so it slides on without tools. (ISO, 26.4mm)
  
• Rubber seal on the lock nut
  

This is a $40 headset that we feel is comparable to some that cost two, or even three, times as much. I'm proud of this component.

Also, we now have the $19 VO loose-ball headsets in both JIS and ISO sizes.

New VO Pedals

We have two new Velo Orange pedals as of today. Both use high quality sealed bearings. This means that the pedals require no maintenance or adjustment and the bearings will usually last longer than traditional loose balls.

The bodies of both pedals are CNC milled aluminum alloy; even the dust caps are alloy.

The Touring pedal platform is 90mm x 60mm. There are traction grips at the ends and the finish is sand blasted silver. The weight is am amazing 236gms per pair! Traditional touring pedals weigh much more, 397gms per pair for the MKS version.

The second new pedal is the VO City pedal. Its platform is 82 x 60mm and the weigh is a svelte 228gms per pair.

Both models have a small VO logo on the body. They do accept toe clips and come with snap-in reflectors. At $49 per pair we think they are a terrific deal.

There will eventually be one more VO pedal, a road-type quill pedal. Our track pedal is already available.

I hope they were worth the wait?

Racks from Europe

Northern Europeans do a lot more commuting and city bike riding than we do. They are also, generally, wealthy and innovative folks. So it should be no surprise that there are numerous well designed modern accessories for city bikes made, or at least developed, in this part of Europe.

Among of the accessories I was impressed with at Eurobike was the selection of racks specifically designed for city bikes. As a result we've decided to start stocking one, the Pletscher Master rack. It's a very well made Swiss rack with many features including a removable basket attachment.

Make no mistake, these are not elegant rando racks, nor are they designed for massive camper loads and low-riders. Rather, they are modern, industrial looking, sturdy and functional racks that are ideal for shopping, commuting, and utility bikes.

That little spring latch on top is perfect for holding down a few books or other items on the store. There is also an optional lock for accessories, but we won't stock that. We will have the optional side rails which are only needed for very large panniers. A neat feature the ability to snap a shopping basket, or other accessory, into the top of the rack. There are three little holes in the rack platform with spring clips that accept the basket. A snap-on hard shell case for cameras, and the like, is also available. The light bracket is drilled for JOS/Spanninga, or similar, tail lights. The platform is quite large, 395 x 142mm, and the eyelet attachment allows the rack to be leveled.

A few more details from Pletscher's web site:

• TÜV-certified compliance with DIN 79120 and DIN 79121, capacity up to 25 kg
• Integral 3-point system for fast installation and reconfiguration of accessories
• Detent spring for locking accessories in place
• Spring-loaded clamp for securing cargo
• Two folding end plates to keep small and large items firmly in place
• Pannier/saddlebag side supports (optional)
• Diecast aluminum - no welded joints
• All bolts in rust-resistant stainless steel
• Suitable for carrying child seats
• Integral reflector bracket

Another item I was impressed with was the double leg kickstands. These are not cheap, but they are great for a loaded shopping bike.
The racks, baskets, and stands should arrive later this week. We'll have a few other parts later. Are there other Euro-style accessories that should be available here? And will the rather "industrial" style of many modern European parts be well received here?

EuroNews

I just got back from Eurobike in Germany. I also spent a couple of days sightseeing in Switzerland.

Though Eurobike is a huge trade show, there really wasn't as much new stuff as I'd hoped to see. Show security was tight, as evidenced by the photo at left, but I managed to sneak a few photos.

Highlights include the new Brooks natural saddles, as seen in the photo at right. They also have new white colored saddles.

Cinelli is reintroducing their Unicanator saddles. I used to own one of these and still wince at the thought of having to ride more than a mile on it. No doubt these saddles are largely responsible for Italy's declining birth rate.

In other saddle news, I examined the new Berthoud saddles with their light plastic frames and screws rather than rivets. They looked well made, if rather modern.

Lepper had an interesting new line of leather saddles. these use a leather/latex foam sandwich construction on a traditional frame. They certainly look terrifically comfortable and seem to combine the best of traditional and modern saddle technology. We'll be ordering samples and looking forward to stocking them if they test well.

The new Campy Super Record 11-speed gruppo was cool, though somewhat irrelevant.

I looked at some promising new bike luggage that we hope to import. And we'll be considering bringing in some new city bikes. I have to be a little secretive about all this until details are worked out.

I'd write more, but jetlag is catching up. A few more photos can be found here.

Eurobike

I'm off to Eurobike in a couple of hours. Eurobike is a huge bike show in Friedrichshafen, Germany on Lake Constance. It's a part of Europe I've never visited, where Germany, Switzerland, and Austria meet. In fact my hotel is in a tiny alpine village in Austria about 45km from the show.

The show itself cosists of 13 halls and over 930 exhibitors. I'm looking forward to chatting with some of the lesser know European manufacturers, espesially those involved with city and commuter bikes.

I'm a bit of a fanatic about traveling light and am only taking my little Nokia 800, so I'll be able to read e-mails, but the touchscreen keyboard is too small to reply to the 50 or so e-mails I get everyday. I mention this partly because the Nokia 800/810 are super mini-computers to use on bike tours if you absolutely must stay connected. It also works as an e-book reader, stores all the maps I need, and the 810 has a built in GPS.

So what specific products I should be on the lookout for?

Nice Bikes

Photos of a few nice bikes made their way into my e-mail this past weekend. I thought you might also enjoy them.

Tim sent photos of his stunning red new Davidson.

"Your decaleur is installed on my new "Davidson," ... I rode the bike home, almost 1500 miles. It works great." More photos can be found here."

Kris sent a few photos of his new/old city bike,

"This one is based on a Guerciotti, circa 1970-3, with unusually generous stay clearances and fender eyelets. It features a TA Bis 5 crank (a smaller inner ring is on order), Campagnolo Nuovo and Super Record derailleurs shifted by Simplex "loop" retrofriction shifters, MKS pedals, a JPR (?) seatpost, Brooks B-67 saddle, Campy Pista headset, Campy NR bottom bracket, Nitto Stem, your handlebars and grips, Honjo fenders; and the world's largest bell. The tires are the wonderful Vittoria sewups, although it's a shame they're in a green that clashes with the frame. I'll be using it for my short commute to work.It's comfortable and fun, but I may eventually trade out the bars for something with less rearward sweep and use them with a lower stem. I may also mount the shifters on the stem, as it's a long reach to their current setting...."

Finally, Grant sent photos of his Jack Taylor. I've always been a fan of the Taylor brothers work, particularly of their French influenced touring bikes.

Grant writes:

"Just wanted to show how your products have helped me complete my Jack Taylor project. I am very pleased with the results. I purchased the surface-rusted frame this last February, had CyclArt renovate the paint and logos, and braze on attachments for the front rack. I then collected parts from various sources including eBay, local bike shops, and VO.
This is a Tour of Britain model with 73 degree head angle and 2 5/8 (67mm)inches of fork rake resulting in low trail, so I think it will handle nicely with a VO handlebar bag when they become available. I believe I still prefer Honjo hammered fenders for their appearance, but many people have told me they love these VO satin finish ones, and am pleased with them also."

I was informed by a couple of folks that Norman Taylor has recently died.

This and That

I've long enjoyed the Velorution blog and this post reflects something that's been on my mind the past few weeks. Watching a little of the Olympics the past couple of weeks, I was also turned off by the nationalistic fervor. Sports should be about individual athletes, not countries.

Speaking of countries, I'll be at Eurobike, in Germany, next week.

We have the Grand Cru Jockey Wheels in stock. These have sealed bearing and shims to fit most derailleurs, including old Simplex models.

We also have a new version of our chrome plated chain guard. This one lacks the integrated mounting bracket so it can be used with traditional chain guard hardware or on custom frames that have brazed-on chain guard mounts.

Also, we'll be closed for labor day.

VO Stems and Stem Adapter

Many of you have asked for a simple all silver polished threadless stem; well here it is. It's light, has a very nice finish, and a four bolt face plate. 7-degree drop/rise.


The VO threadless stem adapter allows you to use this, or other threadless stems on a bike designed for a quill stem. The advantages include the ability to use commonly available stems with a variety of rise angles. Threadless stems also have removable face plates, so bars need not be "stripped down" when switching bars or stems. The adapter fit in a regular 22.2mm fork and work with a 1-1/8" (28.6mm) stem; 190mm length. We really like the shape of the particular design.