Closed for Labor Day and Other News

VO will be closed on Monday, September 2nd, in observance of Labor Day. Our staff has been hard at work building our display for Interbike and really deserve an extra day off.

Speaking of Interbike, we'll be introducing a new frame. Details soon. But here's a hint, Igor just built the wheel below to fit it. And that's a new VO Rim.

Speaking of frames, the Pass Hunter frames have been delayed a couple of weeks. They are built and ready for paint, but the company that prints our decals is backlogged--if it's not one thing, it's two. The latest ETA is mid-October.

In case you missed the Tweet, we have some Rinko Headsets in damaged boxes that we're discounting. The headsets, in plastic wrap, are perfect, but they apparently rolled around on the floor of a Tokyo warehouse when a case split open.

This is the time of year when we review our pricing. As usual there will be a number of price hikes due to increased manufacturing costs, nothing too jarring, but you might save a few bucks on some items by ordering sooner rather than later. There might be a pleasant surprise or two coming as well.

We'll have another container arriving in about two weeks so most items that have been out of stock will return then.

That's all for now.

Reaming, Facing, Tapping, and Threading

by Igor

So we delve into the world of frame preparation, mostly to answer questions we've had after Bruce Gordon's recent post about how some well known frames are delivered to the customer with no prep at all.

Back in the days of classic frames when you took delivery of your new frame it often had to go under the knife to fix alignment issues and other imperfections. It's almost impossible to build a steel frame that doesn't require some prep, though some are much better than others. The new owner would be expected to take the brand-new frame to a mechanics to ream and face the head tube to remove excess metal/paint so that the headset cups seated parallel to each other. The bottom bracket required the same process, in addition to cleaning up the threads of burrs and significant excess paint. The seat tube needed to have burrs removed in order to smoothly insert the seat post. Finally, dropouts required alignment to make sure the hub/rim/tires fit properly. This trend continued well into the 80s, especially with your super Italian racing bikes. Many frame builders assumed these preparations would be completed at the shop.

Our frames are made in what is possibly the best factory in Taiwan. A factory that truly puts quality construction first. The whole process of facing, reaming, tapping, and aligning are all done before the frame leaves the factory. Alignment is done on huge heavy duty machines and work tables that are very resistant to warping or going out of true. Even the best custom builders don't have access to tools like these.

On VO frames headsets can be pressed in, bottom brackets threaded, and seat posts installed without worry of burrs or cracked cups or improper alignment. What does this mean? It means that you, the customer, don't have to spend additional money on your frame, upwards of $75, purely for prep. To the shop, it means less time to build up the bike, and therefore less money spent on labor.

Frame tools at the VO shop.

Of course you can still have the frame prepped if you want. It's possible the frame has been damages in shipping or dropped, but in practice we almost never see that. And I'll bet the shop's tools are not as accurate as the factory's. It's up to you in the end whether you will sleep better at night if you have your frame prepped. So do you go through these steps when you take delivery of a new frame?

Black is the New Black

by Igor

Green is the New Black, but that was last week. Now black is the new black. We have samples of some components that we like to call our Noir line, for obvious reasons.

Our classic Grand Cru Long Setback Seatpost is now Noir. Still 27.2, still generous setback, and still super easy to adjust.

Next up is our Grand Cru Long Reach Brakeset. Still features our stiff CNC construction and adjustability, now it's Noir.

Last, but certainly not least, is the Grand Cru 1 1/8" Headset. Simple design and sealed cartridge bearings make for a smooth, confident ride.

Expect headsets later this Fall. Brakes and Seatpost early 2014.

So what should we Noir-ify next? Hubs? Pedals? Soap?

Green is the new black

by Scott

We've been selling the wonderful Tressostar cotton tape for a few years now and love it. This past spring, Chris and Casey were in Taiwan for the Taipei Cycle Show and happened past the Tressostar booth. There, much to their delight, they discovered a color that our US distributor did not have - Green. Darker then a celeste green, it can be described as an emerald green, a color reminiscent of Irish fields or the needles on a Douglas-fir tree.

C & C thought the color was great and brought back a sample for all of us to look at. We all thought it looked great and, since a green like this seems not to be available anywhere else, we ordered some to come to us direct from France. This took a bit longer than we had hoped - we missed the spring season when green is in bloom - but it is finally here.

Myself, I love green. I have green bits on my randonneur bike, and my touring bike is painted green. 
I love how the color green can both blend into places and also stand out. 

So I'm excited to have green tape to put on my bars. We tried out the tape with shellac on it to see how it turned out and the results are below (shellac'd on the left, untreated on the right)

Now up on the web store here

Savon de Marseille, tradtional French soap

Savon de Marseille, like Opinel knives, is a treasured part of French country life. It is an artisanal olive oil soap that's been made for some 600 years near Marseille using traditional methods and ingredients. The huge 1kg (2.2lbs) blocks were, and still are, often found next to farm, factory, and bike shop sinks, as well as in homes all over the French countryside.

Like Opinel knives, this soap is something that I have used for many years. I find that it cleans and moisturizes in a way that modern factory-made soaps don't. I use it for hands, body and hair. It doesn't have that strong chemical-like perfume of modern soaps; instead it is mildly scented with bay leaf. I also like that it doesn't leave skin feeling dry. It really is quite different from modern soap. 

The 1kg blocks last very very long time. But if you don't want that much we also stock it in 600gm (1.3lbs) blocks. I cut some into small bars, with a bread knife (my Opinel isn't big enough), for camping and travel. Keep spare blocks in a plastic bag so they don't dry out. There is more about Savon de Marseille and how it's made in this Wikipedia article.

Settled in our new digs

by Scott

We've been in our new warehouse and show room for almost six months, and we thought we would take the opportunity to show off the new space now that we have finished it.

Like most folks after a move, it took us a bit of time to get things settled in place.  Priority number one was getting the warehouse up and going and organizing all the new storage space for frames and such.  Our show room in our new space was more spacious than the old location, so initially we just moved some display/demo bikes into it along with some display shelves.

We'd wanted to make the showroom, well, prettier then our old space. To help give it a more rarified air, we had collected some old black and white prints of cycling in Europe from the 30's into the 60's. Adrian finished framing all our prints recently and we got our gallery set up on the walls of our design area.

She also framed some of the drawings that we sell, and we put them up around the wall of our showroom.

 

So now, with the framed prints and posters up, some more display units to show off lots of our products, and more light then we had before, the showroom is finally looking the way we had envisioned it when we laid out the floor plan out all those months ago.

If you're in the Annapolis/DC/Baltimore area, why not swing by and see our new space? Our show room is open Monday to Friday, 9:30am to 4:30 pm (we're closed on the weekends so we can go riding) at 1981 Moreland Parkway, Building 3, Annapolis, MD.

If you stop by any time until August 30th, we'll give you one of our VO posters
and a sticker to say thanks for dropping by.

Opinel Pocket Knives

The #8 Carbone, my favorite

We've decided to start stocking a few items that are not directly bike related, but that we've used and really like. Among them are classic French Opinel pocket knives. Inexpensive, lightweight, and made from superb steel, they are the standard knife of French farmers, hikers, foragers and cyclo-tourists. In fact almost everyone who spends time in the countryside seems to have one. They've been made since 1890 in the town of Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne in the Rhône-Alpes.

I've used Opinel knives since I was a boy. I love the simple rotating ring that locks the blade either open or closed. There is no need for a spring because of  the lock ring. The handle is beech, a light but tough wood. This makes Opinel knives quite light and great for cyclists and hikers.

The stainless steel model has a lighter color handle

They are available with either carbon steel or stainless steel blades and in a number of sizes. The #8 (8 cm blade) is considered the standard and most versatile size. Like most traditionalists, I prefer the #8 carbon blade version. The carbon blade can rust if not wiped after use, but it develops a beautiful patina. The carbon blade is also easier to sharpen and takes a better edge--experts compare it to blades costing 10-times more. The stainless steel blade is rust-proof and stays shiny, and the edge sharpness is very very close to that of the carbon version.

The #10 with a large corkscrew

We also stock the #10 knife (10cm blade) with corkscrew. The larger size is required to house the corkscrew. Now the French do know a thing or two about opening wine, and the corkscrew is the same large French model as used in many far more expensive wine openers. The blade is stainless and perfect for spreading cheese and pate, as well as for more workman-like tasks. It's size is best for a picnic basket or handlebar bag, rather than pocket.

Here is an interesting bit from Wikipedia:

Originally sold as a simple working man's knife, the Opinel has since become an iconic symbol of French culture and lifestyle. Pablo Picasso used an Opinel to carve his sculptures, while Roger Frison-Roche, the Savoyard alpine guide and mountaineer, never made an ascent without carrying an Opinel along. Éric Tabarly, the long-distance solo sailor and yachtsman, swore by the Opinel, which he always carried aboard his sailing yacht, the Pen Duick....
In 1985 the Victoria and Albert Museum in London selected the Opinel as part of an exhibit celebrating the “100 most beautiful products in the world”, featuring the Opinel alongside the Porsche 911 sports car and the Rolex watch. The Opinel was also selected as one of the 999 classic designs in Phaidon Design Classics, and has been exhibited by the New York's Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) as a design masterpiece.

Crazy Handlebar Update

By: Casey

We just got a new prototype of the crazy bars that I talked about a little over a month ago. I've been riding around on the original prototype since their arrival and I couldn't be happier with their functionality. This new prototype is functionally the same as the original prototype, we just think that it is a little more aesthetically pleasing. What do you think?

New Prototype

Original Prototype

Rinko Headsets Roll In

Just received out first shipment of Grand Cru Rinko Headsets. Rinko is a form of touring cycling that's popular in Japan. It involves travelling on a train with your bike in order to reach a cycling destination. If the bike's wheels and fork are removed and all is placed in a lightweight nylon bag, the bag can go as regular luggage in the train's passenger compartment. I first wrote about rinko here. But quickly removing the wheels and fork is a simple way to pack a bike for car or plane travel as well. And a lot less expensive than couplers.

So the idea of a rinko headset is to facilitate removing the fork without tools. It has teeth that keep the important parts from spinning and a knurled top cap for easy removal. The top cap also has holes for a pin wrench in case you over-tighten it. So far as we know, this is the first sealed cartridge bearing rinko headset. The cartridges are held in place with spring clips. The body is steel to resist damage when disassembled. They are available in 1" threaded ISO and JIS sizes

Our rinko headset was developed in conjunction with M's-Bicyclette of Japan. It's primarily for the Japanese market, but we have some in stock here for other customers.

I wonder if this would work for Amtrack? Would they allow a bike in a rinko bag as regular luggage?

The Quad Crank

This what happens when we have too much free time. It's a Grand Cru 50.4bcd crank set up with four chainrings. In this case it's a twin half-step. This may have possibilities, instead of running a 1x5 on your city bike, you could run a 4x1. Or how about a 4x11--so many gears? Boggles the mind.

In other news: We have the Maryland made Grand Cru handlebar bags in stock again. The first production run sold out fast.

We also have these cool stickers. You'll get one free with every order, and you can order extras.

Campeur Reviewed in Adventure Cyclist, Updated

The VO Campeur got a great review in the July issue of Adventure Cyclist. It was written by Charles Pelkey, a very experienced touring cyclist and former senior editor at VeloNews. Unfortunately there isn't an on-line version of the article yet, so I'll type out a few short quotes below.

"...It's a bike that reflects a thoughtful, even joyful approach to design."

" Fully loaded, the bike tracks beautifully."

"...I hit a downhill stretch where, when I last rode it fully loaded, the bike I was on shimmied unmercifully. No such problem with the Campeur."

"...It's simply fun to ride. Unloaded the Campeur is is a perfectly delightful commuter or something one might use for a nice day ride."

"...the bike was clearly created by people who ride and, above all, respect the integration of form and function."

"The Velo Orange racks are exquisite and perfectly matched to the bike itself."

"...were I forced to limit myself to a single bike, this may well be the leading candidate."

It's one thing to read a positive review, but how much did the writer really like our bike? In this case a lot.  After testing it Charles bought a VO Campeur for himself.

By the way, Adventure Cyclist is a great magazine that's actually devoted to offering information related to cycle touring. It's a refreshing contrast to publications that are mostly devoted to selling as much of their advertiser's stuff as possible while providing little useful information. You'll need to join the Adventure Cycling Association to get the magazine, not a bad deal.

UPDATE: The Adventure Cycling review of the Campeur is now on line.

Christmas in July

by Igor

Sweating through our t-shirts, we have unloaded the container and we are putting things in stock as you read this.

Some things you have been waiting patiently for:

• Campeur Framesets
• Handlebar to Water Bottle Cage Mounts
• Alloy Chainguards
• 52mm Zeppelin Fenders, 700c
• 52mm Zeppelin Fenders, 650b
• Campeur Rear Racks
• Constructeur Front and Rear Racks
• Pass Hunter Front Rack with Integrated Decaleur
• Copenhagen and Porteur Kickstands

Oh yeah, we listened...check out this tall drink of water...63cm Campeur. 47cm and 49cm sizes are planned for the next production run.

EDIT: You can find the geometry for the 63cm Campeur on our support page.

Odds and Ends

A few random bits:

• It's July 1st so: Happy Canada Day!
• VO will be closed this Thursday and Friday, the 4th and 5th of July. Happy Independence Day!
• We have one "scratch-and-dent" Campeur frame available at $100 off the regular price.
• In a fit of silliness we decided to order some of our favorite camping hatchets. They are actually very nice.
• Another container containing, among other things, a large quantity of Campeur frames is due to arrive any day now.

Rule #8 - Saddles, bars, and tires shall be carefully matched

by Igor

I was taking a refresher of The Rules and came to the realization that leather can be a difficult one to match. Leather is a natural material that (even when dyed) can range in color.

Quick recap: 

• Espresso Perforated Tape and Espresso Elkhide Wrap matches our brown Saddles.
• Macchiato Perforated Tape most closely matches our Honey Saddles. Macchiato Elkhide can be treated with Saddle Care or Neatsfoot Oil to get the desired shade.

I'm a real big fan of our newest batch of leather tape. It is softer and more supple than previous iterations meaning it is easier to wrap and is easier on the hands with or without gloves.

For tires, the Panaracers Tourguards and Col De La Vie match either Espresso or Macchiato well. The Dia-Compe Gran Compe tires match Espresso bits perfectly. 

If all else fails: black, is the new black.

Brown, espresso, macchiato, honey, black? What's your favorite?

Customer Submitted Bike Hacks

by Igor

Alright so grab your hacksaw. Kidding...

Dan asked us if the Gran Compe Barrel Adjusters fit our City Levers by replacing the cable stop that comes with the lever set. We tried it out wouldn't you know, they fit. The adjusters also fit the Dia-Compe Guidonnet Levers. You get an easy, convenient way to adjust brake cable tension on the fly.

In response to an earlier post with regards to Info Overload, Don sent us a picture of his decaleur turned info center complete with temperature and time.

Do you have any products that have more than one intended use?

Update
A few submitted hacks in comments:

• ColonelJLloyd - Quill mounted cable hanger

• Eric - Handlebar water bottle mount

• Somervillain - Custom build 'Baskaleur'

Pass Hunter Testing

by Scott

I took the opportunity this past weekend to head out and do some more testing of the pass hunter prototype. I knew of some gravel roads that circumnavigated Sugar Loaf mountain west of Gaithersburg MD, that would make a great testing ground.

I was using the set up we'd had on the bike since we built it up- 32mm wide Pasela tires and 45mm smooth fenders. It worked out great. Only in one or two small  rocky sections did I think I could use a slightly knobbier tire. Even on the steep descents, the bike handled great. I think the major limiting factor was my leg strength (or lack thereof)

As you can tell, I tend to ride on the hoods and flats :)

By the way, we have a Polyvalent on special here-
Update- The Polyvalent has been sold

Saddle Loops in stock

We just got a shipment of our new Saddle Loops and they are now in stock at long last. Scott is jumping up and down for joy.

Stainless steel construction and easy installation. Sorry carbon fans, these are not recommended on carbon rails.

-Igor

New Handlebars - Keeping it Weird

A guest post by Casey:

"It never got weird enough for me" ~ Hunter S. Thompson

About a month and a half ago I wrote a post about my current cockpit setup on my touring rig. I mentioned that my ideal setup would have the swept back hand position of funky mountain bars along with the flats and hoods hand positions of drop bars. I also alluded to the fact that I was getting a prototype of a bar that would provide all of those hand positions. Well it's here, and I'm pretty sure the whole office has become concerned for my sanity.

The initial inspiration for these bars came from looking at pictures or old condorino bars and more modern bullhorns in too rapid of succession.

The swept back portion of the new bars will provide a similar hand position to the VO Postinos

We may end up slightly changing the look of the bar but, testing withstanding, the production model should be functionally similar to the prototype. Here's the nitty gritty: The clamp diameter is 25.4, these bars can only be used on stems with removable faceplates (obviously). The swept back mountain portion of the bars have a 45 degree sweep and 22.2 outer diameter. This means that most flat bar brake levers will fit on it. For my setup I'm using the Tektro FL750's. The bullhorn portion of the bars will have a 23.8 outer diameter. This means  that you can put bar end shifters at the end, or most inverse brake levers. Like the Tektro RX4.1 inverse levers. Cross levers can also be mounted on the flats. You can also put the VO thumb shifter mounts anywhere that your heart desires.

The Sample Box

Once every few weeks our agent in Taiwan packs up samples and prototypes from various factories and sends them to us. Sometimes it's just odd bits, new hardware for fenders, a new color of cable housing, etc. But this time we got some really interesting stuff.

Here is a nice 10-tooth jockey wheel. It comes with shims to fit many derailleurs. Modern derailleurs use 11-tooth wheels, so it's getting hard to find replacements for vintage derailleurs.

This is the new black Grand Cru headset. I think it's rather handsome.

How about this stainless steel cable housing? It should be perfect for restoring older bikes. It has a modern low-friction lining, but no plastic coating on the outside.

A Velo Orange expedition rim? What were we thinking?

Neat stuff, but we're saving the best for last. Casey will explain tomorrow.

VO Wind Tunnel Testing

When we read about Specialized building a wind tunnel to develop their racing bikes, we decided VO should have one too. Of course our budget is slightly smaller. But Igor got our wind tunnel up and blowing at almost no cost. Expect an aero porteur rack for 2014. What else can we streamline?