Sunday, December 23, 2012

Velo Orange Campeur


Velo Orange is now offering a complete bike assembled right in Annapolis, Maryland.  The Campeur is a camping bike made to carry heavy loads and be reliable when you are off the beaten path.

The frame is a Velo Orange design and has a level top tube, lugged fork crown, canti-brake mounts, pump peg, three water bottle mounts and room for 38mm tires with fenders.  The complete bike looks the VO part with a leather saddle, leather bar tape, 9x3 Shimano Deore drivetrain and a bunch of  quality parts.   The Campeur has some hard-to-find features:
  • Level top tube, classic fork bend
  • Quill stem
  • Kickstand plate
  • Dia-Compe friction bar-end shifters
For all of you kickstand lovers who are every-so-gently mounting your double-legged kickstand on your Surly Long Haul Trucker with rubber and clamps, this is your bike.   Seriously, the ride of the Campeur is supposed to be great, I can't wait to hit the road on one of these.    

Read more about the Campeur here and here.  The current price of the complete bike is $1600 (plus shipping).  Don't forget to add the new Campeur Racks to complete the build.


Campeur Complete Bike Build List:



  • Campeur Frame & Fork:
  • Sizes: 51, 53, 55, 57, 59, 61 (Please specify size in the comment box.) More info here.



  • Rear Wheel:
  • Grand Cru 135mm Touring Hub, Diagonale Rim 36 hole



  • Front Wheel:
  • Grand Cru High Flange Hub, Diagonale Rim 36 hole



  • Tires:
  • 700x35 Panaracer Tourguard



  • Shifters:
  • Dia-Compe Bar-Ends, Friction



  • Crankset:
  • Grand Cru Triple 48x34x24, 165mm (sizes 51 & 53), 170mm (sizes 55 & 57), 175mm (sizes 59 & 61)



  • Bottom Bracket:
  • Grand Cru 124mm, English thread



  • Cassette:
  • SRAM 9 Speed 11-32T



  • Rear Derailleur:
  • Deore 9 speed



  • Front Derailleur:
  • Sora Triple



  • Chain:
  • KMC X-9



  • Headset:
  • VO Roller Bearing



  • Stem:
  • VO Quill 90mm (sizes 51-55), 100mm (sizes 57-59), 110mm (size 61)



  • Handlebar:
  • Grand Cru Course Handlebar, 44cm (sizes 51-57), 46cm sizes (59 & 61)



  • Brakes:
  • Tektro CR720 Cantilevers



  • Brake Levers:
  • Tektro RL340



  • Seatpost:
  • Grand Cru 27.2



  • Saddle:
  • VO Model 3 Touring, Brown



  • Handlebar Tape:
  • Tressostar Cotton, Brown (not installed)



  • Pedals:
  • not included




    Monday, December 3, 2012

    Nashbar Steel Commuter Bike

    Courtesy Nashbar.
    The Nashbar Steel Commuter Bike is on liquidation sale at Nashbar and Amazon.com for $350.

    I love the name of this bike because it matches the beautiful simplicity of the bike itself.   It's a clean, logo-free, all-chromoly bike with wide tires and an 8-speed Shimano nexus internal hub. It comes with a rear rack and fenders, although I would swap out the fenders for some that provide full coverage. 

    Specs:


    FRAME:
    Chromoly, lugged
    FORK:
    Chromoly, 1" steerer, 14mm taper, 60mm offset
    HEADSET:
    1" threaded
    REAR SHOCK:
    N/A
    CRANKSET:
    38T chainring, 170mm length
    BOTTOM BRACKET:
    Square taper
    SHIFTERS:
    Nexus Revo SL-8S20
    LEVERS:
    Tektro RX1.0
    HANDLEBAR:
    525mm, 38° backsweep, 64mm rise, 25.4mm clamp
    STEM:
    22.2mm quill, 80mm extension, Length: 150mm (52cm frame), 180mm (56/60mm frame)
    FRONT DERAILLEUR:
    N/A
    REAR DERAILLEUR:
    N/A
    CASSETTE:
    Shimano KSMGEAR16S 16T
    BRAKES:
    Tektro R559 Dual Pivot
    WHEELSET:
    36H, 700c 36h anodized silver rims with CNC-machined sidewalls, Alloy front hub, 8-Speed Nexus internally geared rear hub
    TIRES:
    Kenda K-193 700x38
    PEDALS:
    Alloy
    SEATPOST:
    250x26.6mm (Medium), 250x27.2mm (Large)
    SADDLE:
    Velo
    CHAIN:
    KMC Z-410RB
    GRIPS/TAPE:
    Velo