I find it interesting to observe the chasm between parties engaged in a conversation, particularly in response to questions being asked. I’m thinking, at present, of the question, “How many bikes do you have?” My feelings in response are nothing short of complex and maybe a bit confused; reservation that I feel I should have a more well-rounded stable, love as I picture each machine, longing as I immediately then also imagine riding it, some regret at the realization that I’m not riding it at that moment, and a touch of consternation as to whether I should include in my count the partially-built machines hanging in the basement. Their feeling, in contrast, is composed of one-dimensional and unveiled shock.
Several years ago, the VMH and I got lost while out Mountain biking north of Cle Elum and spent the better part of four hours riding our mountain bikes on gravel roads. It was one of the best days we’ve had on a bike, and as a result I’ve been increasingly obsessed with the notion of hitting the gravel mountain roads in the North Cascades on a bike tuned for gravé. These small roads liter the mountainsides and offer access to parts of the world where a road bike can’t go, but provide a range that would be untenable on fat-tired bikes.
A Graveur differs from a road bike in the sense that it has cantilever brakes and wide tires. It differs from a Cyclocross bike in the sense that the rider’s position is tuned to fast riding over relatively smooth terrain. A friend who I met at the Portland Cogal turned me onto a small Portland frame builder, Veloforma. Apart from building fantastic frames and having a great reputation locally, the owner is similarly obsessed with fast gravel riding as he lives in the boonies beyond the reaches of asphalt. A few chats with him and his infectious passion for his bikes, and I was sold completely. It goes without mention that I couldn’t resist the option to have the frame painted in Velominati colors.
I placed the order for a Veloforma Team CCX in November and immediately set about collecting the bits I would need to build it. A few weeks later, the owner sent me a mockup of the proposed paint scheme. It immediately became my desktop wallpaper and hardly a day has passed since then that I haven’t contemplated at length the various flavors of Awesome that were sure to pass beneath the tires of this machine as we explore the bounties of the Cascades. The VMH obviously also required a Graveur and her will was quickly done.
For those of you wondering how I’m preparing for my Hour Ride this weekend, it includes generous amounts of “natural interval training” on the CCX Graveur in the local park. There is zero flex in the tapered steer tube (my first), and VF’s proprietary BB66 bottom bracket is absurdly stiff; I can’t flex this thing for shit, which means more of my V winds up on the road instead of in the tubes where it does nothing productive. And paired to the Café Roubaix Arenbergs with Dugast 32m file tread tires, I practically need to tie it down to keep it from floating off.
As far as specs go, I’m riding the XL with a 14cm 17 degree stem, which gives me precisely the same position as on my road bikes. The fizik Cyrano Carbon seat pin holds up a custom black and orange Arione CX. I went with a 50T outer ring (it’s only a BIG RING when its over 52T) paired to a 38T inner ring on a 130BCD spider. The 50T will get more use than would a 53T given the increased drag, and the 38T shortens the gear just enough to keep the legs turning over on long gravé climbs. For CX racing, I’ll glue on some nobbies, go to a 10 degree stem to lift the bars up a touch, and drop the outer ring to a 44T or 42T.
[dmalbum path=”/velominati.com/content/Photo Galleries/frank@velominati.com/Graveur Robber/”/]
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Glad this thread is still open. Been thinking of a gravel bike for some time. Planning out budgets now. So my question is if I can get away with 35-40mm cross tires (clinchers) on Open Pro rims (which I already have) or if I'm going to have to go with a new wheelset. Intended terrain is more fire road than gravel road. Thoughts?
@scaler911
"We"? Do you have a CXing mouse in your pocket? Or is @mouse in your pocket?
You talk awful tough for a guy with no CX bike.
@TommyTubolare
@RedRanger
great stuff guys. In fact, I bet the noodles on the trps are just Jags. I'll check out that 135deg before I recable next weekend.
@Skip
I had 35mm CX tires on Open Pros on the original Nederaap build - no worries. 40mm seems wide, but probably would also work.
@frank
True, I don't have a 'cross rig as of yet (it's in the works). That said it's easy to talk tough when you guys don't actually race 'cross up there. Real 'cross happens in 3 places: Belgium, Portland and Louisville Ky.
It looks like the Dutch Monkey Oranje livery is growing in popularity off the tarmac.
Photo from velonews (Interbike). This is not my bike.
@JCM
That is a beauty.
There's a new site cropping up called UltraCX, with a pretty cool video
The original graveur? What a badass.
@Nate
Yup, Johnny T. Absolutely. Total stud, and so fucking cool he put Campa brake levers on that thing because everyone knows those old Campa brake levers are the sexiest shit ever.
So after a few days of recon and trying different options, I strung together a great 5km loop in Woodland Park (only about 100m from my house) of a combination of dirt/gravel road, single track, and what amounts to strade bianche which is this crazy white gravel they put on some of the paths in the park. Funny how it takes a bit to pull a loop together but I wanted to maximize length while keeping it interesting and minimizing double-backs etc. The crux is that the last leg ends with a BMX pump track (that's fun with 4m of seatpost) and a 1km climb consisting of rooted single track, a long drag, then a patch of deep sand, some tarmac, and then strade bianche, single track, and more strade bianche. At the end of the loop, your heart is beating out of your eyeballs.
Its magnificent.
Funny how even though I've been riding these trails for a year, its still hard to patch together a good route. And, more than that, how satisfying it is when you do!
I can do V of these loops and basically have double vision in an hour and change.
I turned on the MapMyRide app on my phone just to log the distance...if you cursor over the route you can see how it loops together.
http://www.mapmyride.com/workout/388140741