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.
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View Comments
Franktard! That is simply an outstanding ride! I am twisted between proud peacock and humble tortoise in the range of emotions. That you choose to grace the drop-outs with my wheels is, well humbling but exciting. VF is truly a stunner and not surprisingly has been appropriately decked out.
I love that the Arenbergs have made the jump to gravel. Graveur extraordinary, Marko, is busy portaging across the wilds of Ontario and Manitoba, missing this great article!
this I just awesome
@G'rilla Exactamondo! Although, I just stock the FMBs. They win P-R and are the best tubbies in the world.
I still can't get over the Graveur
@Mikael Liddy
First gravel shot, no photoshopping - that's virgin. Second shot, stick PS'd out, no shadow. I took care of it, mate. Even the teeth on the chain wheels are perfectly tuned post-photoshop. Go ahead, zoom way in. You'll see.
@Mike_P
Not so much a case of flexibility (though I am) but more a question of arm/leg length paired to a pygmy's torso. Riding, it looks normal, the bike alone looks insane. This is why people should never look at a bike and make assumptions about the rider or the fit. More than height, fit has to do with limb/leg length and the rider's various proportions. I suffered from intense back pain until I went against everyone's advice and went low on the bars. Pain gone - who can argue with that?
@Emile
Thank you. Gravé is made up; it is a play on Pavé, which is a French word, and Gravel which is an English word and lacks any class whatsoever. Thus, we have arrived (via Brett) at Gravé.
@Bianchi Denti
Higher board for programming, lower for writing. In order to enhance breathing for all that thinking, and for writing all you need to do is get the alcohol into the brain. Low keyboards are great for that.
@TommyTubolare
Great to see you again, mate. I think @Souleur has the same question. The curve from the rider's left cable exit gave a very smooth curve to the FD stop...and for the rear brake, it seemed longer but very smooth as well. It might be wrong and I might change it later, but the performance of both doesn't inspire much question. I meant to ask Mark (owner of Veloforma) if I did it right but felt I'd pestered him enough at the time - I will speak to him tomorrow, I will ask and let you know.
I did add a barrel adjuster (you'll see that in the later photos from the gravel) in order to get the FD trimming perfect. It was back and forth - rub on the 38x27 or rub on the 50x12. With the adjuster, I can get it perfect without also going insane. I think you can adjust it for me without it, but you are very far away and the adjuster (which, in computing we call a Kludge) is more convenient.
@Souleur
Two equally great approaches to find the same love. Power fuckin' to ya. Thats how I hit the Nederaap and that could possibly be the most cherished bike I own.
I have a strip of protection (basically a DT condom) that I may stick on there...but ultimately a bike is happiest when its ridden. This thing is so stunning, I'm almost scared to scratch it, which makes me want to crash it just to get it over with.
As for the tires, we'll see. My experience in Belgium and France indicates that the rougher the roads, the more supple the tire in order to deal with it. The tires we get the most punctures on during Keepers Tour is the "bullet proof" gatorskin. Only Musseeuw's kid was able to flat my FMB by riding it through a hole big enough to swallow him whole without him so much as unweighting his ass on the saddle.
Ultimately, I have found I just love riding great tires. If I flat too much, I'll change, but the dugasts ride like a dream and if they flat, I'll change to FMB's. If those flat, then I'll consider something else.
No stress. We'll see. Exploration is the fun part of all this.
@Russ
The design carefully left room for symbol packs and name badges - not yet applied. I was tempted to go nuts with all that stuff but decided I love eating my own dogfood and wanted to keep the fun of putting those babies on there! Good eye, mate.
@sthilzy
DO THEY MAKE ORANGE HOODS? IF SO I WANT. I WANT I WANT I WANT I WANT. Wait, can you MAKE THEM? You've made Awesome before, history suggests you can make Awesome again...
@Dan_R
Marko is the founder of the Graveur class of bike (informally formally) to be fair. He had a CX rig that just wasn't doing it on the gravel rides, so he upgraded. I lost my shit.
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@Dan_R
I am with you on FMB; next stop if I have issues. These Dugasts are lovely, but my Roubaix FMBs are beyond amazing. I have 5 of them. Well...had...now I'm down to 4. If I hav an issue with these, I will be knocking on his door, that's for sure.
@frank
I've seen Hudz do orange from this article here;
The orange tape looks overkill. Orange hoods would add that subtle splash.
Another round of awesome? V-hoods? Change that hudz logo to a V-cog logo? Hmmmmm........
@frank
@frank
I think that this seals it. Welcome to my madness. MUHAHAHAHA!! http://cdn.media.cyclingnews.com/2009/11/01/2/chris_jones_focus_mares_team_hudz_600.jpg