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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View Comments
@frank
See if this works then!
Nice looking ride Frank.
Did you consider discs instead of cantis?
We have a couple of dirt gran fondo rides that happen over here in Melbourne each year that I just took part in one for the first time a few weeks back on my CX bike - the terrain is a mixture of forest trail, gravel road, bit of single track and some very steep climbs and descents better suited to mtbs or disc equipped CX bikes. Some of the descents in particular were a complete nightmare with cantis.
I will be upgrading the frame to go with discs with those rides in mind for next year.
@frank
didnt know u had one(road) coming. I think u may have a tough time deciding what to ride where and how if thats the case... The only change I made to my cx rig after the initial build was going to cantis from v-brakes. The versatility of the rig is just awesome. I had a lot of futzing with the vbrakes, got impatient. That being said, so so many love their v-brakes, if just by name association alone.
congrats!
Yes! I've been eagerly awaiting a closer look since the first tease last week. Fortunately, the VMH is out of town, so I can enjoy a little alone time with this beauty.
That naked carbon is sexy as hell, and the orange sets it off perfectly without being too garish or overdone. It's like seeing an Amazon goddess in her altogether, save for the thigh-high vinyl boots, of course.
Frank, you are clearly a man of highly refined taste. Well done, sir.
@asyax
Bugger! I went looking on the server and the file never made it. Are you logged in? You can email it to rouleur@velominati.com and I'll post it as well.
Isn't technology awesome?
@Kiwicyclist
I have mini-V's, not canti's - they stop very well. Nederaap went to cantis after I donated its Mini V's to the VMH's bike. That made it very plain to me why people don't like cantis.
Discs still have to prove their merit to me; I noticed today as well that my big problem was locking the wheels - disc doesn't seem to be a solution to that. And, from those who have ridden disc in CX, they have gone back to Mini-Vs on account of discs being too fucking much work and not enough performance. Veloforma did BB30 and mostly disc last year, and most of their sponsored riders asked for canti's again and the old reliable BB66.
Their new road frame (not on their website yet) is BB30, however.
@gaswepass
If you know me at all, you will know I am (a) shitting myself daily thinking about this new road frame and (b) will have very clear parameters around when each gets ridden.
@Spun Up
Thank you mate, you are too kind.
@frank new road frame?!?!?!
@frank
dude. (in a tone not conveyable in text). That's a beautiful whip. And I'm saying it again. If there's room, you should bring it with you this weekend, just so I can have it in the shop.
@chipomarc
Good for you. You must have no soul if you think your bike is nothing more than just a "tool".
@Robert
I'm looking for a bike fitter, 'cause I must know fuck all about it since I also ride bikes that are "too small for me". What do you charge?
@frank
I picked up on the Pantani nod, very classy, and Il Pirata had it in spades. Especially matching 5 or 6 different colors 2 of them being blue, each at opposite ends of the spectrum and making it all work with kit and bike...I will never be that fucking good. Ever. Thank Merckx he never rode for Mapei, or he may have destroyed the space-time continuum. But Orange tape with the white cufflinks and white finishing tape. Give it a whack. I think it will look hot(ter).