Looking back, it’s been six months since that night on the way home from my university graduation when I declared at Circles, “I’m buying this frame!” Ever since, I’ve been agonising over which parts to assemble, weighing the pros and cons of everything.
And finally, I took it on its maiden voyage for camp touring at the recent RIDEALIVE.
Back in my university cycling club days, I admired the style of my seniors who rode randonneurs with pannier bags mounted on the front, so I had firmly decided, "The next bike I build absolutely has to be a front-loader!"
The slender chromoly frame with its horizontal top tube features internal cable routing, giving it a sleek look.
The original geometry is designed for 700C wheels with clearance for up to 38mm tires, but being the greedy guy I am, I wanted even fatter tires, so I took advantage of the disc brakes to "size down."
I downsized the wheels from 700C to 650B and installed HOMAGE tires.
I know I shouldn't say it myself, but the most eye-catching part has to be the handlebars, right?
These Casey’s Crazy Bars, also made by Velo Orange, are versatile: hold the ends and they function like bullhorn bars, letting you cruise comfortably along long, straight roads with few traffic lights.
Hold the straight section near the stem, and you get the relaxed position of drop bars, which makes breathing easier on steep climbs while vast scenery awaits.
Hold the flared sections closer to you, and they act like flat bars, allowing you to charge forward with stability even on unpaved roads covered in loose gravel.
The crank has a classic form, the Velo Orange Grand Cru. The pedals are MKS Lambda, which have a wide surface area, allowing me to pedal with my whole foot even in shoes with thin soles.
By sizing down the wheels, using those crazy bars, and mounting the panniers on the front, I’ve experienced a stable, well-planted ride with a low center of gravity.
Stay tuned for my future travels!
| Frame | VELO ORANGE | Pass Hunter Disc(size:51) |
| Crankset | VELO ORANGE | Grand Cru Drillium 110 Fluted Double Crankset, 34x48t |
| Pedal | MKS | lambda |
| Main Comp | Shimano | Deore |
| Handle | VELO ORANGE | Casey’s Crazy Bar |
| Front Rack | NITTO | Campee Front |
| Pannierbag | ORTLIEB | Back Roller Classic |
| Saddle | SELLE ANATOMICA | NSX-Series WaterShed Saddle |
| Rims | Velocity | Synergy 32Hx650B |
| Tire | SIMWORKS by PANARCER | HOMAGE 650X43b |
| Seatpost | SIMWORKS by NITTO | Beatnik Post |
| Stem | SIMWORKS by NITTO | Tomboy |