Velo orange Polyvalent 650b

Not totally sure I need this bike, but got some 650B wheels last year and ran them on a Long Haul Trucker, found the grand bois hetre ride amazing but the braking was terrible as the pads only just reached the rims… so thought I'd use up a box of spare parts on this:

but it looked ugly with xt mtb gears and cranks, so I got some new cranks, gears and stem and got this:

and today was first proper test ride!

Velo orange parts: frame and forks, headset, rims, seatpost, cages, cables, front rack (and rear if can fit it), nitto noodle bars and stem, and the rest is shimano and stronglight.

Lumitec retro front dynamo light and bar tape to fit next.

I always liked the idea of these.

Would have bought on of these instead of my long haul trucker had it been out at the time.
Lovely build.

That look fantastic, the fork curve look really nice compared to the other offering from Tawian (which look more of a short bend than a curve).

If you're looking for 650B mudguard, SJS can special order the 650B Gille Berthoud steel version for you, cost something like £35 altogether (postage included), miles better than the alu version.

Do you reckon that the fillet brazed Velo Orange stem would be idea to reduced the amount of flex? I have a similar one and they're surprisingly stiff making it much more comfortable to get out of the saddle to sprint despite being set quite high.

http://store.velo-orange.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/530x530/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/g/r/grand_cru_quill_stem_17_1.jpg

Despite appearance, I'd think it look great;

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dhCpV_U8HMw/TmpKMXhuiDI/AAAAAAAAAAs/U0H8tMgeH4w/s1600/that+700c+bike-4.jpg

thanks for replies, not sure about some mudguards, VO or Giles Bertaud? now put the decals on and a new chain and cassette (11 - 30, 8 speed, with a 48/34 crank, and 9 speed bar ends in friction setting) bit frustrating can't shift both deraillers at once... must plan ahead!! Ed what pressure would you recommend running the tyres at, its at about 50psi now, but i think thats too high?

Any plans for a big trip? Or just building for fun?

Any plans for a big trip? Or just building for fun?

its totally for summer fun!! only plan so far is for dunwich dynamo, want to strap a speaker on the front rack

How do find it ?

Also what's the saddle like and how does its compare to a brooks?

Gillie - steel mudguard's much better than alu and hold it's shape brilliantly.

Also run them at what pressure you find comfortable.

It may take a bit of trial and error, till you find your sweet spot.

Mine were 80psi rear, 65psi front with the 700c 33.3c tyres.

thanks for replies, not sure about some mudguards, VO or Giles Bertaud?

Hi, sorry only just saw this, and maybe you have made a choice already.

I had both the Berthoud and the VP on my Mercian touring / everyday winter commuter, so I can comment.

I first had the GB, they were amazing, they require a bit of drilling and carefull adjustment, but the never moved, and were perfectly silent. They are very stiff, virtually bomb proof. Untill the day my panniers fall and got trapped between the rear mudgard and the wheel, scrunching them badly, I could not bend them back, and they would have look shit.
I bought instead some VO on classified here, and it was a bit of a disappointment considering that brand new they are only slightly cheaper than the GB. Although the fixing of the stays to the dropouts / ends eyelets are better than the GB (Stainless steel vs plastic), the rest of the ironmongery, especially the fixing to the rear brake bridge and the fixing of the stays to the actual mudgards is not as good as the GB. I had to adapt them a lot (using some of the GB fixing bits from my old pair of mudgards) to make them silent and securely attached to the bike. The VO I have are the hammered ones. They are aluminium. They look very cool, nicer than the GB actually, and are lighter, but not as strong. They change shape easily, being aluminium, the holes you have to drill in them have a tendancy to increase in diameter if the bolts come loose and vibrate.

Sorry if too long to read, but in short, for almost the same money, GB are stronger, don't vibrabe / make noise, will definitely last longer and take more abuse. VO have to be fiddled with for satisfactory installation, are a bit fragile, but look awesome...

Szia

L

(in an even shorter version of the above, I agree with Ed...)

(Oh, and also, nice bike!!)

I can comment on the VO ones as well: they don't like vibrations. My rear broke straight across under the brake bridge, but I have to take some of the blame for that having done a sloppy job drilling that hole. Having repaired that however, they have now started to split lengthwise along the "hammered" honeycomb pattern. They are difficult to keep in place, and move up and down alot going over bumps and cobblestones. This all pertains to the rear actually, the front has been pretty nice to me.

How do find it ?

Also what's the saddle like and how does its compare to a brooks?

it rides great, hate to admit but long haul trucker with these wheels was better… maybe answer is 650b disc trucker sometime… the gilles berthoud saddle is very good, very comfy out of the box… finish and comfort is better than B17 or narrow B17… but it is twice the price, and cant say how it compares to more expensive brooks saddles

thanks for the mudguard advice… Gilles Berthoud's half installed these things look amazing, better photo when I manage to drill some holes in the front one...

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6 years later and I’ve started to use this bike, works well for commuting with front basket.

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That looks great, classy build and garden!

Must have passed you in Waterloo Bridge ages ago.

So nice! GJ

Looks great, any more photos of it in the wild?