Velo-Orange Pass Hunter

It has begun.

The new Pass Hunter frame set from Velo-Orange dropped through my postbox on Thursday. I've been looking for a frame to replace my George Longstaff as I felt it's seat tube angle at 76 degrees was too steep for me, and when I saw details about this frame months ago I was interested immediately.

It's no lightweight fairy being made of 4130 cromoly, but it built for exactly what I need.

• Slack seat tube angle (72deg)
  
• Canti brakes for much more clearance for tyres and mudguards.
  
• Braze ons underneath fork crown/seat stay bridge/chainstay bridge for full length mudguards.
  
• 1 1/8 threadless headset, not a fan of quill stems anymore, ahead is much more practical IMO so I was keen to find a frame with 1 1/8 steerer.
  
• Provision for rear rack should I want to stick one on.
  
  

For anyone wondering what the name is about, The term "pass hunter" refers to the sport of riding over mountain passes, more popular in France and Japan than in the US. Rules are explained on this page.

I plan to move as much across as possible from the Longstaff, which is up for sale here

Old:

http://img196.imageshack.us/img196/7559/jpr9.jpg

New:

http://store.velo-orange.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/530x530/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/s/i/side_profile.jpg

Hopefully will resemble something like this when complete!

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_tFtggouwJo/UjCNLI_CJ5I/AAAAAAAADOA/WHqPrk2nsMI/s800/Pass+Hunter+4.jpg

5 Attachments

57cm is too small for you, you need a 59cm.

You'd better be trolling boy!

When this frame arrived one of the decals had a nick out of it, before they lacqeured (sp?) over the frame.
Got in touch with Freshtripe who in turn contacted Velo-Orange who offered a £70 refund as a goodwill gesture.
Made for a very happy friday!

http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/6623/a9il.jpg

£13 used headset, just need to have the frame prepped and fitted properly

http://img17.imageshack.us/img17/7210/mmcq.jpg

And some used frogglegs cantilever brakes, £17 from eBay, which are currently in pieces and don't know how to fit, so that will be the next challenge.

Will have to get rid of the yellow pads at some point, they are never going to match anything on my bike

http://img811.imageshack.us/img811/5961/eapi.jpg

I've heard that Frog Legs are absolutely awful?

No, for some, they're notoriously difficult to set-up.

You'd better be trolling boy!

Am I trolling, or am I really trolling?

How big is your post box?!

Frog legs are notoriously difficult to set up well, hence why they have the reputation for being shit. Personally, as you're probably not in need of great mud clearance on this bike, I'd go for mini-vs over cantilevers, especially for a road bike.

No, for some, they're notoriously difficult to set-up.

Frog legs are notoriously difficult to set up well.

Is there's an echo in here?

I was just giving the opinion of someone who's actually used them, Ed, rather than the theory.

I really like the Pass Hunting notion, I'd not heard of it before.

What a lovely frame! That's going to make a nice bike for long weekends.

How big is your post box?!

;)

Frog legs are notoriously difficult to set up well, hence why they have the reputation for being shit. Personally, as you're probably not in need of great mud clearance on this bike, I'd go for mini-vs over cantilevers, especially for a road bike.

I've heard that Frog Legs are absolutely awful?

Uh-oh...
I thought I read somewhere that they had a decent reputation??
I must be on crack

Interesting info regarding to the mini vs though will keep that in mind

Am I trolling, or am I really trolling?

I was just giving the opinion of someone who's actually used them, Ed, rather than the theory.

So have I.

Sitting in my part box remain unused thought.

Just what I'd heard, but yeah, I'd go for some nice V Brakes like Ed has on his Oak. Paul Comp, no?

I'd go for some nice V Brakes like Ed has on his Oak.

I meant centre pull or linear pull. Whatever they are.

The ones like Ed has require the bosses to be much higher on the fork than mine. They wouldn't fit.

Seeing as I have these ones now I'll give them a swing and take some time setting them up. But if I have any significant issues I'll give mini vs a proper think

I had Froglegs on my Pomp, they were awful. Irrelevant of the set-up they flex way too much. I swapped for BR550s and would recommend them. They'd look better than mini Vs on your VO too.

Maybe if you'd asked Ed to set them up?

I had froggleggs on my surly cross check, were a bit of a bitch to set up but worked fine, V brakes work much better though.

Ok, I am being think but out of interest what is the gain in having a slacker seat tube angle?

None, but the slacker seat angle is closer to a "standard" seat angle (73) than the original bike which was so steep, that he end up having to buy a seatpost with a huge amount of setback (40mm) and a new saddle that have a much longer rail than the original Brooks to be able to set it back even further.

When it come to fitting, you should always adjust the saddle position to the idea distance from the BB before figuring out the cockpit length.

None, but the slacker seat angle is closer to a "standard" seat angle (73) than the original bike which was so steep, that he end up having to buy a seatpost with a huge amount of setback (40mm) and a new saddle that have a much longer rail than the original Brooks to be able to set it back even further.

When it come to fitting, you should always adjust the saddle position to the idea distance from the BB before figuring out the cockpit length.

I have this issue with most of my bikes and put it down to weird proportions on my part.