On Rule #12: Graveur Robber
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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Looks like fun. I’m sure you will ride the piss out of it.
Lust is a word I normally save for ladies. I think I just soiled myself. That is one stunning bike @Frank and the feelings of envy over here are not healthy, you better stay away from the UK for a while!
Nice ride, I’ve got my eye on a couple of Arundel cages for my road bike. Which ones are those?
Now THAT is some pimp shit. Nice steed, sir.
Beautiful bike, couple of questions though:
Are you hoping to slide by on the Rule #40 infraction because the decals on the wheels are above the valve?
You mentioned racing some cross on it too, what has become of the Neederap?
@Jouni
F-in A, B and C. Wowza.
So let me get this straight, a custom builder measured you and built you that set up with the unholy length of seat post and stem? Can I recommend any number of builders who could have set you up properly?
Donbox, Zukas, Zancanato, Crumpton, etc, etc, etc
+1 on the fit. That has to be the worst set-up ever.
@CBontheEVO
Not a custom builder, custom paint. Have a look around the archives, there are lots of discussions on my fit and why I ride them this way. It is not 1980, no need to be afraid of a little bit of seat post, my friend.
Does the VMH get one too?
@Robert & @CBontheEVO
Watch Frank ride sometime and get back to me with your thoughts about fit and fitness for use…
@Mikael Liddy
Tubulars, my man. Tubulars. The devils put their stamps where ever they feel like, it seems, most likely to get my ire up. FMB does the same thing.
Pit bike, most likely – there is some talk of having @Cyclops tweak the fit so that people like @CBontheEVO and @Robert can hate it for me.
@Robert
Have a look at any Belgian bike and you’ll find your fil of 14cm stems. For your viewing pleasure, I’m also including some shots of other tall people on their bike. Better to be thought a fool…Might also want to providing an introduction so we give two shits about your opinions before you go off violating Rule #43.
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@Jamie
Well, she hasn’t shut up about it, so I’m guessing yes!
@snoov
Mandible – http://www.arundelbike.com/mandible.html
Looks Fantastic, and rides that way too, eh?
@frank bah, knew there was a good reason to stay on clinchers. More rule compliant!
Sweet baby jesus. That photo album was pure bike porn. The Bro-set looks correct for that, the wheels perfect.
Get thee to the strade bianche and haul ass. That is a most worthy addition to the stable.
It is amusing how people can’t handle your dimensions. They have never seen a Dutch Monkey in captivity.
If you’re amazed by his position on the bike, you should see his office chair to keyboard drop when he’s writing articles for this site.
Nice rig! Those V-cufflinks really add heaps more class!
A couple of questions, what is the headtube length? The carbon gussets really hide the size of the frame.
Where’s the kickstand to hold it up on the gravel shot? Or do you do a ghosty on it and catch a well timed snap shot?
Nice work, Frank. I’m a little bitter that I only have the 270mm Cyrano””I didn’t know it came in a 700mm version.
I have to ask, though, as a manner of being rule compliant (Rule 12 notwithstanding): when is a graveur necessary (other than always) and when is it sufficient to ride dirt/gravel on a standard issue road bike? Is there a formula or algorithm for measuring the ratio of pavement to gravel or something? Or is the plan to drive further afield to ride exclusively on old Forest Service roads (there are lots of fabulous ones out your way””don’t forget to be back in time for your appointment on the track)?
@G’rilla
I heard he works on a staircase. Sits on one step and the keyboard is located three steps lower. He would have made an awesome triathlete because he wouldn’t have to bend down to put on his runners.
My new graveur – pretty stock at moment, but still shreds bridle trails. The Velominati got me into the world of CX and gravel(road) bikes . Much more fun on gravel/ fire roads than my 29er. I get the same question – how many bikes do you own ….”Well….”. Nice to have a choice on the day though.
@Marcus
Now that’s quite enough! The kid’s already hitting the track and the gravel this summer. He’s in a free fall as it is; do we really want him tempted by tri as well?
Fantastic as always Frank.
@Steampunk
There was a Tom Ritchey interview/video awhile back on here, he has always ridden his road bikes on gravel. If you have larger, more robust tires you can probably get away with it. That being said, a dedicated graveur is an awesome idea, and probably solves the issues much more betterer.
That looks like the perfect mo-sheen for rockin our cottage and colonization roads on the Canadian Shield. As my daughter used to say when she was little, “Have it. Have it.”
Been riding over 35 years now, a bike is nothing more than a tool. One black bike is the same as another black bike.
@freddy
Also for the forest roads in the foothills of the Olympics. Looks stoopidawesome.
@Steampunk
Rule #12 is gloriously vague about such things; best not to question it overly.
That said….it depends on the tires you need to run. The gravel out here is loose enough that I want at least 30mm tires, so tht is canti territory right there. If you’re on good gravel, a 25 or 28 might do and of your road bike takes it, then no need For a Graveur.
Real gravel riding like The Heck of the North is on roads that will not work for a road steed, though. Parts of that race are on snow machine trails better suited to a MTB.
Beautiful machine @frank! Love the seat tube/stays/ top tube orange scheme! Although if I may offer a suggestion, what about some white cufflinks to bust up the black in the cockpit and deliver a bit of subtle “pop”. It would work well with the 3T stem and Fizik finishing tape lettering. Refer to picture 12-31. Maybe? At any rate, I beat myself up too much with my own machine’s color schemes,(my VMH can vouch for it, it drives her nearly as nuts listening to me muttering to myself and my new creations) so feel free to write off my OCD… BTW, any thoughts for a name?
@frank
How do you keep your sidewalls clean? I just soap them up, with less than satisfactory results.
I see G’rilla got to you on the FD as well.
Just wait until you try the road version. I haven’t done any graveling on the cx, just raced it. It’s just a shitton of fun. Snappy and smooth.
@Gianni
I really should be much more patient, but “interesting” on that topic expired in 2010.
@asyax
You’ll have to upload that photo properly; drag and drop doesn’t work. Must fix that some time…
@sthilzy
The owner made the same point – they are the perfect detail.
19.5cm. Distance from CC of axel to CC of bars is 59cm.
A perfectly selected stick stuck in the BB. Then photoshopped out on the angle shot because it was wicked obvs.
@chipomarc
A couple of things if i may :-
1) Have you read the other posts on this site regarding the bike in general ?
B) One black bike is not the same as another and further more,
surely you jest.
@Tugman
Good idea, matey. I was also contemplating orange bar tape (exactly the same as the saddle orange to which the frame was matched). Went black as a (subtle) nod to Pantani’s machine in 1998. I hadn’t thought of white v-cufflinks, I may have to try it.
@DerHoggz
Those handmade tires just stay clean, no idea how. Even in mud.
@DerHoggz
Yup. It was a good call; the Force FD shifted fine, but had lots of resistance. I have big hands, so no problem really but the top pull is way lighter running.
@all
SRAM gets such a bad wrap for the front shifting, but the shifting performance on the front is probably better than any I’ve had anywhere?
That said, the rear is awesome on the upshifts, but shaky on the down. C’est que c’est la fuque?
@gaswepass
SSSHHHH!!! Don’t tell anyone! I was going to pick it up on Saturday, but now its likely a week later…
Handles like a mother. The steering is so fucking sharp, its a dream.
I was disappointed that my 5-month contemplation of my remount paired to a new bike didn’t yield better results when hopping over a small stick G’rilla laid down as an obstacle for our training.
@frank
Just a tad too much tension in the RD cable would be your issue, I’d suggest.
I don’t get the disdain for Bro-sets that people on this site keep going on about.
Oh, and Beautiful bike Frank!
I love the proportions. Don’t pay any attention to the dickwads who’d have you on an imaginary frame that would give you 15cm of seatpost and a 10cm stem. It looked wrong in 1988 and it still looks wrong now.
@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 [email protected] 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).