gomango

Yeah, I like it.

cs1

LOL, @gomango you have some of the nicest builds on the boards. I am in the Cleveland, OH area. We just don't see many nice or high end stuff for sale locally. Most of my rides are ebay frames I've built up. I like the idea of a VO frame like the OP was looking at.

gomango

PHah, thanks!

I could see myself riding and enjoying a bike like the Campeur.

The frameset isn't very expensive and they look to be fairly well thought out for low $$$.

FWIW I thought about ordering either one of these, a Pass Hunter or a Black Mountain Cycles frameset.

They all would give me loads of utility for less than $600.

I ended up with the BMC, but any of them would have worked out.

I rode a BMC two weeks ago and that sealed the deal.

aquateen

where did you see the fork sold separately?

Henry III

They're listed under the special orders or something like that for individual people. I'm assuming you'll need to contact them and they'll make a special listing for you.

The Golden Boy 

The Campeur, and other VO stuff is clearly modern stuff inspired by the "vintage" pieces we're familiar with. I *think* most of us are used to seeing "the real thing" on these pages so there's a natural tendency to compare "this" with "that."

For the same reason when someone posts a pic of their build- sometimes I'll mention things that aren't "right" to me. I don't do it to be a dick, more as a mention that "I like it this way."

That being said, I like the overall look of the bike, as built up. I'd be quite happy with that bike.

But, me being me... I would want a few things changed. IMO- I'm with @SJX426- welding is "new" tech- and it's been perfected and the process has been used for all manner of bikes, from the lowest to high end. I'd want it to look like old style craftsmanship was used on my bike. (not like a craftsman drinking Old Style was building my bike- that wouldn't be good.)

cs1

Fair enough @The Golden Boy. I'm happy that some one is even making vintage or classic style bikes.

The Golden Boy 

As am I. I really don't need to state again that the overwhelming majority of the bicycling market is aimed at racers. The concept of enjoying cycling as beautiful on its own is a niche. I love that Velo Orange is there to fill that niche of "classicness." You see where Rivendell gets flogged by people- for kind of the same thing.

cs1

The really sad thing is the industry markets to them because that's what sells. Everyone wants to be a boy racer.

noglider 

Wow. I want to sell all my bicycles so I can afford to buy this. I might be happy with just this.

SJX426 

Well it would not be possible to say "nice bike" as it is a comment I do like it a lot! My short comments are a credit to how "right" it is, otherwise there would be no comment at all.

Now when we come down to price, I am pushed away. There are a lot of nice used bikes for far less that have the features I want or could get for less. But I am not the target market for this bike, maybe its purpose but only in a bucket list kind of way. I applaud VO's efforts and hope there continues to be enough market out there to keep them busy! They offer quality parts that are classic and appealing. Could be they will have produced the future C&V parts!

The Golden Boy 

I've got no data to back it up, other than my own observations... But the vast majority of people aren't the racers. But I would guess the majority of people who spend big money are racers- and that becomes "serious" cycling, and beginners want to feel "serious" so they're going to go with what the serious guys get. Additionally, the old guys want to believe they're still "serious" and by that age, they have the money to spend on "serious" bikes. (I always wondered why you never saw the cool guys driving the cool cars... The Porsches and fancy cars were driven by the dorky middle aged guys.)

So whether it's someone commuting on pavement riding a dual shocked MTB or making grocery runs on their flooby looking carbon fiber bike- they could well be perfectly happy with their bikes, but other bikes would suit them better.

I also have a theory that a lot of people don't put a whole lot of thought into their bikes. They get "their bike" and they ride it. I have an overwhelming need to tinker with stuff and like to learn about the stuff I have. (which invariably leads to wanting more stuff... ) I guess that also goes to the point of 'if it matters to you, it matters to you.'

lostarchitect 

My VO is a Pass Hunter, which has been a great bike for me. Usually when I am heading out, I plan to take another bike, then at the last minute I decide the Pass Hunter is the better bike for the job... whatever the job happens to be.

nlerner

The nit I was picking wasn't with the bike or build itself, but with @NormanF's claim that this was a "classic" somehow. I'm not buying that elevation, not even "classic-inspired" because that's meaningless or just so much advertising hyperbole. My primary commuter is a Nashbar touring frame and a Soma fork that I built up about 9 months ago. It has 8-speed bar-end shifters and a Sugino AT triple crankset. Its "classic" attribute is that it's built to be functional (it's quite ugly, so no real aesthetic virtues). But calling it "classic" just cheapens the underlying significance of the term.

Camplex

Beautiful bike indeed. Well within the VO tradition; making that style more accessible, adding to that wave further popularizing cyclo-tourism. Like others, I'm not keen on the price. I suspect that when this is the case, many like myself, treat the bike as we perhaps do other historical interests, and we sort of study it. In this case though, we can be inculcated not just with what stylistic cues were adopted but with actual part options, with actual alternatives in componentry. One can achieve a look that they're happy with (something similar to this in component choice and approx. geometry) at a much lower price by, for example, using a favorite frame as their base and adding on VO components and supporting accessories.

I'm sure Chris (of VO) was deliberate in how the bike was presented in their photos. Many will be particular and as it's said, all can't be satisfied all the time. Still, as the owner of a VO rack (constructeur), I will say that they can be mounted in more than one way and that they're the real deal, able to carry some weight reliably, and not just look the part. When you look at old Rebour drawings, in-fact, you'll find similarities stylistically, with things VO has produced. It's interesting, and demonstrates of course, the source of their inspiration and how they proceeded. If you zoom-in on the photo above, you can actually see the range of movement relative to the brake-rack mount. I've seen this arrangement on other road bikes as well. The front rack is definitely up high... but details aside, this is made by someone firmly on the side of C&V! :-)

mstateglfr 

You may not buy it, but that doesn’t mean it isnt true. If they were inspired by classic steel touring geometry, style, and function when they designed it, then its ‘classic inspired’.

gomango

Ordered an orange Pass Hunter for Mrs. Gomango today.

Got tired of waiting for a used Albatross or Sam Hillborne.

cs1

Can't wait to see it.

Wheels Of Steel

You don't have to worry about fitting tubes into joints, tig or tack and go.

gomango

Two builds ahead of this one, but should have pics by spring on my Flickr.