Bike Forums - Velo Orange new stuff

Bike Forums (https://www.bikeforums.net/forum.php)

- Classic & Vintage (https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vintage/)

- - Velo Orange new stuff (https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vintage/596865-velo-orange-new-stuff.html)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom Velo Orange (Post 9988546)

cyclotine- was that a sarcastic response from you? I'm not familiar w your persona to know one way or another.

We do listen to peoples posts here, on our blog and twitter feeds for sure. But not every post and suggestion is going to happen. Your opinion is as valid as others opinions, positive or negative. The quill stem thing has come up countless times. I do know some company is working on a quill stem (not us, and I can't reveal who it is due to non-disclosure agreements). It will probably be close to what you want spec wise, but I'm not sure if the pricing is hitting the mark.

Ponder this- what did a Cinelli 1A stem cost new, without a bro-deal, Back In The Day? $50? $60?? Adjusted for inflation, that same 1A stem would cost $165 in 2008 dollars

The Nitto Technomic stems are a bargain at $50, and are totally under valued. The same can be said of the Pearl, and those are $75-90 The retail price hasn't changed in 35 years, yet material costs have for sure gone up since then, not to mention other costs like shipping, duty and freight brokerage among other things.

Velo Orange can go down that road, commit a ton of money for tooling that could be spent on a new frame or racks or fenders. We would not have OE sales to count on; it would be strictly selling retail. The price would be north of $70, reflecting new tooling, new design work, new factories learning how to make a better quality cold forged stem.

Or VO customers could buy Nitto stems for $50 and be very very happy.

I was being serious, I think a 31.8 quill stem is a ridiculous proposition.

If the argument is bar selection it's null and void. Why would someone need the larger size, most bars are still produced in both diameters?

It can't be aesthetics as that would look horrendous and the bars would most likely be black.

If the reason someone who wants to use a 31.8 bar and still use a quill stem... well their argument is again void because of the above.

If the argument is stiffness, well then why are you using a 1" threaded stear tube when you could be using a 1-1/8" threadless system?

So you see there is no good reason why someone should produce a 31.8 quill stem, if there were a market for it, it would be NON-C&V type keeping old road bikes from the 1990's/early 2000's going with modern equipment and then it could be a cheep Zoom style 2 bolt removable face plate stem and they wouldn't care because it would be more functional and even look more in line with the aesthetic of the bike (even though it would be hideous on a steel bike).

Chirs, Velo Orange is great, your prices are more than reasonable and so is the shipping in my experience, I work in an IBS and Velo Orange is pretty much the only place I shop outside my shop because you offer what I can't get through the usual lines of distribution.

Quote:

Originally Posted by repechage (Post 9988627)

As I worked at a "profit margin was King" bike shop in the 70's and mid 80's Cinelli 1A stems were $32.50 in 1986, I had to special order a French diameter one, and the "dealer cost" price was $22., I don't think it was, but that was the kind of guy my employer was...

Ever hear of the therm "economies of scale"? Look it up - very educational in the economic realities of manufacturing.

Quote:

Originally Posted by GV27 (Post 9989195)

Ever hear of the therm "economies of scale"? Look it up - very educational in the economic realities of manufacturing.

I understand that fully, make my living in mfg.

Another example, I built up a set of wheels for a fellow employee at home, the guy got mad at me for stealing customers' from him... it was a fellow employee, and they dated even!? I hope you get a more full picture, profit is good, profit margin above all else is not strategic. I was besides the fact that she did not want HIM to build the wheels, but that's another story.

I'd like to see the VO model 8 in a nice deep Brooks-esque red. And unsprung. But I'll probably buy one anyway around Januaryish...unless you tell me that I shouldn't just yet... ;)

I also second the guy that wanted the battery style bullet lights, but I'd be happier with them in a yellowish light - halogen or incandescent simply because it'd match better with old-style bikes. Leave the blinky LED lights to the high tech guys.

Finally, I like the looks of the medium minnehaha bag, but I looked on their website and there doesn't seem to be a "large." One wonders about the nomenclature. Anyway, I'd be interested to see something like that, but BIGGER! Maybe make it square - 12X12X12 or some such. I like the Ostrich bags, but don't need something that heavy duty, nor something that expensive (even though it IS a good price, I just can't afford something like that right now...)

I would like to see a rack top bag to fit a Nitto M12 rack. Rivendell makes two, but they are $100+ each. I bought the VO Champagne handlebar bag and decaleur setup to use up front, but it doesn't work since I ride 62cm bikes. So they just sit lonely in a drawer in the basement shop.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom Velo Orange (Post 9988546)

cyclotine- was that a sarcastic response from you? .

Welcome to the "helpful" insights from cyclotine. typical.

Quote:

Originally Posted by cyclotoine (Post 9989041)

Gotta agree with this. Didn't even look at the previous comments. If you need a 31.8 bar on a threaded fork, threadless adapters are the way to go. I guess a botique (Thompson?) outfit might develop something, but it does seem like a waste of tooling, unless it was very pretty. Most folks who use quill stems prefer a 26mm bar anyway. Not sure about all the odd facets of the cycling market, so I suppose there could be some relevant sector I'm not aware of.

...

So, I think I have a great idea. Its probably been though of. Maybe even mentioned here? Would it be stepping on anyone's toes to develop a cartridge bb cheaper than phil that can be used with phil rings? I assume its just a matter of bearing size. If you spec the same outside diameter cartridge bearings, or ones that fit right into the phil cups, but get it in at a lower price (maybe $50?) I bet it would be a hot seller and a great solution.

This would take the pressure off you to develop a bb for every threading, and it may work out for Phil because they'll sell a lot of rings, especially if you start carrying them. Seems a bb could be done for $40-50 or even less if you're not even worrying about tooling rings for it. Those would be sold separately, from Phil. I guess the main question would whose toes you would step on. But its worth a shot, right?

Quote:

Originally Posted by KonaBuyer (Post 9992897)

Welcome to the "helpful" insights from cyclotine. typical.

I thought he made a very strong argument

Cyclotine-
looks like we are on the same page.
If you shop is interested, we do have a B to B website (www.voimports.com) that is password protected, with dealer pricing on almost all Velo Orange product.

COG- we made a french thread BB- priced at $50.

In 10 days we are expecting a universal fit bottom bracket that will work on any 68mm BB shell, and in a pinch, it will probably work on 70mm Italian bb's too. French, Swiss, Whitworth, etc. We are stocking spindle lengths from 103-127mm. The taper is JIS. It should be a good solution for fixie conversions, British 3 speed upgrades and vintage mountain bike BB replacements.

but blah blah blah. Will our english thread BB's work with phil rings? I dunno.

Tom

Thanks for the correction. Glad to hear the GB tyres are at least 66tpi.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom Velo Orange (Post 9994591)

Okay, now I'm interested. I have a frame that's a little frapped out in the BB area and just waiting for this.

Quote:

Originally Posted by GV27 (Post 9989195)

Ever hear of the term "economies of scale"?

Yes. Richard Schwinn used that biz-speak term on me not more then two weeks ago.

-Kurt