robatsu

Hey, I'm down with that part - my kid just started 1st grade in Japan last week. I'm pretty interested to see how this works out for him, as he is a hapa *****.

As for the cranks, I agree as much as I can w/out seeing/riding them that VO hasn't just cranked out reproductions but has further developed the basic product to address the deficiencies of its predecessors. Again, IMO this sort of process/product is where VO shines.

And VO Tom reminds me of the type of employee I get every now and then - super hard working, passionate, but occasionally needs a gentle reminder that when talking to customers, no matter how stupid they are, under no circumstances is there ever a reason to bring up the subject of their mothers, so to speak.

mickey85

I'll say this, if I had the money and the space, three new bikes that I'd own would be the three from VO. Kinda wish the Poly was lugged, but aside from that, I could see a bike for every purpose in those three.

And E, I would consider the Polyvalent to be more along the lines of a Kogswell, not a hybrid. Hybrids typically don't have the extended top tube to allow for a more comfortable ride while riding swept back bars.

DiegoFrogs

Very few things have financial and human interest in only one country in this, the global world. For instance, my 'Japanese' Honda Civic was 'assembled' in Ohio. Given tradition, I can be pretty sure that the ores and coals used to produce the steel are probably from Canada, but that's not listed on the sticker. The Japanese manufacturers are good about at least telling you where the transmission came from. Lord knows that I have no problem with Canada, or Japan for that matter, but my point is that the extremely simplistic "country of origin" check is almost completely moot. More and more, even things "made in the USA" are either made with Chinese parts, or they're made here with Chinese materials, using fossil fuels supplied from other places that sometimes are considered bad trade partners.

Nevermind the fact that one cannot determine a good, ethical factory from a bad one even when the stickers are 100 percent faithful and transparent.

EjustE

These days hybrids indeed do not have a long TT and/or a long wheelbase. My (original) comparison to the polyvanent frame was that to a late 80s/early 90s hybrid. Ergo:

mickey85

If that's an Activa Trail, as mine is, the top and seat tubes are identical. Trust me on that one.

Even if it's not - would you consider it copying with their Rando frame to make it just like the Soma lugged road frame, or the Riv Roadeo? I don't.

EjustE

Nope. This is a Via Carisma (in its commuter clothing; spare tube and tire levers in the saddlebag; bungiecord my briefcase on the rack, tiny framepump on the holder underneath the DT cage). TT about 3 cm longer than the ST and a huge wheelbase (carried about 20lbs up front once, fully loaded). I would not consider doing too much with it at this point (other than retiring it; but not really) because it got me about 50000 miles the last 20 years, including about 20 centuries, 3 month-long fully loaded touring trips and 5 triathlons (last century.) and lots of trips to and from work...

My point is that there is no shame (or should not be a shame) about hybrid frames. Just call them that. Please...

TeeSquare

I buy from Rivendell and VO both and you both have great products. I just wanted you to know that I was trying to order a front rack for my Miyata 1000 this week from Rivendell and was describing what I wanted and they said I need to order a Nitto M-12 from VO (which I just did an hour ago). I wish you both the best. If you guys weren't around where would we get our parts? Performance? LOL

bikerosity57

Copy or not these cranks are beautiful. It's like I used to say about classic rock and roll: I like it, but why isn't anyone making it any more! Well, these are just the ticket for a classic, but totally modern bike. I like what I see, and keep it coming.

bikerosity57

I meant "classic" style, but totally modern. You knew that.

velo-orange

*bangs head on the wall*
*bangs head on the wall*
*bangs head on the wall*
*bangs head on the wall*


E- We are as specific as we are going to be, WRT country of origin. We have nothing to hide. Do you really think, as world citizens, that we would tolerate inhumane conditions for anything we make? How little you know about us. We have stated numerous times where our stuff is made (for the record- Taiwan and Japan, with chaincases and some leather goods made in house in Annapolis- lovely, union free Annapolis by yours truly ;-) ) You simply don't want to believe us. There's nothing we can do that will convince you otherwise. And at this point, it aint worth the couple of bux from ya anyway.

Riv is a great company that has great stuff made for them in Japan, Taiwan, and the US. and they sell things like axes and books completely unrelated to their mission of selling you replacement steel forks, among other things. If you cant afford Grants marketing plan, there is Surly or Soma. If that's too pretentious, there's always the GMC licensee bike and Bell parts and accessories at your local mallart.

I can't remember the last time I saw a 650b hybrid. If you are trying to malign our P/V by comparisons to fairly good UJB's from the late 80's and 90's it's going to backfire as others have pointed out. Kogswell has made similar bikes. Rivendell too. I can't think of many modern US Constructeurs who HAVEN'T made a 650b city or utility or rando bike. To quote myself: "We can't stop our customers from using our parts on [redacted] <insert> Hybrids. You sound like a very old man, pissed at everything the youngins are doing with their bikes these days."

velo-orange

And by the way, which one of you gentlemen go by the pseudonym of 'Major Hardon'?

bigbossman 

I've got no dog in this fight.... but I gotta agree with you, Tom, at least as far as I'm tired of hearing it over and over again ad-nauseum. The boy does seem to have a hard-on for you.

cudak888 

Careful, you'll knock the cranksets off the display wall

-Kurt

badmother

Somebody with a mental age of approx 10 and somebody I would not touch with a pair of plyers.

Looks like peopel are suffering from cabin fewer in the end of March, that is odd. Real bikeriders do not have this much time to waste on the IN.

cuda2k

Gentlemen, thank you for your discussion on this topic, but I think at this point we've reached the end of this road. Thread closed.