erbfarm

Hi everyone

Does anyone know where I can find a Velo-Orange Polyvalent frame with Canti bosses? VO used to make the Polyvalent with canti mounts until a few years ago and now it's only made with disc. I need a 51cm frame. I've looked on ebay but don't know where else to try. It's the only frame that I know of that has canti mounts set up for 650b wheels and a geometry that would actually fit me (I need as close to 52cm x 52cm as possible). Plus it has a 1" threaded fork. That's a must for me.

Thanks!

twolve

I'd ask in the 650b google group, somebody over there might know where to find one. You may also be able to find a different frame that'll work there as well.

bikemig 

It will cost more money but have you considered a custom build? Alternatively, how about a 650b conversion of a vintage road bike with the right sizing? If you don't like the idea of caliper brakes, you can always get cantilevers brazed on and the bike painted to your liking. @gugie who lives in Portland does this kind of work. There are other builders who will no doubt retrofit an old frame.

ThermionicScott 

I know people in Portland who might be happy to braze canti mounts onto a given frame for you.

tyrion

I think Soma Grand Randonneur ticks all your boxes except 52x52 - it's a little longer.

https://www.somafab.com/archives/pro...neur-frame-set

Salamandrine 

Yep, that's what I was going to say. Should note that the SOMA has a sloping top tube, so the next size down would probably be a better match to the VO, and the virtual TT length would be closer.

The trail is lower, at ~35 vs 45, FYI.

erbfarm

can you privately message me? I did talk to a builder I really like and he tried to talk me into the disc frame. He said he's removed many canti posts and added many disc mounts but never the reverse

ThermionicScott 

@gugie is the guy I had in mind. He usually modifies older frames, but this would be along the same lines.

erbfarm

yes, I've gone that route in the past. Had an early 80's Specialized Sequoia that I just loved, fit me perfectly at exactly 52 x 52. Harris Cyclery in Boston coldset the frame for me so I could put an 8 spd cassette in the back. I've also converted a Terry Classic to 650B with long reach caliper brakes. But the calipers just haven't worked for me in the Portland winter weather and the front forks have been too narrow for fenders and the winter tires I typically throw on to make it through the pine cones, gravel, nails, and other crud in the bikelanes. So that's why I'm looking for something with a wide enough fork for at least 35mm but preferably 38mm tires and fenders.

erbfarm

I do like that frame but I think I'm going to run into the same problem with it that I have with the Surly Straggler which is that I need a taller frame for me legs and a shorter top tube for my arms. On my Surly, I've got the seat up pretty high plus a stem riser on my bar to get the height I need but I still feel like it's too much of a reach for my arms. i've just never been comfortable on it. I've turned it into an e-bike and it does great for the 30 mi round trip bike commute I have every day (pre-pandemic) and gets me through the winter rain and road conditions so I'm grateful for that aspect of it. But I'm really trying to find a bike that is comfortable and fun to pedal. That's the hard part for me!

bikemig 

This 1993 XO 2 may be too small but it has plenty of tire clearance (26 x 1.75 and fenders easily probably larger). It is designed for drop bars and it is one of the best riding bikes that I own (mine is a 57 cm). I have no connection to the seller:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1993-Classi...cAAOSwN6VejelK

erbfarm

I like that bike, I found the 1993 catalog on Sheldon Brown's site but can't find the frame specs to see what length the top tube is. I like a 26" with canti brakes though

erbfarm

just found the specs for that bike and looks like it would fit great. The TT is 52.2 so that's good and the stand over height is 29" and my inseam is 29.5

bikemig 

I think this is a fabulous bike. Same frame specs as the XO 1 and a just a tad heavier. When buying used bikes, I like buying from the original seller as that generally means the bike has been looked after.

This is my '93 XO 2:

merziac

You can PM @gugie, he will help you get sorted post haste.

Bad Lag

With all the options for stem length (0" to 5"), are you still unable to get the bike to fit properly? You could even go negative (-1") on reach by turning the stem around.

The bikemig photo shows a bike with a hugely long stem. My wife's bike has a near zero length stem.

I'm confused.

erbfarm

are those the stock handlebars?

bikemig 

Yeah, the bars, stem, and headset are original. That's about it.

erbfarm

Here's a question for you: on the X0-2 I'd like to put drop bars. What kind of brake levers would I use with the canti brakes? Long pull? I also plan on using cross top levers as well. Thanks

52telecaster

cantis and road brakes tke the same levers.

bikemig 

Yep, you can just use road levers with cantilevers. I'm running brifters with mine.

erbfarm

One more question for y'all. I also like the Velo Orange Campeur frameset, but it's built around 700C wheels (ugh). If I got that frame and had the canti bosses moved to accommodate 650B wheels, what other accommodations would I have to make? How would that affect the BB height? I really like the 460mm chainstay on that frame.

noobinsf 

Don't know about the effects of moving to 650b on the Campeur, but it is supposed to take 38mm 700c tires with fenders, so presumably wider without fenders. Are you wedded to the 650b size?

erbfarm

Ugh, the X0-2 on ebay just sold (frowny face) so I'm not going that route

ThermionicScott 

Bottom bracket drop on the 700C frames is a large 82mm: https://velo-orange.com/products/vo-campeur-frame

If you switched one to 650B, you might have a lot of trouble with pedal strike unless you're really careful about it, or use really short cranks. As a data point, my Bianchi has a BB drop of 65mm, but with 650x38B wheels and 165mm cranks, it feels just about perfect.