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Interbike 2012: VeloOrange’s new Campeur Touring Frameset and other Very shiny Things

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VeloOrange is known for their French names and their shiny parts.  Now they are going to be know for their touring frame as well.  For 2013, they are producing this heavy duty, on or off road touring rig dubbed the Campeur.  The frame and fork are made from 4130 double butted chrome-molly steel, and includes three bottle bosses, rear rack mounts, low rider front rack mounts, and it even has a pump peg.  Double eyelets front and rear are present, and brakes come in the form of Cantilevers.  A 1″ threaded headset is used to keep with the VeloOrange style.  For a very reasonable $600 this lovely grey metallic frameset can be yours.  The paint really does look quite nice in person, the graphics are tasteful, and there is even a metal head badge to boot.

Clicking through will net you more images of this bike, plus information on all the new super shiny bits that VeloOrange had at this years show.

VeloOrange Campeur Front End

VeloOrange Campeur BB and Crank

VeloOrange Campeur Gravel Bike

The Campeur frameset is very versitle.  Build it up as a loaded touring bike, randonneur, a grocery getter, commuter, or even a gravel racer as pictured above.  For the show, the guys at VeloOrange decided to see just how big of a tire they could get on the Campeur.  Turns out a 61cm frame will fit the Panaracer FireCross tire (thats a 45c tire).  Stepping down in size, you can still run a 40c.

VeloOrange Sabot Pedal

VeloOrange Sabot Pedal 2

New for 2013 is the Sabot pedal.  This shiny platform has removable pins and allows for toe cages.  Shhhh, don’t tell the fixie crowd, but with those large openings, these would be ideal for straps as well.  The bearings are easily serviceable, and MSRP is set at $95.  They should be available for purchase within a month.

VeloOrange Zest Canti Brake Set

VeloOrange has their name on several brake sets, but the Zest canti’s have to be the coolest.  They have a toe in adjustment (by using a 4mm allen), quick release on either side, and come with a barell adjuster as well.  I am told that the long arms give these stoppers great power as well.  The Zest cantilever brakes are sold in two pairs (a complete bikes worth), and come with all the hardware you need for $135.

VeloOrange Drillium Crankset

The Grand Cru crankset from VeloOrange is a popular choice when going for the classy aesthetic.  Want more of a race look to the bike?  Then the Dirillium crankset is for you.  Both inner and outer rings are drilled, and it uses a 110BCD with a 48 / 34 ring combo.  The first production batch was small, and no pricing was given yet.

VeloOrange Plume Alaire Chain Guard

What we have here is the Plume Alaire chain guard, and it has to be one of the pretties things I saw at this years show.  It works with up to a 46t ring, and MSRP is $58.

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Frank
Frank
11 years ago

A 1″ threaded headset, REALLY?!? I bought a Bruce Gorden BLT in 2001. If there was one thing I didn’t like about the bike then, and still bugs me now, is that it came with a 1″ threaded headset. This was antiquated technology 11 years ago. So now you’re stuck with a heavy, flexy quill stem on a loaded touring bike, with few options available for quality stems and headsets, not to mention replacing the fork if necessary. Touring bikes should be should be spec’ed with the most common components available for easy repair and replacement on the road, not antiquated standards for sole purpose of being cutesie and old-fashioned.

Abe
Abe
11 years ago

Well, don’t buy one then frank.

JimmyZ
JimmyZ
11 years ago

I just want to know what’s up with the bike in the first picture, it has brake lever hoods with no levers. I think I can see some levers below the flat part of the bar, but they don’t look like any levers I have ever seen before.

GeorgeP
GeorgeP
11 years ago

I see your point Frank, but it still makes sense, the perceived flaws don’t apply to touring (though maybe to a feisty gravel ride?) Firstly, Chris King makes a fine 1″, and there’s truly nothing wrong with a 20 dollar Ritchey Logic headset, or a Tange. Plus you have Nitto for an infinite choice of stems, and Cinelli still manufactures a beautiful one. Flexy? Yeah…. but touring isn’t for drop yanking sprints, and the load on the front doesn’t work well with out-of-the-saddle climbs where your bars take your leg force to remain upright (another flexy point that you don’t really encounter). You nearly got me on the fork, but, the fork is steel and that alone gives a lot of leeway for repairs. If you break the thing, you’ll probably be more concerned about walking again. And a good bike shop should be able to cut and thread a 1″ fork, well… if they’ve been in business for over 20 years. As a mechanic, with many nice new bikes I love to ride, it’s my old ’84 Centurion touring bike with friction shifters and 6 speeds, a nice nitto stem, 1″ stock headset, is hands down, day in and day out is the most reliable machine I’ve ever used. I ride it the most and work on it the least. It’s truly a workhorse, but front loaded, the stem flexiness just doesn’t matter. The Surly LHT is definitely more your style though. It’s all contemporary without going into esoteric standards. And also some people just like old school shit. I did not at first, but I think friction shifting 6 speeds are actually the pinnacle of non-racing drivetrains.

Chris
Chris
11 years ago

@ JimmyZ:

They’re called guidonnet brake levers. They’re similar to the top mount levers some ‘cross riders run but longer and curve forward to follow the bend of the bar. The stubs you see in place of regular brake levers are stoker handles used on the rear seat of tandems. It’s a slightly not quite right take on traditional French touring bikes. Many old French bikes would use the guidonnet levers but not the stoker handles. If you look at pictures of bikes from the 50s and earlier you’ll see the brake levers are much more svelte than modern levers and lacked rubber hoods. This isn’t because the riders were masochists. It’s because bars were shaped differently and instead of riding on the hoods you rode behind the hoods on the ramp of the bars. With guidonnet levers you could be on the ramps and still be able to reach the brake lever. This had the added advantage of considerably shortening the brake housing which improved braking. The brake housing back then was pretty spongy compared to modern housing.

Saris Mercanti
11 years ago

@Chris.

Thanks for knowledge bomb! Super interesting.

ABW
ABW
11 years ago

Chris and JimmyZ – An intelligent, reasonable question, and a knowledgeable answer?! Don’t you know this is BikeRumor? Where’s the hatred? Guidonnet levers are STUPID. Velo Orange is STUPID. I hate guidonnet lever AND Velo Orange for doing something I don’t do. There, took care of it for you.

MG
MG
11 years ago

The 1-inch King headset on my 1997 Bontrager is doing just fine after all these years (and miles). No problems… Though I do prefer newer oversized headsets, I’d have no qualms buying a touring frame like this with a 1″ headset, based on my experience.

icarus
icarus
11 years ago

they should have called it “le poserour” lol… however it is perfect for the newbie/bike-rider-for-2-years, costumers they have. their products have an ok finishing but the material used are low quality. not durable for any person that actually rides a bike.

Jim
Jim
11 years ago

I have to say, I find it funny that someone going by Icarus is complaining about construction quality 😉

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