tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4948910318159742024.post2627461233534251396..comments2024-01-02T07:16:03.732-07:00Comments on Endless Velo Love: Finding a Touring Bike {Part 2}: Early Thoughts on the Velo Orange CampeurG.E.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13429419832660419144noreply@blogger.comBlogger52125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4948910318159742024.post-70318911420893670482018-12-01T17:33:27.069-07:002018-12-01T17:33:27.069-07:00Thank you for continuing to update on your experie...Thank you for continuing to update on your experience with the Campeur, Paul. It is the bike for which I receive the most questions, so I think hearing from others will be beneficial to others who are looking at potentially purchasing their own and happen upon this post. <br /><br />I'm truly thrilled that you've had such an enjoyable experience with your build and I hope you continue to G.E.https://www.blogger.com/profile/02748009691282638366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4948910318159742024.post-5744830173629531022018-12-01T10:35:46.739-07:002018-12-01T10:35:46.739-07:00Update on my Campeur experience this year:
Built i...Update on my Campeur experience this year:<br />Built in April 2018, used for commuting 17 miles RT 4-5 days/wk, and as my daily ride through the end of October this year. Now that I have easily doubled the miles from my previous post, I can honestly say again that I love this bike. It just does everything so well. My only complaint is that I'd like fatter tires than 38mm with fenders, but Paul Jhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04195489683920395185noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4948910318159742024.post-19992948497368133722018-06-28T11:26:34.789-06:002018-06-28T11:26:34.789-06:00Glad to see you were able to get your Campeur buil...Glad to see you were able to get your Campeur built up and have had some great rides on it, Paul! I agree that it's a fantastic bike and it rides quite smoothly. <br /><br />Hope you have many years of enjoyable rides together!G.E.https://www.blogger.com/profile/02748009691282638366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4948910318159742024.post-89348744513009798352018-06-24T14:28:40.544-06:002018-06-24T14:28:40.544-06:00Built up a Campeur this spring as my new commuter ...Built up a Campeur this spring as my new commuter / do everything / future touring bike. Bottom line: the Campeur is an amazingly good bike. Fun to ride, handles beautifully and predictably, and just feels great. I'm very happy with this bike, and would recommend it to anyone who can stomach a build-from-scratch experience and wants this type of bike. I have about 800 - 900 miles on the bike Paul Jhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04195489683920395185noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4948910318159742024.post-74754465935963688312018-01-10T11:41:44.501-07:002018-01-10T11:41:44.501-07:00Exciting! Hope it will be a fun build for you. :)Exciting! Hope it will be a fun build for you. :)G.E.https://www.blogger.com/profile/02748009691282638366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4948910318159742024.post-19635744897196014912018-01-09T19:51:18.239-07:002018-01-09T19:51:18.239-07:00Starting to buy parts for building the Campeur.Starting to buy parts for building the Campeur.Paul Jhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04195489683920395185noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4948910318159742024.post-66716545483939324912018-01-06T19:29:02.092-07:002018-01-06T19:29:02.092-07:00I'm glad you've found ways to deal with yo...I'm glad you've found ways to deal with your hand numbness. It can be very trying to deal with regularly.<br /><br />As for the Rodriguez, I am trying to recall, but I believe the costs of customization were included in the price of the bike (if there was a charge, it was minimal). It's something they pride themselves on -- being able to fit everyone to their own particular needs, G.E.https://www.blogger.com/profile/02748009691282638366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4948910318159742024.post-20968187815771838802018-01-06T08:50:42.821-07:002018-01-06T08:50:42.821-07:00Thanks for replying so fast! My opinion: it's ...Thanks for replying so fast! My opinion: it's your blog, your posts can be as long as you want!<br /><br />Short answer on MY solution for MY hand numbness issues (may not be universally applicable, but I think it mostly is): combination (probably 60/40) of foam padding at just the right spots, plus getting the fit right on the bike. By the way, I've done all of my own fitting based on Paul Jacobsonhttp://www.48-north.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4948910318159742024.post-8154144906611546782018-01-05T12:33:50.416-07:002018-01-05T12:33:50.416-07:00(Part 2 of 2)
Now, on this side of things, I woul...<i>(Part 2 of 2)</i> <br />Now, on this side of things, I would absolutely order another Rodriguez. Of course, today I better understand that there is a reason we don’t necessarily see “racing” loaded touring bikes. Something has to win out and the bike will naturally swing one way or the other with certain qualities. There can absolutely be stable road bikes that can be fast, just as there can G.E.https://www.blogger.com/profile/02748009691282638366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4948910318159742024.post-54904145973253224452018-01-05T12:32:37.476-07:002018-01-05T12:32:37.476-07:00Howdy! Let’s see… there’s a lot I could say here, ...Howdy! Let’s see… there’s a lot I could say here, so let me see if I can manage to keep my response as brief and to-the-point as possible (this will be a challenge!). <br /><br />First, I think the Campeur and the Rodriguez are both fine bikes, but they come at much different cost financially. I have owned the Campeur now for about 3 years and had the Rodriguez for a shorter time, just so that G.E.https://www.blogger.com/profile/02748009691282638366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4948910318159742024.post-28990629974639313032018-01-05T10:54:09.642-07:002018-01-05T10:54:09.642-07:00Hi G.E., love your blog. I'm currently strongl...Hi G.E., love your blog. I'm currently strongly considering building the Campeur as a general purpose/commuter, but its part of a long detailed look at a lot of bikes.<br /><br />Particularly curious about your love/spat relationship with your Rodriquez. Understanding that the particulars of your Rodriquez would be different from the model I'm looking at. The biggest practical difference Paul Jacobsonhttp://www.48-north.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4948910318159742024.post-86497792476543152172017-12-15T20:43:37.579-07:002017-12-15T20:43:37.579-07:00Phil... Glad you got the brakes settled. Sometimes...Phil... Glad you got the brakes settled. Sometimes those seemingly little things can become such a bear to deal with. I like Kool Stop pads too. I have them on another bike and have found them to be quite capable. Hopefully, the Campeur will be a good touring partner for you. It's a very capable and easy to ride bike, I think. Sounds as though you are enjoying the Compass tires too, which is G.E.https://www.blogger.com/profile/02748009691282638366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4948910318159742024.post-2253393434592271052017-12-15T18:23:52.744-07:002017-12-15T18:23:52.744-07:00RE John Spangler and 650B wheels . . .
You really...RE John Spangler and 650B wheels . . .<br /><br />You really can't do 650B wheels on anything bigger than the two smallest frame sizes because the radius of a 650B wheel is 19mm less than that of a 700C wheel. Consequently, I believe that the rim would be too low for the brake pad to reach.<br /><br />Are disc brakes an option? A frame has to be built to stand up to the stress a disc brake Houcksterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05030662491658363701noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4948910318159742024.post-34953656559594037562017-12-15T18:16:30.659-07:002017-12-15T18:16:30.659-07:00Reply to G.E. . . .
I have a Barlow Pass on my VO...Reply to G.E. . . .<br /><br />I have a Barlow Pass on my VOC and a Bon Jon Pass on the front since I originally intended to use 35mm tires. I agree with you that the Compass tires are great. I'm currently building a light tour/randonneur bike that will use Compass Stampede Pass ultralights. The ride on these tires is superb (using Schwalbe SV18 tubes) and now I'm trying to find just the Houcksterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05030662491658363701noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4948910318159742024.post-44061501494152041452017-12-15T18:15:04.575-07:002017-12-15T18:15:04.575-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.Houcksterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05030662491658363701noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4948910318159742024.post-13379289524686252332017-12-15T18:05:05.162-07:002017-12-15T18:05:05.162-07:00I have just built up a VOC and your comments refle...I have just built up a VOC and your comments reflect my own experience. It does tend to be heavy, even with premium parts on it but it pedals pretty easily and most importantly it allows all the interface components to be exactly in the right place so my body is working the way it wants to. I'm about 5'8-9 and am using a 55cm frame.<br /><br />With regard to the cantilever brakes, they Houcksterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05030662491658363701noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4948910318159742024.post-68173388707095680292017-07-17T11:21:47.645-06:002017-07-17T11:21:47.645-06:00Thank you for adding your experience, Steve. I get...Thank you for adding your experience, Steve. I get a lot of emails about this particular bike, so it's nice to have other's experiences to add to the thoughts here. And, I would completely agree with you... the Campeur is a super easy to ride and love bicycle.G.E.https://www.blogger.com/profile/02748009691282638366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4948910318159742024.post-67798030522787605812017-07-16T12:38:31.154-06:002017-07-16T12:38:31.154-06:00I have about 3500 miles on my Campeur which is one...I have about 3500 miles on my Campeur which is one of the VO complete builds. I fitted it with the Barlow Pass Extra Lights and it rides like a dream. Almost all the miles are commutes to work. No loaded touring but it was perfect for RAGRAI last year. Not a race bike but it's easy to pedal 18+ MPH in a straight line. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01849725527245593279noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4948910318159742024.post-40904735717663070492017-07-10T09:24:06.478-06:002017-07-10T09:24:06.478-06:00No, I haven't tried using 650b wheels instead ...No, I haven't tried using 650b wheels instead of the 26". It could be an experiment down the line, but since I own three other bikes with 650b wheels, it made sense to leave this one with the 26 inch in place.<br /><br />If anyone else has experimented with 650b wheels on the Campeur though, please feel free to provide feedback.G.E.https://www.blogger.com/profile/02748009691282638366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4948910318159742024.post-21389965091260549612017-07-09T16:25:25.378-06:002017-07-09T16:25:25.378-06:00Have you tried using your 650B wheels on the VO Ca...Have you tried using your 650B wheels on the VO Camper? Somer cantilever brake bosses are positioned so you can use either size with the appropriate cantilever brake calipers..<br /><br />Jon Spanglerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01412797306533296414noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4948910318159742024.post-59951161461896426322017-07-07T19:42:37.237-06:002017-07-07T19:42:37.237-06:00Unfortunately, no. Loaded touring has had to take ...Unfortunately, no. Loaded touring has had to take a backseat for awhile now. <br /><br />I have had the bike loaded up for shorter trips and I think it does better when there is a balance of weight between rear panniers and weight in the front (I don't currently have front panniers but I have an XL basket that will hold about 20 pounds of stuff). When the weight is all at the rear, I find theG.E.https://www.blogger.com/profile/02748009691282638366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4948910318159742024.post-16075972841442994012017-07-07T10:34:38.998-06:002017-07-07T10:34:38.998-06:00Have you had a chance to do any loaded touring on ...Have you had a chance to do any loaded touring on this bike? If yes, I would love to hear the feedback regarding stability and handling.jairphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15193954915087336762noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4948910318159742024.post-6744899611664909272017-05-13T22:17:10.886-06:002017-05-13T22:17:10.886-06:00Glad to offer thoughts. Best of luck with your dec...Glad to offer thoughts. Best of luck with your decision!G.E.https://www.blogger.com/profile/02748009691282638366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4948910318159742024.post-80940157889825944892017-05-13T20:13:49.006-06:002017-05-13T20:13:49.006-06:00That DOES help. I was slightly concerned with it b...That DOES help. I was slightly concerned with it being a little on the heavy side, but everything else I'm reading seems to echo your opinion of the pleasant ride of the Campeur. Thanks much. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06593937909895971441noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4948910318159742024.post-48428237770664843842017-05-13T16:38:52.740-06:002017-05-13T16:38:52.740-06:00It's never too late to comment on a post. :)
...It's never too late to comment on a post. :) <br /><br />I have not tried any wider tires on the Campeur. I had someone email me recently about clearance for the bike and I think VO's recommendation is pretty spot on. The tires I have on are 1.5 inches (or about 38mm). I think it could handle slightly wider tires (without fenders), but probably not much wider.<br /><br />I LOVE this bike G.E.https://www.blogger.com/profile/02748009691282638366noreply@blogger.com