Specifications 8. Standover height: 85.5cm 17. Rear derailer: Shimano Deore Gearing in inches: Price: $500 (frame and fork); 9. Frame and fork: 4130 double 18. Shifters: Bar end 24 34 48 $614 (build kit). See store.velo- Road Test butted chrome-molly frame 19. Brake levers: Tektro RL520 11 58.9 83.5 117.8 orange.com/index.php/frames/ and fork; Three water bottle 20. Brakes: Grand Cru Zeste 12 54.0 76.5 108.0 campeur.html for details. cage mounts; low-rider cantilever Sizes available: 51cm, 53cm, through bosses and seat 14 46.3 65.6 92.6 55cm, 57cm, 59cm and 61cm stay rack eyelets; Pump peg 21. Pedals: None 16 40.5 57.4 81.0 Size tested: 61cm (on sizes 57cm and larger); 22. Stem: Velo Orange Quill 18 36.0 51.0 72.0 kickstand plate. Weight: 28.1 lbs. without pedals 23. Saddle: Velo Orange Sprung 21 30.9 43.7 61.7 10. Headset: Velo Orange Grand Touring to confess to my newfound wimpy, 24 27.0 38.3 54.0 Cru, 1-inch 24. Seatpost: Velo Orange Grand middle-aged approach to my favorite TEST BIKE MEASUREMENTS 26 24.9 35.3 49.8 11. Rims: Velo Orange 25mm Cru, long setback (27.2mm x pastime, I simply categorized my first 1. Seat tube: 61cm, center to top Double-Wall, 36-hole 300mm). 32 20.3 28.7 40.5 2. Top tube: 60cm few weeks with the Campeur as the 12. Spokes: DT Swiss 25. Handlebar: Velo Orange Grand “aesthetic analysis phase” of the test 3. Head tube angle: 72.5° Cru, classic round bend Contact: Velo Orange, 1981 Moreland 13. Hubs: Velo Orange Grand Cru period. My lord, this thing passed with 4. Seat tube angle: 72.5° Touring, 36h 26. Accessories: Velo Orange Parkway, Annapolis, MD 21401, THE VELO ORANGE (443) 949-8115, [email protected], flying colors, too. The Campeur, quite 5. Chainstays: 46cm 14. Tires: Clement X’Plor USH Campeur front and rear racks. velo-orange.com. 6. Fork rake: 53mm 35 x 700C 27. Cassette: Shimano HG, 11-12- simply, is a classic beauty. 7. Wheelbase: 106.8mm 15. Crank: Velo Orange Grand 14-16-18-21-24-26-32 9-speed This bike took me back; back past CAMPEUR Cru Triple 24x34x48 28. Chain: KMC my racing days, when light frames and 16. Front derailer: Shimano 105 skinny tires were the priority and to a time when bike rides lasted weeks, by charles pelkey instead of hours, and the question of weight involved how much the darn ➺IT’S BEEN A ROUGH winter thing could carry as opposed to how in the high prairie of ; many grams you might shave off by personally, professionally and, above adding ever-pricier components. all, meteorologically. The lines reminded me of some of It was the latter that made my heart my old favorites: touring bikes made ache when I glanced over the classic of silver-soldered, lugged Reynolds 531 lines of the 61-centimeter Velo Orange frames with well-considered geometries Campeur that I had just picked up and thoughtful placement of braze-ons. from my local shop, realizing the No, the Campeur is not a lugged classic thermometer was flirting with the made of British tubing, like my old — 20-below mark. I’m sort of the default and greatly missed — Trek 720. It’s built big guy, meaning that if the frame is on a lug-less, TIG-welded 4130 frame anything bigger than 60 centimeters, that is more than capable of living up to my name invariably comes up. Unfor- the demands of loaded touring. But like tunately, the default big guy lives at that touring bike from Trek’s golden 7,250 feet, in what the weather guys era, it’s a bike that reflects a thoughtful, graciously call a “wind corridor,” and even joyful approach to design. January was living up to expectations. The features would make any touring Yeah, I know. Back in the day, my cyclist smile. Three bottle mounts, rack riding mates and I were brave enough, mounts in all the right places, solidly stupid enough, and excited enough to mounted fenders and racks, beefy can- ignore mere numbers and ride in all tilever brakes, and a unique selection of sorts of conditions, even these. With components that hearken back to the enough wool and Gore-Tex, shoe cov- classic days of touring bikes, including ers, and ice-climbing gloves replacing an elegantly curved fork, crowned with the usual fingerless cycling handwear, — of all things — a quill stem. we’d be good to go, right? Well, not so It took a while to remember that much these days. Now that I’m a bit the whole “sunny skies on warm spring older, a tiny bit wiser, and somewhat days” concept was a fantasy in my less adventurous, the Campeur would neighborhood. We don’t get “warm have to wait. spring days” here until the calendar So, there it sat, taunting me with tells you it’s summer, and even then, promises of long rides on quiet back it’s a fleeting concept. No, it was time roads under sunny skies on warm to ride this riders’ bike, no matter what spring days. the conditions. My first weeks with the Campeur Not to beat the whole I’m-getting- were spent looking at it. Reluctant old-and-slow-and-cautious thing for too

40 ADVENTURE CYCLIST july 2013 adventurecycling.org 41 Companions Wanted Providing partners for tours, domestic and abroad, since 1978 long, but I do have to admit that one preciated when I hit a downhill stretch, Remarkably, despite its elegant of the concessions I’ve made in recent where, when I last rode it fully loaded, lines, thoughtful design, and terrific years is that I no longer stake out an ag- the bike I was on shimmied unmerciful- component selection, it’s priced at a gressive position on busy paved roads. ly. No such problem with the Campeur. more-than-reasonable $1,600 — and Southeast Asia I’m planning a self-supported taking one or two train rides. I’m seeking one Retired Female Rider looking for I used to assert my right to the road, For purposes of testing only, I took a that’s for the complete build. If you trip around the Southeast Asian countries other experienced cycle tourist, age 36 or over. Adventure I’m planning a ride from demanding the same right-of-way and short jaunt over hilly dirt roads, towing want to ride the as-tested model, which starting in November. I’m a 26-year-old male A Washington, DC, area resident would be Vancouver to San Diego, departing mid August access to the entirety of “my lane” as a loaded BOB trailer. Remarkably, the includes racks and fenders, it’s well who completed a four month tour in the U.S. this preferred so we can go on some local rides first. and ending late in September or early October. I worth an additional $400. If on a bud- past summer and am now looking at traveling [email protected] hope to average 60 miles per day with every fifth get, you can snag the frame and fork for internationally. I hope to hear from anyone who is or sixth day off for fun and relaxation. I’m in the planning something similar or has any advice or Great Divide Mountain Bike Route I very early stages of planning and am looking for the campeur is an intelligently designed just $500 or add seat post, brakes, and experience in this region. [email protected] plan to start in August. My last big ride was the an adventurous riding partner. Overnights with ride that also reflects an appreciation headset for another $114. TransAm/Western Express route in 2009, mostly Warmshowers-type folks, hostels, or camping. for the beauty of classic bicycles. I would personally recommend East to West We plan on leaving Florida camping and unsupported. I ride regularly and I’m flexible but frugal. One to three nights in going for the full, fendered, rack- and taking the Southern Tier to California on my cycling style tends to be energetic. I like to hotels would be fine. It’s all about the journey. push on but enjoy the breaks as they come. The equipped option. The Velo Or- August 31. We plan on riding six days a week, [email protected] about 90 miles a day, then taking Sunday off or plan in Michael McCoy’s book Cycling the Great any vehicle plying the public right-of- dang thing still felt rather spry — not a ange-branded racks are exquisite and maybe pushing ahead a few miles or making up Divide looks good to me. I look forward to hearing Vancouver to Los Angeles I’m a 27-year- way. These days, caution and the reality word I would normally use in describ- perfectly matched to the bike itself. It any miles, as needed. We’ll be camping mostly, from anybody who might be interested. I’m a fit old female teacher currently living in Southern of bigger and bigger trucks, operated by ing something akin to a two-wheeled would almost be a sin to try to match but open to suggestions. We hope to be back to 65-year-old English man who thinks he is 40! California, and I’m planning a one-month bicycle increasingly distracted drivers, simply version of a tractor-trailer rig. up generic racks on this thing, when North Carolina in early October. We’re looking [email protected] tour from Vancouver to Los Angeles. I will be remind me that I could easily die in a My usual touring load is somewhat Velo Orange’s design crew has put so for anyone who wants to travel with us. We’d be leaving from Vancouver on August 19 and I hope willing to give you a ride from North Carolina to North Idaho to Glacier and Back Join to arrive in Los Angeles by September 14. I plan legally defensible position. I would be minimalist these days: food, a light- much thought into creating a rack sys- the start point as well. So far, our group consists friends known and unknown on a ride departing on covering 50 to 100 miles a day and, primarily, in the right, but also in the morgue. I’ve weight sleeping bag, tarp, street clothes, tem so beautifully integrated into the of just two 45-year-old gentlemen looking Bonners Ferry, Idaho, for East Glacier Park, camping. Looking for fun companions to join me simply conceded most pavement to the rain jacket, gloves and, above all, a frame itself. What struck me from the forward to enjoying the ride and not racing. Montana, over Logan Pass, and then back to on this epic trip. [email protected] Bonners Ferry in August. We’ll be riding self steel monstrosities and I derive great credit card. For this purpose, it’s simply day I saw it was the creative use of the [email protected] contained, approximately 50 miles per day. This Southern Tier August or September joy in finding alternative routes on back just fun to ride. Unloaded, the Campeur cantilever braze-ons as contact points TransAm I’m planning to ride the TransAm is not a commercial ride, just friends riding I’m in the early planning stages of a tour from roads, eschewing smooth asphalt in is a perfectly delightful commuter or for the racks. The resulting stability of Trail, west to east, starting in late July and the same route. Routing is US 2 east to Libby, Florida to Texas via the Southern Tier Bicycle favor of rougher roads. something one might use for a nice day the system is remarkable. finishing in August. I plan to follow the trail to MT; MT 37 north to Eureka; South on US 93 to Route. I have limited experience (a solo tour The Campeur was made for my pre- ride. With a host of Velo Orange-branded somewhere around Wichita, Kansas, meet up Whitefish; then US 2 to East Glacier; North to St. from Texas to Illinois last year). I discovered Mary; then over the pass back to West Glacier and ferred style of riding these days. Over components, designed with this frame with some friends, and, from there, head down that having a touring companion would be more towards Savannah, Georgia. I’ll be camping, using return. [email protected] fun. I’m a 70-year-old male. I’m frugal but will the years, I’ve learned to take a mini- in mind, the bike was clearly created by warm showers when possible, and occasionally consider motels as needed. [email protected] malist’s approach to packing touring people who ride and, above all, by those a hotel room. I’m a 49-year-old female from Great Allegheny Passage & C&O Trails bikes. I recall my first transcontinental who respect the integration of form and Europe and would very much enjoy riding along I’m considering riding the GAP & C&O Rail tour, more than 30 years ago now, for function. I tip my hat to Velo Orange’s with other cyclists, especially for the first part. Trails from Pittsburgh to Washington, DC, and [email protected] back, some time in late summer (maybe early which I packed in anticipation of every Chris Kulczycki and crew. August). I’ll be riding fully loaded and camping conceivable need and potential emer- No, this is not the lightweight, Eastern Europe and the Balkans I’m along the way, eating breakfast and dinner in Adventure Cycling Association assumes, but can- gency. It took a week — and two visits 14-pound carbon racing bike one would planning a three-week trip through the Balkans, camp and lunch in restaurants. Perhaps one night not verify, that the persons above are truthfully to the post office — to shed the excess see in the professional peloton — or at starting and ending in Budapest. I plan to ride indoors (motel, B&B?) around DC (halfway). I’m representing themselves. Ads are free to Adventure Cycling members. You can see more ads and post and learn to enjoy a ride with only the any master’s race, for that matter. The 40 to 50 miles a day through Hungary, Croatia, a 60-year-old male from Pittsburgh. I intend to average 70 to 80 miles per day for the entire trip, them at adventurecycling.org/adventure-cyclist/ most basic needs covered. Campeur is an intelligently designed, Slovenia, Serbia, and Bosnia-Herzegovina. The trip should run from late August to mid- both ways, in 10 days. Let me know if you might companions-wanted or send them to Adventure I think the worst example of utilitarian ride that also reflects an September. I plan on staying in B&Bs and be interested. [email protected] Cyclist, P.O. Box 8308, Missoula, MT 59807. over-packing I’ve ever seen was a fella appreciation for the beauty of classic plying the back roads on his way to bicycles. Canada. He had fully loaded front and Frankly, at this point in my life, were rear panniers, a handlebar bag, a sub- I forced to limit myself to a single bike, stantial seat bag, a trailer, and a full-on this may well be the leading candidate. rigid-framed backpack. Small wonder I didn’t spot him out on the road, but rather in the local coffee shop, playing Charles Pelkey has held a number of editorial with his laptop and his iPad. positions at VeloNews including Senior Editor of That said, I did load the Campeur to VeloNews.com. Pelkey earned a JD degree from the College of Law and lives in the hilt, just to see what sort of beast of Laramie, Wyoming, with Diana, his wife of 25 years, burden she might be. Fully loaded, the and their two children. bike tracks beautifully. The fork offers about 53 millimeters of offset, staking out a happy medium, something I ap-

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