Bicycle Design

Vuelo Velo

It is hard to believe it is that time of year already, but Eurobike will be kicking off this Wednesday. If you are in Friedrichshafen later this week, you will most likely notice the curved seattube bikes from the Australian company Vuelo Velo (check out the about section of their website for a little background).

Vuelo Velo will be displaying their bikes in the Tune booth at the show. To coincide with the launch of the new Tune Smart-foot cranks,  Vuelo Velo will be displaying a special Di2 frame with an 85 mm wide Pressfit BB30 bottom bracket shell.

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Comments

10 responses to “Vuelo Velo”

  1. Nick Avatar
    Nick

    Maybe for a commuter bike… but that’s an awful position to be in for track tracing.

    Reply
    1. Marty Renwick Avatar
      Marty Renwick

      Wow! Awful?
      Ill informed speculation, love it!
      It rides beautifully on the track, ask Nathan Page, ex Junior world pursuit record holder seen riding it in the video – http://vimeo.com/9653206
      You think that the seat is set more rearward because of the ultra short 360mm rear end and forward curve in the seat tube before it goes back? It’s actually a 73 degree effective seat tube angle (centre BB to seat clamp at the riders height (custom of course), 74 head, 38 mm of rake.

      Reply
  2. 45 MPH! » Cyclelicious

    […] Design reminds that Eurobike begins […]

    Reply
  3. Juliano Avatar
    Juliano

    They took advantage due the titanium has a distinct fatigue limit (like steel too), the frame is rigid in some planes and flexible in others (non-plastic deformation)…
    I think that is great

    Reply
    1. Marty Renwick Avatar
      Marty Renwick

      Thank Juliano, You get it.

      Reply
  4. Charlie Avatar
    Charlie

    This looks to me like a bike designed to be ridden to a cafe and leaned against your table to attract attention. For longer rides or racing, you’d want a frame with a shape designed for functionality. For attracting attention, radical swoops that degrade functionality are fine.

    Note the straight fork and seat stays. Those are places where curvature could be valuably functional.

    Funny how we now have the technology to analyze and fabricate non traditional shapes, but somehow the market doesn’t support using that capability to do anything worthwhile.

    Reply
    1. Marty Renwick Avatar
      Marty Renwick

      A right charlie,

      If you actually look at the thing that your so openly criticising you’ll see that it does in fact have curved seat stays and fork. Also note, the fork being curved has little effect on its ability to absorb shock.

      Reply
  5. JeffS Avatar
    JeffS

    The booth was receiving a lot of attention at the NAHBS. I will admit that the bikes were definitely visually appealing. You don’t have a position or fit issue if the bike is designed exactly right. If you know exactly where you want your seat, it should be right where you need it to be, both vertically and horizontally.

    For the people that are used to buying a “close enough” size 58 and making it work – I’m sure they’re more than a little nervous about fit, as they should be.

    More than anything though, I think the reaction of most brains is going to be to reject anything non-traditional, at least until they see enough of them on the streets to become comfortable with it.

    Reply
  6. Marty Renwick Avatar
    Marty Renwick

    Hey Jeff, You know you’ve kind of hit the nail on the head there. Most…. not much interested in the lowest common denominator “most”.
    I’ve just come back from hanging out at the tune.de factory in the Black Forest for a few days after Eurobike, amazing how the Germans get much right so much of the time. Love ’em!

    Reply
  7. Flaming June Avatar
    Flaming June

    Does someone know pricing for this bike?

    Reply

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