Steel Volagi

meanredspider

http://www.bikerumor.com/2012/04/21/eye ... road-bike/

Might interest some for whom the original Volagi Liscio is too pricey or not quite practical enough

veronese68

I rather like that. Steel seemed an odd choice for a company that I consider technologically advanced, but that isn't remotely retro. A truly modern steel bike. I definitely like that.

Edited due to poxy iPhone autocorrect and fat fingers

Hoopdriver

That's a cool ride. A very modern take on steel.

jimmypippa

Oh, I like that

rjsterry

Erm, well... um... oh, I'm all confused now.

Stevo_666

Looks like it would make a good CX bike.

Monkeypump

Looks a little... er... BSO to me.

And as it says on the site, Viaje sounds too much like...

EKE_38BPM

Monkeypump wrote:

Looks a little... er... BSO to me.

And as it says on the site, Viaje sounds too much like...

Unless you know how to pronounce it properly.

And BSO?!? Get thee to Specsavers!

Monkeypump

EKE_38BPM wrote:

Monkeypump wrote:

Looks a little... er... BSO to me.

And as it says on the site, Viaje sounds too much like...

Unless you know how to pronounce it properly.

And BSO?!? Get thee to Specsavers!

I know, but it just doesn't do anything for me.

And does the correct pronunciation have a silent "azzle" after the "Vaj" ?

rolf_f

Bit of an ugly sister that one. That seat stay-top tube join is a mess; sdoesn't flow at all. Works in carbon - doesn't work in steel IMO.

rjsterry

Rolf F wrote:

Bit of an ugly sister that one. That seat stay-top tube join is a mess; sdoesn't flow at all. Works in carbon - doesn't work in steel IMO.

Yeah, it's a bit agricultural with the slightly lumpy TIG welding. Perhaps if they had continued the stays all the way up to the head tube. Mind you, it's then halfway to being a mixte.

Can't help thinking this is more elegant

rick_chasey

Me no likely the seat stays. But then I wasn't enormously keen on the carbon one either - I don't like it when the seat stay curves/morphs into the top tube Ideally, with a few exceptions, I like the top tube to be straight and parallel to the road.

EKE_38BPM

rjsterry wrote:

Can't help thinking this is more elegant

Reading the bumpf from Volagi, they say that the GT triple triangle makes for a more rigid rear end, but their system of the 'Long Bow Stays' not being joined to the seat tube make for a bit of give and a more comfortable ride.

PR BS or a real thing, I don't know, but I like the look of the concept.
The welding does need tidying up a bit though.

rjsterry

EKE_38BPM wrote:

rjsterry wrote:

Can't help thinking this is more elegant

Reading the bumpf from Volagi, they say that the GT triple triangle makes for a more rigid rear end, but their system of the 'Long Bow Stays' not being joined to the seat tube make for a bit of give and a more comfortable ride.

PR BS or a real thing, I don't know, but I like the look of the concept.
The welding does need tidying up a bit though.

Needs to be fillet brazed really, and tapered in a lot more, but then you're not really looking at a 'budget' frameset.

rjsterry

And a couple more things:

That curved down tube with the gear cables strung across the gap is a bit untidy.

The headtube - tapered? - looks too big for the frame, especially with the fat carbon forks. I'm not quite sure of the rationale behind carbon forks on a steel frame.

Lastly, $1500 for frame only is quite a lot for their 'cheaper' range. You can get a bespoke steel frame for less in similar tubing.

UndercoverElephant

It does look a little clumsy to me, though it reminds me of a bike I saw at the Glentress bike shop:



I must say that for a mountain bike, that was pretty stunning in the flesh.

EKE_38BPM

That bike looks to me like the frame builder was paid by the length of tubing they used in the frame.

veronese68

I like that one UE, presumably it has 29" wheels. That would be a tiny frame with 26", RC could ride it.
Regarding RJS's comment on the cables on the Volagi I take the point but don't know the best way to get around it. Full length outers perhaps? Internal routing would rub on the inside of the frame. Top tube routing would have the same problem along the seat stay. I think it would have to have a straight down tube, shouldn't upset the looks too much as the seat tube has to be straight anyway.
For the price, were I in the market, I would probably just buy a regular steel frame, or even ti at that price, with disc mounts and disc compatible forks.