Product Review by PBE Squad member, Shane Sellers
As a new member of the Philly Bike Expo Squad, I wanted to build a bike that was a new direction for me. A bike that can do it all is never the answer and always the answer. My 2023 objective was to use specific parts on a bike I would most frequently ride. Funds are usually a concern and while not a full-on budget ride, it was not out-of-this-world expensive. First, my specific ambition was to build my version of a do-it-all drop bar bike – for varied uses with certain limitations. Many machines are purpose-built bikes for very specific uses or, in recent years, catch all bikes that are made for anything. Realistically both of those have their challenges. Aiming for a “limited” quiver of bikes as a passionate cyclist (aka bike hoarder) seems like a venerable approach to the age-old equation N+1. This bike would fulfill most of my “right out the door” rides but would not be an “every situation” machine. Afterall, I still like to mountain bike Canaan Valley, WV and the Frederick County Watershed without destroying my already injured body.
Building this bike required some patience. If available, and within budget, I purchased made and/or designed in the USA parts, with many of the companies being based here in the Eastern USA.
My platform is a Velo Orange Pass Hunter frame, Velo Orange being Maryland based, my home state. Of all the frame options the company has to offer, I went with the more road-ish platform, The Pass Hunter. It is a nice combination of classic steel frame aesthetics with contemporary build standards. Highlights include thru-axles, tapered steerer, flat mount for disc brakes, numerous accessory mounting points, internal brake routing along with mounts for down-tube shifters. I also opted for a Rodeo Labs Spork carbon fork. Now that is a great place to begin!
Next up, the wheelset. I went with a pair of Industry Nine Ready to Ride 1/1 GRCX wheels that are fantastic. The company describes these wheels as “bringing off-road readiness to drop bar bikes… unassuming, but advanced.” No disagreements here. The Ready to Ride line provides a high quality made in North Carolina wheelset at an amazing price point. These wheels were set-up tubeless with Schwalbe G-One tires and Schwalbe sealant. Mounting and getting these set up was honestly the fastest and most successful in my personal experience. They hold air better than any of my other tubeless wheels and have been amazingly smooth and strong. I have under-biked this rig in the mountains of central PA where the Philly Bike Expo Squad stomped miles through some chunky terrain better suited for hardtail mtb’s and had a blast!
Beside the awesomeness of the frame and wheels, the cockpit was next on the agenda for all-purpose comfort. Enter the Redshift Sports Kitchen Sink handlebars and Redshift ShockStop suspension stem. As a potter with over-used hands, elbows and shoulders, my cockpit comfort is extremely important. I am running 50 cm bars with the Cruise Control Top Grips and their Really Long Bar Tape. The Pennsylvania based company has a true winner with this combination. While it took a minute to get accustomed to my stem, the handlebars and grips were instantly comfortable and game changing. A few rides later, I could not imagine mixed terrain without the extra cushion of my suspension stem. As an aside, I am using the Redshift Arclight pedals on another bike, and they should not be missed by anyone that rides at night.
The brakes and drivetrain of my bike are all very straight forward components. I am running cable actuated disc brakes powered by drilled out TRP brake levers. My shifting is happening through a Microshift bar end shifter pulling a Sram rear mechanism. The most exciting thing to me about my drivetrain is the Wolf Tooth ovalized Drop-Stop 38t chainring. Not too big and not too small, the ring seems to hit the sweet spot for my legs and does what it advertises – spins smooth and provides the right combination of oval chainring benefits without uneven pedal strokes.
Finishing off the bike, I had to add a few more bits of functional comfort and a little color flair. Once again getting some goods from Minnesota based Wolf Tooth components. I chose one of their Morse cages mounted with some colorful water bottle cage bolts. I also grabbed a few brake rotor lockrings and headset spacers from their color shop to add a few more MUSA customizations to my build. Rounding out the creature comforts came in the form of a Fastpack Lite frame bag from Nittany Mountain Works. This made in Pennsylvania bag is one of many awesome products I have been using and it works flawlessly. Strong, colorful, and tucked into the triangle of my medium sized frame this bag holds many of the items that I bring for a full day ride. Other quick to reach items are on my handlebars inside the Mag Enclosure Pierogi bag also made by Nittany. As I do not ride with pocketed jersey’s, extra gear (think bigger days, wild weather days, MTB rides), goes into my Nittany Half Sack Hip Pack.
Having ridden everything from a Dura-Ace equipped Waterford to a full squish Salsa mountain bike, I have found my sweet spot in this Velo Orange Pass Hunter with Industry Nine wheels and a RedShift Sports cockpit. It has been an awesome six months riding this multi-purpose bike using many Made In USA parts. So many possibilities with so much fun. The frame, the wheels and all the added components have helped create one of the most comfortable bikes I have had the pleasure of riding.
