Q&A with Ms. Cools and her New VeloOrange Polyvalent

We're going to ask Ms. Cools your questions. Today is a Q&A video, and thank you all for leaving your comments!
Here are the components Ms. Cools talks about in the video:
Shifters - VO dia compe eneciclo
Rear derailleur - sun XCD
Front derailleur - Campagnolo Veloce
Crank - VO Grand Crew 110 Triple (44-36-24)
Stem - Soma Sutro quill
Handlebars - Nitto Grand Randonneur
Rims - Velocity Blunt
Front hub - Shimano Alfine
Rear hub - Shimano Deore
Tires - Compass Rat Trap Pass (26" x 2.3")
Cassette 9 Speed (11-32)

[@redetrigan]

I see the true star of this channel has come to the fore

[@Henrywildeberry]

Most Definitely!

[@jframe5512]

I just wanted to take the time to say thank you for these beautiful videos I’m looking to purchase my first bicycle and all of your information is extremely helpful

[@brokenchopstickz]

Very nice and classy bike. Conceptual blend of retro and new.

[@robmartin1792]

That was a cheeky little teaser about the impetus of your getting together! ;) Great video for us bike geeks. Keep up the great work! Happy Trails U 2!

[@flpirate45]

Thank you very much Heney for your Q&A. Very much appreciated. Now I can have my Bike shop fit me for my future new Bike thanks to you and Ms.Cools Paul

[@Henrywildeberry]

flpirate45 Best of luck to you, Paul!

[@wescheslak9408]

I Really enjoy your channel. Everything is interesting. The adventures, the bike and gear talk is awesome. You guys make me want to ride! Thank you.

[@JustRideZipp2001]

Great video Mr. Wildberry really enjoyed the tour thru the bike.

[@StellarFella]

Ms. Cools. You are CORRECTAMUNDO. Toe clips are the best! For the main reason that you stated and that they are also easier to disengage from.

[@mauricioorantes9809]

She is beautiful and love her demeanor and personality. Great job to both of you.

[@rollinrat4850]

I know what you mean about dirt drops and hand positions. I have Far Bars and they need to be ridden in the hooks mostly. I use Nitto Dirt Drop RMO13 on 2 of my bikes. Theyre probably the most ‘normal bars’ of all the dirt drop types. The hooks flare out much less than most of the others. I like lots of hand positions too. Especially on long rides. They come in wide widths up to 52 for leverage. The other Nitto I really like are the Noodles. I find the tops, with its back-sweep, to be super comfortable!

[@ronwhite8503]

Lovely bike and even better cycling companion..... lucky Mr Wildeberry. Safe rides, my good man.

[@IvanIvanov-ej1jk]

Thanks for the details Ms.Cools and Mr.Wildeberry :)

[@drfdwf392]

Thanks for this. Very nice bike and rider. I like that you both wear and ride more casually and are having fun rather than sport-focused riding. Btw, my heart broke a little when you didn't include her front rando bag. I know it's not part of the bike but I was hoping it'll be included, haha. Anyway, could you please do a video on her rando bag and what she puts in there when riding? And also do a version of yours as well. Thanks and ride well!

[@TracyLanebike]

I'm becoming more and more a fan of Velo Orange

[@medvjek]

What a great build!

[@Desi365]

polyvalent is the French word for versatile. Little wonder why Mrs Cools is able to ride it in so many different ways.

[@huesitoggy]

And you bicycle spicialized is fantastic!! Old s kool!!!!

[@RideAlongside]

Great vid you two!

[@Henrywildeberry]

Ride Alongside thanks Nick!

[@leqin]

Nice bike and great video - thanks for such detailed answers.... I hear a brake screaming out for my ninja alignment skils:.)

[@Henrywildeberry]

No kidding! Disc brakes are very temperamental! The pads are pretty new, so hopefully they will bed-in soon.

[@MrYugo6969]

How tall is Ms. Cools? Riding 57 and 60cm frames leads me to believe you're above average height for a Sheila. I myself ride 58 and 59cm frames. Love the Polyvalent and considering for my next bike.

[@Henrywildeberry]

Ken Geel Hi Ken - The Polyvalent is a good bike and well suited for many types of rides. If you don’t mind it being a little on the heavy side. The 57cm frame feels smaller than other Large sized frames. It might be good to size up. Ms. Cools is 5’ 8” and when test riding the 54cm felt it was too small. Everyone has different preferences so it’s good the check the frame geometry and compare it to what you like. All the best.

[@brianmaldonado3723]

Beautiful bike and build ! I guess it is also rugged ! Weight? Thank you for your pleasingly lucid, grown up vids.

[@Henrywildeberry]

Thanks Brian! It's a production bike, so the frame materials are generally thicker and thus stronger. If you're looking for ultra light this is not the frame, but if you want all-purpose for a good price I'd say it's a pretty sweet bike. So far the people I've talked to that have one like it a lot. This bike without the bags weighs in the neighborhood of 28 lbs. To get it lighter you would need to remove the racks and pick a bunch of the ultra light components and wheels. Even then it has disc brakes, so there is a weight penalty you'll just never get around. Cheers and thanks for the kind feedback!

[@pablog.]

Hola,es realmente una bicicleta muy muy bonita, muchas gracias por compartir. Un saludo desde el país Vasco.👌🏼🖐🏻

[@donaldvinsonhaler9698]

I like your old bike better but that still a very nice bike.

[@huesitoggy]

Woow!!! Beauty bicycle,!

[@MrDieselSmokin]

Awesome video as always. What brand and model of travel coffee mug does Ms. Cools have in her water bottle cage? I think that’s really neat.

[@Henrywildeberry]

Thank you, Sir Prime Rib. Good question, I'll have to ask Ms. Cools, and have her tell us.

[@theresecools3079]

Hello Sir Prime Rib! The coffee mug is the Klean Kanteen insulated coffee travel mug.

[@MrDieselSmokin]

Therese Cools Fantastic! Thank you.

[@rodturner4038]

Ms Cools can you tell me what the bottom bracket and seat post are. What bar tape is installed. Nice machine.

[@randyandjody]

Hi great video and nice ride. I'm interested in converting from plastic to stainless steel water bottles and was wondering if Ms. Cools could advise on the SS bottle in the seat tube cage, such as brand, capacity, etc. I have been struggling to find SS bottles that fit well in a bicycle bottle cage. Thanks!

[@Henrywildeberry]

There are few water bottle cages out there that work well with SS bottles. Check out King Cages. They are the best in my opinion.

[@josephcornwell3578]

As always, I enjoyed your video - entertaining and informative. Would you confirm Ms Cools' bike is a size 57? Could you tell us the as built standover height? Thanks.

[@Henrywildeberry]

Thank you, Joseph! Yes, her new bike is a 57cm. I'll have to get back you on the standover height.

[@the.communist]

Not sure why she rides oversized bikes. Her position looks very streched

[@jcw636]

Ms Cools, with your long distance riding experience, have you ever considered doing the RAAM ride?

[@richardharker2775]

I was recently looking at this frame set but unsure about size. I like the seat, fork and steering geometry and I'm 174cm thinking the 54cm frame would suit but somewhat confused now as Ms Cools rides a 57. I'm no racer nor ever will be but comfort for those longer rando rides is most important. For Ms Cools, is the size you are riding, perfect for you now?

[@Henrywildeberry]

Hi Rick! We looked at her previous VO Polyvalent and determined the 57cm was a good size. You are about the same height, just a tad taller than Ms. Cools. Remember a smaller frame has the effect of making you lean over more because the bars are dropped further and the saddle is relatively higher than the top of the head tube. One of the things I discovered talking to Grant P. at Riv Bikes many years ago was his philosophy on riding larger frames. I never understood why thinking it would cause you to be stretched out more (longer top tube). In practice smaller frames are not always more comfortable. For example, Ms. Cools previous VO was a 57, but it had a 59cm top tube. It was a long and short frame. The new Polvalents have shorter top tubes. Also, look carefully at the head tube angles to see how the bars will be pulled in closer to you. Road bikes generally have steeper head tubes pushing the bars further away (which is good for the aero tuck, but not the best for comfort). Anyway, if you are in between a size I would lean towards going up as opposed to down. A larger frame will probably feel better for you, and a 57 (if that's your size) is a very common size and thus marketable for resale down the road should you ever decide to sell. Also, it's easy to set the stem height where you want because it's a quill stem. Best of luck!

[@richardharker2775]

@@Henrywildeberry Thanks for your reply Henry. It has good food for thought.

[@davehoover8853]

Curious about VeloOrange. You must rate them highly as a manufacturer and designer. Can you tell me anything about the build quality and reasons for passing on something like a Ritchie? I am going to look at the Pass Hunter as we have one in our area (Teton Valley) and it looks like with a different drivetrain it could make a good off-road touring bike. Your thoughts?

[@Henrywildeberry]

Hi Dave - Velo Orange frames are value oriented welded frames. They are made in Taiwan with a basic tube set (4130??). The Polyvalent in this video was built with fairly heavy wall thicknesses, and robust for touring. The fork is stout too since it was designed around disc brakes. Unloaded it's a stiff frame overall, but would serve a heavier rider well, or someone who carry's a load and wants disc brakes. I don't know specifically about the Pass Hunter. You may want to browse through the forums on that particular frame to learn about how it was made. Most mass produced steel frames will have thicker tubing, in general. How VO compares to the Ritchey line up I'm not sure? I imagine the Ritchey frames are made in Taiwan as well, but perhaps with slightly thinner tubing? I don't have any experience with Ritchey frames, but like most mass produced steel they will likely have thicker tubing designed for a range of uses. All the best!

[@joebunik6042]

I may have missed it, but has Ms. Cools had prior experience w/ discs AND, if so -- has she had opportunity to form any opinion of the *chainstay*-mount placement (as opposed to off-the-back-seatstay) of this new bike? Am curious how much of an impact on rear-rack-ability this actually makes. Thx

[@Henrywildeberry]

Joe Bunik good question! I’ll have to have Cools answer this one. However, this reminds me we forgot to mention the internal cable routing! I wonder if this had something to do with the caliper mounting position? And, this bike retained quick release dropouts instead of the more popular thru-axle.

[@theresecools3079]

Hello Joe! I've had one other bike with disc brakes and that one also had chainstay mount placement. I tend to carry most of my load on the front of my bike and never run a rear rack so I am afraid I can't answer to the rear-rack-ability of the different placements.

[@TheVarna1989]

Thank you for another great video. How much does it weigh?

[@Henrywildeberry]

Around 28 lbs without the bag and fenders.

[@prestonpendergraft7792]

Hi Henry and Ms Cools! Why down tube shifters? Is that a preference for randonneuring for reliability?

[@Henrywildeberry]

Preston Pendergraft Excellent question! I’ll let Cools give us her reasoning, but for me it’s the simplicity of them that I like. Cables are easy to change if they break out on the road, and no matter what cassette you have the shifters always work. Index shifters require the proper ratio or some gears will never align properly. They are also cheap, and you can use a narrow handlebar and not have to worry about the brake lever shifters bumping into your rando bag. Bar end shifters can get bumped by your knee when climbing out of the saddle. Also with friction shifting you can pick the brake levers with the correct leverage for your particular brakes. Oh, another reason I like them is because I can shift both the front and rear deraileurs with one hand, and I can shift through the whole cassette in one quick pull.

[@joebunik6042]

is Coolz running 9, 10, or ? speed? Which DT shifters?

[@theresecools3079]

Hello Preston! I prefer down tube shifters because I find the cable simple to replace should it break when I am on a ride. I also like that there is very little cable housing needed.

[@theresecools3079]

Hello Joe! I am running 9 speed and my shifters are Dia-Compe ENE that I got from Velo Orange.

[@robhawks]

I had standardized on bar end shifters a long while back and of all the bikes I had at one time the only one without bar ends was a single speed bike. I had been riding with a few folks that had begun to use DT shifters and that got me to thinking if it would appeal (I had tried STI and found I didn't really like it and didn't like the resulting brake lever). When I built up my first 650B bike I used the DT shifters just to simplify the cable routing around a front bag. I found I really, really liked the crisp shifting I got, and really liked the lack of long cables and housing out front, whether routed along the handle bars all the way to the stem, or looping out front in cable housing before attaching on the down tube. Frankly, I have broken a cable once in well over 100,000 miles of riding so the reliability thing did not loom as large of an issue. Since that little first test case for me, more of my bikes have been switched over, mostly the new bikes and new builds. I began to stock the parts in my home shop though to change over some other bikes that have been in continuous use. I would not say this is a rando specific (down tube shifters), reliability thing. If you ride PBP where there will be 6000 other randonneurs, downtube shifters will be very, very few and far between, and in the smaller, NorCal rando community, they aren't all that common either.

[@charliedevine6869]

60 then 57 cm. May I ask how tall is Ms. Cools?

[@rollinrat4850]

Ms Cools, can you tell me what saddle bag is in this video?

[@theresecools3079]

Hi Robert! It's the large size Ruthworks saddle bag.

[@rollinrat4850]

Thanks !!

[@bernardrondin1348]

Hi Mrs Cools, can you tell me what saddle on your bike? Thanks

[@etrianto]

good video, but the conversation sound is too low...cannot hear clearly

[@Henrywildeberry]

Thank you! We're working on better audio.

[@ivanzarate8013]

Hello, I have the same klean kanteen, I was wondering what water cage that is? Thanks

[@Henrywildeberry]

The cages are called King Cage, made in Colorado. Good luck! kingcage.com/collections/water-bottle-cages/products/iris-king-cage

[@DarthJabba504]

How is the stand over? 5'8" on a 57 size with 816mm / 32.2 inch standover seems like it might be tight?

[@tjrioux3059]

how many gears on the cassette? nice bike!

[@Henrywildeberry]

Thanks tj. It's a 9-speed cassette.

[@jmsdgrf]

Does this mean the old Polyvalent is for sale?

[@Henrywildeberry]

Thanks for asking. She's holding on to it for now. It's a great bike too. The longer top tube has made it a little harder to fit, but otherwise it's set-up 650b with fenders so it's a great rando or rain bike.

[@mushoessmell]

What's the width on the grand randonneurs? :)

[@sarvagyaangre2859]

You forgot about the cassette at the rear

[@Henrywildeberry]

Thank you, Sarvagya. I updated the description. The front gearing is 44-36-24 and the rear is an 11-32 9 speed.

[@huesitoggy]

How works yokosuna brakes?

[@Henrywildeberry]

Thanks Dario, so far they seem to be working really well. They offer good stopping power. They do require regular adjustments, which, is common for disc brakes in comparison to rim brakes. However, they are mechanical, so they are very easy to adjust.

[@huesitoggy]

Thanks Henry!!!

[@dascally6075]

That bike is straight out of the 80's apart from the dino hub and disc brakes. Toe clips & straps, quill stem, down tube shifters threaded headset, I had it all when I started cycling and they were then and still are crap, and I was a bike mechanic in the 80's. Nice to have a retro toy but I wouldn't go near it now. More a statement of fashion or how hipster you can get than anything else.

[@Henrywildeberry]

Thanks Donald! That's very interesting to hear your perspective being from the 80's and working as a bike mechanic. I used to think like you too. Why would anyone ride all that old stuff. That was until I decided to go for bike tour and purchased a cheap used 80's Specialized Expedition touring bike. Having only ridden Carbon and Titanium road bikes prior (except for the 80's steel mountain bikes I grew up riding, and the time I bought a aluminum mountain bike to use a commuter while in school), I was what you would call a "roadie", I set out on my first bike tour. The first day really surprised me, I thought how could I have ridden as far, and still feel great afterwards, not beat up like I normally felt finishing longer rides on my modern bikes. From then on I realized bikes have improved in many ways, but not in others. Bike companies, as I'm sure you know, have a focus on racing bikes, and advertise by sponsoring racing teams. They want to get the fastest riders on their bikes, because that's how brands are developed. While racing bikes are fun, they're very specific in what they do. Not every ride is a race for me.To your comment about fashion. Anyone that has spent even a few minutes around any bike culture knows cycling is every bit about fashion than it is about actually riding. I can point that out at every level, and in every genre of the sport, but that's just silly. Ms. Cools is a bike commuter by choice and chooses her cycling clothes and equipment to get to work and back. For her it's about using the bike as tool, and not having to change clothes every time she goes somewhere. Toe clips means she can ride in the same shoes she goes to the store as well as to work. She probably just wants to wear whatever she feel comfortable wearing. Feel free to leave us your comments. I enjoy them. It seems like cycling is a sport where people hold very strong views and feel comfortable sharing them. Share away!

[@dascally6075]

@@Henrywildeberry I didn't actually refer to the frame material in my comments, I've had many off the peg and custom made steel road and touring/audax frames over the years and steel is a nice choice if that's what you want. I think titanium is more comfortable and is my choice for my audax bike but steel is good and the fork choice plays a big part in overall comfort of the frame. I was referring to the spec on the bike. Quill stems were poor when it came to gripping the fork column and with a single bolt on the handlebar clamp, just as poor a gripping the bars. You would often see someone hit a bump and the bars would slip. Quill stems would also often get stuck in the fork after a couple of seasons use if not maintained properly and were a complete sod to remove. Hence the reason mountain biking developed A-head stems. You did say in a video about being able to move the stem up and down with a quill stem, but once you have your position who really needs to do that, if you do, you can get adjustable a-head stems. Another reason for the a-head stem design was the need to improve the terrible threaded headset that would rattle loose when mountain biking, and on road bikes. Loose headsets were the bane of nearly every club cyclist life and a never ending cause of adjustment and tinkering. The only headset I had that worked was a Campagnolo Record in 1987 that cost me nearly a weeks wages, I'm sure the Chris King will be fine. Watching Ms. Cools continual fiddling with the gear lever takes me back and I do have a giggle at it but wonder why anyone would want the hassle of doing that when shift levers are so much better. If it's a question of reliability, I've been riding the same Campagnolo 10s levers on various bikes since 2001 covering 10's of thousands of miles without any problems. I also see her in some videos grinding out the gear(as we all used to do) because she's either out the saddle and cant change or it would be awkward at that point to change. Toe clips and straps were another pain - literally. Causing poor circulation and cramps when pulled tight for climbs and feet locked in in a crash. If you don't pull the straps in then you'd be as well riding flats as Pathlesspeddled do. As soon as I saw Hinault ride Looks in the 85 TDF I was converted and would never go back. There is also a stack of spd shoes these day that look like normal shoes and are easy to walk around in but also give the benefit if letting you clip in to hold the foot steady and pull up on the pedals. Ms. Cools may prefer a normal shoe for commuting but for a 600km audax a bike shoes has to ba better, it's what they're for. In another video you talk about that frame having a very relaxed geometry, 73 head angle is not a relaxed geometry and steep head and less steep seat angle increases top tube length not reduce it. The latest Pinarello Dogma F12 has a head angle of less than 73 degrees apart from the 4 largest sizes. As for fashion I was again referring to style of bike and not clothing, Ms. Cools should wear what she likes. There has been a huge surge in all thing retro in recent years and not just in cycling. For example, I was building myself my titanium audax bike about 11-12 years ago and I went into my LBS and asked if they could get me a Brooks B17 saddle. The shop owner popped through to the back of the shop and produced a lovely black B17 saddle. When I asked how much, he said "£25, no one wants them". Now Brooks are displayed on their own stands in full view out front and are once again desirable. I hope the bike works for you and you don't have any of these issues. I would like to say that I enjoy your videos, and I made my comments because you make videos to share your thoughts and inform others but not all retro stuff is better, some things are better left for the retro project. No one should ever go back to downtube shift levers, ;-).

[@Henrywildeberry]

@@dascally6075 Very well articulated. You make a number of good points, Donald, and clearly from experience. I'm not opposed to new bike technology nor older retro or classic bike parts. There have been great advancements in bike technology, materials, and even cycling specific clothing. Retro tech has the advantage of being time tested. I've personally grown having had the opportunity to ride new and retro bikes alike. Your points are well received, and I want to encourage people to share their ideas as well. Ride what you like, just ride!

[@jonsteinhauser1573]

How tall is Ms. Cools ?

[@Henrywildeberry]

Hi Jon - Ms. Cools is 5'-8" tall or 172 cm depending on what system you prefer.

[@bladerunner_92]

57 cm ett frame is too big for her, can't even imagine how she ride 60 before

[@Henrywildeberry]

I won't claim to be a fit expert, but I will say having ridden a number of different sized bikes over the years with different seat and head tube angles not all 57's are equal. It comes down to many factors. Here is a nice way to illustrate this point. www.rivbike.com/pages/the-top-tube-ruse

[@fredwestonsmith5866]

She’s cute. You guys should date.

[@hitechobo5586]

Oh No, you guys love our retro bike construction & parts but if I may suggest get back to waxing your chains. It’s so unsightly and destructive to see the black buildup of oily crud on that lovely drivetrain.