Originally Posted by rpenmanparker

Just a small correction. The frame is not fillet brazed, it is lugged/brazed.

Originally Posted by alathIN

Volagi Viaje 105.

Originally Posted by dr_lha

That is certainly a unique looking steel bike. In fact if I saw it on the street, I probably would assume it's aluminum based on the curved tubing.

Originally Posted by bleui

I'll have one of these please

Originally Posted by dr_lha

BTW it appears that the top tube of the Washoe is ovalized, hence the look (not sure why the two photos I posted are discrepant). That combined with the oversized downtube and head tube make for a somewhat unique looking steel frame bike. It comes at a price too, $2350 for the frameset, although for only $800 more you can get it as a full bike with 105, which makes the frameset look overpriced.

Originally Posted by Minnesota Expat

As we "speak", I am waiting on delivery for one of those, that very frame (Interceptor Super Stiff) and color combination (Gritty Grey and Jaegher Orange)! Will post pictures!

Originally Posted by himespau

To be honest, before I clicked his link, I was about to remind him that this was a thread for steel bikes. I guess it takes up the mantle left behind when Breezer discontinued the Venturi.

Originally Posted by himespau

I'm intrigued by that. I didn't see rack mounts, does it have them and I just missed them, or did you have to p-clamp it?

Originally Posted by TimothyH

I'm not arguing against carbon forks. I do wonder however, why there aren't more steel forks available for modern steel bikes.

My steel fork is "modern" in that it is threadless but is pretty high-end lugged Tange Infinity CroMo. It's not an old or vintage fork but manufactured in 2015. I thought it would be heavy and harsh but everything I heard about the "Buttery feel" of steel frames translated to the fork as well. Riding the bike is like riding on a cloud.

Not really sure I have a point here other than expressing my own experience with a steel fork and wondering out loud why riders don't consider steel forks for steel bikes more often. I get that you can't have on your bike what what manufacturers don't offer. If I was to build a modern steel bike however, I would not hesitate to put a good quality steel fork on it.

Originally Posted by chaadster

Besides being different bikes in every way, Volagi predates the Venturi (as it's being discussed, in it's recently ended form; the first gen bikes in the '90s were completely different), so I'm not quite sure what you're saying. Did the Venturi not look like steel to you?

Originally Posted by chaadster

Sweet! Please do post pics, and ride impressions!

Originally Posted by Minnesota Expat

Can anyone identify the wheelset in the pictures?

Originally Posted by TimothyH

I'm not arguing against carbon forks. I do wonder however, why there aren't more steel forks available for modern steel bikes.

My steel fork is "modern" in that it is threadless but is pretty high-end lugged Tange Infinity CroMo. It's not an old or vintage fork but manufactured in 2015. I thought it would be heavy and harsh but everything I heard about the "Buttery feel" of steel frames translated to the fork as well. Riding the bike is like riding on a cloud.

Not really sure I have a point here other than expressing my own experience with a steel fork and wondering out loud why riders don't consider steel forks for steel bikes more often. I get that you can't have on your bike what what manufacturers don't offer. If I was to build a modern steel bike however, I would not hesitate to put a good quality steel fork on it.

Originally Posted by chaadster

What you're failing to see is that you keep changing the terms. First you asked, "why not fillet braze?" It is fillet brazed. Then you say the paint "obliterates any suggestion of precision, thoughtfulness, or skilled handiwork," but I'm willing to bet you've never seen a lugged steel ISM junction before, let alone with custom made lugs, two things right there-- even if you don't know fillet brazing when you see it-- that reek of "precision, thoughtfulness, and skilled handiwork," and which, arguably, cannot be made without those things.

So do you know what you're talking about? I don't think so. I think you don't like the paint job and don't get the aesthetic, and are trying to cook up some clever sounding rationale to explain it's not to your taste, because you like old style stuff.

Everything on that bike is rendered in monochrome paint -- from the seat mast topper to the headset dust cover-- and matte black components, expressly for the purpose of presenting a uniquely uniform aesthetic, which compels the viewer to look at the bike in the whole, yet you want them to highlight junction details which would directly contravene the overarching aesthetic goal.

To say you don't "get it" is a wild understatement, and you should be happy to leave it there. Immanuel Kant said there is no argument if a man says something is pleasing to him, rather than pleasing in and of itself. Beauty is not an intrinsic truth, but an agreed upon property of a thing. Suggesting that bike is wearing an "unflattering sack" is proof that you are interested only in your simple opinion, and unable to aggregate an aesthetic interpretation which doesn't correspond with a narrative of precedent forms. I suppose that's more of a post-modernist approach, but your example of a detail pic of old fashioned lug work would confirm that you're not there yet.

Originally Posted by chaadster

+$3100 for 105 seems pretty expensive for a 105 bike to me.

Originally Posted by himespau

Yeah, I know Volagi in carbon predated the Venturi, but did the steel Viaje also? I was thinking in terms of steel in tubing that's not traditionally shaped. So many of even the modern steel bikes featured hear and elsewhere are still straight cylinders (though maybe the chainstays and forks have curves in them) - sure there have been steel tubes that are ovalized slightly to make them more aero (some Columbus tubing from the 90's comes to mind), but different shapes in steel are still rather unusual. Much moreso than aluminum and especially carbon.

Originally Posted by Minnesota Expat

Good site and good people. I spend a lot of timethere, especially during the pro race season. Overall, the site has astronger emphasis on the "culture" of road cycling versuscycling equipment (as found in Road Cycling on Bike Forums).
I’m not speaking forVelominati.com, but I wouldn’t call it a partnership. The site offered a Jaegherframe last year as first prize in the Velominati Super Prestige, a sort of pro-cyclingrace "fantasy" league. You pick the top five places in a race andscore points. They have 30-40 races during the season, including the GrandTours. And about 300 people participate each year. Lots of fun and it’s free!
The frame sets don’t seem that expensive, relativeto some of the other frames in this thread (see Baum). But you do have toinclude shipping and your build-out into the equation. I read that review and Iwonder if the guy had a good “fit”. Also, the company has fixed the issue withthe paint and finish. There are a few guys on Velominati.com that own a Jaegherand love the ride.
I won my frame for a first place finish in last year’s VelominatiSuper Prestige J

Originally Posted by chaadster

I'm quite certain the junction in question, namely that of the pictured seat stays to seat tube, is fillet brazed.

Originally Posted by rmfnla

Doug makes a sweet steel fork:

Originally Posted by TimothyH

Doug Fattic in Michigan?

This is the fork I purchased. Crown race had to be milled from 27mm JIS to 26.4mm ISO.

3Rensho / TANGE Aero Front Fork

Originally Posted by WalksOn2Wheels

I checked the website out and thought it was stupid expensive, but then I also saw the price on the LeMond frameset, so I guess it's not at all that expensive for a handbuilt steel frame. Please post some info on yours when built and how you like it.

Yeah, that blog review was kind of worthless. His main gripe seemed to be that he thought steel was suddenly not steel and should weigh less. I mean, yeah they push the "airlight" thing pretty hard, but I think most of us know even light steel frames are not that much lighter than really nice vintage steel frame sets. Steel is still steel.