With winter, pounding most of the country this year with lots of snow and cold weather and northeast Pennsylvania getting our share, I have finally taken to riding inside a little. Not having to prep the bike, prepare my bottles and layer up, has given me some time to finish my review of the Velo Orange Pass Hunter.
It seems that this may be a little late, as Velo Orange has discontinued the Pass Hunter in favor of their new Rando frame. Still, it may help some to know how the bike has performed after a couple thousand miles. I have also made a few changes to accommodate my riding style and comfort.
In my last review, I noted that the Pass Hunter was speedy and climbed very well. That has not changed. I did switch out the steel fork for a Whiskey #7 carbon fork. This reduced the weight of the full bike to just under 22lbs. Unfortunately, the clearance on this fork only allows a 700c X 28mm tire. So, I swapped the Bontrager R3 32mm tires for a set of 28s. I may switch back to the steel fork as the ride quality and comfort probably out weighs the weight savings. I also, swapped the 11-32 cassette for an 11-34 to help my old legs get up some of the steeper climbs.
That said, I’ve kept the Nouveau Randonneur handlebar, Grand Cru Headset, stem, seatpost and crankset (the beauty of these components enhance the appearance of the gorgeous cool blue color) as well as the Growtac Equal brakes, the Moderniste bottle cages, the SRAM Force derailleurs, SRAM Red shifters and Bontrager Aeolus carbon Wheelset.
The Pass Hunter has become my go to bike for longer rides. I’ve completed a couple of brevets and gotten lost for hours on end in northeast PA and the Hudson Valley of New York. I can’t get enough of the 46/30 chainrings, perfect for all day rides.
If you’re looking for that well rounded steel frameset, Velo Orange still has the Pass Hunter in all sizes.
What’s playing (what am I listening to while writing or what’s dancing around in my head while riding), today – Peter Wolf – Lights Out
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