Benjamin's lakes hunter
Benjamin lives in Haute-Savoie, near Switzerland. Between mountains and lakes, he wanted a bike that could take him both on long road outings and on forest paths, as the region is full of unpaved trails. To climb the region's many mountain passes, Benjamin needed a versatile configuration that could handle both steep hills and twisty, technical descents. Already a mountain bike owner, he contacted us to build his dream bike, a perfect illustration of the all-road bike sought by adventurous cyclists.
We've used a geometry suited to both road and gravel use: it provides stability at high speed, comfort for long rides, while remaining agile on winding forest trails. The frame can accommodate 40mm tires, wider than a conventional road bike, and rather light for a gravel bike. To keep the weight down, we used a Columbus Futura All-Roads carbon fork. Disc brakes ensure efficient braking in all conditions, and the single-plate drivetrain simplifies use and maintenance.
The headset bushing has a diameter of 44m and is adapted for a carbon fork with tapered steerer tube. The bottom bracket is compliant with the T47 standard. This standard appeared in 2016 as an evolution of the BSA standard. The threaded cups of the bottom bracket are larger in diameter, and are housed in a 50.8mm-diameter tube instead of the conventional 38.1mm. This increase in diameter provides good lateral rigidity for pedaling, enabling Benjamin to maintain a dynamic stroke pace in all circumstances.
The rear axle is 142*12mm, and the groupset is fitted with flatmount disc brakes.
We use Syntace derailleur hangers on the majority of our bikes because they offer several important advantages: Syntace is a world-renowned brand, and it's very easy to get a suitable derailleur hanger wherever your adventures take you. This is an advantage for cyclists who like to take their bikes to remote locations.
The axle thread is mounted in an aluminum bracket, so there's no risk of damaging your frame by damaging the thread.
As is often the case at Victoire, we've integrated the seat clamp screw into the seat stays. The frame line around the seatpost looks cleaner, a feature much appreciated by our customers.
The headset is made by Chris King. It's an essential component at Victoire: it's guaranteed for life, in line with our desire to create bikes that will ride for years, without obsolescence.
The cockpit is equipped with Zipp stem and handlebars. The stem has been painted to match the rest of the bike.
For the drivetrain, we chose Campagnolo's Ekar groupset, often found on our Gravel Victoire and Distance bikes. Efficient on all trails but also suitable for light road use, it's the most suitable Gravel groupset for Benjamin's riding.
The 13-sprocket cassette makes it easy to find the ideal gearing for any type of gradient.
We paired it with Shamal Carbone wheels, also supplied by Campagnolo. These wheels offer very good value for money and a high level of dynamism. Optimized for on-road use, they can also be used on white trails.
For the paintwork, Benjamin gave us carte blanche, with the only hint being he was inspired by the Victoire n°507 and he instructed us to draw inspiration from his home region: "between lakes and mountains". We chose two colors to keep the look of the bike simple and sober. The blue recalls the depth of alpine lakes, and the green the mountain forests. These colors are reminiscent of those on the bike we designed for the Chris King Open House in 2021.
I had the opportunity to ride in the bike around the Lac Léman and the Lac d'Annecy, a total of just over 200km. The position is ideal, and I have the feeling that the bike adapts to me and not the other way round. Whether I'm sitting, standing, on the hoods or in the drops, I don't feel any discomfort in my legs or back. When I'm going downhill, that's when I feel at ease, because I don't have to make any effort and everything's under control. I can get down in the drops and hold the position, whereas I used to have to get up before every turn to relieve the strain on my back or hands. It's amazing! As for the wheels, and especially the tire section, it was a bit of an unknown for me, especially whether I was going to be comfortable on the gravel sections. I had the opportunity to ride through small sections of forest paths and white gravel roads this weekend. It's a relief to be able to get through these at ease, and to be able to continue when the road stops or is in poor condition. The "all road" aspect is fully satisfied! As for the paintwork, it's absolutely fantastic. The bike doesn't go unnoticed and makes people react as it passes. It intrigues people, makes them smile and shout "wow! In short, it generates emotion! Bravo Julien for a job well done!
Nous avons profité de l'ouverture de notre boutique Cartel pour livrer son vélo à Benjamin en partageant un café. C'était l'occasion de lui présenter sa machine dans un cadre propice aux discussions de cyclistes, et pourquoi pas lui donner envie de revenir rouler en Auvergne sur un des nombreux parcours autour de Clermont-Ferrand. Nous avons nous aussi de magnifiques montagnes et lacs en Auvergne !
