Sami, Benjamin's Victoire
Benjamin lives in Burgundy, where the roads alternate between tarmac and dirt tracks between vineyard. He has been a road bike enthusiast for six years. He likes distance and endurance riding, and also mountain biking. Benjamin is not a competitive rider at heart, but he nonetheless appreciates the challenges offered by mountain passes and big climbs. This true climber is planning some demanding rides, such as crossing the Alps, the Tour du Mont Blanc and many others.... For these treks and for his long training rides, he wanted a bike that was fast and dynamic, yet comfortable enough to cope with long distances. We designed him a quick, versatile bike inspired by the Victoire 533 and 434.
Capable of doing it all, Benjamin's Victoire is a sporty road bike that can be fitted with tires up to 700*40c for added comfort. An ideal configuration for occasional adventures on dirt roads or forest paths.
The frame's tubes are Columbus Life hydroformed. They have a particularity that's hard to tell by looking at it but gets revealed when touching the bike: they are not round, but almost oval, which increases pedalling rigidity. The top tube, for example, is only 26mm high and 35mm wide.
The frame features a standard 44mm headset. This allows the use of a tapered-pivot fork like the Columbus Futura All-Roads, ideal for rolling roads. Compatible with tires up to 40mm, it's the perfect complement to a sporty steel frame.
Benjamin chose the ideal options for a bike destined to rack up the miles: screw-on frame bag (custom-built by What happened), and internal cable passages for the lights. This option allows him to envisage a future evolution with the installation of a dynamo front hub.
The Campagnolo Ekar groupset is best suited to Benjamin's desired versatility. Its well-spaced, thirteen-speed cassette means there is no need for double chainring, which helps with maintenance and reliability. Powerful, progressive brakes are complemented by a carbon crankset, making this the lightest one-by disc groupset on the market.
Victoire often uses products from US-based company Whisky. The stem and seatpost for Benjamin's Victoire were chosen from their catalog. We were first introduced to this American brand at the 2019 Chris King Open House, where we presented Xavier's Victoire 417. Whisky components are renowned for their quality and low weight. Among the other Victoire bikes equipped with them, perhaps the most emblematic is Grégoire's Victoire 521, which took part in a gravel World Cup round.
For the paintwork, we selected a metallic red, combined with a gray with red and blue nuances. An intercoat full of sparkles was applied before airbrushing the logos and applying the final clear coat.
I discovered Victoire in a magazine. The article intrigued me so I decided to visit their website. I immediately knew I'd come to the right place. I was looking for a bike that was made for me, that matched my riding style and that was durable and made in France. Not on the other side of the world. A beautiful bike that would stand the test of time... I wanted it to be suitable for the long rides I love, without sacrificing comfort. I also wanted it to be equipped with a single chainring to simplify my life. The Victoire team helped me a lot in the choice of components, and especially in this last-minute reflection on the dynamo hub that I might be able to integrate one day... I dreamt a lot, imagined this bike, and it was full of emotion when I discovered it. What a beauty! It's sleek, sporty, sober and classy! My favorite detail is the saddle clamp on the seat stays, the stainless steel clip for the cables and my indispensable custom-made pannier that allows me to ride with empty jersey pockets. The little sequins on the coppery red color are unanimously appreciated by all those who see it when I go to work ! My first rides in the Nice's backcountry alternated between smooth asphalt & rough roads. The bike is totally silent, a real pleasure, and the gravel handlebars greatly improve downhill comfort and cornering. I ride faster downhill now! The Ekar groupset is extremely comfortable and quickly made me forget my compact Shimano. The Campagnolo brakes are also more powerful, which is a big plus on long downhill passes. The quality of the frame geometry makes the bike very stable on descents, while remaining very responsive. As long as there's a road, there's a way. No matter how bad the road is, Sami (that's his first name now) is a true all-road bike, and I love it. 1600km later, a few long 7-hour rides and a big alpine outing, here's the verdict: I appreciate its sportiness, its versatility coupled with comfort, and the integrated pannier which has become my must-have. And it's beautiful, just beautiful!
