Our test ride shows the Vuelo Velo 8 to be light and lively with an unusually rigid rear end - so much so that we wished for a stiffer front end to match.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Vuelo Velo has opted for a straight 1 1/8" head tube for its new 8.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Vuelo Velo uses unique head tube badges for each model.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
The Cane Creek AER headset uses a Norglide bushing up top instead of conventional ball bearing.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
The lower headset cup uses a more typical cartridge ball bearing.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Fairwheel Bikes is a shop in Arizona that specializes in highly customized builds.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
The Mad Fiber hubs are made wholly of bonded carbon fiber save for the bearings and axle assembly.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
The slick internal battery is housed inside the seatpost.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Shimano's Dura-Ace Di2 electronic group has opened up new doors for custom builders looking to exploit the unique wire routing possibilities.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
The seat tube and seat stays are gently curved.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Tufo S3 Lite tubulars are mounted on the Mad Fiber carbon rims.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
The Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 wire is fed into the down tube just behind the head tube.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
The rear brake cable is run through the top tube.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Selle Italia's SLR Teknologika Flow saddle and Enve Composites seatpost contribute to the bike's paltry weight.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
The seatpost exits the top of the seat tube at an actual angle of 69 degrees but a more conventional effective angle of about 73 degrees.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
The Enve Composites carbon stem is light and looks clean.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Vuelo Velo's 8 was built at Black Sheep's Colorado faciilty and features a subtle curved-tube design.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Chunky dropouts leave plenty of room for the stays.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Enve's 1.0 carbon road fork is fitted up front.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
The Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 front derailleur normally requires additional bracing from the seat tube but that's not possible with this curved-tube design.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Mad Fiber's new carbon fibers are ultralight and use a novel construction method.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Vuelo Velo is a tiny bicycle company based in Sydney, Australia that specialises in custom titanium. Though the frames themselves are currently built by Black Sheep Cycles in Fort Collins, Colorado, the designs are definitely unique with a strong emphasis on curved tubes and ultra-short rear ends.
The latest model, the Vuelo 8, continues that trend but adds on a slickly integrated Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 electronic group complete with an internal battery setup designed by long-time carbon builder Craig Calfee.
The Vuelo 8's seat tube is less curved than Vuelo Velo's more radical fixed-gear design but still allows for very short chain stays measuring just 388mm in length – about 20mm shorter than modern standards.
"A conventional longer chain stay will be a more sedate ride if all other things are equal," said Vuelo Velo's Marty Renwick. "But this particular bike is built specifically around the notion of lively response. A short rear end feels fantastic climbing, sprinting or carving a tight line in a sharp corner. It's all about heightening your sense of awareness, the connectedness to each moment – infinitesimal control, like an F1 car."
Additional rear-end stiffness comes from the 86mm-wide, press-fit bottom bracket shell, which provides more room for more widely set chain stays along with a larger-diameter down tube. The curved seat tube has an actual exit angle of 69 degrees but an effective one closer to 73 degrees – so while the look is unusual, the fit is utterly conventional.
Gently arcing seat stays and titanium's natural ability to smooth out the road still lend a characteristically lively and comfortable ride – metal bikes still have their place in this world, though those requiring the highest level of performance should still look to carbon. Just as intended, the rear end of the Vuelo 8 is surprisingly stiff and there are no issues with wobble or instability even at 72km/h (45mph).
The front end unfortunately struggles to keep up and is noticeably softer than most carbon bikes and even some aluminum ones. Vuelo Velo specifies a fairly generous 44mm-diameter down tube and 35mm top tube but even so, the Vuelo 8 wags a bit when you really stand on it and could probably benefit from an integrated or tapered head tube, or an even bigger main triangle.
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On a more nitpicky note, we were also disappointed to see low-rent cut vinyl decals on something like this.
The ultrahigh-end build kit rife with carbon fibre also comes with a custom Dura-Ace Di2 internal wiring kit. Total weight is a fantastic 6.37kg (14.04lb) as pictured here.
Among the highlights are a custom Di2 battery housed inside the seatpost and a set of Shimano's latest sprint shifters – an extra set of buttons mounted directly to the drops for faster shifting and no need to move your hands when going full-out – trick Mad Fiber carbon tubular wheels, a full complement of cockpit components from Enve Composites, Selle Italia's SLR Teknologika Flow saddle and a SRM power meter.
Additional lightweight bits include a Tune carbon fibre seat collar and bottle cages, Nokon aluminum cable housing, and Cane Creek's AER headset.
Vuelo Velo estimated the price for the build as pictured here at over US$17,000. It'll be offered as a frame-only for US$4400.00, prepare to settle in for a long wait. Quoted lead time is five to six months after drawings are confirmed.
