Fée du Vélo is a bikeshop based in Nevers, since 2014, and also the brandname of the framebuilder Swanee RAVONISON. At the beginning of July she took part to the "CONCOURS DE MACHINE 2016", a real challenge for a starter in the art of framebuilding as her machine had to compete among 3 events....and she won hands down her challenge.
Before the event, her project was completely secret and we were not allowed to show any pictures of her steel light touring, now we can take a closer look.
The "DODIE MACHINE", named after her rider surname DODIE - Elodie PALVASSIER, is made to measure from Columbus Zona steel tubes. The method use to built the frame is by fillet brazing. This machine is designed to be a light and sportive touring machine to discover the world around your home or over long distance on different kind of path : tarmac, gravel. Fée du vélo has done the choice of the backpacking for its steel light touring machine.
The frame is made to measure for Elodie and features a slightly slopping top tube for riding on/off the bike with ease but mainly having more compacts front and rear triangles to have a vigorous bike. The top tube length is 521mm long axle to axle (541mm effective length) for a 466mm axle to axle seattube.
The Fée du vélo "DODIE MACHINE" is designed to be first of all a reliable, stable and sportive machine. Made of steel, seatstays length are 430mm long, a length you usually found on CX-gravel bikes, and help to filter vibration from the road and bring a tiny comfort on gravel path without loosing reactivity because the bikes need to stay efficient and reactive. Swanee has designed the frame with a -70mm bottom bracket drops, this not too low and not too high, a good balance for a bike intended to ride either on road than gravel path, high enough to allow pedaling through corners without scraping a pedal.
The headtube have a slack angle of 71° and is combined with a 44mm fork rate, the steerer is designed to be predictive but stay dynamic using a short stem of 80mm. : because the "DODIE MACHINE" have to carry weight, a slower steering speed helps with the bike’s stability.
About components, the fork used is a Carbon Dedaccaiai Black Cross reliable and light. The drivetrain is a mix of Shimano Ultegra and Shimano 105 combined with a Praxis works 50/34 crankset that perfectly fit a multipurpose use as combined with the 11-30 rear cassette. Handlebar is a Dajia Far Bar from Veloroange comfortable for offroad riding and touring coupled with an handmade stem by Fée du vélo. Brakes are CX types from Cane Creek - SCX 5 models. To end with components, the wheelset are handmade by Asterion wheels with selected components like Aivee hub, to bring vivacity to the Fée du vélo "DODIE MACHINE", tires are Compass Stampede Pass that bring a good balance between longevity, grip and efficiency.
For Fée du vélo, presenting the "DODIE MACHINE" at the CONCOURS DE MACHINE was an important step. She now feels even more confident in launching her own brand Fée du vélo starting December. Like we said in a previous article : Bikes handmade in Nevers are for soon !
Fée du vélo : http://www.feeduvelo.com/
Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/feeduvelo/
