2012 Vivente World Randonneur Drop Bars With STI Levers Touring Bike

Handlebar Options
Handlebars define much of the riding experience. Many bikes on the market were not designed to be ridden for hours at a time, day after day. Handlebars that allow for a fluid transition between postures allow for longer periods of comfortable riding.

Handlebars with just one holding position, such as "flat” bars restrict your ability to change body posture. Adding bar-ends does little to address this.

Sometimes bike designers have made one decision and it causes another to be made for them. Such as Rohloff (the German rear hub maker) gear levers not being suited to drop bars. So a designer that has started with a Rohloff rear 14 speed hub may later on be rationalising a choice of bar that does not offer posture change.

Vivente’s Randonneur handlebar designs have addressed handlebar choice ahead of gear system choice.

Drop Bars With STI Shift Levers
With STI levers the gear levers are in the brake lever assembly. When you are sitting up you often hold the brake hoods as you can both brake and change gears from there. Being able to move back to the corners offers an extra position. And on the drops there is also a rear and forward position. To suit STI we like Noodle bars.

Originally designed by the Rivendell Bicycle Works in the US for all-day riding, these are made by Nitto in Japan. Instead of a completely straight top section these have a slight bend in the tops to provide a more comfortable upright position. It sounds odd but this subtle rearwards kink where your hands sit gives a more natural hand position and works great for city riding or just general use. Upright riding is unusually comfortable, so the Noodle is a great choice for riding in traffic.

With STI levers the gear cable casings may conflict with some handlebar bag designs. Nitto Noodle 177 bars avoid this by having the lever clamp position further apart than on Nitto Randonneur bars.

Specifications:
Frame 100% Cr-Mo tubing, double butted main tubes, 3 bidon mounts, spare spoke mounts, centre stand attachment plate, 700x35C (XS is 26x1.4").
Fork 1-1/8", 100% cr-mo steel, threadless, rack mounts, pivots, disc brake mounts, light cable mounts.
Attachments Full set of metric 5mm stainless steel allen head screws with washers.
Handlebars Nitto Noodle, silver, 140mm drop, 95mm reach, 420/440/460 wide
Handlebar stem Vivente 10 degree, 60/80/100/120mm.
Handlebar tape Velo Eva cork with gel.
Saddle WTB, She Progel (XS, S, M) and Speed V Progel (L,XL,XXL).
Seatpost Kalloy 27.2 micro adjustable alloy. 250/300mm.
Pedals Shimano M505, SPD, clipless double sided.
Rims Front-Alex ACE 19, 36H, CNC. Rear-Alex DH19, 36H, CNC.
Tyres Schwalbe Marathon700x35C (26x1.4 on XS).
Front hub Shimano Deore XT dynamo, 6V-3W, 36H, w/centre lock, QR.
Rear hub Shimano freehub, Deore LX, 36H, QR, 9 speed.
Spokes Rear-DT Alpine III 13/15/14G, Front DT Champion 14G, cross 3.
Tubes 700x35C, 0.9mm, Schrader. (26x1.4"on XS).
Shiftlevers Shimano Tiagra 9sp STI.
Crankset Sugino Alpina 600T 48/36/28T, 165/170/175 mm cranks.
Bottom bracket Shimano UN-54-113mm.
Fr Derailleur Shimano Tiagra for triple.
Rr Derailleur Shimano Deore LX 9 sp.
Chain Shimano CN-HG53 narrow for 9sp.
Cassette Shimano Deore 9sp, NI plated, 11-12-14-16-18-21-24-28-32T.
Fr Brake Shimano cable disc, metal pads, 160mm rotor w/lockring.
Rr Brake Shimano cantilever (R550) w/severe condition shoe.
Brakelevers Shimano Tiagra drop bar STI system. Spacers for small hands.
Brakecables Shimano.
Fr Light Busch & Muller Lumotec IQ Fly RT w/standlight and sensor.
Rr Light Busch & Muller Toplight line plus for day night running.
Fr carrier Not supplied. Mounting kit and info supplied for Tubus Duo.
Rr Carrier Tubus Logo, black, cr-mo steel.
Mudguards Vivente, black, w/stainless steel adjustable mounts.
Horn 150mm black bugle mounted to custom headset spacer.
Bidon cages Black, 6mm alloy, 2 pce.
Centre stand Not supplied. Attachment plate for Pletscher 2-legged on frame.
Spare Spokes DT, 2 pce for each side of each wheel supplied.
Fr Hanger Fr cantilever hanger supplied for back-up on long tours.

Sizing:
Small 51 suit 1.57cm - 1.65cm height
Medium 54 suit 1.65cm - 1.75cm height
Large 56 suit 1.75cm - 1.83cm height
XLarge 58 suit 1.83cm - 1.93cm height
XXLarge 61 suit 1.93cm - 2.01cm height

About Vivente
Vivente design and make bicycles, for use for both travel and as a daily means of getting around. Our origins trace back to Sydney in the 1970s.

If the design purpose of these bikes was only "getting around" and not travel, then we would not have addressed the aspects of comfort, durability, longevity and serviceability nearly as much as we have. Anyway, these are great bike attributes for most of us, who, most of the time, are everyday urban cyclists. It is inconvenient to get punctures and have parts wear out, whether you are commuting or touring. You just want your bike to be comfortable, easy to control, and to work 24/7.

In addition to making bikes, we are advocates for travel on bikes. Travelling on a bike is an amazing experience. There is nothing "virtual" about it. You are out there waving to farmers, smelling the pine trees in mountain passes, seeing the sun's glint on breaking surf, hearing the wind and the animals, sensing the human history, and being welcomed wherever you go. Clearly, you can't do anyone any harm.

You are so independent and free. Do a bit more every year and over a lifetime and you stay fit and strong. You really will see the world. And you will make memories you will cherish forever.