2012 Vivente World Randonneur Trekking Bars 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.

Trekking Bars.
Sometimes also called “butterfly” bars. The term “trekking” was first applied to bikes that originated in Germany in the 1980s. In Germany it is quite normal for whole families to take their annual holidays on bikes. They need a wide range of hand positions for comfort on these rides that are longer than their normal commuting trips. If you are one of the thousands riding around the Bodensee in Southern Germany you will see this is the most typical handlebar on people’s bikes. Somehow they have been left out of the bike offering in much of the world. But the Germans are not wrong about these bars. They are great for both commuting and touring.

Trekking bars may be set up either way and on many angles. Our bikes come as on the left. Either way, you can move your back around easily as you will want to if riding for hours. And you have the option of sitting up quite high.

Some critics, often designers defending that they have not offered trekking bars, have argued that these bars might flex due to the distance of the hand position at the levers from the handlebar stem clamp. But users don’t complain and say if there is any movement it is tiny and contributes positively to overall comfort. Critics also suggest that flexing might be serious on high speed descents. Yet, some of the toughest endurance cyclists, often with big loads, select trekking 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 Kalloy trekking bar, 570/585mm wide.
Handlebar stem Vivente 10 degree, 60/80/100/120mm.
Handlebar grip Velo hi-density foam 400x20x5mm black.
Saddle WTB Comfort V Comp 172x260mm.
Seatpost Kalloy 27.2 micro adjustable alloy. 250/300mm.
Pedals Shimano, PD-A530 SPD, w/cleat.
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).
Shift levers Shimano Deore LX, SL-T600 psp/3sp.
Crankset Sugino Alpina 600T 46/36/28T, 165/170/175 mm cranks.
Bottom bracket Shimano UN-54-113mm.
Fr Derailleur Shimano Deore LX, T-661.
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 V-Brake Deore LX.
Brake levers Shimano M590 Deore 1.5 finger.
Brake cables 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, 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 Pletscher two legged, black, w/shoes, attached to frame plate.
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.