A bike for (almost) everything - for some cyclists this is a long-cherished dream, for others it is the best thing to keep building new bikes for a wide variety of purposes. With the Finder B+ from Velotraum, however, both groups can be happy - some because the bike's characteristics come very close to the idea of an all-round bike for road, off-road, commuting to work or bike trips, others because thanks to the modular system and color option an individual piece can be put together. We took a closer look at the Finder in a version with a Rohloff Speedhub and Gates belt drive.
The base of Finders: The frame
When you first look at the aluminum frame of the Finder, the thick, solid down tube immediately catches your eye. Together with the large-volume tires, however, it doesn't look out of place at all, but blends harmoniously into the overall appearance of the bike. Less conspicuous, but no less remarkable, are the numerous details of the frame. These include, among other things, an eccentric bottom bracket housing, over which the chain or belt can be tensioned, the frame lock on the right seat stay - which is absolutely necessary for using a Gates belt - and the numerous threads for mounting luggage racks, anything cages ( Holders for pack sacks with a volume of up to around three liters) or bottle holders. The fork also offers mounts for the latter two carriers, which also have eyelets to which a lowrider luggage carrier can be attached. In addition, both the frame and fork offer enough tire clearance to mount mudguards even around the thick slippers. A clear plus for using the Finder as a bike for the daily commute to the office. For those who want to use the Finder less in the city, but want to use it on rougher terrain, the frame offers the option of retrofitting a suspension fork with 100mm travel without changing the geometry. Thanks to the tapered head tube, it is possible to install older forks with a continuous 1 1/8″ steerer tube as well as modern forks with a tapered steerer tube. However, the conversion to a corresponding headset is necessary for the first forks.
The drive
Thanks to Rohloff and belt drive compatibility, the Finder frame is the ideal basis for building a quiet, clean and low-maintenance bicycle. With its 14 gears, the Rohloff hub gear offers a range that corresponds to that of a 27-speed derailleur gear: Unlike its chain counterpart, the Rohloff Speedhub does not have double and therefore redundant gear ratios. Derailleur riders have to get used to the shifting process, because the Speedhub does not allow gear changes under load. In return, however, it offers the option of being able to shift through completely when stationary – a feature that is particularly noticeable when starting off at traffic lights if you missed the time to downshift again before stopping. In addition, the wear on the drive - even without a Gates belt - is less compared to a derailleur gear system, since there is no skewing. However, the comfort and carefree nature of a Rohloff Speedhub comes at the price of a noticeable additional weight at the rear.
Geometry and driving impressions
The geometry of the VELOTRAUM Finder can best be characterized as sporty and comfortable. 450mm long chainstays ensure smooth running and directional stability even when the bike is loaded with touring luggage, while the steering angle of 71,5° gives the finder the necessary degree of handiness. Overall, this results in a very balanced driving experience and that Finder Knows how to convince with its driving characteristics both packed and "naked". This balance also makes a significant contribution to the fact that the overall concept of the Finder works and that the bike knows how to impress with its all-round properties. The Finder is a bike where it is enough to know the destination of a trip or a tour - the way there is revealed on the way, which is where the name comes from Finder can be understood programmatically. The decision to scrub kilometers on tarred side roads, to cruise on gravel forest paths at a leisurely pace, to follow a trail that branches off the main path almost unnoticed or to go in search of new paths can be made with the Finder can confidently be met spontaneously on the go. The frame is – contrary to what its large tubes might initially suggest – quite comfortable. Of the intransigence that aluminum is (sometimes rightly) said to be as a frame material, the Finder hardly felt anything. This is largely due to the seating position, which is comfortable enough for long distances on the one hand, but sporty enough for extremely fast progress on the other.
The geometry of Finder in the overview (Source: Velotraum)
Impeller platform and tires
A significant part of the previously described versatility of the Finder has the B+ tire platform, which manages the balancing act between the all-terrain capabilities of a fat bike and the lower weight and lower rolling resistance of conventional 29er tires very well. (The comparison with 29er tires is useful, since B+ tires are almost identical in size to these.)
Thanks to their larger contact surface, tires in the B+ format offer more grip, thus providing more safety and, thanks to their volume and correspondingly low air pressure (between 0,8 and 1,5 bar, depending on the surface), have excellent damping that improves driving comfort noticeably increased, especially on surfaces such as cobblestones or gravel paths. They also enable adventurous bikers to make progress where narrower tires usually have to give up. For example, moderate sand passages are hardly a real problem anymore.
The one mounted on the test bike G One from Schwalbe in the dimensions 27.5″*2.8″ matched the characteristics and area of application of the Finder. With its many flat lugs slotted in the transverse direction, it rolled extremely easily on asphalt - so easily that - thanks to the long Rohloff gear ratio - it was even possible to keep up with a cyclocross bike without any problems. On gravel roads, the tire lived up to the "G" derived from "Gravel" in its name and knew how to convince with easy running, directional stability and comfortable damping. The so-called self-steering, i.e. the tire's property of reacting to steering movements by pulling in the direction taken, was not an issue either on the road or off-road. Speaking of terrain: Here, too, the G One quite well, as long as it stays with easy trails. However, these trails should be relatively dry and not overly muddy, as the narrow profile of the tire will, as expected, pack quickly in these conditions.
Regarding the B+ format in general, it should be said at this point that this relatively young wheel size has now firmly established itself on the market. In addition to Schwalbe, WTB and Maxxis also offer tires for a wide variety of purposes. Those who choose the B+ platform when buying a new bike can already look forward to a wide selection of tires that will continue to grow in the near future.
Availability and prices
The Finder can be obtained from the VELOTRAUM homepage or the VELOTRAUM dealer network since May 2016. The price for the basic bike in the FD1 variant with a mix of Shimano Deore/XT shifting and drive components, wheels based on the DT Swiss XM551 rim and Magura MT4 disc brakes is €2.390,00. Prices for the basic version of the FD2 variant with Rohloff Speedhub and Gates belt drive start at €3.450,00.
For more information see www.velotraum.de.
