... The Start of a New Era: Introducing VillaVelo

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QuangVuong
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... The Start of a New Era: Introducing VillaVelo

Postby QuangVuong » Sun Jan 01, 2017 12:48 am

With two generations of Australian bicycle framebuilding coming to a close, Peter Bundy (with the blessing of his father Jim) set out to find a good home for the equipment that countless Bundy frames had been built with.
Image

Sure, a piece of Australian cycling history may have well been perfectly safe in the hands of a collector, but it ultimately would have not done more than gather dust.

28th of August, 2016. The Bundy framebuilding equipment changed hands. The end of an era… the start of another.

Today, VillaVelo is launched. We, Minh and Quang Vuong will learn the craft of constructing steel bicycles, right out of our workshop in Villawood, Australia.

We are sharing with you are our experiences as we gain new skills and knowledge. We will document and reflect on designing, cutting, filing, brazing and everything else it takes to create a truly handmade bicycle.

Armed with some amazing vintage equipment, tools and parts, the process is going to be self-taught - with some experimentation and friendly advice from other builders along the way!

First on the agenda is to pick up some steel tubesets while Quang designs and machines new parts for our jig.

Stay up to date:
Visit our blog at https://villaveloframes.wordpress.com/
Like our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/villaveloframes/
Follow our Instagram @villaveloframes

I will still be around here and still will be restoring retro bikes, but now I will have a go at framebuilding as well. Although my brother and I will be buildingnew frames, I feel as if this belongs best in the retro section as we will surely add the classic touch to our builds, particular with the large stock of unobtainable parts such as these below and many more.
Image
VillaVelo, by the Vuong brothers

Blog: https://villaveloframes.wordpress.com/
FB & IG: @villaveloframes

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Ferrovelo
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Re: ... The Start of a New Era: Introducing VillaVelo

Postby Ferrovelo » Sun Jan 01, 2017 7:01 am

Sounds exciting.
Good to hear that the equipment will continue in use.
I look forward to seeing the results.

mitchj
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Re: ... The Start of a New Era: Introducing VillaVelo

Postby mitchj » Sun Jan 01, 2017 7:36 am

Well done guys, I will be following via Wordpress. (If I'm not careful, I might just learn something!)

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find_bruce
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Re: ... The Start of a New Era: Introducing VillaVelo

Postby find_bruce » Sun Jan 01, 2017 8:41 am

Congratulations Minh & Quang, enjoy your new adventure.

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GaryF
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Re: ... The Start of a New Era: Introducing VillaVelo

Postby GaryF » Sun Jan 01, 2017 10:17 am

find_bruce wrote:Congratulations Minh & Quang, enjoy your new adventure.
I couldn't have said it better.

VillaVelo is now in my 'Favourites' list.

rkelsen
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Re: ... The Start of a New Era: Introducing VillaVelo

Postby rkelsen » Sun Jan 01, 2017 11:21 am

Wow!

Good on you Quang (and Minh). Reading your posts on here it is obvious that you're passionate.

It's truly great to see a transaction like this happen, instead of the business fading away.

I'm sure you won't need it, but good luck on your venture. :D

2wheels_mond
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Re: ... The Start of a New Era: Introducing VillaVelo

Postby 2wheels_mond » Sun Jan 01, 2017 11:59 am

I will watch with great anticipation. Best of luck.

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bigfriendlyvegan
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Re: ... The Start of a New Era: Introducing VillaVelo

Postby bigfriendlyvegan » Sun Jan 01, 2017 6:57 pm

About damn time you announced it. So when can I come in for a fitting? Well done, BTW. :D

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Mulger bill
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Re: ... The Start of a New Era: Introducing VillaVelo

Postby Mulger bill » Sun Jan 01, 2017 7:09 pm

Good on you for keeping the tradion and craft alive
Looking forward to what comes next 8)
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Ferrovelo
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Re: ... The Start of a New Era: Introducing VillaVelo

Postby Ferrovelo » Sun Jan 01, 2017 7:24 pm

Great blog guys. I really enjoyed reading it. Good on you for sharing your learning process.

Looks like you are going about things very wisely - methodically praticing each step of the process. (I'd probably be having a crack at a full frame on day one - with predictable results)

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trailgumby
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Re: ... The Start of a New Era: Introducing VillaVelo

Postby trailgumby » Sun Jan 01, 2017 7:36 pm

Delightful! Really pleased to hear you're picking this up. :D

If you want to talk business insurances or just get a second opinion, PM me I have a contact in the family who may be able help. He is also a keen cyclist (actually I blame him for getting me into mountain biking ;) )

minhyy
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Re: ... The Start of a New Era: Introducing VillaVelo

Postby minhyy » Sun Jan 01, 2017 7:42 pm

trailgumby wrote:Delightful! :D

If you want to talk business insurances or just get a second opinion, PM me I have a contact in the family who may be able help. He is also a keen cyclist (actually I blame him for getting me into mountain biking ;) )
I appreciate the offer, might just PM you down the line once we are confident of our work

Thank you to everyone else so far too for the support
VillaVelo, by the Vuong brothers

Blog: https://villaveloframes.wordpress.com/
FB & IG: @villaveloframes

ironhanglider
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Re: ... The Start of a New Era: Introducing VillaVelo

Postby ironhanglider » Sun Jan 01, 2017 7:51 pm

This is really good news. Good luck with your (ad)venture.


Cheers,

Cameron

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P!N20
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Re: ... The Start of a New Era: Introducing VillaVelo

Postby P!N20 » Sun Jan 01, 2017 9:05 pm

Really enjoyed the blog, must be both exciting and terrifying!

Looking forward to seeing how this develops.

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trailgumby
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Re: ... The Start of a New Era: Introducing VillaVelo

Postby trailgumby » Sun Jan 01, 2017 10:11 pm

minhyy wrote:
trailgumby wrote:Delightful! :D

If you want to talk business insurances or just get a second opinion, PM me I have a contact in the family who may be able help. He is also a keen cyclist (actually I blame him for getting me into mountain biking ;) )
I appreciate the offer, might just PM you down the line once we are confident of our work

Thank you to everyone else so far too for the support
Sounds good. He saved us a couple of $k with some renewals recently.

Lots of steel bikes
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Re: ... The Start of a New Era: Introducing VillaVelo

Postby Lots of steel bikes » Tue Jan 03, 2017 1:55 pm

I'm sure you will make a huge success of this. So good that you are taking us along with you.
Can't wait to see your first unique seat cluster.

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frailer5
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Re: ... The Start of a New Era: Introducing VillaVelo

Postby frailer5 » Thu Mar 09, 2017 10:16 am

Terrific news on you guys heading into this. I reckon you'll have an initial lineup, at least, of eager buyers.
Good fortune with it. :)
Well, no, it's not a pushbike, otherwise I'd be pushing it...
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minhyy
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Re: ... The Start of a New Era: Introducing VillaVelo

Postby minhyy » Wed Mar 29, 2017 10:29 pm

Hey everyone, here is a hopefully monthly summary of what we've been up to... click on each list item to head through to our blog.

1. Introducing VillaVelo

2. I began documenting all of the tools we have acquired...
Image

3. Most significantly, Quang redesigned and machined some upgrades to the old Bundy jig
Image

Of course, keep an eye on our channels to get the content ASAP..

Visit our blog at https://villaveloframes.wordpress.com/
Like our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/villaveloframes/
Follow our Instagram @villaveloframes

Thanks for all the kind words and support thus far!

Minh
VillaVelo, by the Vuong brothers

Blog: https://villaveloframes.wordpress.com/
FB & IG: @villaveloframes

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MichaelB
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Re: ... The Start of a New Era: Introducing VillaVelo

Postby MichaelB » Thu Mar 30, 2017 8:42 am

Missed this completely and will be watching with interest for sure !!!

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ldrcycles
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Re: ... The Start of a New Era: Introducing VillaVelo

Postby ldrcycles » Wed Apr 05, 2017 3:04 pm

Slightly off topic but i heard an item on the radio this morning about a Quang Vuong at a Sydney Uni finding a more efficient method of preparing tea, was that you?
"I must be rather keen on cycling"- Sir Hubert Opperman.

Road Record Association of Australia

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P!N20
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Re: ... The Start of a New Era: Introducing VillaVelo

Postby P!N20 » Wed Apr 05, 2017 3:07 pm

^ I hope it involves an oxy-acetylene torch.

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grantw
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Re: ... The Start of a New Era: Introducing VillaVelo

Postby grantw » Wed Apr 05, 2017 4:08 pm

Very cool, looking forward to hearing more.
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QuangVuong
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Re: ... The Start of a New Era: Introducing VillaVelo

Postby QuangVuong » Wed Apr 05, 2017 11:28 pm

ldrcycles wrote:Slightly off topic but i heard an item on the radio this morning about a Quang Vuong at a Sydney Uni finding a more efficient method of preparing tea, was that you?
No, doesn't sound like me. Sounds more like this guy by the name of Quan Voung
VillaVelo, by the Vuong brothers

Blog: https://villaveloframes.wordpress.com/
FB & IG: @villaveloframes

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ldrcycles
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Re: ... The Start of a New Era: Introducing VillaVelo

Postby ldrcycles » Sun Apr 16, 2017 8:51 pm

Ah i did think it was a rather odd study topic for a budding engineer :-)
"I must be rather keen on cycling"- Sir Hubert Opperman.

Road Record Association of Australia

lunar_c
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Re: ... The Start of a New Era: Introducing VillaVelo

Postby lunar_c » Mon Apr 17, 2017 10:05 am

So pleased to hear Minh and Quang have become the custodians of these wonderful pieces of Australian cycling history and continued to improve and innovate upon them.

Some really solid and clever engineering happening already ..

Can I put in an order for a fillet brazed road frame with machined oversized head tube now? ;)

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