Tobias' Sweet Polyvalent Low Kicker

The Velo Orange Polyvalent Lowkicker is an all round sweet machine, especially in a swept back bar, down-tube shifter equipped and racked out format.

I’m glad I can share the build up of mine here—I sold three bikes to build this one.

It’s taken me a while to nail down what I want in a single bike…after having owned, built and ridden 90’s MTBs, track bikes, and many road/touring bikes. 
In this setup the Polyvalent hits all the sweet notes of those bikes for me. It’s nicely twitchy unloaded so even a little zip down the street feels lively and fun. When loaded up the front feels perfectly smooth, together, and stable. It’s poppy and fun thanks to the 26” wheel size, and is nice and upright for daily commuting.

I really appreciate the styling of the Polyvalent, it’s something that has helped many of the old parts that I’ve built this up with not look out of place. Equally the modern touches are greatly appreciated—disc brakes and thru axles are wonderful things!

Many of the parts on this bike have been on other bikes of mine so it has a lot of memories in it even though I’ve only had the Polyvalent about 18 months at the time of writing this. 

The Specialized ‘Flag’ cranks are a favourite that have moved from bike to bike to bike, though for this build they’ve taken the form of a ‘mountain double’ with a chain guard.

The SunTour 'Power ratchet' downtube shifters are another favourite. They’re such a dream; buttery smooth and ridiculously beautiful, and as ever with down-tube shifters I enjoy how out of the way they are so I don’t fuss too much about shifting while commuting—just pedal and enjoy. 

One detail I’m really happy with is the steerer tube spacers. I ended up cutting down one of the VO tapered spacers to match the bottom diameter of the Nitto stem I’m using. It reminds me of how clean a quill stem looks in how it smooths down to join the steerer tube. It’s always the little things that make a bike feel your own.

I was hesitant to buy a new frame without having ridden one but the all-rounder characteristic, and modern features really sold me on the Polyvalent frameset. I’ve done a gravel race on this thing, I’ve flown interstate and toured on it, I’ve taken it bike-packing, I hit local trails on it, I ride it to work everyday. It’s so capable.

I only have this bike now and I couldn’t be happier.

Ps. One thing about the Low-kicker frame I love is that because of its step through style you really can shed all pretensions of being a “serious” cyclist. Also I can say I have definitely appreciated the extra standover clearance when I’ve run out of steam on some steep single track climbs. 

POLYVALENT LOW-KICKER (LARGE)

Controls and shifters:
Nitto Albatross HT alloy handlebars W/ Controltech 20mm bar-end extensions.
ESI grips 6.75” (extra chunky)

Paul Components Canti Levers 

MKS Monarch pedals 

ERGON Enduro saddle

SunTour 'Power Ratchet' friction down-tube shifters

Drivetrain:

Shimano XTR FD-M950 front derailleur
Shimano XTR RD-M953 Rapid-Rise rear derailleur
Shimano HG 8-speed cassette(12-32t)
Shimano 9-speed chain
Specialized ST ‘flag’ crankset (110/74BCD)
Gebhardt chainrings (24t/38t)

Brakes:

Shimano BR-CX77 mechanical disc brakes
SRAM 180mm centreline rotors (front and rear) 

Jagwire compressionless housing

Wheels:
VO Voyager rims 26”

VO Disc Hub 32h

DT SWISS Competition spokes
Panaracer Gravelking SK 26x2.1”  

Accessories:
VO Porteur front rack

VO Constructeur rear rack
VO Mojave bottle cage

Miscellaneous:
Nitto UI-75 stem (120mm) 

Titanium steerer spacers 5mm
VO thin wall steerer spacer 10mm
VO Tapered steerer spacer
VO 1 1/8th Headset
UNO 27.2 seat post 

Titanium crank bolts/caps 

Titanium chainring bolts

Gebhardt 44t chainring with teeth removed being used as a chain guard  

Misc info:
I use four Ortlieb Sport-Roller City panniers with the racks I have, also a Bontrager Adventure top tube bag as a bit of extra storage within the triangle.