Illusion Tropical Fusion, or: Colour Changes Sides
PMB-6919 Illusion Tropical Fusion, glossy. From one angle, it’s a clear turquoise, from another it shifts to green, and in direct light the metallic flakes sparkle. It looks best on the head tube. These illusion finishes are neither a coincidence nor the result of a filter. They consist of several layers on top of one another, and depending on how the light hits the pigments, you see a different colour.
If you’d like to know how we produce this sort of powder coating, we’ve explained it elsewhere.
And because this sort of colour looks best when used sparingly, the rest of the bike remains understated and matt. The steel fork in matt black, the mudguards in 45 mm also matt black, , plus a black finish and Schwalbe G-One RS 35 mm tyres in black.
The centrepiece: high beam and power generated by motion
A SON Ladelux is fitted to the fork. It provides reliable lighting at the front, just as you’d expect from a SON hub dynamo headlamp, and even has a switch on the handlebars for high beam. Absolutely brilliant. If the forest path gets dark, you simply switch on your high beam.
And then comes the bit we really like. The Ladelux charges your mobile or your cycle computer whilst you’re riding. Via a magnetic socket. Magic! You hold the cable against it, it tightens itself, and that’s it. Here’s the USB-C cable fitted at 46 cm – short enough that nothing dangles from the handlebars.
Anyone who fits something like this to their bike isn’t planning a quick spin round the block, but has bigger adventures in mind. After all, you only really start thinking seriously about power when you know you’ll be out and about for a very long time and want the sat-nav to keep running even in the evening.
Added to this are the DT Swiss G1800 wheels with Shutter Precision hub dynamo and, at the rear, a small black rear light with a red lens on the luggage rack. Small but mighty.
The layout: GRX 1x12, Tubus Fly and a short cockpit
Shimano GRX 610 in 1×12. No front derailleur, no second chainring, one less lever to worry about. Fewer parts also means fewer things that might cause concern on a long ride.
The cockpit consists of veloheld components with a 70 mm stem and drop-bar handlebars. This veloheld.iconX Tourist is rounded off with a Tubus Fly, the lightest of the classics.
A gravel and touring bike made of steel for every day
What you see here is a Stahlrad that, on the one hand, takes you to work every morning without fail, come rain or shine. And on the other hand, it’s always ready to take you on the most amazing adventures off the tarmac.
We can’t wait to see what adventures this veloheld.iconX Tourist will go on.
Fancy getting your own touring or gravel bike from us? Then configure your veloheld.iconX Tourist in our online shop or simply send us an email.