Veloci: the beauty of steel frames in the heart of Taiwan

Taiwanese Jerry Chiu had a very specific list in mind for his dream bike. He founded a bike company to fulfill his wish.

Jerry Chiu, CEO and founder of Veloci

For 40 years, Jerry Chiu's father has been making bicycle components for other companies. Even today, the father-son duo is still an original equipment manufacturer (OEM).

With his contacts in the industry, and shares in factories and assembly lines, Jerry was well placed to bring his dream bike to life. "7 or 8 years ago, I decided to design a frame and have a single copy made," he tells me in Veloci's office in Taipei, the capital of Taiwan.

This first model, inspired by Surly's Cross Check (a model now withdrawn from the American brand's catalog) turned the heads of Jerry's friends and customers, who asked for a version for themselves.

Over the following years, new iterations and models were born. The Disko arrived to meet the demands of disc brakes. "Two or three years later, I brought out the Jimmy to incorporate flat-mount disc brakes," continues Jerry.

The back of the latest version of the Disko'80salso includes flat mounts (velocicycle.com).

Le Jimmy v2, a gravel bike offered in 5 sizes (velocicycle.com).

Steel with details

Almost a decade after its first models, Veloci now has a distribution network and order book in several countries. "Japan, Germany, Indonesia, a little in the United States," Jerry tells me. There is still no distributor in Canada, although it is possible to order directly online from the company's website.

The young forty-year-old's ten or so models are aimed at the demands of these different regions. Filipinos prefer mountain bikes, while the Japanese are more fond of road bikes.

“Steel has a classic look, simple and not flashy. It absorbs vibrations and is perfect for non-competitive practice. »
-Jerry Chiu

Steel also represents an easier way to enter the rather niche adventure bike market. Frames are made right here in Taiwan, in the city of Taichung, where Veloci already has a warehouse and where manufacturing expertise in this field is unrivalled anywhere in the world. There are seven or eight frame factories in the country," Jerry tells me. They're all pretty much excellent, so it's the designer's work that has the biggest impact on the quality of the bike and its ride."

Jerry Chiu and his Roadmance model, in Taipei

A logo that recalls the mountains of Taiwan and the possibility of adventure.

Proudly handcrafted…like all steel frames!

You can customize the routing of the cables under the downtube using several eyelets.

The use of steel for the frame also allows the bike to stand out from the crowd in a variety of ways. Small decorative fins on the rear triangle and the multiplication of anchoring eyelets are just a few examples. As is the use of cable guide screws under the downtube, which adapt exactly to the drivetrain used - with or without front derailleur, mechanical or various types of electronics.

The hardtail Bongo Jungle, with rigid or suspension fork, accepts tires up to 29x2,4 (velocicycle.com).

The “steel wings” at the rear are a nice distinction present on several models (velocicycle.com).

Accessories

The VLCmade Wednesday luggage rack (veloci.com)

In addition to Veloci bicycle frames, the company produces a range of components under the Rollcii name – wheels, cranksets, headsets – and accessories under the VLCmade name. These include an interesting chromoly rear luggage rack that folds completely flat.

"A folding model is useful for travel or for small Asian apartments, when you want to take it off the bike and put it away," explains Jerry, who designed the rack.

As for testing the different sizes of his bikes, Jerry has to find people taller than him.

It's not easy. Many people know how to ride for a long time and fast, but don't know how to describe the sensations they feel on a bike.

Fortunately, some of his friends - his first customers - would be able to take on this role, almost 10 years after envying Jerry's early creations. "I'm lucky to have them," he sums up. This sentiment is undoubtedly shared by those who enjoy the pretty frames in return.