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Chris’ Serotta Pronto Ti Road

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Chris’ Serotta Pronto Ti Road

It’s a shame when a name like Serotta shuts their doors after years of building steel, titanium and carbon frames in the USA. When the brand collapsed, The Pros Closet on eBay liquidated a ton of frames, which is where Chris scored this Pronto Ti frameset for a killer deal. It took him a little bit to gather all the parts. At the time, Deda Superleggera parts weren’t easy to find, SRAM was in the transition from 10 to 11 speed and he was thrashing the wheels on his cross bike. Once cross season ended, it was time to dial in his road bike.

Chris already has an insane Icarus, but he wanted something new. A new mistress if you will. Being a mechanic at Mellow Johnny’s, he was rather tedious with this build, dialing it into perfection…

See more in the Gallery!

Thomson Introduces US-Made Titanium MTB Frames

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Thomson Introduces US-Made Titanium MTB Frames

Well, technically they’re Thomson-designed, Lynskey-manufactured frames but it’s still rad if you ask me! The Elite 275 (clever name) is the first to the spotlight, followed by the Elite 29, a singlespeed 29r that comes with a Rohloff Option and a Thomson singlespeed drivetrain. Eventually, there will be the Elite Gravel road bike, which is, as you might have guessed, for off-road action.

Other developments include the new Thomson Pave Post, for road, cross and other drop-bar bikes that get some time in the dirt.

You will even be able to visit their facilities in Macon, Georgia and give them a test ride.

Check out more information at Thomson.

No 22 Little Wing Titanium Track Bike

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No 22 Little Wing Titanium Track Bike

No.22 Bicycles just recently completed a build of their Little Wing titanium track bike. If you remember their Great Divide Road, then you know what to expect here. American-made, precision titanium at a pricepoint lower than their competitors.

The Little Wing features a No 22-designed integrated saddle clamp, custom drilled Phil Wood hubs laced to Wheels of Mass Destruction carbon rims, a tapered carbon, undrilled fork and those sick Phil Wood cranks. It’s over the top!

See for yourself below!

No 22: Great Divide Road Builds

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No 22: Great Divide Road Builds

Last week, I made a post about No 22, a Canadian company who is producing Made in the USA titanium track and road frames. Their road frameset, the Great Divide, retails for around $2,500 (Enve tapered fork, Chris King i8 and Thomson clamp included) and as these photos show, builds up quite nicely with your choice of kit. The guys sent over some photos showing both a Campagnolo Super Record 11 and Dura Ace 9000 build.

Check out more below.

No 22: Made in The USA Titanium Road and Track Frames

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No 22: Made in The USA Titanium Road and Track Frames


The Great Divide Road Frameset


The Little Wing Track Frameset

I can’t tell you how many companies I get emailing me their frames but rarely do the words Made in the USA appear in the copy. No 22 is a Canadian company, using a well-known US-based titanium manufacturer to produce high end but affordable frames.

Their two models are the Great Divide road frame and the Little Wing track frame. Both of which tout clean detailing and construction. I’m waiting on a complete build to post as well, so stay tuned. Until then, check out No 22’s offerings here!

2013 NAHBS: Black Sheep Fat Bike

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2013 NAHBS: Black Sheep Fat Bike

Fat bikes were out in full force this year at NAHBS but few had the lines and attitudes of Black Sheep. I remember seeing them their first year and asking myself “who would ever want to really ride that thing?”. Turns out, fat bikes have an incredible, cult-like following and people love the creative, sexy lines of the Black Sheep fleet. Even I was amazed at how much fun it was to just ride in circles around the vacant space at the convention center. Titanium, fat and sexy. Who could ask for more?

2013 NAHBS: Groovy Cycleworks Zombie Road

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2013 NAHBS: Groovy Cycleworks Zombie Road

Themed bikes are usually hit or miss but this Groovy Cycleworks, along with the Peacock Groove I just posted were some of my favorites. With the forthcoming zombie apocalypse, it should be no surprise that a zombie bike would rear its ugly head. But this bike is far from ugly.  In fact, it probably had one of the most complex finish in the show. It’s not paint, or anodizing, it’s a masked, ceramic finish. First the bike was polished, then masked off and coated with Cerakote (I love that it’s a gun coat on a zombie bike). It’s incredibly complex and there’s practically an episode of the Walking Dead illustrated throughout the bike. The dead, I mean, end result is just groovvvvy!

Baum Cycles Corretto Rapha Gazzet Paper for ACBS

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Baum Cycles Corretto Rapha Gazzet Paper for ACBS

The Australian Custom Bicycle Show is this weekend in Australia and this bike is only one of the prime examples of Australian craftsmanship that will be on display. As part of the Rapha Continental Australia, Darren Baum worked closely with Rapha to design one of the wildest Baum Corretto paint jobs I’ve ever seen. Integrating the Rapha Gazzet Paper seamlessly into the wet coat creates a one-of-the-kind aesthetic.

The build? Pretty straight forward with full SRAM Red, ENVE clinchers, Fizik saddle and custom Busyman Bicycles bar tape to top it off. Check out more high-res photos of this beauty in the Gallery and if you’re in Australia, get your ass to the ACBS this weekend.