Rouleur Desire often takes us off the beaten track, with weird and wonderful locations providing beautiful, contrasting backdrops to the finest tech.
For issue 19.8 of Rouleur – the last of 2019 in fact – we kept things local with a bit of cross-discipline action. Where is the last place you’d expect to find a premium, top-of-the-range road bike? Mmm, you’ve got it, a BMX track.
Welcome to another photo wrap-up, where metal ain’t dead and steel is real. We’ve got an abundance of the tough stuff to show off. As ever, we also had an abundance of the best kit and accessories with threads from POC, Le Col and Gore, as well as tasty shades from 100% and Alba Optics. Look out for a follow up on our clothing picks soon. For now, we’re all about the bikes.
Where to start? How about with one of the most prestigious frame builders around – Pegoretti.
The new frame stays true to its origins: stainless steel, hand-painted and naturally, dressed in full Campagnolo. We first clapped eyes on the complete frame at the 2019 Rouleur Classic and as Pegoretti’s first frame under new successor – Pietro Pietricola – we were keen to squirrel it away for a snap or two. With really fine painted details and lovely touches like a vintage saddle with perfectly matched red bar tape, this could be a collector’s dream.
Sticking with the metal medley, De Rosa surprised us with a left-field inclusion for this particular shoot: a new-age vintage bike named, rather aptly, Nuovo Classico – New Classic.
Lugged steel is reminiscent of De Rosa’s first forays into frame-building, ensuring the Nuovo has all the characteristics of an original with the finishing and finesse of modern production.
Italian component manufacturer Deda came on board to supply ‘original’ finishing kit, which leaves a complete package that wouldn’t look out of place in a Grand Tour photo from 50 years ago. We’ve got Campagnolo Super Record once again, and who could ignore that stunning Ferrari red?
Our favourite of the trio – not that we would normally allow favouritism – is the Titanium build from South London based brand, Isen Workshop. Not only is the frame expertly crafted, but it’s been beautifully painted, with the thick tubing proving the perfect canvas. It was a show stopper in the Bespoke Boutique at the Rouleur Classic, but it looks even better under the winter sun.
The build is extravagant too. SRAM’s eTap Red AXS is paired with Enve wheels and finishing kit. For more on Isen Workshop, head over to their website.
Last, but certainly not least, is Bianchi’s ultra-light platform – the Specialissima. It came dressed in Shimano, brewing controversy in the ranks as we debated the most anecdotal of rules.
In unmistakable celeste, the Specialissima is Bianchi’s mountain goat, inspired by Marco Pantini’s iconic Mercatone team bike. With carefully matched bar tape and saddle, Bianchi really own that shade and wear it with pride.
