For the bike nerds...

That is a timber-clad (American cedar) steel-framed garage.

At last found the time to build it up. The cahin is not on obviously but I wanted to photograph it before the light went.

The full spec is:

Columbus XCR Vergine custom frame by Zullo, Columbus carbon fork, Chris King Headset

Paint is Grigio Titanio with polished details

Camapgnolo Record  11sp

Wheels DT Swiss RR415 laced to Chris King road hubs, Salso QR's (and seatpin)

Ritchey Superlogic Seatpost, Carbon EVO SL bars and 360 stem

Fiz'ik Arione saddle and tape

Look Keo carbon pedals

Cables are (v cool) Yokuzuna Reaction

Elite Ciussi cage

Details of fork and the polished/painted design..which looks amazing close up.

Nice. Perhaps not quite my style, but very nice nonetheless. I especially like the way the fork has been painted to match, rather than leave it carbon coloured. Nice choice of parts. (Apart from the pointy bit at the back of the saddle which does nothing . Unless you have a tail.). The CK stuff is really nice and will last a lifetime. I love the sound of the free-wheel in CK hubs.

Looking good, just ready for the weekend! Enjoy.

Bruce, that is very very pretty!

Dear Bruce,

A very fine looking mount!

Enjoy running it in!

ATB from George

Imagine it looking as crisp and loved at 28 years old!

ATB from George

PS: Only six speed times two Campag gearing! 53/42 on the front cogs.  13, 15, 17, 19, 21, and 24 on the back ...

Congratulations Bruce, a splendid looking bicycle indeed. Have fun with it.

Now that is nice. 

Bruce..all this bike p0rn is overwhelming but we need to know........how does it ride?

...also did you send Zullo the geometry?

Marky

I had a custom Parlee built after a full bike fit. I just sent Zullo the .pdf CAD file. It needed a very little tweaking to cope with slightly different fork rake and that was it.

Riddden it twice now, on my normal winter wheelset so I can make a direct comparison with my other bikes. First impression is that it is pretty stiff and lively. It has definite 'spring' to the ride but is not  sloppy such as when climbing out of the saddle and I get the impression it is far sharper than my other steel bike. I have a regular ride and time-wise it was pretty close to my Parlee over the first hour although some of that was probably the effect of trying pretty hard on a new bike! 

The Parlee has a magical direct feel and almost ghosts over rough tarmace but this Zullo has a quite different character, which is nice. I would stilll take the Parlee for a long hard hilly day, but the Zullo is certainly not going to feel like real hard work in comparison. I had a Ti Colnago CT2 for ages (before I rode it into a wall) and I think the Zullo has a similar quality, lively but tight and quick.

I do like that stealth-bike Colnago. You'd better be quick to ride that. The saddle to bar drop would certainly murder me too. Matching up the wheel and tyre labels is even more obsessive than me I notice.

Bruce

There are two approaches when buying a new Zullo - you go to an authorised retailer, e.g. Mosquito in London or you contact Tiziano direct. I went direct and it was a very positive experience, ending with a nice day at his workshop and a bike built by the chief mechanic of the Italian national team who had just happened to pop by.

My experience was that I made an e-mail enquiry and sent a bike fitting set up which had been done in London. This was complemented by a very detailed form from Tiziano, which can be found on his website. I ended up with a custom geometry based on a combination of factors not just relating to measurements. This did not follow directly the details of the original fit but I deferred to Tiziano's judgement. I think Bruce used the geometry from one of his other bikes. Most Zullo bikes nowadays are custom build.

I have the Inqubo and Bruce, iirc, the Vergine. I have ridden up to 100 miles on the Inqubo with no issues, it is not as stiff as my carbon Colnago EP but is very comfortable without being soft. It is the bike I grab when not thinking, summer dawdles, trip to that special baker that happens to be 10 km away rather than the one on the doorstep...

Absolutely no regrets with the purchase and I am looking to justify getting another frame - perhaps the TVM tour replica. Bikes, cameras, hi-fi - you have to draw a line somewhere 

I ordered mine through Mosquite Bikes in London.

The design is a standard one but I asked for a specific colour.

Dear Bruce,

We need to see some signs she has been out for a dash in the inclement conditions of the season. Then you will have Christened her!

Mine goes out seven days a week, come Hell or high water!

That's the point - it fees you from the comfort zone as the wet means nothing if you are warm and energised.

However fond we are of the hardware a cycle [like a replay set for music], is just a tool to bring enjoyment.

ATB from George

Indeed George although I suspect Bruce will give his new steed a little more TLC than he first let on - we've all done it right?

Dear Mark,

I remember the first ride out on the Carlton when more or less finished as a restoration project - after the re-enamel and re-assembly with classic [suitable period Campagnolo] NOS or second hand running gear. It was a fourteen mile dash in pouring rain to collect my [then] Volvo 240 from a straight through MOT pass! 

I was drenched, the bike was filthy, and she had begun to serve her raison d'etre.

Apart from one six week period when I was unable to use her after the crash last April, when both she and I were out out commission till I could collect her after a safety check and rebuilt back wheel, she continues to serve her purpose six or seven days each week. And the more loved for being a worker.

I don't reckon that the old girl suffers from a lack of TLC! Runs sweet as a nut ...

See picture a few above for evidence, though the tyres are muddy!

ATB from George

First thing I noticed George - very slack!

I'll clean them in the Spring! 

ATB from George

With all these race thoroughbred machines about, what about top speeds on two wheels? For me two stick in the memory...

Fastest ever was 51mph down a long steep and straight hill in the Chilterns. Could see for miles ahead so felt safe going for it. Got a speed wobble, panicked, may have left an unfortunate trail behind me as a result and took several mins to regain composure - although obviously tried to act cool when joining fellow riders at the next corner

Also 45 mph into a tunnel on the Etape. Sadly not having the sense to remove shades before entering said tunnel. May have let an unfortunate...etc. One bloke hit the wall a few mins before and had the paramedics on the scene. Not a happy sight.

My fave bit of the TdF is watching the aerial helicopter shots of the riders as they fly down off the mountain tops. How they can take corners at those speeds clearly I will never know! Brilliant camera work from the French too (versus our Olympic cycling coverage debacle for example).

WE certainly have. When I first got my Vintage Flandria, before I went on holiday, I would dismantle it and hide it in the back of the loft. Wouldn't dream of taking it out in the rain.

My wife claims I love it more than her. Don't know why she thinks that, but must admit I've let her walk home from ASDA with the shopping, in the rain a few times.

My wife claims I love it more than her. Don't know why she thinks that, but must admit I've let her walk home from ASDA with the shopping, in the rain a few times.

Those carrier bags held on the bars can swing into the spokes potentially damaging one. You did what you had to FC.

Well believe it or not, I pedalled the Carlton on a rough but flat road to 30 mph plus a few decimal points, and later on the same trip did 40 plus downhill, but hit a stone checking the speed and got a wobble!

Since the crash I am content with 25 under power on the flat, but may yet get my nerves back.

I plan a 180 mile each way trip in Norway from Oslo to Skurdalen and back. this also involves a 3000 metre gain and many intermediate rises and falls. Two days each way of course, but I plan an average speed of 10 mph, so that I can easily beat the plan.

Will take photos.

Not sure whether to get an Alpine front pair of 36/50 in place of my current 42/53?

What do you think? The gradients are never steep, [say one in eight] but can go on for several miles all the same. Of course coming down the other side will be bliss!

My grandparents made the trip on single speed cycles in 1946, when they were much younger than me, and there was less traffic. They took two days each way ...

The destination:

Skurdalsvatnet:

ATB from George