If you’re Irish MMA Fighter Conor McGregor, then the answer is a custom road bike.
Fittingly for someone who prides himself on where he's come from, the Dubliner found the perfect frame-builder right around the corner from his hometown gym.
FiftyOne Bikes is a relative newcomer to the custom-bike world, but it has already attracted attention thanks to its blend of cutting-edge engineering and eye-catching paint jobs. And the company's founder, Aidan Duff, is a veteran of the bike business and former professional rider, so it's fair to say he knows a thing or two about what makes a good bike.
The connection came through Dr Julian Dalby, an old friend of Duff's from his racing days who is now a member of McGregor's coaching staff. The brief was simple: “I like my bling. Make me a bike that reflects my tastes.”
So once a frame was handbuilt to the UFC's star's bespoke measurements, the real work began, creating a distinctive design that did justice to one of professional MMA’s most outrageous personalities.
A ghost paint effect carries both his name and his 'Notorious' moniker across a rich, deep black frame that's accented with real 24-carat gold leaf, painstakingly applied by hand in small pieces to create a truly extraordinary result.
Roadies might think the custom Crankbros flat pedals, finished in black and gold and inscribed with 'Notorious' to match the frame, don't belong on such a dream racing bike, but they were a special request from the McGregor camp, owing to an old ACL injury that he has to carefully manage while training.
