UK bespoke bike builder Spoon Customs says the ongoing increase in the price of bikes from mainstream brands means its built-to-order bikes are now no more expensive than one bought off the shelf.
Its new Sestriere is designed to prove that point. It has a high-spec build equipped with a SRAM Rival eTap AXS 12-speed wireless groupset and Zipp 303S carbon wheels, along with carbon bars and seatpost.
Spoon says the Sestriere costs less than £5,000, and less than $5,000 / €5,000 excluding duties and shipping. A frame-only option retails from £1,895.
A scandium frame
The Sestriere is an alloy bike frame built in Italy from a mix of Dedacciai scandium and 7005 tubing.
Spoon says "the geometric template of the Sestriere Scandium is straight from Spoon’s acclaimed Vars and brings that intuitive handling to a scandium chassis, opening the opportunity to own a fully custom bike to more customers.”
At the Bespoked Cycle Show, BikeRadar asked Spoon why it chose to use scandium and Andy Carr, the founder of the company, replied "scandium increases yield strength over aluminium and has an improved fatigue life, specifically over weld areas."
Spoon also says the frames can be built lighter than a standard alloy frame, resulting in a stiff, responsive frame without it being harsh to ride.
The only area of the frame that scandium isn't used for is the chainstays, according to Spoon, because the 7005 aluminium used delivers the desired properties.
Spoon is attempting to rival the Specialized Allez Sprint with the Sestriere. We asked the brand how the scandium construction differs from Specialized's D'Aluisio Smartweld and Carr replied the brand can "build the frame to better tolerances".
Spoon didn't have an exact frame weight to hand but estimates the Sestriere to weigh between 1,400 and 1,450g in a size medium.
The frame clearance is rated to 700 x 30mm at the fork and up to a 700 x 32mm tyre at the rear.
There’s a BSA threaded bottom bracket for fuss-free maintenance and headset options range from Deda angular-contact bearings to Chris King.
The purchasing process
Buying a bike from Spoon starts with a bike fit in its workshop in Surrey, included in the price. It says this takes around three hours. That's the same for the Sestriere as its higher-priced carbon and steel bikes such as the Izoard RR Disc.
The sizing and geometry figures from the fit are then used in Italy to cut and weld the tubing. Spoon says delivery will take between four and six months from the point of purchase.
“We wanted to take everything that feels good about our process and the character and ride quality of our halo bikes, and bring that to more people," says Andy Carr, Spoon's founder.
“We wanted to do so in a completely custom bike, built with no limitations on equipment and following the same involved experience of buying, designing and owning a bike made just for you, but delivered with exceptional value."
Final spec for the bike and its components are the rider’s decision, Spoon points out, as is the colour scheme. Spoon offers a wide range of colours and finishes, including bespoke designs.
The Spoon Sestriere Disc is launching today at the Bespoked bike show in London. As well as complete builds, you can buy the Sestriere Disc frameset for £1,895.
Spoon Sestriere Scandium Disc example specification
- Frame: Spoon Sestriere scandium alloy
- Fork: Columbus Futura Disc carbon
- Headset: Deda, upgradable to Chris King Inset 2
- Groupset: SRAM Rival AXS 12-speed
- Bottom bracket: SRAM Dub 68 BSA threaded
- Handlebar: PRO PLT Carbon
- Stem: Deda Superzero
- Seatpost: PRO Vibe Carbon
- Saddle: Prologo Dimension
- Wheelset: Zipp 303S Carbon
- Tyres: Pirelli Zero Race 28mm
- Price: Frameset £1,895, full builds under £5,000 / $5,000 / €5,000 dependent on spec and colour scheme
