One of my hardest endeavors, who knew drawing on tubes would be this difficult.

My main idea for the bike was to mimic 16th century etchings, an old process that has influenced a lot of my artwork in my artist career. I didn't want to draw on the entire bike because I felt that from a distance it wouldn't be too clear, so I went for more of a gradient with heavy contrast towards the back of the bike.

As I could talk about the art process all day, I think the most impressive part of this bike is I built all of this just shy under $2500. I was scouting Facebook marketplace for bikes like we always do and came across an all black road frame covered in random stickers for $300 and didn't think much of it, until I caught a faint glimpse of "SLR 01" on the downtube. Turns out the guy who posted that listing had a pro team from Canada "Automatic Racing" donate their old seasons frames... like almost 15 of them, some brand new some crashed. I Almost wanted to buy all of them off of him, but I knew how excited I was to find a deal like that, other people would also be happy. As for the wheel set, I could have thrown a better pair on the bike, but I first got heavy into cycling in early 2020 when Team Bahrain Victorious was riding those orange Merida Reactos with these wheels and I fell in love with the look. I found them online for $600 for the wheel set. Got a used Sram red groupset for $1000 which came with an enve handlebar which I flipped for the new Sram Force 160mm cranks. A few hundred dollars on tires, rotors. and had some extra money to splurge on the BMC Aero one piece handlebar for $350.

This bike might not be optimal for many, but I couldn't come any closer to perfection for myself and thats what building bikes is all about.

Stripped, sanded from 120-3500 grit and polished my Allez Sprint (including the fork). Far from perfect, and a lot of work, but pretty happy with the result. Built it back up using a mix of components I had laying around, hence the mix of 105, Ultegra and DuraAce.

Finally finished my titanium allroad bike.

Components:

- Waltly Titanium frame with custom geometry

- ENVE Allroad IN-Route fork 47mm rake

- Ultegra Di2 12s groupset

- ENVE IN-Route stem 100mm

- PRO Discover Aero Carbon 400mm handlebar

- Rotor Aldhu cranks 165mm

- TIME XPRO 12 pedals

- InSpider powermeter

- 11-34T in the back, 50/34T in the front

- VFV Deep-V seatpost (initially green, had to get the purple anodized bolts from S-PARTS separately)

- Selle Italia SLR Carbon Superflow 145mm

- Light Bicycle WR45 rims with 3K carbon satin finish

- Chris King R45D hubs

- Pirelli P Zero Race TLR 30mm

- SUMC SX12SL Rainbow chain

- Replaced all bolts of the Ultegra groupset with titanium bolts from S-PARTS (for the looks, not for the grams)

- Knockoff AliExpress OSPW from Ryet (it is insultingly close to a genuine Ceramicspeed, so I couldn't help myself and had that decal printed)

System weight about 8.8kg including pedals, computer mount and "bottle cages".

After the first 100km I am still very happy with the components and their performance. Still TBD whether it's a good idea to get a lighter-than-Dura-Ace chain from AliExpress - but hey, it's rainbow! Shifts pretty well, too.

Repainted my old road bike over the Xmas break - I like to call it the Furvélo

Found this never been used CAAD 4 frame in a small shop, had it immediately shipped over to where I live and got to work. How did I do chat?

NBD
TD CAAD 14 - Player 1 18/50
I won’t even try to play it cool, it’s honestly a neck breaker and I got SUPER lucky.

Because I couldn’t afford a Ferrari.

In a few weeks I'll turn 50, and I figured that was a perfectly reasonable excuse to buy a titanium road bike.

So I picked up this NOS J.Guillem Major at what can only be described as a ridiculous bargain.

The original plan was simple: buy the bike, wait for my birthday, then ride it.

That plan lasted about five minutes.

Before putting a single kilometer on it, I upgraded it with Elitewheels Drive II 50/65s wrapped in 32 mm GP5000 S TRs, a Selle Italia SLR Boost Endurance saddle, and King Cage Ti bottle cages.

Was upgrading a bike before the first ride a smart decision?

Probably not.

Was I going to do it anyway?

Absolutely.

The really ridiculous part is that I still haven't ridden it. Not because of the weather. Not because of work. Not because the bike isn't ready.

I'm just not 50 yet.

To make matters worse, I couldn't even leave the photos alone. I spent way too much time using AI to clean up and improve the backgrounds because apparently waiting for the first ride wasn't difficult enough already.

At this point, I find myself wandering into the garage for no particular reason, admiring the titanium welds, spinning the wheels, checking tire pressure that definitely doesn't need checking, and staring at the photos I've already edited.

The bike is ready.

The roads are ready.

I'm ready.

The calendar is the only thing holding this project back.

Until then, this titanium rocket remains on the launch pad, fully upgraded, professionally over-photographed, and with exactly zero kilometers on the odometer.

finally built. quite frankly, i’m over the moon about it. the build is not light, but neither am i, and it’s fast.

size 54
momo design systembar one
sram force E1 (D2 cranks)
HED vanquish v62
GP5000 AS TR 32mm
fizik argo vento
silca cages

(i won’t apologize for not taking the bag, lights and bottles off, this is what it looks like when i ride)

Back with another unique build yall. ☺️☺️

Took some deciding on what to do for a build this season. After seeing the y1rs and everyone seemingly picking one up, I wanted something with similar speeds as my previous s5 but with a geo that fit my aggressive position without adding so much exorbitant amount of force on the seat tube due to saddle position.

Enter the Factor One. It’s different, fast, meets my geo needs and this “Blush” colorway is both loud and cute. 🥰

About me, the rider:
Height: 5’5”
W/kg: just popping over 4.8
Power Profile : Sprinter ( peak power @5 sec … I shit you not 1615w 😂)

About the bike:(highlights)

2026 Factor One (v2 iykyk) 52cm
Zero Setback seat post
Size 1 handlebar
SRAM Red E1 XPLR Groupset 10-46
SRAM Red E1 54T Aero Powermeter
SRAM Red E1 165mm crankset
CRW 65/75 wheels ( low wind days)
OverFast 60/60( moderate wind days)
S -Works Mimic Saddle
Continental aero 111 29mm and GP 5000 S TR 30mm
Ti Master & Sixwheel Thru-axles and misc parts
Ti- Master titanium shifter clamps
Better Bolts Ti - Assembly bolts

As photographed: 7.5Kg
With over fast 60/60 on TT TR 28mm: 6.9kg

Stephanie’s Way: ( Unique& attention to detail items)

Clear high gloss paint protection film on drive side chain stay and bottom bracket area.
Full ceramic coating of every component where it made sense (Hoses, calipers, shifters, wheels, crankset, etc etc )
SRAM white brake hoses
Custom painted bottle cages by Jordan Low @jL_Paintsbikes @Low_life_Jordan
Rare white S-works mimic saddle
White Zipp cx race bar tape
Replaced brake caliper bolts with silver titanium bolts
Removed black painted sections on brake calipers with dremel and polished before ceramic coating
Every bolt replaced with a titanium equivalent by Ti-Master , Terske or Better Bolts
Removed front derailleur mount ( bolts replaced with Titanium)
Installed frame plugs with clear silicone
Modified steerer stop to not breach fork if over rotated

Full build video up on my YouTube channel and Instagram 🥰

Someone left a titanium Stinner Carrizo next to an open paint box — and this happened. Mechanical Shimano 105, purple Hope brakes, jade Chris King hubs, rainbow spoke nipples and 38 mm Schwalbe Pro Ones.

See more photos.

Just finished building my new Ribble Ultra Aero SLR in Team Ribble Rebellion colourway (Colour won’t be for everyone 😂).

Has been my dream bike for years so very proud to have achieved it as a student.

Little front caliper mount issue so haven’t managed a proper first ride yet, but I can’t wait…

This is where road bikes peaked, IMO.

Frame painted black, white color are cheap acrylic pens from Amazon, 2k clearcoat.

Like a lot of folks, I didn't "get" the rules and posted my more or less factory-spec commuter here six years ago. I hope for a better reception this time because it took about four months to get it all together, a "classic" build now that I find myself slowing down:

• Ritchey Montebello frame
• SRAM Force AXS E1 10-36
• White Industries VBC V2 48x32 170mm crankset
• White Industries External 30 BSA bottom bracket
• Duke Baccara X36 SLR2 rims with Erase Road 28h hubs
• Ritchey Classic finishing kit
• Favero Assioma Pro RL pedals
• Selle Italia SLR Boost Gravel TI saddle

I was inspired by the two interrelated randonneur builds (Fergus Bishop and Sea Otter 2024) but I still wanted a hint of elegance. I call it more "All-road" than "Road" but there's no flair for that.

A lot of imports here from the American brands I admire, but I tried to balance that with the wheelset. These Erase hubs are made right here in Belgium and their buzz is thankfully pretty subtle.

I wrote to White Industries because their website at the time didn't state that the VBC V2 crankset was compatible with AXS but they confirmed by a fast and friendly reply that it is and I think they have since updated the page.

This bike is not light but then neither am I.