Photo: Stelbel photo, my frame before painting.
Stelbel
The story begins. Bike fit booked with Super Domestique in London next week…………
Part 1 – Bike Fit
Shaping my fit
So, an interesting day with Elliott at Super Domestique in London. Started with a set of reference measurements from my Pinarello and the brief was to take that as the start point for something I am familiar with and to tune that based on best recommendations from Elliott. Superficially at least, we moved things about a bit and seemingly have arrived back as something very close to the Pinarello. Waiting of the drawings with exact measurements but longitudinally from bars to saddle we are within a millimetre or so of the Pinarello though I think we have changed the offset to the BB a little.
Most significant change is to move from 172.5 crank to 170. Something I meant to do last time I changed my cranks and then completely forgot till it was too late!
Visually, I have decided to go with a slight slope on the Top Tube. While I do like the tradition of a horizontal TT, I also have pretty short legs, so a slight slope gives a better balance to the seat post/tube IMHO.
Some options to decide on what type of BB shell to go with and also around cable routing. Likely to go with external gear cables but internal hydro (the bike will be disc) and a slightly longer chain stay vs the Pinarello to allow me the option of mudguards for winter/wet use and a bit more stability on Gravel.
The frame will be Stainless Steel to be bullet proof for all season use and tyre clearance to 30mm for the odd venture on Gravel.
So a few things still to finalise – not least the colour. It will be bare Stainless in the rear triangle and colour in the front per the drawing but the precise colour yet to be picked. Sooo hard when you can have anything (but it won’t be Orange!).
Choices
Choices, choices
Part 2 – Sizing
So this is where we are at for my wee frame (in both respects!)….
Stelbel Sizing – by Super Domestique
Part 3 – Decisions
Head Tube Cable Stops
Current feeling is to go with external cable routing with stops on the Head Tube
Part 4 – Spec agreed
So going with Down Tube cable stops as placing them on the Head Tube does move them outboard of the DT a fair bit. Also considered an oversize T47 BB so that the Hydro cable could route internally but in the end decided with a standard BB and the Hydro cable will exit the DT near the BB and then reenter the right Chain Stay. It won’t really be visible and I felt that the overall looks would be better with a standard BB shell.
All ready now for me to pay a deposit and then wait a while!
Custom paint job should look good. Hopefully understated but classy. You’ll have to wait on that though.
Part 5 – Wait List!
Frame build is scheduled for Sept, starting to feel real now. Did not intend buying best wheels now till next Spring but when you are offered a set at trade price it’s hard to resist…….
Campag – but which ones….
Part 6 – Groupset.
Well, it has to be Gruppo Campagnolo. Superdomestique have quoted me for a stunning deal on a groupset. Thanks Elliott!
So it will be Campagnolo Record with Bora wheels. I’ll probably run a set of Hunt Four Seasons for gravel/winter use. Going with 35mm deep rims as I don’t race and I’m reasonably light and not a great fan of uber deep rims anyway. I also think the medium deep rims will look better with a steel tube frame.
Campagnolo Bora 35mm
Part 7
Groupset arrives – just need the frame now!
Gruppo Groupset
Part 8
Revised date now Jan 2020 due to apparent shortage of the Columbus SS Tubing. Bit disappointing but hanging in there.
Part 9
After much waiting my frame is now in production and due to head to the paint shop in January. Starting to feel more real at last! Should be getting some pre-painting photos soon hopefully.
Part 10
She is built. Received the post build photos and she is now in paint. Starting to get exited! Seems that I have Head Tube cable stops after all but as I was 50:50 between that and down tube I’m happy with that as I was wondering whether I should have spec’d that anyway. Photo updates of the bare frame. Fork is ENVE Carbon and will be painted to match the frame.
Part 11
Bergamo finally came out of lockdown and Stelbel have been able to restart and she is painted and finished. Oddly it’s been so long in germination that I’d forgotten what I spec’d for the Chris King Headset! I did haver between Blue and Red for the Chris King Headset and Stelbel logo. I actually thought I’d gone with Blue for a more subdued effect but apparently I did go with Red. The contrast does look great.
The colour is blended from front to back made up from two colours Bertulessi https://stelbel.it/build/8993/ and Wojtek https://stelbel.it/build/antenore-campagnolo-wr-compositi/
It turns out that when the top clear coat was applied the colours are so close that it’s hard to see the fade. Anyway they have offered to respray it but that would take another month or let me see it, ride it for the Summer and then if I want a higher contrast I can send it back next Winter and they will respray it. Can’t say fairer than that.
The Stem and Bars will be in matching colour.
So just needs to be shipped to the UK. So close now.
Joining the Stelbel club. SB/03 arrived today. Build to follow, will take a while.
Yeah! Photos please! I’m sure you won’t regret it. What are the plans for build out?
Photos to follow. It’s not a custom spec frame for me but still a perfect fit. This wasn’t exactly a pre-planned project, just an opportunity that came along. I have been wanting a Stelbel for three or more years, so not an impulse buy, either. I have some soul searching to do, N+1 is a little out of control. My (modern) road bikes are all Campag 10 speed builds for compatibility. I wonder if going to the newer 12 speed setup is worth it for this. Some parts might have to come from a sacrificial “N” so I don’t surpass… Read more »
I’m Campag 11Sp on #1 (Super Record), Steel Pina Sestriere (Athena) and the old Winter Bike (Chorus) (now the turbo rig) but went 12 Sp Record on the Stelbel a) because the local agent offered me a deal I could not refuse on a groupset he had in stock and b) I’m no Spring Chicken and having a shorter gear on the hills seemed a good idea! This has subsequently been proven on a local hill that hits 26% (according to Strava). I was thinking of going 11Sp for compatibility but as the dealer pointed out as the Stelbel is… Read more »
OK, here’s a photo (finally). Matching stem and post, not in the pic. Which BB spec is your frame? Stelbel lists a threaded BB now, but this is a PF30. I want to run my Campag ultra torque cranks, so sorting that out has been more complicated than I would have thought. I got a one piece bottom bracket, but found out it doesn’t fit because the shell has a narrower internal diameter. This is looking to be a slow project.
Sweeeeeeeeeeeet.
I spec’d mine to be threaded, British standard.
I got fed up with PF30 on #1 and that now has Praxis converter and has run sweetly with Campag on that for a few years now.
OK, we’re Stelbel brothers now, here’s the SB/03 full build, finally finished it I haven’t even done a real ride on it, just went around the block to check shifting, braking and general fit. Mostly old Campag Record 10 components, shown here with the Bora tubulars. I found a PF30 BB that is a direct UltraTorque fit, no converters needed. So far, so good, but everyone says they start creaking later on. I finished it just in time for the heat to arrive here – supposed to be 115* (46C) by next week.
Sweeeeet
Love the color!
Thanks, I agree. It’s even better in person.
Stelbel Part 11 – she is painted now that the lockdown in Bergamo has been lifted and they are able to get back to work.
Update in the storyline above.
So close, finally!
Stelbel Part 10
She is built! Update in text above with photos. Now waiting on the paint shop.
S-W-E-E-T!
Very nice! It gives me a little buyers remorse since Stelbel was one of my top choices. It went a different direction. I’m on month four waiting for my frame from Chris Chance. Big question – how did you decide on a color? I can’t decide and it’s driving me crazy!
Fortunately I really like the colour for the Antenore on their web site but I’ve asked them to fade it front to rear and left the detail to the spray shop as to what degree would look best. Hopefully, it will be a pleasant surprise!
Oh and after much to and fro-ing I’m going with a mat/satin finish. Apparently the mat finish is harder to keep clean vs gloss but it will be sprayed with some form of protective coat to help it shed dirt.
That’s going to look great. Did they give you a timeframe for the paint to be done?
Revisiting my previous comment, buyer’s remorse sounds a bit harsh. I know I’ll be happy with the new frame and I am getting excited about it. It’s just when you have to pick only one from several fantastic builders, it’s difficult.
Nah! Getting dates out of them is like getting blood out of a stone. It’s that Italian art thing……… I note that recently on their FB page they keep saying that to own a Stelbel requires patience! 6 months quoted will be a year next month. They could be a lot, lot better at keeping customers in the picture. As an aside – I once knew a chap who had a Ferrari, he tried to use it as an every day car (!). Anyway it broke down every time it rained (just about). So, eventually he complained direct to Ferrari.… Read more »
Stelbel Part 9
Frame is in production after delays apparently due to shortage of Columbus Tubing. Yeah! Starting to feel like Christmas Bike Time.
I feel your pain now. I just checked in about my frame build – normally it’s 12-24 weeks, I’m past 6 months now. There are supply shortages/disruptions, apparently. The builder (Chris Chance) was using True Temper tubing for years, but it was a well-known fact that they stopped making bicycle tubing recently. This frame will be from Columbus/Reynolds, I’m not sure what magic blend will be used. Still undecided about color. The more time that goes by, the more I explore different schemes.
Well, Italy is starting to get back to work but the Bergamo area was in the really badly hit zone so I just have to be patient. There are way bigger issues in the world at the moment.
Stelbel Part 8
Revised date now Jan 2020 due to apparent shortage of the Columbus SS Tubing. Bit disappointing but hanging in there.
Stelbel project starting to feel real as frame build is scheduled for Sept all being well. Part 5 updated above – starting to collect parts………
Keep the updates coming, I’m very interested in your project. I hope to visit Stelbel next month.
With a bit of luck mine might be in build by then! Currently in that waiting mode when nothing happens but hoping that soon I will get a ping to final check the spec before the build starts.
I’m back here on the site after a while away traveling. Then I had to avoid visiting anywhere on the web that would spoil the Vuelta until I watched all of the stage replays. I was so close to Stelbel in Italy, but didn’t make it to the factory/shop. I also really wanted to visit Bixxis. Alas, my travel companions (the spouse and in-laws) had zero interest in messing up our schedule for me to venture out to shop for bikes. Any news on your build?
Welcome back! In theory my frame is in build at the moment. Stelbel could be way better at keeping you informed but, hey, the joys of buying Italian!
After way too much energy spent deliberating a new build I finally made a decision. I really was focused on Stelbel or Bixxis, but came home to my roots for this one. I commissioned Chris Chance, a USA legend, for a build. Other builders offer more custom geometry for the price, but I’m putting my trust in his experience. If I have anything interesting to share about the project, I will. Which section does it belong?
Best place is in Chiacchierio. Sounds good. Still waiting on Stelbel. Their level of proactive communication is, shall we say, typically Italian! A bit disappointing really.
Stelbel project moving along, though slowly, as is the nature of these things! Part 4 updated above.
So your bike fit at Super Domestique… what is the connection to Stelbel, if any? Basically, I’m wondering if you will finalize the fit and just tell them how to build it, or is Stelbel involved in the fit process along the way? I may have mentioned, I’ll be in Italy in September and plan on visiting them and hopefully Bixxis. I think that by next year at this time I will be going through some hard decisions like you are now.
Super Domestique are their UK distributor (not sure if there are others) so Elliott designs the frame and submits to Stelbel for their approval. You could go to any bike fit and get a fit done and send the dimensions to Stelbel yourself but as it’s easy for me to get into London I decided to go and see them. They have come up with some suggestions based on their knowledge of Stelbel (and custom builds in general) that I would not have got had I done the fit in an outfit that were not as aware of custom builds.… Read more »
Stelbel -Part 1 updated in the Post