July 29, 2025
BOTW: Harrison's Scarab Santa Rosa
Some bikes start with a spreadsheet. Others with a sketch. This one started with a reputation and a really unique paint job. Harrison already knew he wanted a Scarab. He had seen the Colombian builder’s work online: bold paint, steel seams, and a personality baked into every frame. So he...
Julius Berith
July 23, 2025
Startups on the Start Line: The Double Life of Samantha Klingelhofer
Today I’m catching up with Samantha Klingelhofer – AC’s newest racing ambassador and SF Bay local. Samantha isn’t a full-time racer. She’s a full-time venture capitalist with a race calendar squeezed between diligence calls and investor decks. But make no mistake: she’s racing. Hard. A late entrant to the gravel...
July 21, 2025
Ride Report: 1,000 Miles on the Baum Celaris
About BAUM… In 2010, I ordered two frames from the other side of the world. On a whim. It was this tiny company (just an Aussie named Darren) building what we thought might be the next big thing in custom bikes. I saw some photos on an internet blog and...
Chad Nordwall
July 14, 2025
Ride Report: First Miles on the Lightweight Meilenstein ART
When a new wheel shows up at the shop, I don’t usually unbox it myself. This one I did. We’ve heard rumblings for months – and in January Matthias told us it was official: Lightweight was doing something new. Not just a revision, but a complete ground up rebuild. This...
Chad Nordwall
July 08, 2025
BOTW: Bubblegum 911 X Sarto Raso
We started this one back in February, and let’s just say it got out of hand in the best possible way. The client? A name we can’t say out loud, but turns some heads in the right circles. The brief? Build a no-compromise road bike that captures the spirit of...
Chad Nordwall
July 08, 2025
Introducing ENVE SES 4.5 Pro
You’ll see them under Tadej Pogačar. You’ll see them in the Tour. Starting this week, you’ll see them on the shelf at AC. SES 4.5 Pro was built at the request of UAE Team Emirates for the Grand Tours. It’s a ground-up re-engineering of ENVE’s proven aero platform, shaped for...
Julius Berith
July 01, 2025
BOTW: Magnificent Mosaic RT-1
In a world of wireless shifting, disc brakes, and full integration, this build takes a different path—simpler, lighter, and deliberately analog. David showed up with a clear vision: a rim brake, mechanical drivetrain road bike that climbs like a goat, descends with composure, and doesn’t need a USB cable to...
Julius Berith
June 24, 2025
BOTW: A Dream Sarto Raso Takes Flight
JP's Sarto was one of our favorite builds we've had a chance to be a part of. Not just because we connected on our mutual love for all things aviation, but also because he was just fun to work with. When we started talking about the various builders and bikes...
Julius Berith
June 17, 2025
BOTW: Colnago Designed to Slice the Wind
We love what we do. It's an absolute privilege to build some of the world's most beautiful bikes for people from all over the globe. Every bike tells a unique story and inspiration can come from anywhere. For Jorge, his inspiration came straight from none other than Tadej Pogacar and...
Julius Berith
June 10, 2025
Sarto Bicycles and Skyler Taylor Go Big On Gravel
So it's been a big year for gravel at Sarto Bicycles. You have launched a new gravel bike, the Sarto Raso Gravel, and now you have signed your first Professional Gravel Racer Skyler Taylor in the states. Can you tell us a little about how this came about and what...
Julius Berith
June 10, 2025
BOTW: A Neapolitan Sarto Raso
When we start working with a client we like to ask how they found out about us, it's often because of the journal. Chris found inspiration in a prior Sarto Raso build and when it came time to sit down to talk about what he'd like, it became more or...
Julius Berith
