We gave you the broad brushstrokes on why we love Dario Pegoretti’s handiwork a few days ago. Today we want to give a little more information on one of our favorite Pegoretti frames ever, the Love #3.
The secret weapon of the AC Elite team for its light and ultra stiff Columbus XLR8R Scandium tubing, the Love #3 is the bike Dario dreamed up for performance riders searching for the tuned feel of an alloy frame. According to the results of our guys and their passion for the frames, Love is a fitting name for Pegoretti’s lightest ever frame.
Continuing the tradition that he started in his work with Deda, Dario worked carefully with Columbus to make the Love’s triple-butted, 7000-series aluminum tubeset that has been fortified with Scandium and Zirconium. The addition of Scandium reduces the grain size of the alloy, giving it greater strength and the Zirconium helps the material stand up to the elevated temperatures of welding. The result is that a Love #3 can be lighter than other Pegoretti aluminum frames (like the CCKMP and Fina Estampa), but will be stiffer, more durable and more dent resistant.
The fine details include: Beefy, 30mm chainstays, alloy KGB-style dropouts, a replaceable alloy derailleur hanger, dropped top tube/extended headtube on sizes 58 and above and the beautiful Pegoretti headtube badge. Call for details…
Here’s what the guys on the team have to say about their Love #3’s: “Going up some of the toughest climbs and down the gnarliest descents while racing has given me absolute trust in the machine that Dario built for me. Not only am I infused with confidence, my Love #3 quiets my doubts and allows me to concentrate on the task at hand…..suffering.” - AC Rider Chris Turner.
“Rides like nitro-glycerin, corners like an X-acto knife, is metal in a world of repeatable plastic and is hand-made by the master himself.” - AC Rider Ian Tuttle.
“A simple and calculating ride that gives one the confidence to push limits. The huge chainstays make the Love #3 super responsive and stiff whether accelerating up a steep climb in a road race or attacking out of a corner in a criterium.” - Chris Johnson.
OK. That should have you interested.
Dario builds the Love #3 in size with 1cm increments from 48-cm to 62-cm. Custom geometry (which includes any Pegoretti paint scheme) is a $220 up charge. If it’s only custom paint that you require, put an additional $220 on top of the Love #3’s $3300 stock price. *Please call though, prices vary due to color options and paint schemes. Also, Prices for 2010 will be going up slightly…
Right now we’ve got a 52CM and 58CM Love #3 in orange and a 57CM in the ‘Manovella’ paint scheme and if you want to custom order a Love #3 or any other Pegoretti, it’s roughly an eight month wait. *Very rough quote! But worth any wait!
Call the shop 415.389.5461, email or come by to talk about how we can custom build your next Love.
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