July 27, 2023
BOTW: A Rarest of the Rare Prova Integrale
THE BUILD Frameset: Prova Speciale Integrale Group: Shimano Dura-Ace Power Meter: SRM Origin Dura-Ace Wheels: Partington V2 Tires: Vittoria N.EXT 32mm Saddle: Fizik 00 Ceramic: Ceramicspeed coated bb, coated rear derailleur pulleys, coated hub bearings and coated headset bearings and pedal bearings Cockpit: ENVE Titanium: stem bolts, bottle cage bolts,...
Chad Nordwall
July 21, 2023
Interview: Jon Partington on the R-Series MKII Wheels
The disruption of the past few years cut far and wide. But for Australian bike wheel manufacturers Partington, when the global shutdown put the brakes on momentum, they took the opportunity to reimagine their MK1 R-Series wheels with a more sustainable mindset, accelerating their roadmap to execute a new design...
July 20, 2023
The OSBR Gravel Edition Wrap-Up
This year's OSBR was right up our trail, a gravel ride that butted cross-country-level dirt sections against endurance-level road climbs. And all in the sort of heat and exposure that had us wondering if four or five bottles of sunscreen would be enough to get through the day unbroiled. As the ride kicked...
Ben Jones
July 17, 2023
Skinny Tires and Singletrack: Skyler Taylor on His New No. 22 Aurora
AC family member and sponsored rider Skyler Taylor has been wearing the orange and blue since he was a kid on the Above Category Junior Racing Team. Back then, his lycra was loose, and his style even looser, a pure talent who could keep a tight line on the singletrack...
July 06, 2023
BOTW: 'An Italian Affair' Sarto Raso
This week we have the pleasure of presenting an impeccably clean example of Sarto's new Raso. Let's start with the build details: Frameset: Sarto RasoGroup: Campagnolo Super Record EPSPower Meter: NoneWheels: Lightweight Meilenstein EVO, Schwartz ed.Tires: Vittoria Corsa ControlSaddle: Fizik Antares 00Ceramic: Ceramicspeed coated bb, coated OSPW, coated hub bearings...
Chad Nordwall
June 28, 2023
BOTW: William's Classic Ciavete Responsorium
After receiving, riding and thoroughly enjoying his Enve Custom Road for the last year, our client wanted to add a true classic to his collection. Something steel with timeless style, handling and shifting, with a single concession to disc instead of rim brakes. And as for paint, classic in the...
Mike Wilson
June 21, 2023
BOTW: Brennan's Sparkly Unbound Orange Mosaic GT1-45
This week we are taking a look at another of our resident racers, Brennan Wertz's Mosaic gravel race bikes, his Unbound Orange GT-1 45 featuring a generous amount of ENVE carbon, ceramic and titanium bits. Frameset A venerable Mosaic GT-1 45 adorned with an eye-catching orange-white fade with a generous...
Ben Jones
June 21, 2023
OSBR Gravel Edition 2023: July 16th
The weather is finally warming up, and the dirt conditions are prime, so it seems like the perfect time for our first ride event of the year, the OSBR Gravel Edition 2023. Set for Sunday, July 16th, we start and finish at Above Category. Meet time on the 16th is 7:30...
Ben Jones
June 12, 2023
A Pistachio Green Dream: Sarah's Sarto Seta Plus
Full disclosure: this is the first custom bike frame I've ever had! What a treat to be able to dream up a color and visualize a style for something that I'd end up spending so much time with. Of course, when Sarto can paint your frame in any color under...
June 07, 2023
English Cycles x Above Category (Plus a BOTW)
Why have we partnered with Rob English to build what will only ever be a very small batch of frames per year (exact number TBD)? For the same reason we brought Daren Baum's frames to Above Category 13-plus years ago and, more recently, Prova, another esoteric frame manufacturer: because their work...
Chad Nordwall
June 01, 2023
The Builder's Builder: Rob English of English Cycles
For those who live by the blue light, passion is a mountain lake, drawn and renewed with each dream bike they bring to life. Yet, amidst the many builders working their craft, a British engineer by the name of Rob English stands apart. Not because he plies his trade in...
