Ruedi's Passoni Cicloprato

After featuring Abraham's gorgeous Colnago C68 last week, it's now fellow Co-owner Ruedi's turn to share a recent project. This week, we're featuring his new Passoni Cicloprato. With a bike like this, Ruedi is all set up for winter in supreme style.

Here, he explains how it all came together.

"Every year I look forward to fall riding, when the morning air gets crisp, the tree colors change and the sun starts to throw softer light onto our countryside. This is also the time when my all-road bike comes out for the next six months.

I love the wider tires with more grip and comfort on leaf-covered roads and for cushioning me against those potholes that have inevitably opened up again. For many years my loyal winter ride has been a first-generation gravel bike that, despite a few upgrades, is now showing its age. The quick-release skewers at the axles are the giveaway. So it was really time to start looking for its replacement.

I liked the idea of a titanium frame for winter riding. More resistance to salt damage and more resilience on rough roads means fewer worries and plenty of opportunities to enjoy the gravel roads in the area throughout the year. Therefore, I picked a Passoni Cicloprato.

As Passoni states: “This bike challenges the adventure with low weight and great handling making the Cicloprato alive, no matter the surface under its tires.” That was exactly what I had been looking for, so I pulled the trigger.

This is my first Italian bike and I wanted to make its identity part of my build theme. So, I selected a Deda package including the seat post, dynamically shaped Deda fork and a fully integrated cockpit with the Italian brand’s gravel handlebar. I also added my first set of Campagnolo wheels and will be trying out the Selle Italia SLR saddle.

The groupset is the only element of the bike where I chose not to go for an Italian solution. I needed to try out the just-released Shimano GRX Di2 – I just like that product too much.

That said, I decided to replace the original crankset with something spectacular made in titanium from a real modern-day craftsman: a Sturdy 3D-printed crank including anodized crank bolts to match my paint job. The iconic Passoni green has always been a favorite of mine, so the paint scheme is a vital part of my custom build.

What makes this new addition even more exciting is that we just visited the Passoni factory outside Milano a couple weeks ago. What an amazing experience that was, being able to talk to the actual person who built and worked on my frame. It was incredible to see these talented artisans in action with their obsessive attention to detail and commitment to quality of the highest standards. Tradition has a huge value at Passoni, but at the same time they continue to analyze all aspects of the production process, constantly evolving their bikes for the future.

To say I can’t wait to find out how this bike rides is the understatement of the week!

Stay tuned for some special-edition anniversary frames being released that we have seen in production."

— Ruedi