“Rides with mates” can mean quite a few things to different people. In Lee’s case when we asked him what he’d be using his new bike for he really meant 2-5hr fast paces group rides. He needed a bike that would perform, turn heads and last for years. XCR’s natural corrosion resistance means he can use the bike all year round with little maintenance – perhaps even on the odd cheeky commute.

We chose oversized tubing to give the responsive ride Lee wanted, but kept the seat post size at 27.2mm for added comfort. It was also important that we kept some more classic features which really show off the fact this is a hand made steel bike. The bi-laminate head tube and exposed stainless back end constantly remind you of the frame’s genesis. The modern/classic vibe meant we could stretch to a cutting edge Campagnolo EPS V3 groupset and carbon rimmed Tune wheels. Killer. Paint colour is always a tricky one but Lee drew inspiration from a trip to the race track – Mercedes/AMG’s Solarbeam yellow is not shy (or cheap).

First feedback from Lee on his new bike has been pretty positive! “Chuffed with the bike!  Having not ridden steel since my youth it’s quite a strange sensation.  I’d say while my bespoke carbon frame could be described as a lively GTI the Saffron feels more like a refined Maserati.  The speed is there but you almost don’t know you are doing it until you look at the Garmin.”

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