Returning to The Bench

In the winter of 2017 I stopped refusing to deny the itch that’s been as much a part of me as my DNA.. it was time to design and build bikes again.  You can find out everything there is to know about my two new bicycles- Duetti and aModoMio by going directly to the company web site Serotta Design Studio or you can read more about the lead up below.

My a modo mio bicycle.

When I decided that I needed to build myself a new bike, that’s all I focused on. I wanted to make my one bike, “my way”- a modo mio.

Although aModoMio is largely crafted with steel (the fork and a seat post insert sleeve are carbon fiber), my project was not some “steel is real” retro-driven love affair. It was more of a personal quest—could I re-examine Serotta’s breakthrough design principles and re-imagine, re-design and re-tool them based on the latest alloys and component offerings of today? Could the Serotta secret sauce be incorporated, anew, in the aModoMio?

Secret sauce? Former elite racers and hard-core aficionados keep returning to their now-older Serotta as favorite bikes for a simple set of reasons—the subtle aesthetics and performance qualities that were unique to that legendary brand. With a ride that has been described as equal parts sublime and torrid, its inspiring performance is not really “like” any other bike in any material because no other bicycle is quite “like” a Serotta. Honest.

After many months of effort, thousands of dollars in proprietary tooling and development, careful building, then (most importantly) riding the finished product, I can say with confidence and pride that it was worth the effort.

Now, you can have your own aModoMio, made my way, just for you.

Your aModoMio is a bicycle you can trust.

In the 40+ years I’ve been in this trade—and after thousands of conversations with cycling customers—I’ve come to realize that what most people want from me is a trusted opinion. My cycling opinions are tacitly expressed in the construction and componentry of the aModoMio. Every detail and component has been considered and evaluated—with as much thought devoted to details avoided as to the details applied—so that your purchasing and riding experience will be enjoyable, confidence inspiring, and anxiety free.

What kind of bike is the aModoMio

aModoMio is a modern road bicycle for the way you ride today. It’s designed with a collaborative mindset so that the frameset best highlights component performance, and the component selection best highlights the frameset’s capabilities. And because each aModoMio is made-to-order, the complete machine best highlights the way you ride.

Endurance bike? Gravel grinder? C’mon, those are names conjured up by an industry hoping to convince you to buy another bike that you don’t need. Unless you are competing in very short distance events, any bike should be capable of being your all-day companion. As for gravel? The aModoMio is engineered to optimize the riding you are likely to do 95% of the time and with a little skill, there’s pretty much no road you can’t ride, including gravel. Just ask Tiffany.

aModoMio Frame & Front Fork 

The frame and fork design has been updated to deliver that famous Serotta Colorado Concept ride with today’s preferred component choices. Tire clearance is based on today’s wider and taller sizes (25, 28 preferred sizing); a slightly stiffer cockpit is made to balance the super-stiff crank sets and handlebar stems that are now standard. If disc brakes have been selected, the fork, main tubes and chain stays are beefed up to withstand the higher stress loads that come with the new trend in braking.

aModoMio geometry

Of course your aModoMio will be fit for you, but my default theme of the fit is meant to highlight the great performance potential that your bike’s technology was designed for. Comfort-fit geometries characterized by shorter reach with higher hand position at the front end have become common on many “road endurance” bikes. But unless you really need to be quite upright, bikes designed that way are just not as exhilarating to ride. I’m not claiming to have the fitness, power, or flexibility of a youthful competitive athlete, but I am doing more crunches, planks, and stretches while eating just a little less and enjoying the ride much more.

To find out more about aModoMio, Duetti click Serotta Design Studio