Serottaford (CSI and CDA)

[SamIAm]

I thought I would post this here given the back story.

When Serotta officially announced they were no longer in the steel frame business, I was saddened. I guess I always held out hope that I would one day be able to get a new CSI and CDA, but this really felt like the end.

And I should add that it was probably a good decision by the new owner at Serotta.

At any rate, I thought given that they were no longer making them, there was bound to be a bit of inventory of the various tubes and fittings lying around up there, so I thought maybe I could buy the necessary raw materials and get a builder to build them up into a frame for me, naturally under the builders name not Serotta.

I had a good and connected friend make inquiries for me and to my surprise they agreed and if I got Kelly Bedford to build it for me I could even have it badged as a Serotta!

So Kelly picked up all the necessary bits to put together an authentic CSI and CDA, tubes, drop outs, lugs, forks and decals. Needless to say the master knocked it out of the park and personally signed the frames to speak to the dual heritage of the project.

They are now both bicycles and are among the best riding frames I have ever thrown a leg over, pure awesomeness! I now have about 400 miles on each bike.

I promised Bill Watkins that I would hold off a bit before posting this so that he could continue to keep his head down with the important business at hand.

This was a one time deal, so please don't distract them from the work at hand with similar requests. They are holding remaining inventory for repairs and such.

Here is, for now, the last CSI. I apologize in advance for forgetting to remove the tool bag.

I will post the level top tube CDA shortly, competition red with yellow decals.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7459/9402571406_aa89ce7eb9_b.jpg

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5442/9410740306_4da9efb4e5_b.jpg

[c-record]

This makes me weep.

Such a nice bike.

[Nooch]

very nice, and very awesome on behalf of all involved parties!

[tuscanyswe]

What a beautiful bike! A great story and a great end to serotta steel frames!

Looks just about perfect and around my size :)

[slinkywizard]

wow! so nice...understated...classy...Nice choice of components as well

[Joachim]

What color is that? Or is it white with some weird lighting effect?

[SamIAm]

What color is that? Or is it white with some weird lighting effect?

Pearl white with some gold elements that come out in the sun, Serotta has a name for it but it escapes me at the moment.

[Fishbike]

Proper bike in so many ways. Enjoy!

[alembical]

just curious about the serial number. Is this last Serotta CSI produced?

[sailorboy]

First, great idea, perfect execution and couldn't happen to a better guy (or more deserving)

Secondly, and I think I speak for many of us here, I hate you. ;)

[SamIAm]

just curious about the serial number. Is this last Serotta CSI produced?

No serial number. Its a Kelly Bedford, designed by KB, built with Serotta parts, badged and painted by Serotta.

Now, to my mind, it is absolutely the last CSI built (as who else could build the last one, but Kelly :), but it is not officially a Serotta.

[jr59]

It's perfect! Well done all the way around.

Good job with all that allowed this to happen.

That and it's just my size! :cool:

I hope you ride it for many, many wonderful miles!

[54ny77]

wow.

that is the bike serotta should be building as a semi-affordable entry point to the brand.

[mosca]

I've often imagined a supply of unused CSI lugs and tubes sitting in a storeroom somewhere. It's great to see that some of them were put to such good use in a frame that appears to be "just my size"...

Well done everyone!

[bluesea]

oh--you--nasty--boy!

[FlashUNC]

Very cool.

[cmg]

yep, killer ride. congrats. cool story too.

[rnhood]

Its a very nice looking bike, and typifies the best of the Serotta legacy. While I think a carbon fork is a better performing fork than steel, it still beckons the question as to why not a steel fork?

I would recommend taking another picture as the color is a bit off due to back lighting, or something or another. Its difficult to immediately ascertain that the color is pearl white.

[dd74]

That's very cool. It's good to see "some form" of a steel Serotta can still be produced. The question is is this more a Serotta than a Bedford or vice versa?

Or can Bedford obtain triple-butted Columbus tubes such as what the CDA uses in case Serotta would never want to produce a steel frame such as the CSI and CDA?

[Ken Robb]

It looks like "it's just my size". :banana:

[jds108]

Excellent. That is an awesome bike!

[William]

Beautiful!:cool:

And I will take this moment to say: Hang on to it. "Official" or not, it will be a collectable.







William

[bicycletricycle]

wow.

that is the bike serotta should be building as a semi-affordable entry point to the brand.

the labor involved in making a lugged bike is incompatible with "affordable entry point"

[buddybikes]

Personally I think it would of been cool to have both K Bedford's logo and Serotta's on the bike. Perhaps at least his signature.

[happycampyer]

the labor involved in making a lugged bike is incompatible with "affordable entry point"and a swaged one even more so... Even the work that goes into a CdA puts it outside the "semi-affordable entry point" category.

That's a beautiful bike. Looking forward to seeing the CdA.

[SamIAm]

Its a very nice looking bike, and typifies the best of the Serotta legacy. While I think a carbon fork is a better performing fork than steel, it still beckons the question as to why not a steel fork?

I would recommend taking another picture as the color is a bit off due to back lighting, or something or another. Its difficult to immediately ascertain that the color is pearl white.

I struggled with the steel fork/carbon fork decision and finally left it up to Kelly. He said that both would work great, but if I wanted a true CSI, get the carbon fork, so I did.

Here is an another pic that might show the color better, but it does change based on lighting

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3834/9058086392_3b33b61f6f_b.jpg

[pdmtong]

At any rate, I thought given that they were no longer making them, there was bound to be a bit of inventory of the various tubes and fittings lying around up there, so I thought maybe I could buy the necessary raw materials and get a builder to build them up into a frame for me, naturally under the builders name not Serotta.

I had a good and connected friend make inquiries for me and to my surprise they agreed and if I got Kelly Bedford to build it for me I could even have it badged as a Serotta!

It came out great. That was a brilliant thought. To the victor go the spoils!

[firerescuefin]

Personally I think it would of been cool to have both K Bedford's logo and Serotta's on the bike. Perhaps at least his signature.

Re read the original post. (Kelly signed it)

[soulspinner]

Kelly will still make you one, it just wont say Serotta:rolleyes:

[RedRider]

Great bike and wonderful concept that highlights the talented Kelly Bedford. Never happy with the status quo he can push the custom bike envelope forward with projects like the Pezcycling bike and then go back in time and do a CSI.
http://www.pezcyclingnews.com/page/tech-n-spec/?id=100596#.UfhL2Y1JMfU

[SpokeValley]

First, great idea, perfect execution and couldn't happen to a better guy (or more deserving)

Secondly, and I think I speak for many of us here, I hate you. ;)

What he said ^:)

[SPOKE]

Paint work done by Bill McDonald......he does very good work!!!!

[Ken Robb]

Kelly will still make you one, it just wont say Serotta:rolleyes:

The way I read this report Serotta is saving the remaining tubes, lugs, etc. for future repairs of existing frames. If that is true Kelly can't make another CSi.

[pbarry]

Just, WOW! From concept to execution, everything is first rate. :hello:

[HenryA]

Super nice bike and a good story to go with it.

[93legendti]

Awesome. Love it

[rounder]

Beautiful bike. Interesting concept to have Kelly go back in time to make a classic bike like that.

Any bike by Kelly is a good bike.

[rwsaunders]

Well done and thanks for sharing.

[soulspinner]

The way I read this report Serotta is saving the remaining tubes, lugs, etc. for future repairs of existing frames. If that is true Kelly can't make another CSi.

With all the butted steel tubing available Kelly can make one ride the same. It still wont say Serotta, though.....:no:

[terry]

Beautiful bike and kudos to you for the concept and making it happen. Who would have thought to do this, certainly not me. All your bikes are well done.

[jblande]

All your bikes are well done.

This I can attest to.

It's a beauty. I look forward to seeing the CDA.

Chapeau bas.

[Pete Mckeon]

:) Bedford built many of the CSIs. When he was the lead lugged builder for Serotta. :bike: Basically it is a CSI with S tubing and S painting and Bedford building and experience. I have a bedford branded bike that rides wonderfully. (With steel fork). The newest one is a TIG with a carbon fork. Both put :) on me when riding,

[fuzzalow]

Man alive, that is a nice looking bike. Elegance never has to shout.

[A.Danger]

Way to think outside the box and make this happen! Gorgeous.

[SamIAm]

Thanks for the kind words, special thanks to Kelly, Ben, Bill and Pete. CDA now posted.

[KidWok]

Gorgeous bikes. The level TT CDA is very lovely.

Tai

[Ahneida Ride]

The way I read this report Serotta is saving the remaining tubes, lugs, etc. for future repairs of existing frames. If that is true Kelly can't make another CSi.

Serotta has not been repairing it's lugged frames for quite some time.
they have been referring repair work to Kelly.

I'm guessing that Serotta has only limited quantities of steel tubes
laying around,.

[laupsi]

I do believe their stock value just went up considerably :confused:

[SPOKE]

I own two that Serotta built for me. The last one has TdF lugs & F3 fork. Kelly actually brazed it and Ben allowed him to put his signature on it too. Both are wonderfully crafted lugged bikes that I consider "best of the best" of a small selection of builders that include Sachs, Kirk, Kellogg, Weigle, Wages & Dazza.
Those of you that are CSi owners are a lucky bunch. Use them well....;)

[dd74]

If someone wants a swagged, triple-butted CDA or lugged CSI Serotta, and Serotta doesn't want to produce steel frames any longer, why doesn't Serotta contract out to Bedford? That is, unless Bedford can swag and butt his own tubes. If he can, one may as well just go with Bedford.

[Ahneida Ride]

As I understand things, There is currently a wide variety of high quality
tubing for a good builder to choose from.

Is Proprietary Tubing nowadays truly superior ?

[rounder]

The CDA is beautiful. Does it have carbon stays. I believe that you will like both of the bikes.

It is sort of cool that you are getting the last of each model. But, it is pretty sad that there will be no more new Serottas.

[spamjoshua]

Well done.

[sevencyclist]

Lovely bikes. You have great taste.