Pete Serotta
02-12-2008, 08:47 AM
Media Contact: Tiffany Teaford
Serotta Competition Bicycles
603/707-1912
Tiffany@serotta.com
Serotta’s Kelly Bedford Unveils K.Bedford Customs
Custom Handcrafted Lugged Steel Frames with an Artisan Approach
Saratoga Springs, NY. (February, 2008) --- With the blessing and encouragement of longtime employer and frame building mentor Ben Serotta, Kelly Bedford announces K.Bedford Customs – custom handcrafted lugged steel frames. K.Bedford Customs is the longtime personal dream of Kelly Bedford - the culmination of 21 years of frame building and design experience at Serotta.
“At Serotta it’s been a little over a year that we discontinued the last of our lugged frame models (CSI) – those type of frames for a Serotta came to an end now that the company’s focus is on welded steel and titanium, bonded carbon, and bonded carbon and titanium. We field requests to build lugged steel frames, but the demand has diminished to a point where it’s just not logical anymore. Though I know other techniques, my hands-on experience is in classic brazed lugged frames. For a long time I’ve been wanting to build this type of frame again, and the only way is to do it is on my own,” said Bedford.
K.Bedford Customs is distinctly separate from Serotta and will operate as a stand-alone brand 100% independent of Serotta’s Saratoga Springs-based design and production facility. All frames will be consumer direct – Kelly can be reached at kbedfish@yahoo.com or evenings and weekends at (518) 538-8055. “Despite this ambitious and time consuming outside venture, my current position as senior design at Serotta remains unchanged,” reassured Bedford to decades-worth of Serotta fans.
K. Bedford Customs will offer road, cross, track and touring frames. Geometry will draw on 20 years of knowledge Bedford has accrued at Serotta and every frame will be painted by premier finisher Joe Bell of California. Including custom finishing, K. Bedford Custom frames will be priced in the $2,500-$3,500 range.
On the subject of fit….“I will not conduct fits, but if someone wants a custom fit I will work with their numbers and discuss them with their fitter,’” commented Bedford. “If there’s one thing I’ve learned about fit it’s that it’s foremost in owning a truly fine bicycle.”
“Lugged steel frames is where every frame maker begins, while steel doesn’t necessarily compete with carbon and ti, it’s still a viable choice for many riders and a source of pride for many frame makers. Kelly Bedford chooses to work in steel the way any other artist chooses to work in oil paints or watercolors. As his friend and employer for over 20 years I applaud his desire to carryon this tradition,” said Ben Serotta.
Founded in 1972 by owner and master frame builder Ben Serotta, Serotta Competition Bicycles designs, manufactures and distributes premier class bicycles from its headquarters in Saratoga Springs NY. Distinguished by over 30 years of benchmark setting performance innovations like its "Colorado Concept" shaped tubing, the "S" bend chain stay, and the first fully customizable 100% carbon fiber bicycle, Serotta also leads the industry with its renowned personalized bicycle fit technology. Professional cyclists, including Olympians and World Champions, have claimed numerous prestigious victories on Serottas fueling the company's continuous pursuit of hand-built perfection.
www.serotta.com
Serotta Competition Bicycles
603/707-1912
Tiffany@serotta.com
Serotta’s Kelly Bedford Unveils K.Bedford Customs
Custom Handcrafted Lugged Steel Frames with an Artisan Approach
Saratoga Springs, NY. (February, 2008) --- With the blessing and encouragement of longtime employer and frame building mentor Ben Serotta, Kelly Bedford announces K.Bedford Customs – custom handcrafted lugged steel frames. K.Bedford Customs is the longtime personal dream of Kelly Bedford - the culmination of 21 years of frame building and design experience at Serotta.
“At Serotta it’s been a little over a year that we discontinued the last of our lugged frame models (CSI) – those type of frames for a Serotta came to an end now that the company’s focus is on welded steel and titanium, bonded carbon, and bonded carbon and titanium. We field requests to build lugged steel frames, but the demand has diminished to a point where it’s just not logical anymore. Though I know other techniques, my hands-on experience is in classic brazed lugged frames. For a long time I’ve been wanting to build this type of frame again, and the only way is to do it is on my own,” said Bedford.
K.Bedford Customs is distinctly separate from Serotta and will operate as a stand-alone brand 100% independent of Serotta’s Saratoga Springs-based design and production facility. All frames will be consumer direct – Kelly can be reached at kbedfish@yahoo.com or evenings and weekends at (518) 538-8055. “Despite this ambitious and time consuming outside venture, my current position as senior design at Serotta remains unchanged,” reassured Bedford to decades-worth of Serotta fans.
K. Bedford Customs will offer road, cross, track and touring frames. Geometry will draw on 20 years of knowledge Bedford has accrued at Serotta and every frame will be painted by premier finisher Joe Bell of California. Including custom finishing, K. Bedford Custom frames will be priced in the $2,500-$3,500 range.
On the subject of fit….“I will not conduct fits, but if someone wants a custom fit I will work with their numbers and discuss them with their fitter,’” commented Bedford. “If there’s one thing I’ve learned about fit it’s that it’s foremost in owning a truly fine bicycle.”
“Lugged steel frames is where every frame maker begins, while steel doesn’t necessarily compete with carbon and ti, it’s still a viable choice for many riders and a source of pride for many frame makers. Kelly Bedford chooses to work in steel the way any other artist chooses to work in oil paints or watercolors. As his friend and employer for over 20 years I applaud his desire to carryon this tradition,” said Ben Serotta.
Founded in 1972 by owner and master frame builder Ben Serotta, Serotta Competition Bicycles designs, manufactures and distributes premier class bicycles from its headquarters in Saratoga Springs NY. Distinguished by over 30 years of benchmark setting performance innovations like its "Colorado Concept" shaped tubing, the "S" bend chain stay, and the first fully customizable 100% carbon fiber bicycle, Serotta also leads the industry with its renowned personalized bicycle fit technology. Professional cyclists, including Olympians and World Champions, have claimed numerous prestigious victories on Serottas fueling the company's continuous pursuit of hand-built perfection.
www.serotta.com