'Modern'/Disc Bike Similar to Serotta Pronto

[ikecycke]

Every time I see a Pronto or Saratoga Race Ti pop up to the top in the galleries here, I start to dream. But as time goes on, standards evolve, and now discs are pretty much ubiquitous, wider tires are shown to be smoother and faster, etc. Plus those frames are few and far between given how short the window to get them was.

Has anyone found a newer, out of the box frame that fits what the Pronto stood for while being disc-equipped and handle up to 30c, maybe even 32, tires? Something built with racing front and center, but able to throw on a bit larger tire to smooth out the off-season miles...Or has someone had luck getting a custom built that seems to match up with that pretty well?

[nmrt]

Brad Bingham will build you a bike better than the Serotta Pronto. Seriously.

[ikecycke]

He's definitely at the top of the list if custom comes into play. I could look at those welds all day long.

Originally Posted by nmrt

Brad Bingham will build you a bike better than the Serotta Pronto. Seriously.

[nmrt]

I know I am going to sound like a shill for him. But it really is not (only) about the welds. I own two bikes made by him for me. Yes, the welds border on metallic pornography. But what he has a knack for is build you the bike that really rides the way you want. He has a knack for choosing the right tubes, his mitering is exquisite (perhaps one reason why the bikes ride so well), and his attention to detail throughout the entire bike building process is immaculate.

In my mind, getting the bike's geometry right is not that big of a deal. Where Brad sprinkles his magic is how the bike with the said geometry rides.

Originally Posted by ikecycke

He's definitely at the top of the list if custom comes into play. I could look at those welds all day long.

[GonaSovereign]

"Every time I see a Pronto or Saratoga Race Ti ..."

It seems like you should be taking a very good look at the bikes now built by those same people. No22.

Here's their race bike that takes 30s no problem.

[Wakatel_Luum]

Originally Posted by nmrt

Brad Bingham will build you a bike better than the Serotta Pronto. Seriously.

I agree with this.

I'm going to go to Bingham or Seven or Merlin to build me a Ti frame duplicating my current bike but with disc brakes and accommodate tires up to 32mm.

[NHAero]

I think that No. 22 fills the bill nicely. Having said that, a Bingham might even cost less and will be made custom for you.

Mine is my favorite bike of all time.

[nmrt]

I have the No22 Aurora you linked. Not the new 2024 version but the older 2020 version. The geometry has not changed between them, just the looks.

As nice as my Aurora is, it is certainly no "race" bike. Of course one can race it and come away impressed. But it has a long-ish wheelbase, a long-ish chainstay, and a high-ish trail (in the 60s) for it to be a proper race bike.

Having said that, If I were to have only one bike (and the choice was between a proper "race" bike and the Aurora), it would be the Aurora without a sliver of a doubt.

But then again, you can pay the folks at No22 to design a custom "Aurora" that will have a proper race bike geometry -- 405 mm chainstay, 97X mm wheelbase (for a size 54), 74 deg ST angle, and a trail of 56 mm.

But then again, I think Brad Bingham would do a better job.

Originally Posted by GonaSovereign

"Every time I see a Pronto or Saratoga Race Ti ..."

It seems like you should be taking a very good look at the bikes now built by those same people. No22.

Here's their race bike that takes 30s no problem.

[nmrt]

Having had experience with the current Merlin, I would not compare them to Bingham. One of them plays in the Champions League while the other in the MLS (before Messi got there).

Originally Posted by Wakatel_Luum

I agree with this.

I'm going to go to Bingham or Seven or Merlin to build me a Ti frame duplicating my current bike but with disc brakes and accommodate tires up to 32mm.

[merckxman]

Maybe the Scappero by Serotta, yes they are in business.