Velo City: Bicycle Culture and City Life

Blue Ton Izoard: Yves Klein Blue Spoon Customs

Blue Ton Izoard: Yves Klein Blue Spoon Customs

Artist Yves Klein is famous for creating an impossibly blue ultramarine which, when combined with polyvinyl acetate, achieves a matte effect that makes his artwork look like other-worldly renders. It’s called International Klein Blue, and you can’t just mix it up and spray it.

Blue Ton Izoard: Yves Klein Blue Spoon Customs

Spoon Customs’ latest customer, Andrew Rumble, asked them to work on a concept that would mimic this blue, for a trip that would see Andrew journey to Col D’Izoard — the climb upon which Spoon developed the original Izoard RR race bike — then over Col Du Bonette (the highest paved mountain pass in Europe) to the Alpes Maritime region and the City of Nice, where much of Yves Klein’s work is proudly displayed.

Blue Ton Izoard: Yves Klein Blue Spoon Customs

The arresting effect of the original Klein Blue is caused by a combination of pigment and polyvinyl acetate or PVA (basic craft glue) which can’t be used on a bike frame. A 2K Matte binder is available, but it’s not matte enough, reflecting way too much light.

Blue Ton Izoard: Yves Klein Blue Spoon Customs

The solution was found in an automotive product developed to give a soft touch to car door handles. Most aren’t designed for exterior application but after extensive experimentation, Sam Weeks found one robust enough for an exterior finish that also gives a similar effect to that of the PVA reacting with the pigment in genuine IKB.

Blue Ton Izoard: Yves Klein Blue Spoon Customs

Another hallmark of Yves Klein’s work was the use of gold leaf. Spoon Customs regular paint-slinger, Sam Weeks, is somewhat of an expert in laying 24k gold leaf, evidenced by the down tube and fork branding, as well as the Columbus dove on the seat tube.

Blue Ton Izoard: Yves Klein Blue Spoon Customs

The bike is a custom-tuned version of the Izoard RR, built with Columbus Spirit tubing, expertly TIG-welded by hand in Northern Italy by Spoon Custom’s fabricators. It is finished with Deda’s Super Zero kit, painted to match the mesmerizing frame.

Blue Ton Izoard: Yves Klein Blue Spoon Customs

The rest of the ensemble consists of Campagnolo’s new Record 12 groupset and their new 60mm WTO Bora wheelset. Brooks’ All-Weather C13 carved Cambium and their Rubber Bar Tape complete a very continental bicycle.

Spoon Customs are consistently turning out a portfolio of bikes that are both classic and contemporary, simultaneously brash and stylish, and each one is a surprise. To start your own custom project, send Andy an email.

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