Simon Mottram’s and Luke Scheybeler’s Rapha brand has a lot to answer for: making us look at any other brand of kit with disdain, generating scorn amongst those not wearing it and embarrassment for those who are (and vice versa), inspiring us and making us all deeply envious of their Continental riders, who explore the road less travelled upon custom bikes by local builders.
Max Lundbeck is unwittingly becoming a specialist in the frames favoured by the Rapha Continental teams — refined, functional, mainly steel frames that are comfortable over long distances yet swift enough to make you feel the wind in your hair as you traverse strange roads in foreign lands. His latest frame was built for a customer who appreciates Rapha’s aesthetic in clothes and bicycles.
The Lundbeck ‘Continental’ is a lugged Columbus Spirit frame with XCr seat and chain stays. The stem is custom also, matching the frame, and sits above an ENVE 2.0 fork. A virtually complete Campagnolo gruppo was requested, predominantly Athena, topped with Chorus levers. The hubs were laced by hand to Ambrosio rims, and even the pedals are sourced from Vicenza.
Special thanks to Max Lundbeck for the photos; see more on his website.
