Portland’s Signal Cycles continue to develop an individual style with each frame they create, and this sports tourer, built for local rider Phillip W., is the latest addition to their elegant and robust portfolio.
The frame is constructed from Columbus Spirit, tipped with Paragon dropouts and affixed by Darrell Llewellyn McCulloch’s double over-sized lugs. The lugs have been pared back and decoratively drilled, the inlaid red dots of paint adding a subtle contrast to the metallic green paint. The overall paint scheme lends a delightful old-world character to this bike: antique white panels are capped by aqua and caramel pin stripes, and the matching Topeak pump is an essential piece of kit. The stem is also a custom piece by Signal Cycles. Campagnolo components were the natural choice of mechanicals – in fact, the frame was designed around Campy brake calipers. With fully extended pads, they allowed the use of fenders with 25C tires without requiring long reach brakes.
It’s amazing to consider that a fully custom bike that’s tailored to your own personal geometry, liveried in your choice of colors and purposefully built for your style of riding, will cost you roughly the same price as a pop-out piece of carbon fiber from any of the corporate bike manufacturers. And if the Bordeaux or Champagne regions of France are the world capitals of fine wine, then surely Portland, Oregon is the world capital of fine bicycles. Get in touch with Signal Cycles via their website.
