We haven’t heard much from Adam Eldridge of Stanridge Speed lately. That is, if you don’t count his Instagram updates, giving us an invaluable insight into the hours he spends brazing, filing and machining his Highstreet Pursuit frames. Or the visible presence his bikes have had at the last couple of Red Hook Criteriums. Maybe it’s because he’s been busy polishing this stainless road bike, proving that hard work pays dividends.
Conceived as a ‘get around bike’, the most recent frame to emerge from Adam’s workshop is a fillet brazed Columbus XCr stainless steel road bike with a 73.5º seat tube and 73º head tube angle which, combined with a 42mm offset fork, “gives the rig a trail of 57mm with a 25mm tire,” Adam tells us. “Perfect for quick city jaunts. The bike is honest. No frills. No neon. It’s not trend driven. In 5 years it won’t look dated. No paint other than the tips of the rear triangle and the ghost rider on the seat tube.”
The advantages of a tailored frame by a custom builder like Adam override those found in a regular bike shop. “Both of the clients hands have been broken in the past. He’s excited to be able to get in the drops again. The bike was really designed and built to be worry free, the type of bike that can be locked up. The new Ksyrium SLS wheels are bombproof. There will be no trouble with component selection. The body positioning is semi-upright.”
“Polishing the frame with wet 600 grit for two days took longer than wet painting. As the bike ages I’ll look forward to seeing the signs of craftsmanship. The 46% silver fillets will tarnish, light sanding marks will begin to appear. It will have personality. I want people to know it’s handmade. I want people to know they’re not going to see another one.” And when you can’t ride down the road without seeing a logo-emblazoned, robot-made bike, Adam’s hard work shines even brighter.
A custom Stanridge Speed XCr road bike can be yours, as shown, for USD$5,500. Get in touch with Adam via his website.
