Sarto

The construction method used by Sarto was driven by the company’s desire to offer frames as individual as the rider. The tube-to-tube process allows pin-point accuracy to create a frame that perfectly fit the riders body. This is followed by ‘welding’ the joints with resin to produce tailored stiffness, comfort and performance. The excess resin is sanded back to create a seamless, perfectly shaped frame. The final step involves hand-wrapping the frame with a final layer of carbon – this step is incredibly detailed and engineers align weave patterns to ensure a perfect finish both to the touch and to the eye. 

Our decision to become a Sarto dealer was cemented after a conversation with Enrico at a trade show.

I was with a good friend of mine Matt, who loves his cycling and loves his technology. I had just finished speaking with the head of design and I joined the conversation Matt was having with Enrico...

Like so many consumers these days, Matt was asking about stiffness-to-weight ratios, carbon-fibre quality and other technical aspects common to carbon frame production. Enrico’s response seemed – at first – typically Italian and unintentionally dismissive. But as he continued, it became clear that Enrico was, quite simply, entirely focussed on what Matt wanted to get from his frameset. All the ‘numbers’ surrounding the build were inconsequential and the ride quality that Matt was after was the only thing that mattered. That’s not to say that the frame would not be stiff, light, comfortable etc – these aspects to Enrico’s mind, are a given and are there to be tuned specifically for your needs.

This was one of the most refreshing conversations I have had in the bike trade in over a decade and like most conversations that go this way, it involved an Italian. The Italian approach to bikes, frames, components, clothing – everything cycling in fact, is one that stems from genuine, deep-rooted passion rather than bottom line and bullshit, and it infuses their products like no other nation.

Ultimately, each of us have specific requirements and elements of frames that we appreciate. Sarto aim to dial into those elements to create a frame that addresses each one to achieve subjective perfection, eliminating the things we don’t need and ensuring that we get exactly what we strive for.

At this point you would be forgiven for thinking that all this personalisation must come at a prohibitive cost. It’s true that most companies offering this level of service will charge for each element of customisation – Parlee are a good example and their top end frames can cost upwards of £7500.

However, despite the level of detail that can be fine tuned by the rider, the only additional costs in your unique Sarto frame are in the paint. If you want a stock design but in non-standard colours, the price is just £209, with completely custom colour-ways costing  £479. You can take this further with custom painted seatposts and stems and Sarto will happily do this with most brands of finishing kit. It is a relatively modest addition to a very personal and unique bike.  

With frames starting at £3359 and the top-of the range (and highly praised) Seta at £4859, the price is similar to that of off-the-peg premium frames from the likes of Colnago and Pinarello, so it is difficult to see why you would not want to choose something made specifically for you, with the attributes that you want and none that you don’t.