I.F. Corvid is the latest Blacksmith build, and boy is she a beauty.
Paul claims that the Corvid has the most sophisticated ride quality of any carbon bike he has ridden.
http://blacksmithcycle.wordpress.com/20 ... on-corvid/
Build is Chorus-11, Zero-G's, ENVE 6.7's, Vittoria tires and ENVE components with an Antares saddle.
Enve all around seemed right, since the Corvid tubeset comes from the Utah folks.

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Blacksmith Cycle - bespoke bicycles - info@blacksmithcycle.com
Website: http://www.blacksmithcycle.com
Stage-Race Distribution - the world's finest bicycles
Website: http://www.stage-race.com

Those wheels look even better in person. Isn't that an Aliante saddle?

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Cannondale CAAD 10 63cm || Cannondale Flash Carbon 29er || Cannondale Evo 63cm

Nice. The Corvids always look good.

Is that a 90mm stem?

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Don't be alarmed.

Looks like an 80mm or less stem. I typically run 90mm's on my builds and that is far, far shorter.

I had to do a second take because on initial glance with such a high seat height, ultra short stem and deep wheels it looked like a hipster's "fixie". But it isn't, obviously.

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Exp001

It is a 90.
And yes, Aliante, of course...good catch. Was thinki of the Antares on my bike.
Paul is a fixie kind of guy, but this is a roadie

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Blacksmith Cycle - bespoke bicycles - info@blacksmithcycle.com
Website: http://www.blacksmithcycle.com
Stage-Race Distribution - the world's finest bicycles
Website: http://www.stage-race.com

Looks smaller than my 90mm's. Weird.

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Exp001

Was it a new (ie, custom as std) frame? It doesn't look like a small bike, so 90mm seems a compromise. I'm trying to work out why?

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Don't be alarmed.

Cool bike, but I really think shallow rims would look so much better on that bike. those massive wheels might be aero, but they just looks like monster truck wheels on a Kia Picanto...

And 1+ on a short stem making it look like a hipster/fixie bike compared to the normal very long, horizontal stems of road racing bikes.

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.::. Taking the hobbits to Isengard since 2001 .::.
My bikes:
Parlee Z3SL: DI2,THM, EDGE, Gravitas and loads more (5,79kg)
S-Works Transition: Sram Red, Xentis and more
Pinarello F4:13: Campagnolo SR11 and Racing Speeds and more (SOLD)

That short a stem must make it nastily twitchy too - why would anyone spec such a short stem on a pretty damn expensive custom bike?? If you need the stem that short on a bike of that size you should really be speccing a shorter top tube.

The saddle angle is awful too - personal preference aside, the Aliante is designed to act as a 'hammock' that holds you in the curve of it when the tail and nose are horizontal. In that position it's got to be forcing far too much weight forward, and I fear for the condition of the wrists, arms and shoulders of the rider who is on this bike on a regular basis.

Nice looking, but fundamentally flawed.

Paint's a bit dull imo for such a nice frame. Shame only Chorus, this justifies Record or SR imo.

The stem and saddle angle are personal prefence for the rider. I ride my aliante dead level, but everyone's different.

Apart from that, very nice build.

The bike is not custom for anyone in particular.
It is a shop tester, hence the varied seat angle and stem length.
Oh, and it looks better with deep wheels. Sorry, traditionalists!
For you old guys, go with a Crown Jewel with Ambrosio rims

_________________
Blacksmith Cycle - bespoke bicycles - info@blacksmithcycle.com
Website: http://www.blacksmithcycle.com
Stage-Race Distribution - the world's finest bicycles
Website: http://www.stage-race.com

Agree with others that it looks absurd. Interesting wheels though ... how do they ride?

absurd? come on! i will kill someone to ride a beauty like this.

ok, that was tongue in cheek though the seatpost/saddle and stem situation looks odd. Must be a very long-legged inflexible / short torso'd rider?

some of us don't get a choice but to run a short stem on any bike though.

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"Step forward the climber and all those who worship at the altar of lightness" - R. Millar