Justin Fox
Love the graphic design details all over the frame and fork.
Shuriken 4 spoke carbon wheels from Stiffi Wheels. Not hard to support local when they make the best.
Rotor Crankset.
Pedals from Brotures Japan.
The weight weenie in me had to have these. Probably the lightest brake levers in the world at 46g a pair. Definitely the sexiest!
Izumi Mash chain and Ultegra calipers.
Strong-V grips from Blue Lug Japan.
Thomson everything. All familiar quality MTB stuff from back in the day, the mountain biker in me wouldn’t have it any other way.
In good hands. I got Tom from Hell on Wheels BMX to build the bike.
I’ve spent countless years doing no physical exercise whatsoever. Going to the gym isn’t an option as I’ve never been able to do anything that I’m not obsessed with, but I’ve gotten back into bikes, in a big way!
A little over 2 months ago I pulled my 80’s Paino road bike out from storage and dropped it off to Europa Cycles for a service. I would have done the service myself but I threw out a LOT of stuff in the move to my new apartment including a bicycle stand and tools. One quick ride around Centennial Park was confirmation that this bike, as lovely as it is, is just downright dangerous (the brakes literally don’t work!).
Any excuse to get a new bike though, right?! (N+1!). I did a lot of research (the best bit!) and found myself wanting to build a drop bar mountain bike. John Tomac was my hero as a kid, and I’d still sell my left testicle for his bike.
After much deliberation I pulled the trigger on a Canyon Grizl CF SLX 8 EKAR gravel bike. There are many firsts; it’s my first gravel bike, my first carbon frame and my first new bike purchase since 2008 and I fucking love the thing, but hey, N+1 had me curious about a modern road bike. I’ve never owned a modern road bike. Always wanted one, but the thought of shaving my legs and wearing lycra and click clack shoes always stopped me.
I researched the fuck out of carbon road bikes, but steel is real. I spent weeks planning a fast modern steel road bike build, but ultimately I thought it was high time I drop the stubbornness, well… not all of it! I started hunting for an aggressive aluminium road bike. It would be stiff, fast, heavier than carbon but lighter than steel. I felt like I was onto something. A bit different, a little naughty. A little rebellious.
Enter the Specialized Allez.
Took me ages to find one in my size, and one day one popped up for sale in another state but at a discounted rate so I pounced. I’ve since put some 65 deep aero wheels on it, and next step is to replace the heavy Shimano 105 groupset. Picture of how it look at the moment here.
But hey, N+1. Wasn’t long before I started pining for a fixie again, and when I stumbled on Dosnoventa I saw Helvetica Neue on the downtube, and well. I see Helvetica, I buy! I had to have it.
I bought the frame first (which came in from Brotures in Japan), and spent some time just staring at the frame in my lounge room before I started ordering parts for it. At some stage I reconnected with BMX legend Tom Boorman of Hell on Wheels and I thought it would be perfect to get him to build the bike for me.
I’m SO happy with how it turned out! Forgotten how awesome riding fixed is. What a fresh experience! Feels like riding a bike for the very first time!
Specs List
Frame: Dosnoventa Los Angeles (small)
Headset: Columbus
Seatpost clamp: Columbus
Wheels: STIFFI The Shuriken 4 + STIFFI Track Cog 17T + STIFFI Titanium Track Nuts
Tyres: Continental Gatorskin 700x25mm Black Edition + Continental Race 28 700×20/25c 60mm presta valve tubes
Brakes: Extralite UltraLevers 3 + Shimano Ultegra + Shimano brake pads for carbon rims + Jagwire brake cable outers + alloy stick-on guides + black teflon coated cables
Crank: Rotor Direct Mount Track Axle 30mm with Spider BCD144x5 ALDHU 165mm crank arms
BB: Rotor TRACK30 BSA
Chainring: Rotor Round Ring BCD144x5 Track 49T
Pedals: Brotures INFEEL
Chain: Izumi x MASH Racing Track Chain Black & Silver
Stem: Thomson Elite X4 90mm 10 Degree 31.8 1-1/8″
Bars: Thomson XC Carbon 730 x 31.8 x 0mm (flat) x 8 Back Sweep
Grips: Strong V
Seatpost: Thomson Elite 27.2 x 410mm
Saddle: Selle San Marco Shortfit Dynamic Narrow
Weight: 7.73kg