Long Distance Competition/Ultracycling, Randonneuring and Endurance Cycling - Marinoni Sportivo Frame Arrived

I have posted a few times about building up a rando style bike using parts from my old road bike and a new Marinoni Sportivo frame, customized to support 57mm long reach brakes to fit wider tires with fenders.

The frame arrived at the LBS this week. According to Marinoni, this is the first frame they have built to fit the long reach caliper brakes, which seem like a good way to go on paper. The actual measured frame weight is 4.03 lbs.

I ordered it in metallic red with white blocks and the old style Marinoni lettering. I am also getting Nitto Noodle handlebars to replace the Profile Designs on my old bike. Also decided to splurge on a Chris King "Canada" headset, an IRD stainless steel rack and silver SKS fenders.

Here is a link to the photo gallery: http://rv-there-yet.smugmug.com/gallery/4439817_3eGHy/1/265858488_Jx5mU

Here are a few photos of the built up bike.

http://rv-there-yet.smugmug.com/photos/265859319_GNDP4-L.jpg

http://rv-there-yet.smugmug.com/photos/265859493_2Zpca-L.jpg

http://rv-there-yet.smugmug.com/photos/265858710_4enYp-L.jpg

http://rv-there-yet.smugmug.com/photos/265858410_XCGwU-L.jpg

http://rv-there-yet.smugmug.com/photos/265859730_wq78y-L.jpg

http://rv-there-yet.smugmug.com/photos/265859649_YCWKJ-L.jpg

http://rv-there-yet.smugmug.com/photos/265857756_RQSuT-L.jpg

http://rv-there-yet.smugmug.com/photos/265858488_Jx5mU-L.jpg

The cost of the custom frame was less than $1000 CDN.

Very nice, excellent choice with the old style logo and 'chromed' chainstay.

What tubing is that? Columbus Airplane?

Very nice, excellent choice with the old style logo and 'chromed' chainstay.

What tubing is that? Columbus Airplane?

It's Columbus Zona steel. Can't wait to ride it.

Wow, I didn't know they made such huge downtubes and top tubes in steel and assumed it was aluminum.

very nice!

Love that red and am jealous of those curvy seatstays! I can speak from personal experience that you're going to dig that ride. Super tough, comfy and of course, Canadian. It's going to age well and you'll smile each time you walk up to it.

LOOKS GREAT!

I Just ordered a full custom Marinoni frame. cant wait to get it. this will be my commute and LD bike.

its a mixed blood beast for sure . Touring angles for the most part but with top mounted cross style shifting, shift cables will be under the top tube. canti posts with plenty of room for 28 - 35 with fenders.

I chose mystic blue with silver lettering and the chevrons that are on the touring model.

choosing the color was too hard (too many choices)

Nice frame Dude Enjoy!!

"John"

I have edited my first post with photos of the final result and a link to the photo gallery. Bon appetit.

diesal dad
What is your gearing (cluster and front chainwheel)?

diesal dad
What is your gearing (cluster and front chainwheel)?

It's an older 9 speed group with a 52-42-30 upfront and an SRAM 11-34 in the back, giving a very wide gear range. The 105 long cage derailleur shifts it just fine but you need to avoid cross-chaining.

I don't use the lowest gears very often but I live in a very hilly area with 20% grades less than 2km from my house.

Couldn't find a 53 ring, eh? Well, the 52x11 should be enough for the uphill sprints, anyway. You'll just have to learn how to spin for flat days. :p

I'll be interested to hear how those pedals work for you. What shoes do you use with them?

It's an older 9 speed group with a 52-42-30 upfront and an SRAM 11-34 in the back, giving a very wide gear range. The 105 long cage derailleur shifts it just fine but you need to avoid cross-chaining.

I don't use the lowest gears very often but I live in a very hilly area with 20% grades less than 2km from my house.

Thanks. Very nice bike.

You may want to consider swapping that stem for one with more up angle. This will give you the same position, but allow you to remove 1 or 2 headset spacers from below the stem. The benefit is less flex in the steerer tube and less stress on it. On my Marinoni, I can feel the flex when I stand over the bars, but since I got down to two spacers, it hasn't been an issue. I'll go easy on ya for hangin' Shimano off it ( Marninoni is the Campy distributor for Canuckstan)....just cause that red is so sweet.

I'll be interested to hear how those pedals work for you. What shoes do you use with them?

The pedals are Shimano PD-A520, which are one-sided SPD pedals intended for touring. Just one ride in so far but I like them. Clipping in takes a little more effort but at least I can still use my two pairs of SPD shoes, which are also used for commuting and winter training.

You may want to consider swapping that stem for one with more up angle. This will give you the same position, but allow you to remove 1 or 2 headset spacers from below the stem. The benefit is less flex in the steerer tube and less stress on it. On my Marinoni, I can feel the flex when I stand over the bars, but since I got down to two spacers, it hasn't been an issue.

Good idea. I just didn't want the steerer cut too short to start. I also plan to get rid of any of black bits and replace them with silver bits.

Good idea. I just didn't want the steerer cut too short to start. I also plan to get rid of any of black bits and replace them with silver bits.

A Nitto UI-GX stem would look great on that bike and go with your noodles. They are about the only nice silver threadless stem out there anyways. :)

Great bike, I love Nonis.

The pedals are Shimano PD-A520, which are one-sided SPD pedals intended for touring. Just one ride in so far but I like them. Clipping in takes a little more effort but at least I can still use my two pairs of SPD shoes, which are also used for commuting and winter training.

Yeah, I got a pair a few days ago, used them a couple of times, and thought they were the best clipless I've tried for LD. I'm a bit surprised I don't see more of them on our bikes and wondered if perhaps there was some problem with them that I wasn't aware of.

Yeah, I got a pair a few days ago, used them a couple of times, and thought they were the best clipless I've tried for LD. I'm a bit surprised I don't see more of them on our bikes and wondered if perhaps there was some problem with them that I wasn't aware of.

Regarding the A-520's: I have pairs on my touring bike and on my LD bike and find them very comfortable. I think there are two raps against them I have seen discussed that turn people off.

One is that they are one-sided and people instictively gravitate to two-sided which they perceive to be easier to get into. In fact, after using the A-520's for a while they are very easy to enter. And if you are doing LD's you don't need to do it very often.

Second they can be a little difficult to get out of. This is because their large pedal-sole contact area (which is the advantage of this style) creates a lot of friction on the sole of the shoe. If the sole is flexible then sometimes it can be hard to unclip. This not a question of adjustment of the pedal. Rather, a shim between the cleat and the shoe can be used to reduce this friction and allow easier exit.

With my Sidi's there is little problem but with my more relaxed shoes they do not unclip as smoothly from the A-520's.

Second they can be a little difficult to get out of.

That's an advantage, in my book! I still have the scars from the first generation Time pedals, as well as first generation Looks with the red (floating) cleats. I like to be firmly attached to the bike, even if I am just a tourist.

I am just about ready to order myself a Sportivo. I was just wondering, how is the tire clearance on yours with the long reach brakes? I want to fit 28c with fenders, but I'm assuming that will be the limit.

The other question is, I see on their website that the Sportivo is listed as having Columbus Spirit tubing in the main triangle, but it looks like yours is all Zona. Was that part of your decision, or do you know if they just make them all out of Zona now?

Thanks,
Micah