New Saffron build

Had this in the pipeline for what feels like forever, though now, this week, it's just going under the torch. Spent the bet part of 2 years faffing around the design, and trying to stick (crowbar) in 'nods' to all the ace bits of steel builders that sparked my interest in it all.

Geo as per the attached. A touch on the stubby side, though that's bikefit doing it's thing around my unflexible mamil self and Cinelli integralters being impossible to find in 1 1/8 x 42 wide x stem length less than Cavendish...

Funky bits to note off the top of my head...
Curved seat tube (as used on the Yamaguchi frames) with ISP
Curved (single arc) seat stays (similar to a Hetchins...)
Bi-laminate lugging where possible (so on-trend...)
Dura Ace di2
Cinelli Integralters
Wheelset tbh. I got burnt (though more than fairly resolved by Wiggles guarantee dept) by Madfibers...so you'd think I wouldn't look at another carbon wheel, right? Right?...http://www.equinoxcarbonwheels.co.uk/shop/typhoon/ Is the latest idea. I hope I grow out of it tbh

Colourwise the seattube, BB, inner bit of bilam headtube (and other cutouts) and forks - black, the rest in dark blue gloss with flecks of black. Lug lined in gunmetal grey to match dura ace.

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Crazy!! With suitably crazy wheels to boot if you go for the typhoons!

Interesting design!
I'd go for plain wheels with few if any logos to keep the frame as the main focus.
Are you putting your name on the chain stay?
Doing so would be a bit naff I reckon.
What tubing is being used?

Looks badass. Paint?

No, I think it's some sort of specialist software - BikeCAD maybe?

Colours as below....Also gives some detail in to the bilam/(fake-ish) lugging going on.

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No, I think it's some sort of specialist software - BikeCAD maybe?

lol

No, I think it's some sort of specialist software - BikeCAD maybe?

I lol'd

Frame design looks amazing!

Right, Someone might need to shoot me re: wheelset.

I just can't being myself to get the typhoons (fingers burned too much with Mad Fibers...).

I have swooned over the looks of this wheelset since forever (Giant TCR Ext pros or something - see below attachment?), despite barely any (none!) good experiences by anyone that did anything other than look at them. The also need an Enco 11 speed cassette to give any chance of fitting. Still God, LOVES a tryer, right? And I can convince myself they'll be a good 'wet' wheelset as they have alloy rims :).

But for the 'best' wheelset, I'm verging towards Rolf Prima Ares. Either the 60 or 40 mm versions are available vaguely within my price range (£1k ish), and they look nice (when stickers are off they'll be nice plain black just like bits of the frame...)

(hmmm, pics linking isn't working?)
http://branfordbike.com/images/library/Zoom/rolf_ares6_12_z.jpg

or

http://redkiteprayer.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/IMG_9329.jpg

The frame is pretty OS tubing-wise, and with integralters is will be nice and aero-y, so the 60mm might not be too offenisve (the original spec was using forks from a boardman TT bike with the hidden brakes...)

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Ares 6

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Ares 4

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surely for the cost of those equinox you can afford a set off zipp 404s, cant see why youd relly look a lot further unless you are desperate to be "different"

Tubing wise...
Chainstays - Columbus Max
Seattube - special TrueTemper curved
Seatstays - no idea - Columbus something, though are being curved in house
Downtube/Toptube - Columbus Spirit OS
Forks - Columbus Grammy carbon

I suspect that it'd look best to let the Integralters set the agenda for the rest of the components - it's such a strong design that it would benefit from the rest of the parts looking like they belong with it.

DA 7700 and something like the wheels from this Klein maybe?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/371495244231?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

No the shallower Rolfs are a good call

IMHO super wide rims like zipp/hed/enve look really ungainly with narrow steel down tubes

That frame is pretty whacky - do you not think 'unconventional' wheels might send it from being a nice, but quirky build to being ugly?

What's the thinking with the rear wheel being pulled forward under you like that?

Better for polo, obvs.

Easy manuals

imho drop the bend in the seat stays. they make it look like the bike is about to give in under the riders weight...

This could go so well, or so badly.

I really hope well

Well...It's finally here and photographed. Admittedly not the most engaging of "My build..." threads though it's been quite a journey this end!

Overjoyed at the result, and Matthew (and everyone at Saffron) was awesome to work with and believe in the dream!

http://www.saffronframeworks.com/build/daniels-concept-road-bike/

Also made it to be included at the GCN coverage of the Bespoked cycle show...#prouddad

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OdG6xEowmis&feature=youtu.be&t=39

That looks amazing! A piece of art.

This bike is a right polished turd.