White Label

• Everything about the new TATI White Label line of steel road frames is done.

  Everything, that is, except for the white labels.

  Framesets, $500 with custom powder coat.
  Completes, from $1500 with Rival.

  They've turned out much lovelier than planned -- in fact, I'm headed back to the drawing board to revise the Black Label design as these are simply too similar. The frame is a departure from previous TATI steel effors, with a little bit of hydroforming here, some subtle teardrop shapes there -- but still with an emphasis on classic lines and all around performance.

  I've opted here for the steel fork option (the standard build use a white carbon fork with an aluminum steerer), handbuilt Velocity wheels, and a Campagnolo Centaur drivetrain (save for the SRAM Red crank). The rubber are limited edition Schwalbe Ultremo R.1s in orange, which, while not tubulars, do have a certain je ne sais quoi ride quality about them. Twice on this morning's ride, I swore I was riding old Clements... This is about as indestructible a high performance road bike as you're going to find. Dive into corners, jump ditches, take shorcuts through gravel, and crash with impunity. I know I plan to. It's OK -- this bike can take it.