It’s standard practice, as the year approaches its final weeks, to reflect and review on our latest journey around the sun. Some people like to set new goals. Others enjoy sending their friends and families a lengthy recap of their year. Here at Glory – we remember our favorite builds.
Colnago C64 with Shimano Dura Ace Di2 9150 and Enve SES wheels
The C64 is still handmade in Italy. While the PJWH’s duochrome paint scheme isn’t as audacious as many of Colnago’s previous frames, it finds beauty in the simplicity.
And that beauty is celebrated and highlighted by the black and white of the rest of the build kit. This is a bike that begs to be ridden and anyone would be happy to oblige.
Time Alpe D’Huez 01 with Campagnolo Super Record 12 Speed and Bora One 35 wheels
Time’s in-house carbon weaving process, done in their factory outside Lyon, France, has allowed Time engineers the freedom and flexibility to tailor each tube, every part to maximize efficiency and ride quality.
While Time might not enjoy the same notoriety as other brands, there is no way anyone can pass by the Alpe D’Huez without a second, or third, glance. We love the carbon weave, the shapely tubing, and traditional feel of the frame. And coupled with Campagnolo’s newest iteration of Super Record, this is a bike that is truly ageless.
Wilier Trestina Cento10 Air Disc with Shimano Ultegra Di2 Hydro 8070 and Zipp 303 wheels
The Wilier Cento10 Air Disc was ahead of its time. Does offering a disc bike with an integrated bar stem that hides all cables from sight sound familiar? It does now, but the Cento10 Air was one of the first.
And to ride a bike that has the cleanliness of a track bike, yet be able to shift, brake, and coast, is nothing short of a miracle. When you add Ultegra Di2, the best bang-for-your-buck components and Zipp 303 wheels, there is nothing that can stop this bike.
3T Strada Due with Campagnolo H11 EPS and Bora wheels
The 3T Strada was designed to be the most innovative bike in a decade. Its focus on modern innovation lead to being only compatible with disc brakes and left out the front derailleur entirely. After a year of some success and some criticism, the Strada Due was released. Same bike, but with a front derailleur tab.
While it is funky to look at, this bike has great lines, rides like a beast, and grew on me the more I looked at it. Campagnolo components give it an even more distinct taste of rare and elusive.
Bianchi Specialissima with Sram Force 1x and Enve SES 2.2 wheels
The Specialissima is Bianchi’s ‘climbing bike’ and this build took that concept to an extreme. The frame weighs a scant 780 grams but is more than just a light bike. It was given 5/5 stars on BikeRadar and judged to be Best Super Bike in 2016 when it was released.
It is a very traditional looking frameset, so outfitting the bike with Sram 1x seemed to be a juxtaposition. But similar to many contraditions, it surprisingly worked for this build – finished with an Enve cockpit and Enve SES 2.2 wheels.
Ibis Hakka MX with Campagnolo H11 and DT Swiss ER600 wheels
The Ibis Hakka MX is a simple gravel frame. It has everything you need; ability to be set up as 1x or 2x, 650b or 700c, a threaded BB, and a price that allows you to spend a little more on your components. Like this build that got a Campagnolo H11 upgrade.
Gravel bikes are supposed to blur the lines between road and off-road and putting a Campy groupset on an off road machine is the perfect way to honor it.
Pinarello Dogma F10 with Campagnolo H11 EPS and Bora One 35 wheels
Pinarello calls their Dogma F10 a Natural Born Winner and looking at this bike, it is easy to see why. The F10 has a similar appearance to a shark; sleek, agile, with the capability to ferociously snap at any moment.
Its sleek Italian lines are complemented by Campagnolo’s curved shifters and the swooped Aliante saddle. Gunmetal and orange never went together until now and like the first taste of a vice, we cannot stop thinking about this bike.
Look 695 Heritage with Shimano Ultegra Di2 8050 and DT Swiss wheels
Look’s 695 is a bit of a collectors item. Each year it sees slightly better carbon, better cable management, or a new rear brake placement, but the fluid design, C-stem, Zed2 crank, and kink in the top tub near the head tube have remained since its release in 2011.
Indeed, it’s the paint schemes that have changed most and without a doubt the Heritage is the best. Showcasing Look’s Mondrian scheme in a flamboyant manner, along with matching white bar tape and saddle, this build blew us away when it was finished.
Factor O2 with Dura Ace Di2 9150 and Vison Tech wheels
Factor burst onto the scene a few years ago when they sponsored Pro Continental team One Pro and quickly made a name for themselves with brilliant bikes and components (in the form of Black Inc).
Their all rounder frame, the O2, has been incredibly popular with our customers this year – and for good reason! It looks fantstic, rides like a dream, and is easy on the scales.
What set this bike apart was the incredibly cool turquoise color, Cane Creek eeBrakes, and Vision tubulars to round out a sub 14 lbs/6.3 kg bike that still features the Black Inc integrated bar/stem.
Ibis Mojo HD 4 with Shimano XT
We don’t get a lot of mountain bikes coming through Glory Cycles, which is a shame. But when we do, they are guaranteed to inspire shredding and tearing up the dirt.
Ibis has poured the latest tech in geometry, suspension, droppers, and more into the Mojo HD4. Its aggressive geometry provides stability on the trickiest downhills yet retains the ability to sprint back up.
Open U.P with Shimano Ultegra Di2 Hydro 8070 and Boyd Kanuga wheels
Open set the gold standard for gravel bikes and have not looked back. Their U.P. and U.P.P.E.R. framesets are versatile enough to win the local Tuesday night ride or The Iceman Cometh mountain bike race! The clean aesthetic and simple lines are reason enough why this bike has catapulted into the limelight.
This particular build features Di2 1x with an XTR clutch rear derailleur. Glory mechanic, Ruston also set it up so the right shifter shifts down and the left shifter moves the chain up, similar to Sram eTap.
Ready for the bike of your dreams? It’s as easy as sending us an email or calling to get started. We would love to help. In fact, that’s our new years resolution. Here’s to the bikes we get to build and you get to ride in 2019!
