Stinner Frameworks has been turning heads with its superbly crafted and colourfully painted metal and titanium bikes since getting into the handmade scene in 2012.
Stinner Frameworks is a small operation out of Santa Barbara, California, but I’ve noticed their bikes the world over – from the Pacific Northwest to Europe and Australia.
These lean, clear, performance-oriented machines stand out not just for their precision engineering but additionally for his or her eye-catching, in-house paintwork. What began as an alternative choice to mass-market bikes has now turn out to be a home chief in top-tier, customized metal and titanium frames. Sourcing high-quality supplies from the U.S., Canada, and Italy, Stinner bikes have turn out to be synonymous with craftsmanship and efficiency, incomes their place in “dreambike” standing over the previous decade.
Now, Stinner is making that dream extra accessible with the launch of their “Stinner Choose” program, providing a few of their hottest fashions in six inventory sizes, two paint schemes, and full builds. With this new program, you possibly can have a Stinner bike in days, not months.
Stinner is launching this new enterprise mannequin with the Carrizo, a metal all-road steed handcrafted in the identical Santa Barbara workshop by the identical group that has constructed the Stinner repute.
“The ‘Choose’ program offers clients the perfect Stinner gives with out the wait or potential confusion related to a customized bike,” says Stinner.
“Whether or not you’re new to biking or trying to improve your expertise, the Choose Collection delivers the perfect mixture of efficiency and sturdiness, handcrafted from premium metal for a easy, responsive experience.”
What’s extra, these inventory bikes can be found for $1,695 for a frameset and $3,895 for an entire construct – an attractive worth on this planet of handmade bicycles.
(Picture credit score: Billy Sinkford, Clipless Communications)
Why that is thrilling:
As mass-produced bikes proceed to climb in worth—taking a look at you, $12,000 ‘superbikes’—handmade bikes just like the Stinner Carrizo have gotten increasingly interesting.
For a similar worth as an abroad factory-made bike, you possibly can go for a motorbike that’s made proper right here within the USA, one by one, with the craftsmanship and premium, sustainable supplies many mass-market bikes merely cannot match. What can also be interesting is the sense of individuality and delight in supporting a small, passion-driven home enterprise over mass-market giants.
In fact, going totally customized—the place the geometry and paint job are made only for you—is the final word bike-buying expertise; the inventory fashions present most of the identical benefits with out the hefty price ticket.
Many U.S. producers have been embracing the inventory choices mannequin of late, enabling them to satisfy the demand for high-quality bikes, streamlining manufacturing and decreasing wait instances whereas nonetheless delivering the craftsmanship these manufacturers are recognized for.
Amongst its stock-model rivals, the Stinner Choose program stands due to its accessible pricing. At $1695 for a frameset, it’s practically half the worth of many handmade framesets available on the market and rivals the prices of mass-produced framesets like Specialised’s newest alloy Crux.
Meet the Carrizo Choose
(Picture credit score: Billy Sinkford, Clipless Communications)
With 40mm tyre clearance, a efficiency geometry and future-proof UDH dropout, the Carrizo is Stinner’s “journey all-road bike” constructed to function a “good companion for the lengthy journey forward.”
The Carrizo Choose frameset is hand made from light-weight Columbus Zona metal tubing, paired with a carbon fork, and powder coated in both Mint inexperienced or Desert tan. With fender mounts and room for 3 water bottle cages, the Carrizo is a flexible workhorse, prepared for year-round adventures or commutes.
The whole construct utilises SRAM’s entry-level however wonderful APEX AXS wi-fi, digital groupset, an Easton cockpit and DT Swiss wheels.
Product Spec:
- Accessible in 6 sizes (50,52,54,56,58,60)
- Made in Santa Barbara, CA
- Colours: Mint and Desert (powder coated for sturdiness)
- Body Materials: Columbus Zona Metal Tubing
- SRAM Apex AXS 12 Velocity Construct
- Tire Clearance: 40mm
- Easton Cockpit / DT Swiss Wheels
- Three bottle cage places and fender mounts
- MSRP: $1,695 (frameset) $3,895 (full)
Carrizo Choose – First Impressions
(Picture credit score: Billy Sinkford, Clipless Communications)
I had the prospect to swing my legs over the whole construct Carrizo Choose for a couple of quick check rides –each on the street and on gravel.
The Carrizo Choose instantly impressed with its well-fitting geometry, easy experience really feel and vigorous character.
As somebody on the shorter aspect (5’5” or 167cm), it’s uncommon for a motorbike to suit me comfortably off the rack, however the Carrizo nailed it. In truth, the attain is inside 2 millimetres from my typical gravel match. As a former racer, my place on the bike tends to be pretty aggressive and that’s simply achieved on the Carrizo just by eradicating a stem spacer or two. The body sports activities a contemporary, progressive geometry that’s performance-oriented but comfy for lengthy journey days.
With fast and responsive dealing with, the Carrizo is pleasantly sporty. The Columbus Zona tubing blends the smoothness metal is understood for with simply sufficient stiffness for highly effective acceleration. On lengthy straightaways, the Carrizo zooms alongside effectively whereas it’s equally enjoyable to experience within the woods, zig-zagging on some mild singletrack.
I believe with the fitting tyres, the Carrizo may aptly deal with every little thing out of your first cyclocross race to a mixed-terrain endurance experience.
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The burden isn’t dangerous, both. Metal tends to get a rap for being heavy however trendy metal frames are constructed from light-weight high-strength tubing. Able to experience, my 50cm demo bike weighed in at 9.7kg (21lbs). For comparability, the DSW Crux, which Specialised claims to be the lightest alloy gravel frameset available on the market, weighed in at 9.2kg, able to experience.
I really suppose the largest limiters to the Carrizo construct are the DT Swiss E1800 Spline 23 wheelset and the SRAM Apex XPLR cassette. Now, I’m an enormous fan of the SRAM Apex AXS drivetrain, however the cassette is hefty, and if I have been to buy the stock-build Carrizo, the cassette can be my first improve.
The wheelset, full with cassette, brake rotors and tyres, weighed in at 3.7kg. As soon as I swapped out the wheels and the Apex cassette for the Pressure model of the identical 10-44 vary, I used to be in a position to drop the bike down to eight.6g (18lbs). That is when the bike really got here alive, particularly on the extra technical off-road terrain.
I’ve solely had a couple of quick jaunts on the Carrizo, but it surely’s clear that it’s an ideal bike that gives a enjoyable, sporty experience and the craftsmanship and aesthetics you simply don’t get from a mass-produced body.
It’s a pleasure to experience, and the worth tag, the frameset specifically, is tough to beat for a home made, Made within the USA bike.
