Since I live vicariously through Danielle’s stories about her trip to the Independent Fabrication factory, I want to fill you in on a bike that she left out of her post. The bike pictured is a very special XS. It will be on display at the North American Hand Built Bicycle Show on March 2-4 in California. The frame’s titanium lugs were first polished to a mirror sheen and then coated with Titanium Nitride (that’s the same stuff they coat high end drill bits with). This process leaves an extremely tough finish on the bike and a strikingly unique and beautiful golden tone. This bike represents IF’s first frame to receive this finish option. The carbon fiber tubes were finished with a harlequin clear coat which rounds out the bike. Oh yeah… and that head badge is made of real gold!
And the Campy gruppo completes it! Wise choice, that. Sets it all off nicely.