Pinarello Gavia, Columbus FRX (1995)

To me, red is not just a color; it is the beating heart of Pinarello’s legendary cycling heritage. This build is a personal tribute to the iconic red steel Pinarellos that dominated the professional peloton from 1980 to 1995. It’s the color of legendary teams and champions: Inoxpran ~ Pentole Posate (1980) & Cinelli ~ Conte Rosso (1981) – Battaglin; Reynolds (1982–1988) & Reynolds ~ Banesto (1989) – Delgado, Indurain; Ecoflam ~ Alfa Lum (1987); Del Tongo (1989–1990) & Del Tongo ~ MG (1991) – Cipollini, Chioccioli; Mercatone Uno (1993–1995) – Eros Poli, Cipollini. Throughout these glorious years, Pinarello perfected high-end steel racing frames across models like the Record, Montello, Giro, Maxim, Dyna, and Gavia. Looking closely at classic racing photos, you see how much the pros experimented with fork setups. Fork finishes shifted between all-red, full chrome, or combinations of both. Frame geometry and tube shapes evolved as well: Eros Poli conquered giant mountain stages with a very traditional fork featuring a flat/straight fork crown, while Mario Cipollini sprinted on the thicker, stiffer fork of the Pinarello Maxim. The Build & Details: When the threads on my original steel fork were beyond repair, I took inspiration from that pro-peloton spirit of performance and experimentation by fitting a Pinarello Aria carbon fork. To complete the front end, I added a 3T Forge Ahead stem—a classic set-up that first made its appearance in the peloton with Mercatone Uno back in 1995. For now, it rides brilliantly with this modern-classic touch. But to keep the heritage alive, I have a fully chromed Pinarello Vera steel fork waiting on the shelf for the day I decide to bring it back to its completely original period-correct glory. A blend of steel heritage, iconic racing history, and subtle tech evolution. Red, proud, and built to ride!