Bikes of the Bunch | Stainless Steel FireFly

November 15, 2012

We've featured some beautiful Bikes of the Bunch over the years and personally I think this stainless steel Firefly is up there as being one of the most stunning and unique custom projects we've seen. The owner wishes to remain anonymous, but happily let us shoot this beauty to showcase to you all on this beautiful Thursday morning.

Firefly is a small handmade bicycle company out of Boston started by Tyler Evans and Jamie Mederios who were former employees of Independent Fabrication Bikes (who make awesome frames in their own right). Their stainless and titanium bikes are beautiful, and combined with Shifter Dan (Shifter Bikes) and Andy White’s (Fyxomatosis) expertise in making this project happen, a work of art came together.

The owner of this machine is fortunate enough to have the means to take on these custom bike builds, and the idea here was to build something with a polished theme. There are a few carbon components, but this wasn’t meant to be a weight weenie project. Most of the components were chosen were alloy so they could be polished, with other small touches around the bike that matched and highlighted some of the features. The owner has gone through the journey of lightweight bike builds with carbon anywhere and everywhere, but has come full circle to feel and functionality. This one just happens to be stunning at the same time. Enjoy.

: “Extralight” stem cap, but the point of this bike was not necessarily to be light. Alloy bars and stem (Deda) gives the front end a stiff and sturdy feel which the owner prefers over a weight weenie setup.

: Chris King headset along with Deda head steam and bars, originally black which was later polished by Andy White

: Camapagnolo Super Record brakes and shifters give a nice aesthetic to match the wheels but Athena derailleurs were chosen to keep the polished steel look.

: The selected saddle was the Fizik Antares.

: Polished Campagnolo Athena derailleur

: Cannondale Hollowgram SI SL cranks were chosen because of their stiffness and the alloy could be polished to suit the rest of the bike. Rotor Ring chainrings were the owner’s preference and black was chosen to match the black ENVE wheels.

: The ENVE wheels were built up with black C-4 Hubs

: EE Cycle Works brakes. The arm, bridge and axle components give great strength and stiffness without adding weight and provide excellent braking power and modulation.

: Enve 6.7 SMART tubulars were chosen as the wheelset.

: A few more bikes in this gentleman’s collection that we’ll feature in the near future. Left image: (left) Eddy Merckx Team 7-Eleven, middle: Merckx Molteni, right: Colnago Master 30th Anniversary Edition. The Merckx Molteni is an indentical setup to the great Eddy Merckx.

tags: bikes of the bunch, campagnolo, firefly

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http://twitter.com/andbikemagazine &Bike

Now, this chap is certainly not short of a few bob – and fair play to him.

But when people say money can’t buy class, they obviously haven’t seen that swimming pool shot. That is class. Sheer class.

Good work, whoever you are.

David
http://www.andbike.cc
- Treesta
  
  Graeme Pereira from Endless Pedal first put me onto Firefly and this looks like one of the bikes he brought over from the Boston. There’s only a few around Melbourne, this one might be Justin’s but I am not sure.
  - Jim
    
    Could be right but not exactly “hot off the press”
    http://prollyisnotprobably.com/2012/03/beautiful-bicycle-justins-firefly-road/#1
Davidtcr

That really is a gorgeous looking bike, and I’m sure would be an absolute dream to ride.
Hoody

Firefly also build brilliant Ti bikes – with very tasteful embossing / graphics.
The SS here is well thought out and constructed. Kudos
scano

I hope the guy leaves the bikes on display in the house. This is Art.
Cheg

That is complete bike po*n. I need to start saving and get myself a firefly. Love the old skool bike collection too. Its good to be the king…..
Jonathan

Amazing. I really can’t fault that bike…
http://twitter.com/ben_pilot Ben Pilot

very cool :D
http://byke.com.au/ Byke

When he takes the Merckx Molteni out does he remember to take an allen key with him, for the authentic Eddie Merckx experience?
http://twitter.com/ben_pilot Ben Pilot

very cool :D
http://byke.com.au/ Byke

When he takes the Merckx Molteni out does he remember to take an allen key with him, for the authentic Eddie Merckx experience?
Porrsome153

II discovered Fire Fly by accident some months ago. Their bikes are works of art.
MJ

Awesome..those brakes are a work of art!
Surely that bike deserves a custom busyman saddle rather than an off the shelf number?…..
mw

any idea where the stands come from?
- http://www.facebook.com/pmark1bike pmark1bike
  
  PRO stand, I brought mine at Hampton cycles. http://www.pro-bikegear.com/publish/content/pro_2010/au/en/index_copy/products/tools/bike_stand.-productCode-PR100399.html
http://www.chromaticdramatic.com/ Chromatic Dramatic

Can I ask a stupid question? Why not start with the side on / whole bike pic first?
- http://www.cyclingTipsBlog.com cyclingTips
  
  I like building up to the money shot at the end!
  - http://www.chromaticdramatic.com/ Chromatic Dramatic
    
    Ok, as long as it is deliberate!
    
    I tend to skip over the initial ones, have a look at the bike and then go back to the first. I find it incredibly frustrating though! I’m an engineer, you do things logically ;)
    - http://www.cyclingTipsBlog.com cyclingTips
      
      I’m an engineer trying to be “creative”. I can tell you about frustrating! ;-)
      - http://www.chromaticdramatic.com/ Chromatic Dramatic
        
        That’s why I take photos… but then I notice I take a lot of photos of the built world.
      - Chris
        
        I like the money shot. Funny it came up on this post. Most times a post is set up this way I can’t wait to see the last one. I have an idea what I’m about to see and know it will be nice. This one though… Every picture seemed to make me like it less than the last one. Then, BAM! The nicest bike posted. That thing blows me away. The stainless is A+
      - Hardo
        
        As a “qualified creative”… trust me Wade, you do just fine. ;)
  - Hardo
    
    I wet myself when I read this. Honestly… I think there was even a giggle snort.
Timo

Argh! The yellow Colnago at the end has the cables /under the bars/. Eddy Mercx would be punch him in the face for that insult.
- Timo
  
  *Merckx – He would probably punch me as well
Pureroadie

Slam that Stem!
OverIt

Firefly do some amazing work, as do the local guys like Baum etc. I stop by this forum page every Friday for the latest in bike “P#RN” :) http://www.velocipedesalon.com/forum/f15/
NickV

Geez CT, this guy and I need to have a beer, we clearly have a similar aesthetic outlook.
I reckon it needs S&S couplers though!
- http://www.cyclingTipsBlog.com cyclingTips
  
  I was thinking the same thing. I’ll set you guys up on a date.
Veloaficionado

Wanktastic. None of which ever get ridden, much less ever get dirty. Andy White polishes stems. Who woulda thunk it?
- jules
  
  get real, who doesn’t polish their stem?
  - Hardo
    
    I think VeloaficTionado needs to.
  - Cleanstem
    
    Andy’s photos often give me the urge to polish my stem but I didn’t realise he would even do it for you. Now that is what I call service.
Michael Guthrie

What Deda bars are those?
Michael Guthrie

What Deda bars are those?
- purpletezza
  
  Deda Newton aluminium bars. You cannot polish carbon like that!
  - Craig
    
    Deda Zero 100 bar and stem actually not newtons.
    I’ve seen that bike in the flesh in between polishing and the bar,stem and post look quite shabby with a bit of corosion on them.
    Must be a pain in the but to keep polished.
  - Michael Guthrie
    
    Awesome! I have been hunting for a set of silver (check) traditional bend bars (check), with a 31.8 clamp diameter (check), ideally with cable channels (check). I knew they had to exist somewhere aaand, just bought em on ebay.
    - NickV
      
      Deda make a genuine traditional bend silver bar – the Speciale – but it’s an anchor at over 420g.
      If you want a silver bar with a bend like in the photos – compact curve – that is factory anodized to avoid corrosion like Craig mentioned, I can highly recommend the Ritchey Classic Curve -http://ritcheylogic.com/dyn_prodfamily.php?k=394053.
      - Michael Guthrie
        
        I had been eyeballing the Ritchey Classic Curves and the Deda Speciale was on my radar too (not 31.8). I like curve of these Newtons better, plus the cable channels are a bonus. Up until these the front runner was going to be the Soma Hwy1 bar – they sound like nice bars and I love the logo, but the curve/shallow drop and absence of channels prevented me from ever pulling the trigger.
        
        NickV
        
        I do know you can definitely get the Speciale in 31.8 – I had then on my bike for 6 mths.
        I’ve since changed to the Ritchey and am very happy with them, but there isn’t much to choose from if you want silver bars for 31.8 clamp…
George

This is a great bike. I love the no branding/naked look. But I have to agree with the other comment to get a custom saddle and bar tape.
George

This is a great bike. I love the no branding/naked look. But I have to agree with the other comment to get a custom saddle and bar tape.
http://coffeeandbikes.cc/ Cooper Ray

Quite a nice stable there.
love the build on the firefly
timmy

Great form all round here. I’ve got an idea about where the Cycling Tips Xmas party can be held. Watch this space.
timmy

Great form all round here. I’ve got an idea about where the Cycling Tips Xmas party can be held. Watch this space.
http://twitter.com/ankush83 Ankush Agarwal

Wow, some bike it is. The owner is certainly not short of dough and have oodles of class. I’ve seen many rich people setting up their fancy bikes like a clown in circus but the bike here is a real beauty. Like Audrey Hepburn classy! Hat tip to the owner.
http://twitter.com/ankush83 Ankush Agarwal

CT, if you think it doesn’t mess with the aesthetics, next time could you please also include semi-detailed bike specs at the end of the post.
- http://www.cyclingTipsBlog.com cyclingTips
  
  Good suggestion. I’ll remember that for next time.
purpletezza

Beautiful. The Deda parts (Newton bars, Zero 100 Stem and Zero 100 seat post) are beautiful painted but even more so polished. I love it when someone puts so much thought into a bike build, maintains an aesthetic theme and shows such attention to detail. Why would you buy an off the shelf boring as Dogma or Venge when you can have a beauty like this Firefly for about the same dosh?
- Craig
  
  Just to be clear those are not Deda Newton bars they are deda Zero 100′s.
http://twitter.com/Tinea_Pedis Nick Squillari

Jaw dropping.

I love it!
Hardo

The other night I was laughing at my mates harping on about the winning the multi-millions on Lotto. It’s just that I believe I have everything I could ever possibly want in my life, and I couldn’t figure out what the heck I’d do with a few million other than hand it straight to charity.

I know now.
Anonymous

That neon Master is bonkers, how big is it??

I am a big fan of the stainless look. A custom bike like this, or even just some fancy steel frame, will be the way I go once I wear out the TCR; something that stands out a bit.
Elcaito

Hmmmmm, not quite bike ‘prn’ for me. If it had full campagnolo Super Record, but old super record with panto embossing and all steel, then my eyes would have popped out of their sockets for sure.
I think mixing Campy with other variations is sacrilege and worst would be mixing Campy with Shimano! Urghhh… I shudder.
- Mark
  
  Hey CT. Any chance you can do an affordable bike of the bunch one day? A ‘cheap’ bike (say, no more than $2000) that has been specced with great care and good taste, to perfectly meet the owner’s needs.
  
  I don’t think it’s that much of a challenge to build a beautiful bike when money is no object and you’ve paid for the best advice in town.
  
  Let’s see an aluminium frame with Apex or *shock horror* Tiagra, and box section alloy wheels. Go on, I dare you.
  - http://www.cyclingTipsBlog.com cyclingTips
    
    Good idea. Ill keep my eye out for it. The bike that I own (search for “spare parts”) was built out of parts laying around my spare bedroom that ive collected over the yesrs and cost me next to nothing. Does that count?
    - Mark
      
      If it’s the one with “scrap” di2, then you’ll have to try harder I think. Love your work though. Keeps me connected to Melbs while I’m here in the UK.
  - http://www.cyclingTipsBlog.com cyclingTips
    
    Good idea. Ill keep my eye out for it. The bike that I own (search for “spare parts”) was built out of parts laying around my spare bedroom that ive collected over the yesrs and cost me next to nothing. Does that count?
http://twitter.com/_easy_tiger_ easytiger

So shiny you could probably check out your own reflection to check if you are as pro-looking as your bike!

The only niggle I have, and it is the same problem on my bike, is the setback on the beautiful Zero post (to match my Zero stem and handlebars), means that the seat has to be slammed forward to get the reach right, seems to make the “custom” part a bit redundant.
- Dadrock
  
  Agree on the post. I reckon a nice Thomson zero set back post and stem would have been the go here. That said, it’s still a tidy package!
- http://www.chromaticdramatic.com/ Chromatic Dramatic
  
  I hadn’t picked that up, and agree it looks a bit funny… Given I have mine so far back, I was thinking I would have to move it forward (for photos only)… same same here maybe…
- Seandoyle71
  
  I think the set back seat post looks better. Also means less leverage on rails. Youll find that most of the custom builders design around a set back setpost as it allows for a tight chainstay where the seat tube doesn’t get in the way.
- Craig
  
  Me too on the post..looks ..well..shite(sorry).
  Would look the biz with a Campy Titanium seatpost polished up!
http://twitter.com/OliBrookeWhite Oli Brooke-White

Sorry, I don’t like the brakes. And why have a setback seatpost if is the saddle so far forward?
http://twitter.com/OliBrookeWhite Oli Brooke-White

Sorry, I don’t like the brakes. And why have a setback seatpost if is the saddle so far forward?
http://twitter.com/OliBrookeWhite Oli Brooke-White

Sorry, I don’t like the brakes. And why have a setback seatpost if is the saddle so far forward?
http://twitter.com/OliBrookeWhite Oli Brooke-White

Er, negative nit-picking aside it’s pretty cool. Love the rest of the quiver too.
http://twitter.com/OliBrookeWhite Oli Brooke-White

Er, negative nit-picking aside it’s pretty cool. Love the rest of the quiver too.
http://twitter.com/OliBrookeWhite Oli Brooke-White

Er, negative nit-picking aside it’s pretty cool. Love the rest of the quiver too.
Patrick

Lovely welding
- Notso Swift
  
  Braze is better ;-)
  - Craig
    
    Also agree that frame brazed would look/suit it better but be heavier. Nit picking though.
    - Patrick
      
      I wonder if the owner of the firefly had a sleepless night deciding between braze or welding?!
- Notso Swift
  
  Braze is better ;-)
http://twitter.com/hmoffatt Hamish Moffatt

Beautiful frame which would look better with some nice wheels, for example with polished silver hubs. The black hubs and deep black rims don’t fit at all IMHO.
http://twitter.com/hmoffatt Hamish Moffatt

Beautiful frame which would look better with some nice wheels, for example with polished silver hubs. The black hubs and deep black rims don’t fit at all IMHO.
- http://www.chromaticdramatic.com/ Chromatic Dramatic
  
  I like the black rims (haven’t thought about the hubs), I think it compliments the rest. I initially thought having black chain rings killed it to, but when you see the “Money shot” it works. The only thing that I wondered (and I haven’t decided) is if the rims are too deep. The polishing makes me yearn for something a little shallower.
  - Stuart
    
    Love it! Now for envious nitpicking :) Kinda with you on the black rims , they’re just too deep. They really draw the eye. Have to say I love the brakes – pure illustration of function driving form. Would maybe have gone with a Kent Eriksen seatpost as well, cos they are just ‘love-ell-eee’. Right now I need to tidy up ‘fore the missus gets back!
    - http://www.chromaticdramatic.com/ Chromatic Dramatic
      
      In terms of the deepness of the rims drawing the eye… Just to clarify (for the owner), it just takes your attention away from the beautiful frame. Love the bike.
    - Andrew
      
      Agree here. perhaps the 3.4′s from Mr Enve would have made the scale of the bike work better…. however if it needs a new home
Quicklikeafox

Correct me if I’m wrong but those are Cannondale SI cranks? Isn’t Hollowtech Shimano’s proprietary name for their forging process?
- Anonymous
  
  I believe you are correct, it’s actually Cannondale Hollowgram SI SL crank. I will make the corrections on the caption.
- Anonymous
  
  I believe you are correct, it’s actually Cannondale Hollowgram SI SL crank. I will make the corrections on the caption.
Spooky

Great bike! I do love the polished derailleur, brakes and cranks. Only thing I may have done slightly differenty in the build, tune mig45 and mag 150 silver hubs and tried silver and white Nokon cables before deciding on the final choice of cables.
Todd!

While everyone is picking on the poor bloke who put his bikes up on here… Shimano pedals on a Campy clad bike!?! The cycling gods just shed a tear.

As for the seat position on a set back seat post on a custom frame – why not build it to have the setback you choose for the seat post and no spacers then tick all the boxes for the “right aesthetics”.

Just winding you all up. The bike looks hot as! Great attention to detail by the owner and Andy & Dan.

What a wonderful collection of bikes! Good luck with your next project! (I’m being presumptuous to assume there is another one because I know when you get to that point… there is always another one…!)

Enjoy the ride!
Notso Swift

N+1 !
Notso Swift

N+1!
Echidna_sg

Its not perfect to my eye as I’d prefer polished titanium componentry to the polished alloy stuff which has a dull finish compared to the stainless around it.. but that’s just me!

The black chain rings work better than I thought they would too… interesting
Matthias

This is a fantastic project, really, but if I’d have had the choice it would have been a DA-7800 group set rather than going back to an Athena and Cannondale. It would make it look more complete IMO. Then again it DOES look hot the way it is. Well done!
Jim

Does Melbourne have a new Firefly dealer since Graeme’s been concentrating on his multi media / design stuff ?
Steve

What are S&S couplers?
- http://twitter.com/hmoffatt Hamish Moffatt
  
  At a couple of points in the frame there are couplers which allow the parts to be disconnected. The whole bike then disassembles easily and fits in a box the size of the wheels. See http://www.co-motion.com/index.php/information/ss_couplers etc.
  - Steve
    
    Ta Hamish

Bikes of the Bunch | Stainless Steel FireFly

November 15, 2012

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