Name: Nate Straus
Position at TPC: Mechanic Department Manager
What you ride: Cilo Road Bike
Why you ride it: I built this bike to satisfy my love of classic road bikes but with the convenience of modern shifting. I didn't notice road bikes until the early 2000's when the fixed gear craze brought many of these classic steeds out of the garage and onto the street. To see what it was all about I put aside the mountain bike and started riding my dad's old Raleigh Grand Prix. Even though that Raleigh was a clunker I felt like I was flying! At that point I was bitten by the bike bug and I haven't looked back. Since then, I've owned many road bikes but I have a hard time falling in love with the new stuff. For me, what I ride is a big part of my enjoyment, and in the end, it's fitness that makes you fast, not carbon fiber. Finding the right vintage road bike can be hard, since you'll have to hunt eBay and Craigslist to find one, but there's a thrill in finding the right bike. Buying a new high-end, lugged steel bike today will set you back thousands of dollars and it won't have any history. Every time I ride the Cilo I feel like I'm pulling a classic Ferrari out of the garage, it always feels special.
Fun facts about the bike: I replaced the original Dura-Ace 7400 group with Campy Record which gives the bike a modern feel but doesn't look out of place.
Cilo Road Bike Build Spec
Model: Road (Swiss Made)
