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In recent years, custom steel bike frames have come back into focus. Not just among enthusiasts, but also among riders who are starting to question whether standard bikes really fit their bodies and riding style as well as they could.
That said, discussions around custom frames often get simplified into a basic comparison: steel vs carbon vs titanium. While material does matter, it’s rarely the deciding factor in how a bike actually feels on the road.
What really makes the difference is how the bike’s geometry interacts with the rider’s body.
There’s something about Italian steel bikes that refuses to disappear.
Even now—when carbon dominates everything from WorldTour racing to weekend group rides—small workshops across Italy are still cutting, mitering and brazing tubes by hand. Not out of nostalgia, but because for certain riders, a custom frame still solves problems that standard bikes don’t quite address.
And once you start looking into it, you quickly realize that “custom” doesn’t mean the same thing everywhere.
Custom steel frames represent one of the most advanced solutions for those who want a bicycle truly tailored to their body, riding style, and needs. Unlike standard frames, designed to fit a statistical average of users, a custom frame is designed around the individual cyclist.
A custom frame is more than just a frame with slightly modified geometry. This is a comprehensive project that takes into account several factors:
The result is a bicycle that requires no adjustments on the part of the cyclist, but that adapts perfectly to them.
Forgione handcrafted bicycles are not just frames: they are travel companions, created to tackle the toughest roads and to turn every climb into a memory to treasure. Today we are pleased to share the testimony of Carmine, who chose the Forgione Hirpus for his latest adventure.
“Hi Vincenzo, look where the Hirpus took me yesterday, from Spondigna station to the Cima Coppi, it took me 5 hours. Thank you Vincenzo for building me a top-class bike, unfortunately I’m just an amateur 🚲👋”
A message that tells much more than a route: the satisfaction of riding a handcrafted frame designed to endure, respond and support the cyclist even through the hardest challenges. The Hirpus, designed by Vincenzo Forgione, was conceived as a gravel touring bike, but it also finds its place on the great Alpine climbs.
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I build custom frames designed specifically for each athlete, using the Silver Fillet Brazed technique, which ensures both aesthetic beauty and functional performance.
Tests have shown that my frames withstand all types of stress. The spirit of steel frames embodies my construction philosophy: crafting unique pieces built to last over time.
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