The cycling industry is a clear example of constant improvement and progress. Over the years, we have seen different trends and the incorporation of technological advances in terms of materials, frames, geometries, wheels, and components. The introduction of carbon was a game-changer in terms of weight and geometries, however, it is sometimes limited in terms of customization. This is where steel frame builders found a place to keep on doing their creations providing frames with unbeatable properties.
Stelbel is an Italian brand that has maintained the essence of its founder Stelio Belletti in producing custom steel frames but always looking forward to the future. A clear example is the presence of lightweight carbon wheels and cockpits, electronic shifters, or discs brakes in their builts, which result in outstanding racing bicycles.
The latest trend in road cycling consists of full internal cable routing leaving no visible cables around the handlebars or the frame tubes. This can be easily implemented in carbon fiber molds but represents a challenging scenario for steel bikes. With the release of SB/03 Evoluzione, Stelbel has demonstrated they are also capable of achieving this on steel bikes. With this detail they prove the excellent craftsmanship they are capable of, adding an exquisite feature that not only enhances the bike esthetics but also its performance.
A step forward for steel bicycles
The SB-Models of the Italian brand represent the high-end frame of their range, a truly handmade product with the ambition to be a viable alternative to carbon fiber frames. The SB/03 Evoluzione represents the evolution of this family that, with no visible cables, becomes the most aerodynamic model, allowing to rediscover the incredible characteristics of steel to the most demanding riders with a neat design and clean straight lines.
The routing system was designed in line with market demands and the latest developments but without compromising the look and esthetics of the bike by adopting bulky head tubes and stems. When we take a look at the cockpit it is clear they opted for a classic style. In fact, the routing system is designed through the steerer of the fork so that it allows a wide choice of stem and handlebar combinations. With this new system pretty much any stem can be paired to the SB/03 Evoluzione as the fork length and the internal routing are custom-adapted to each frame individually.
Nonetheless, we would like to point out that this system is only possible due to market trends consisting of hoses for hydraulic disc brakes and wires for electronic shifting. Cable-based braking and shifting systems would not allow this, as these cables need to be tense in order to work properly. Therefore, full integration of all cables and wires is only available in a disc brake setup with an electronic shifting combination.
In addition to the internal routing, in this model, the rear dropout has been re-designed. Now, the dropout and brake caliper mounts are CNC-machined from a single block making it lighter and stiffer. This results in enhanced braking performance and assures perfect wheel and caliper alignment. To underline the SB/03 Evoluzione features specially-designed additional graphics were added to celebrate the latest evolution of Stelbel’s technology-leading frameset.
