Serotta
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Overview
41 Geyser Road Saratoga Springs, NY 12866Serotta Bicycles has been making handmade bicycle frames since the 1970s. They are a small, independent frame builder in the United States who offer personalized service in a way big companies can't. The bikes are pricey but highly unique.
t: view phone518-584-8100
f: view fax518-584-5900
Description
Ben Serotta started a bicycle store when he was in high school to keep busy and out of trouble. He enjoyed the idea of combining his technical way of thinking with doing what he loved. Serotta then studied under a master frame builder in England in the 1970s and set out with the idea of building better bikes than what were already out there.
Serotta makes custom road and competition bicycles. They have a team of about 40 people and manufacture and ship out about 12 bicycles per day from their factory in Saratoga Springs, New York. It takes 25 hours to build one frame and they range in price from about USD $2,500 to USD $15,000+.
Because of the price tag they have become more of an elite level bike for the well to do, used more for recreation than racing. But Serotta is keen to return to its roots and make a machine that young, fast riders like. The HSG (High Speed Geometry) Road IT is their return to some of this ilk. Although at USD $2,800 for just the frame and fork, everything else you buy through your dealer and build it, it’s still a pricey outfit. However it's an extra level of customization and part of the Serotta experience.
The Serotta experience includes allowing owners to pick their own colours, details and air brushing so the bike embodies their visual dream of how it should look. They also have their own bicycle-fitting system, the Serotta Fit School, that they developed in 1998. Basically trained technicians move riders through a range of positions to tailor the bike to their body. This could incorporate all kinds of factors such as the rider’s riding style, fitness, flexibility, injuries and power.
Unlike other manufacturers, Serotta has chosen not to rely on outsourced materials or labour. They invest in machinery, handpick their raw materials and have their own composite production facility in California. They do a custom layout of everything, including forks, which is relatively unusual. Serotta also uses a quasi suspension system and a unique design of frame tubes.
Serotta bicycles have been represented at the Olympics every year since 1976. They have also seated Tour de France and Giro d'Italia stage winners and been in numerous world and national championships. They sponsor a number of professional cycling squads, including the 7-Eleven Team, America's most successful bicycle racing team. The 7-Eleven Team were the first American team to ride the Tour de France in 1986.
Ben Serotta is still involved in the day-to-day design and building of premier class bikes, one of the only bicycle companies still owned and operated by its founder. Serotta also attends bike events around the country and their bikes are shipped to 150 dealers around the world.
Hours of work
Monday - Friday
9:00 am - 5:00 pm Eastern
Additional Information
Standard Frames: Yes
Custom Frames: Yes
Retrofitting old bikes: No
Year Established: 1972
Products Made In: USA - Saratoga Springs, NY and Poway, CA
Availability: Independent bicycle dealers in the USA and 13 other countries
Types of Bicycles: road, triathlon, time trial, mountain, cyclo-cross, classic
Construction Methods: TIG Welded (for Titanium & Steel)
Frame Materials: carbon fiber, titanium, steel, all frame materials and parts are handcrafted and machined
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