The AC Milan Offside - A Little Diversion From the Usual FootballThe Home for AC Milan Tifosihttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/46633/acmilanoffside-fave.png2013-08-17T22:39:06+02:00http://acmilan.theoffside.com/rss/stream/43204412013-08-17T22:39:06+02:002013-08-17T22:39:06+02:00Part III of the Red and Black Bike Build
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<p>The highest praise I can give a new ride is that I never wanted to get off it to write this review!</p> <p>For those who have been following along, this off season I embarked on a custom bike build with some incredible from the team at <a href="http://www.francobicycles.com/">Franco Bicycles</a> in California. As I waited patiently for the bike to arrive via FedEx, I couldn't wait to experience one of the coolest parts of getting the new bike, the unboxing!</p>
<p><a href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/3069903/photo.JPG" target="_blank"><img alt="Photo_medium" class="photo" src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/3069903/photo_medium.JPG"></a> <br id="1376771506252"> It came earlier than expected, and I came down with something at work that morning, so I managed to stay home. The minute it arrived I was surprised to see how large a box it was, and more importantly how light the box was! Mrs. ACMilanOffside walked right over and picked it up no problem. Then began the unboxing.</p>
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<p>Slowly and meticulously I unwrapped and assembled the very few things that needed assembly, front tire and seat post. Everything was fitted up as I noted in Part I and II and bike was up and ready in less than 15 minutes! I have to admit the ready to ride box was very cool, and made it very easy to assemble. I consider myself fairly handy, having worked on my single speed but this was beyond simple. With that I suited up and disappeared down the road, what happened next I wish I could have bottled up!</p>
<p>Having never ridden a full carbon bike before, the immediate feel and response of the machine was incredible. The Campy grouppo was silky, and it felt like every single pedal stroke was being delivered directly into the pavement. What I was planning to be a 25 mile, get a feel for the bike ride, quickly became 50 and as I rolled back home I had ascended, sprinted, and descended like a mad man. The handling, impeccable and the comfort or maybe just shear joy could have kept me on that thing for many more miles if a conference call wasn't beckoning at home!</p>
<p>Oddly enough, that shiny new toy feeling has not subsidized, in fact even now as I write this I ponder why I didn't stay out longer on this beautiful morning. If it is raining, I get crabby, I just want to ride! Simply put there is no better praise I can give a bicycle than never wanting to get off it. The Red and Black Bike Build was a TOTAL SUCCESS!</p>
https://acmilan.theoffside.com/2013/8/17/4631660/the-first-ride-that-went-on-foreverGianfranco2013-07-25T17:46:23+02:002013-07-25T17:46:23+02:00Part II of the "Red and Black" Bike Build
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<p>I told you I would tie it back to AC Milan!</p> <p>In the case you missed Part I, <a href="http://acmilan.theoffside.com/2013/7/23/4548508/a-little-diversion-from-the-usual-football-part-i">here it is</a>.</p>
<p>So I chose a Franco Bicycle Frame, what happened next?? I was still sort of set in doing my own build, but hadn't really figured out all realities and logistics. While I am pretty handy, last thing I wanted was a great group set, great frame and a shoddy build. More importantly in my decision to let Franco Bicycles do the build was the fit process. For those who have never had experience with a Pro Fit, until a few weeks I had not, I recommend it fully. Each bike build comes with a <a href="https://www.retul.com/">Retul Fit</a>, now to be honest there are many "schools of fit" and I am only familiar with this one, but it was a great process. The guys at <a href="http://www.actionsportsbicyclecenter.com/retul.html">Actions Sports</a>, specifically Rich, did my fit. it took about an hour and you show up with your bike, suit up and ride the trainer. They take measurements, make adjustments, and provide you with a fit data that can be applied to any and all bicycles you may ride. Since the fit, I have less nagging issues with neck and knee pain, and the only holding me back is my engine instead of my suspension.</p>
<p><br>With that data in hand, I proceeded to send my <a href="http://www.bikerumor.com/2009/05/15/first-look-campagnolo-athena-11-speed-road-group/">grouppo</a> to California to start the build! What ensued was one of the coolest processes I have ever been a part of. I worked directly with Troy and Stormin' Norma, Franco Bike Employees, who talked me through all the respective component choices for the build. We talked about a few key points and themes. The first being my desire to keep the bike "Italian" in terms of cockpit, saddle, and wheels. After some Q&A, I settled on a 3T cockpit, a San Marco Saddle, and some slick 35MM Campy Scirocco wheels with Vittoria Tires. The guys also were on board with my "Red and Black" bike build desires, keeping true to the color scheme as I moved forward with my custom bike in my favorite colors.</p>
<p>For those more bike orientated than Football orientated, the Red and Black for Milan fans is almost sacred. More so than any other football fans, I mean Scousers love their Red, but few teams are as widely recognized by their colors than AC Milan. The choice to between Franco Frames, was not easy, but when we worked our way toward the <a href="http://www.francobicycles.com/road-1/performance-road/kanan.html">Kanan</a> and ultimately the Red and Black frame, it was a really excited, and being able to keep the color theme made it an even more custom process! Not only would I get a new bike, but I would get to share it with everyone here at the AC Milan Offside!</p>
<p><a href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2959277/Kanan.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Kanan_medium" class="photo" src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2959277/Kanan_medium.jpg"></a> <br id="1374766692989"> Part III, the Grande Finale, will be complete with un-boxing photos and first ride review!</p>
https://acmilan.theoffside.com/2013/7/25/4548594/my-custom-ac-milan-red-and-black-build-part-iiGianfranco2013-07-23T14:26:47+02:002013-07-23T14:26:47+02:00Off Topic...
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<p>My custom AC Milan Bike Build!</p> <p>For those that don't know I am a tiny bit addicted to cycling. I ride regularly, I watch the Tour De France, and I even troll the SB Nation cycling blog, <a href="http://www.podiumcafe.com/">Podium Cafe</a>, on a daily basis. For most I think it starts as a child, I was obsessed with bikes, and more so with making my bike go fast. A BMX bike became a mountain bike, and I was suddenly ripping down ski areas in the summer, and cross country trails in the spring and fall. I left for Northeastern and left my trusty mountain bike at home in favor of a single speed that I rode around for most of my five years. When I moved back to CT in 2005 with all my stuff and some extra weight in the mid section I purchased a my first Road Bike, a Bianchi Via Nirone.</p>
<p><a href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2947991/bianchi.jpeg" target="_blank"><img alt="Bianchi_medium" class="photo" src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2947991/bianchi_medium.jpeg"></a></p>
<p>My old, old friend...</p>
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<p>Now for some cycling aficionados buying a Bianchi is hallowed ground. Sure it is not hand-crafted in Italy like it's more expensive siblings, but I had just gotten out of college and even at this price it was setting me back big time. But I had my new trusty steed and began putting miles on it incessantly. Fast forward to 2013, I still have it, I still ride it, I still baby it, and a quick look at my Map My Fitness account shows a few thousand miles over the course of the 5 years, but times are a changing...</p>
<p>It started with a trip to Italy in 2010 and a second piece of Italian cycling mythology, Campagnolo. While in Italy I was able to pick up an 11 Speed Campy Athena grouppo, at a steal, and return it with me to the states. Now for those that understand cycling have a grouppo in a box with no frame to put it on is like having amazing new Nike football boots and no soccer ball...you need a pair! Now my plan was to find a frame of my choice and liking and build my own bicycle, an effort I have completed on my newest single speed.</p>
<p><a href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2948007/acsingle.jpeg" target="_blank"><img alt="Acsingle_medium" class="photo" src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2948007/acsingle_medium.jpeg"></a> <br id="1374581343386"></p>
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<p>I thought what better way to blend man and machine than with my own build. This went on until 2011 when I found <a href="http://www.francobicycles.com/about/">Franco Bicycles</a>.</p>
<p>They were a relatively new company when I called and inquired about a purchasing a frame and the Owner answered the phone. Now this is relatively unheard in the World of big frame makers and bike sales, sure you can speak to a shop owner, but a real bike smith!? So Julian and I spoke, but sadly I decided to table the build as I was in the process of buying a home and getting married, that is until now.</p>
<p>Now I know some of you will inevitably ask about the frame and the closeness to my name. I will be honest I really like the fact that part of my first name is plastered on the side of the frame! But the real deciding factor for me was that I get my say, as I get to Part II of this piece I will explain that process, post some photos of the build and tie closer to AC Milan, but the Red and Black will be a very common theme as we move forward, stay tuned...</p>
https://acmilan.theoffside.com/2013/7/23/4548508/a-little-diversion-from-the-usual-football-part-iGianfranco