Mike DeSalvo is the one man operation known as DeSalvo Custom Cycles. Working in Ashland, Oregon, DeSalvo builds custom TIG welded steel and titanium bikes with Ti making up a little over half of his annual production.
Seen as one of the best welders in the business, including by his contemporaries such as Paul Sadoff of Rock Lobster Cycles, DeSalvo actually teaches his craft as part of TIG welding course offered at United Bicycle Institute, which is also in Ashland, Oregon. DeSalvo not only taught there previously, which is where he also first started building frames, but he also took courses there himself very early on in his cycling industry career.
At this year's NAHBS DeSalvo showed off a titanium gravel bike, a cyclocross bike and a sample of his new complete bike offering.
DeSalvo Custom Cycles gravel bike on display at NAHBS 2016. Ti frames from DeSalvo start at $2550. © Cyclocross Magazine
DeSalvo's gravel bikes have a lower bottom bracket and longer chainstays, 43.5cm, than what he typically offers on his cyclocross bikes, designed to give the gravel rig a stable, comfortable and confident ride. The bike seen in the slideshow below is a customer's, and features an oversized down tube, thru axle dropouts and a 44mm head tube. Outfitted with an Enve GRD fork, this one is ready to roll, unlike the pre-production unrideable prototype shown on a DeSalvo bike at last year's NAHBS.
The detail work on the bike, like the wire routing for the Shimano Ultegra Di2 shifting through the top tube to the seat post battery, the inclusion of a pump peg and the fender mounts, was outstanding and reflected DeSalvo's reputation as one of if not the best out there. The rest of the build on this particular customer's bike was a mostly Enve affair with a complement of cockpit components and wheels.
DeSalvo is, of course, no stranger to the world of cyclocross. The brand sponsors Rebeccah Bieri and her bike was on display at the show as well.
New for DeSalvo is the option for customers to get complete bikes. Those interested in having DeSalvo deliver a ready-to-ride bike can opt to get a complete steel model starting at $3650 USD.
Of course, DeSalvo is a frame maker. And DeSalvo frames start at $2550 USD for titanium, and $1650 USD for steel. Orders take two and a half to five months to complete depending on the design and options selected by the customer.
Images from the DeSalvo booth at the show are in the slideshow, below.
More info: desalvocycles.com
It’s a family business at DeSalvo Custom Cycles, as his son sells branded merchandise. NAHBS 2016. © Cyclocross Magazine
