A Modern Classic - Introducing the RAT PENAT
For all the years we have been busy making bikes, disc brakes have been our bread and butter. All the while though we had been quietly yearning those simpler times, a time where tubes were neither over or undersized, and headsets sat proud at either end of the head tube. What would a ‘classic’ road bike from us look like? Well wonder no more, here it is, the RAT PENAT.
The first thing we want you to really take in here are the lines. Just look at them, the layout of the frame, the size of the tubes, study them and follow their flow. This is classical road geometry designed to feed into the strengths of skinny steel tubes. Take for instance the headtube, narrow and elegant, this design carefully wraps around a untapped 11/8” steerer. Not only does this steerer design provide greater flex and comfort, it heightens cornering traction, allowing the wheels to deviate from their line relative to each other, planting the wheels solidly.
The RAT PENAT is also supremely light having shed the required reinforcement needed for disc brakes, we can build using the superbly strong but lightweight Columbus SPIRIT tubes, designed to be used in the finest builds, these tubes are made using Columbus latest steel alloy Omnicrom - which rivals stainless in it’s strength - and are drawn as thin as 0.4mm. The build we see here is svelte 6.7kg without specialised components.
The natural liveliness of steel and the positive feedback it gives lends itself to clean unfussy builds that excels at fast descents, speedy ascents and spirited riding. Just you, your bike, and unadulterated tarmac.
Custom Quirk Cycles frameset
Columbus Spirit Tubing
British Racing Green and Cherry Cerakote Finish
Columbus Futura SL Fork
Shimano Dura Ace 9000 Groupset
Enve Road Finishing Kit
Knight Composites Wheelset
SQLabs Saddle
Continental GP5000 Tyres
Photos by Nikoo Hamzavi