Custom Build: 2014 Spooky Skeletor Road Frame

Big-name bikes are fantastic. They have new models & makes every year, new paint schemes, and the newest generation of components. When you make that purchase, it’s the best bike you have probably ridden, and its nothing short of perfect. As you put miles on the bike, though, three months or three years down the line, the prescribed spec list might become too vanilla. Whether it be an upgrade to your fit, or a bump up in ride quality, you start to get a sense of what upgrades you’d want to prioritize. Several upgrades later, the whole bike has been revamped with piecemeal-ed improvements, and you come to a stark, crushing revelation. You have a cycling problem, and your next bike should be a custom build.

As I’ve detailed before, the most important aspect of a bike build is the hierarchy of components:

1. Frame and Fork

2. Wheels

3. Components

There are, however, some cases where you throw this formula out the window. Life is too short to ride in mediocrity, and the investment into your bicycle will not only yield a return in performance, but also in self-expression. In this build for my own bike, I didn’t hold back with any aspect of the hierarchy. I just went all out.

Frameset
Frame: 2014 Spooky Skeletor 55cm | 2016 Spooky Decaling
Fork: Enve 2.0 | 1.5 Tapered Steerer
Headset: Chris King Inset 7 | Silver
Headset Spacers: Lower Giant Carbon Tapered | 10mm / Upper Wheels MFG | UD Carbon | 2mm
Steerer Tube Plug: KCNC Expanding Plug | Black
Headset Top Cap: Hodala! by Kustom Kaps w/ Black Alloy Bolt
Derailleur Hanger: Billet | Black Ano
Barrel Adjusters: Alligator Alloy | Grey
Water Bottle Cages: King Stainless | Ti-Bolts

Drivetrain
Shifters: Shimano Dura-Ace ST-9001
Crankset: Shimano Dura-Ace FC-9000 | 172.5mm | 53/39t
Bottom Bracket: Chris King | English | Silver
Cassette: Shimano CS-9000 | 11-25t | V1
Chain: KMC 11SL | Silver
Front Der.: Shimano Dura-Ace FD-9000
Front Der. Clamp: Generic Braze-On Clamp | 34.9mm | Ti-Bolt
Rear Der.: Custom Shimano Dura-Ace RD-9000
Derailleur Pulleys: Sealed Alloy Pulleys | Silver
Derailleur Pulley Bolts: KCNC Alloy | Silver
Brakes: Shimano Dura-Ace BR-9000 | Campagnolo Super Record, Alloy Mounting Bolts
Brake Pads : I.W.C. Carbon | Green
Cables/Housing: Shimano Ultegra SP-41 Polymer Brake/Shift | Grey

Cockpit
Handlebar: Shimano Pro Vibe Carbon | T800 UD | 44cm (c-c)
Stem: Pro Vibe 7s Alloy | 130mm | -6º | Ti-Bolts
Seatpost: Thomson Elite | Setback | 31.6mm | Cut to 300mm
Seatpost Clamp: Thomson | 34.9mm | Black
Saddle: Fizik Arione R7 | Kiüm Rails | Black/White/Grey
Bar Tape: Fizik Microtex | 2mm | White

Wheelset
Indigenous Wheel Co. Premium Carbon Wheelset | 45mm | Carbon UD | Tubeless Ready | Hybrid Ceramic Bearing Upgrade
Skewers: Titanium | Closed Cam | 63g
Tires: Clement LGG | 700x25c | Black/Tan
Tubes: Vredestein | Latex | 60mm

Every part, every millimeter, and every bolt is just right. I’ve had a handful of rides so far on the bike and I can truly say it’s nothing short of perfect. For now.