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Road to NAHBS 2014: Jay Sycip of Cielo Cycles

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chris-king-cielo-cross-racer-aston-martin
The Aston Martin race car inspired paint scheme introduced last year on their Cross Racer.

Last year’s interview with Cielo’s Design Manager Jay Sycip was a bit lengthier. This year’s abbreviated answers suggest they’re pressed to get things ready for the show. That’s not uncommon among builders at NAHBS, with most working until the 11th hour to prep their show bikes. And it was confirmed in this case with a quick phone call requesting images to go with Jay’s answers – there are none yet, because the main new bike hasn’t even been welded together yet!

What is that new bike? Read on and see…

BIKERUMOR: What are your main building materials?

JAY: Steel.

BIKERUMOR: What’s new with your company since NAHBS last year?

JAY: Advancing the racing line. But you will have to wait until March to see what we come up with.

BIKERUMOR: Any killer custom bike builds in that time?

JAY: Nope. We make production bicycle frames that are highly accessible and built locally with care.

BIKERUMOR: Say a customer gives you free reign, where do you draw your inspiration for the best projects?

JAY: Vintage race cars, motos and land speed machines. those days when you could feel, smell and hear the fuel, oil and rubber. Also items that are well crafted and timeless, Watches, denim, jackets, boots and knives.

chris-king-cielo-sportif-racer
The current Sportif Racer. The Cross Racer is a bit more modern with carbon fork and 44mm head tube…could that be what’s coming for road?

BIKERUMOR: What are you building this year that’ll draw a crowd?

JAY: Style and a long lasting brand that the market and count on.

BIKERUMOR: Scenario: NAHBS introduces a new category called Mashups, pairing two completely different builders to make one bike. Who’s the yin to your yang, and what kind of bike do you think you’d build?

JAY: Curtis (Retrotec) or my brother Jeremy (SyCip) who was my yang for 18 years.

Editor’s note: Word is, they’ll also have an updated version of the Tanner Goods bicycle from their 2013 exhibit, and a new Purple limited edition bike that’ll likely be your only chance to score some no-longer-in-production purple ano bits. That last one’s a guess, perhaps they’ll announce their next limited run color instead! 

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vectorbug
vectorbug
10 years ago

I have a first year Cielo Cross Racer (white and blue gulf oil livery) and its been phenomenal as a road bike under a rider who likes gravel, mud and dirt shortcuts. All things considered its a great price for a hand made bike coming out of the Chris King building being directed by Sycip.

The bike previous was an Indy Fab Planet-X, blows it out of the water in terms of stiffness and road feedback. The Planet-x is a great bike in terms of fit and finish too.

Ryan
Ryan
10 years ago

I want a SyCip rigid SS. I had no idea these two were brothers.

Greg @ dsw
Greg @ dsw
10 years ago

Great bike. What model of front derailleur is that? I know shimano makes a CX specific FD, but do they also have a top pull model (for road or CX) ?

Greg @ dsw
Greg @ dsw
10 years ago

Ah, some research helps: yup, shimano does make a top pull CX front derailleur …

spokejunky
spokejunky
10 years ago

So much love for the racing green Cross Racer.

satisFACTORYrider
satisFACTORYrider
10 years ago

Cool NorCal roots. Hey, br. You should try and do an article with Brent a Steelman!

CXisfun
CXisfun
10 years ago

They already did “The Purple Edition” bike. Silver with purple logos and matching purple hub/headset/bb combo.

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