Every day’s a school day, and this month I’ve learned that a manufacturer only has to include two Columbus mainframe tubes in a bike frame to legitimately label it ‘made from Columbus X’. The rest can be anything: hi-tensile, mild steel, 1950s tent poles (presumably).
I learned this from the founder of Spoon Customs, Andy Carr, and as you might have guessed, his Izoard RR Disc is made entirely from Columbus Spirit HSS. Well, nearly.
‘It’s all Spirit HSS, except for the bottom bracket shell, which we have made for us in stainless steel then threaded for a T47 BB.’
But does this matter? Surely once you’ve got the coveted Columbus
