Italian Job

This is a Sarto Raso, built for John with one simple requirement: make it Italian.

It starts with the frame. The Raso is made to measure at Sarto's workshop in Mellaredo di Pianiga, in the Veneto region of Italy. From there, the build stays close to home: Campagnolo Super Record Wireless from Vicenza, Campagnolo Bora Ultra WTO wheels on CULT bearings, Pirelli tires, Selle Italia saddle, and a small tricolore detail on the seatpost.

The result is about as Italian as a road bike gets.

The Frame

The first thing that stands out is the color. Look closely at the down tube and there is a red weave running through the carbon. It isn't paint or a decal.

Sarto's Tri-Composite construction incorporates metallic filament into the carbon layup. The frame is then finished in a translucent oxblood that allows the filament to remain visible beneath the surface.

The filament serves a purpose beyond appearance. It adds strength to the structure while helping damp vibration through the frame. What you see in the finish is a direct result of how the frame is constructed.

The color changes with the light. In the shade, the frame appears almost black. In direct sunlight, it opens up into a deep wine color, with gold Sarto logotype across the head tube, down tube, and top tube.

It's a finish that rewards a closer look.

All Italian

John wanted the frame to be Italian, but the idea didn't stop there.

Campagnolo Super Record Wireless brings the drivetrain from Vicenza. Bora Ultra WTO wheels sit on Campagnolo's CULT ceramic bearings. Pirelli supplies the tires, Selle Italia the saddle, and a tricolore on the seatpost finishes the build.

Each component fits the same idea without turning the bike into a collection of Italian badges. The parts work together as a complete package, with the frame remaining the center of it.

Built for Two Kinds of Riding

The riding brief was less specific.

This bike needs to work at home in Wisconsin, where long stretches of Midwest road mean steady efforts, open roads, and plenty of time in the saddle. It also needs to travel well — to global destinations where the road changes direction and the real climbing begins.

Those are very different demands.

The Raso was a natural fit. Sarto designed it as an aero road platform with the ride quality for long days, combining aerodynamic efficiency with a frame that remains comfortable when the miles start to accumulate.

At around 890 grams for a medium frame, with clearance for tires up to 35mm, the Raso has the range to handle both sides of John's riding. It is fast enough for long, steady efforts across Wisconsin and comfortable enough to spend a day climbing in the Dolomites.

The result is a bike that doesn't have to choose between the two.

It just needs a plane ticket.