Everyone loves rim brake road bikes, or as we like to call them, road bikes. Zachary sent in his Scarab Cycles Letras for this week’s Readers’ Rides. Let’s check it out!
I built this bike with one purpose. I wanted a bike that operated like James Bond: well-dressed, classic, totally aware of its surroundings, and ready to move at any moment without drawing attention to itself.
I’ve worked in the cycling industry for over a decade and have ridden every dream-worthy plastic
space-bike you can imagine. Most turned heads because they were new, but none were a joy to ride. They were efficient, and they didn’t talk back. Their obedience was obnoxious because it was uniform. I wanted something with character, opinions, and the maturity to discern when to share them.
This bike is built off the Scarab Letras chassis. Round tubes with external bearings and cabling. Mechanical shifting and braking with the biggest discs you can find (hint, it’s a rim).
The tires are 28 mm Rene Herse Chinook Pass in tan wall. The biggest tire I can fit, and the only tires I’ll ride. They’re faster than anything I’ve ever used and with the Silca TPU tubes, they’re plenty strong to take the fire road shortcuts from Bel Air to Hollywood or Santa Monica to Calabasas.
The drivetrain is half-new school, half-old school. Shorter cranks for my family history of arthritic hips and some science-backed comfort, but standard gears (from 2016) because modifying the beauty that is the rear derailleur for the sake of an extra two teeth is sacrilege. I’ll suffer on the four hills that require the range in LA.
The cockpit was easy, and the first time I’ve ridden ENVE bits. It’s fancy but in the way that whispers. Like the way people know that one old guitar, spray-painted black, is worth more than all the others combined.
The wheels are White Industries T11 road hubs laced up to Astral alloy hoops. They’re often overlooked for Chris King’s loud (literally and otherwise) offerings, but the high polish on this, combined with silver Sapim CX-Ray spokes, was too good to say no to. They’re light enough to climb in Malibu and strong enough to bunny hop the myriad potholes on my favorite descents in Hollywood.
The frame has a few hidden details worth noting, courtesy of Alejandro’s talented hands in the Scarab paint booth. A ghost orchid, a California poppy, and the Colombian national flower—the flor de mayo. Each of them has a long story associated with it, and they’re a part of the reason this article is about a Scarab and not another bike. If you’re in LA, let’s go for a ride, and I can tell you about them. We’ll need a couple of hours.
I’ve hit nearly 10,000 km on this bike, and I’m not stopping anytime soon. I may have other bikes rotate in, but this will have a home with me on the road, whether it’s in Hollywood or the High Sierra.
Check out more on the Letras at Scarab!
We’d like to thank all of you who submitted Readers Rides builds to be shared here at The Radavist. The response has been incredible and we have so many to share over the next few months. Feel free to submit your bike, listing details, components, and other information. You can also include a portrait of yourself with your bike and your Instagram account! Please, shoot landscape-orientation photos, not portrait. Thanks!