Description
Passoni Inossidabile - The Stainless Steel Workhorse
If you know Italian, and what true cycling fan doesn’t, then the crux of the Passoni Inossidabile is clearly stated in the name. We’re just kidding. We had to look it up too. In Italian, inossidabile means stainless, of course! It’s the steel workhorse in the elegant Passoni lineup.
That’s not to say that this is an inelegant bike. Quite the contrary. As with all Passoni frames, the Inossidabile has been purpose-built for serious riding, shines so brightly you can see your reflection, rides like a dream, and looks like a million bucks. Inossidabile also can translate as rustproof, and that’s probably more to the point since the stainless steel used has a water resistance that will protect you from developing rust-points if you are unlucky enough to be caught in frequent rainstorms. Who else would they go to for such advanced steel tubing besides Columbus? Not only does the Italian steel tubing company speak Passoni’s language literally, but they also share a figurative meeting of the minds when it comes to the respect and admiration both have for steel as a material. They know that they have to make steel bikes that will appeal not only to traditionalists but also to modern riders who may have never heard of Francisco Moser or Giuseppe Saronni. Everyone’s heard of Eddy Merckx.
Using the Columbus XCr steel tubing, they have shaped the tubes very specifically depending on what its job on the frame will be. So the top tube has a bi-oval 31.7mm diameter while the seat tube has a 31.7 ovaled shape. And to ensure a good level of stiffness, the down tube has a 38mm drop-profile. For the rear triangle, the round seat stays taper to 16mm while the oval chainstays taper to 28.5x18 mm. The head tube is made from stainless steel 316 drawn seamless and has a 45mm diameter, semi–integrated with welded cups and an integrated 1"1/8 headset. All these numbers might not actually mean that much to you in an abstract sense, but it should indicate to you that the designers at Passoni have been very deliberate in how they have designed this frame. They want it to offer the type of rider performance that old timers wax poetic about when talking about their favorite steel bikes from the 1980s. But it also needs to have the level of snappy performance that has become the bread and butter of elite carbon manufacturers.
Exquisite Detailing and Handcrafted Finish of the Passoni Inossidabile
Then there is the detailing on the frame. Maybe no one of the modern manufacturers outperforms Passoni on detailing. Things like the CNC machined dropouts, the Ergal replaceable hanger, and the seat clamp customized by Passoni will always draw the eye and compliments. And then there is the finish of the frame. It’s fully hand polished with the graphics applied by sandblasting. It’s a laborious project and really creates a striking-looking bike.
The Passoni Inossidabile is a rim brake specific road bike that can accommodate mechanical groupsets with external cable routing. It is available in customizable sizing and geometries. You can also choose from three different finishing kits to make this by far the nicest steel bike on your Sunday group ride.
Also check Enve Road Bikes.
Geometry - Inossidabile
Need Help?
If you have any questions about this frame or bike, please contact our Passoni TeamCharlie Zamanian
USA: 866.497.3624 ext.214
International: 510-529-3054 Tim Medina
USA: 866.497.3624 ext.209
International: 510-529-3040