Elio is a high-performance road bike in the finest Italian tradition. Its arrival heralds a reinterpretation of the Pegoretti design language, and, for the first time on a Pegoretti, internal cabling routing and the ability to run an integrated cockpit.
The frame evolved over several months, from first thought to final design, each step marked and made by hand here at our Bottega in Verona, Italy. Throughout, progress came in fits, starts and sprints, driven forward by degrees as we developed its custom stainless steel tubing profiles, tapering lines, shape, style and visceral sense of speed.
As Pietro, the Master of the Pegoretti workshop, says, "when you use your hands to work steel, you seek and find balance". You'll feel that from the first turn of the cranks. Elio really goes. With a slightly lower centre of gravity than other Pegoretti models, Elio rides with a close and confident connection to the road. Turning in tempts you to take the next corner deeper. And you can, faster than you think. Which might coax you to a sprint and sheer pace that surfaces surprise and the desire to do the whole ride again.
Throughout the frame, there are some sizing subtleties that may not be immediately apparent. Elio’s top tube tapers from 35mm, where it meets the head tube, to 31.7mm at the seat tube. The down tube is the biggest yet on a Pegoretti, up from our usual 39mm to 42mm. And the head tube measures 56mm to accommodate internal routing, a first on a Pegoretti. Up front, Elio’s carbon fibre fork is stiff where it matters, surefooted and precise, with a shape that keeps aero centre stage.
Typically, a new bike requires a period of adjustment, with a few rides needed to build trust. Not here; from the moment I first clipped in, Elio and I trusted each other completely. To use the cliché, the fit is truly hand-in-glove. I finished this maiden ride with emotions running high: joy that the long wait is finally over, excitement knowing this was only the first of many rides to come, and above all, gratitude to the artisans at Pegoretti. They don’t work in a factory that makes bikes — they work in a bike factory that fulfills dreams.
Elio’s tyre clearance runs up to 32mm for an unapologetically pure road experience. Disc brakes, UDH compliance and electronic-exclusive groupset compatibility further signal its intentions.
Options for Elio are myriad. Standard and custom geometries, Ciavete artwork, solid colours or Pegoretti geometric paint designs are all on the table. There are multiple cockpit solutions, from a Chris King headset and Enve cockpit pairing, to an all-Deda or Columbus setup, or, for the tinkerers, any stem with a 25mm internal diameter and their choice of internal routing-compliant bar.
Every frame handmade in Verona. We’ll guide you through every choice.
See how we buildElio specifications
Noteworthy
Options
Included
Frameset, Fork, 2 x thru-axles, Seat clamp, Front derailleur clamp, UDH hanger, Single colour as standard
Elio Geometry
Every line, by hand
Every Elio starts with a single colour. Where it goes from there is up to you.
Contact the Bottega
Interested in the Elio?
