I’ve been flying around lately for events like CMWC and WONDER HOPPER, but for this edition of BIKE of the WEEK—the first in a while—I’m going to focus on a show bike from MADE.
DESALVO CUSTOM CYCLES is a brand by Mike DeSalvo, a West Coast master of TIG welding who focuses on titanium frames in Ashland, Oregon.
As his numerous awards from NAHBS (the North American Handmade Bicycle Show)—the spiritual predecessor to MADE—attest, there are so many cyclists who place absolute trust in his welding skills. He was also one of the original NAHBS exhibitors, having had a booth since the very beginning of the show.
Mike is also dedicated to nurturing the next generation, teaching TIG welding classes at UBI (United Bicycle Institute). His precise and beautiful welding is deeply trusted by many, and personally, I believe he is one of the only builders who can truly rival renowned custom brands like SEVEN and MOOTS.
(For more on DESALVO, please check out this article as well.)
When Circles was first founded, Mike was the first independent builder that Boss Kyutai placed an order with. In other words, he has the longest-standing relationship with us at Circles.
An enthusiast of mountain biking, motorcycle touring, and winter sports, Mike unfortunately suffered a bone fracture in a snowboarding crash last winter, which kept him from welding for a long time. However, he showed up at this year’s MADE in great spirits.
Thanks to promotional work with Bicycle Crumbs over the last few years, Mike currently has a significant waiting list. Coupled with his injury, our customers in Japan have also been waiting for quite some time, but now that he has fully recovered, Mike is back in the workshop in full force. (We kindly ask for your continued patience.)
Of all the bikes Mike brought to the booth this time, this one particularly caught my eye.
It’s a titanium all-road bike with a carbon fork, assembled on a simple frame that is quintessential DeSalvo, running 700c x 35mm tires.
While SimWorks also unveiled a bike called the Wanderer at MADE, in a world where the gravel genre has become established and bikes that can accommodate fatter tires are everywhere, you find yourself realizing that if you just want to ride long distances or enjoy the feeling of slicing through the wind, this is exactly the kind of bike you want.
Furthermore, this build is packed with that special something that makes DeSalvo so good at disc road and all-road bikes—I don't think there’s anyone better at creating this type of machine.
Being a show bike, the special logo scheme really stands out, but it’s still a simple bike that stays true to Mike’s aesthetic of not being overly decorative. That’s exactly why your eyes are drawn to the welds on each part, and I’m sure I’m not the only one who becomes enchanted by the beauty of those weld beads.
And, once you ride one, everyone is amazed by the bike's responsiveness and how smoothly it moves—that is the essence of a DESALVO bike.
I believe that in almost everything in life, not just bicycles, there are things more important than superficial appearances or quantifiable specs. As a frame builder, Mike sincerely faces his craft and shows us that there are indeed options available for those who want to engage with products in a sincere way.
Currently, we are working through the backlog, so it will take some time, but we are of course always open to discussing custom orders. These are the finest bikes that can only be obtained by those who have the patience to wait. If you are interested, please feel free to reach out to us.