Passoni Top Evo and Gokiso Road by Kelvin Kwek
Twelve months ago, I cracked my second carbon frame and resolved to return to metal, which I figured would outlast my aging legs. After much searching, I decided to bite the bullet, empting my piggy bank, to buy the custom made-to-order Passoni Top Evolution. It was well worth the wait for the bike which was built in Italy. I heard Lance Armstrong worked at Passoni http://www.cafeducycliste.com/blog/passoni-the-atelier-the-polymath-the-pyramids/. I wonder if he laid hands on my bike? I fitted the bike with Shimano’s Dura Ace Di2, and a smoother-than-toufu Gokiso wheelset, while the rest stock Passoni components. My first impression when I took delivery of the bike was how light and spritely it felt, and how clean were its lines. The weld marks had been cleverly sanded away giving the impression of a monocoque construction. Thanks to the custom made-to-measure geometry, the bike was a precise fit and gave me the most efficient riding posture. The “Evolution” geometry was plush making it ideal for long days on the saddle, but yet sufficiently stiff to transfer maximum power to the drivetrain – a boon for climbing. On my third month, I had a crash on a steep downhill section in Kyushu Japan, but thanks to its titanium body there was no damage to the frame. A carbon bike might not have been so lucky. I have now completed over 2000km on the bike, and I’m still in love with my Passoni Top Evolution. It’s hands-down the best bike that I have ever owned. Period.
