3 Riders, 3 Custom Bikes: Behind the Scenes of Our Seattle Custom Builds
Monica’s BMC, Kelley’s Parlee Taos, & Jospeh’s Pegoretti
A forest adventure with friends. A gravel sprint at top speed. A grueling Olympic climb. Every rider has a reason to ride, and every custom bike tells a story. At Cascade Bicycle Studio, we design bikes around real riders—their style, fit data, terrain, and the moments that shape how they ride. These three custom builds show how personalized geometry, thoughtful component choices, and artisan paintwork come together to create bikes that feel like an extension of the rider.
Rider Profile: Monica
Age: Never ask a ladies age ;)
Riding Style: Adventure, trail, group rides
Primary inspiration for his build: A bike built for long adventures in the woods—plush, capable, and able to keep pace with friends, expanding what’s possible on each ride.
Key Build Focus: Maximize comfort, stability, and efficiency over trails; effortless uphill performance; strong, confidence-inspiring handling.
Bike Customization:
FRAME: BMC Fourstroke Amp full-suspension cross country e-bike. This stock frame was the last one in North America. Lightweight carbon frame engineered for efficient pedaling, stability, and control over long-distance trail rides. The rear and front suspension are tuned to smooth trail chatter while preserving pedaling efficiency, giving a plush, confident ride. Integrated e-bike motor provides consistent assistance, making climbs effortless without sacrificing handling or agility.
WHEELS: OEM wheelset upgraded to Enve M5 Pro XE - premium cross-country wheels designed for e-MTB performance, offering strength, lightweight construction, and precise control on technical trails.
Rider Profile: Kelley
Age: 40 but 29 at heart
Riding Style: Mountain, Gravel
Primary inspiration for his build: Showcase the skill and imagination of Parlee’s paint team through a bold, dual-palette art bike.
Key Build Focus: To amplify Kelley’s fast, “riding like a bat-out-of-hell” riding style.
Bike Customization:
FRAME: Parlee Taos finished in a striking Jekyll-and-Hyde paint scheme. A bold light/dark palette designed to showcase the artistry and precision of Parlee’s painters.
GROUPSEST: SRAM XO Transmission with RED AXS XPLR components - a mix built for durability, quick engagement, and aggressive urban and gravel riding.
WHEELS: In-house Astral Wanderlust rims, hand-laced to DT Swiss 240 hubs for a balance of responsiveness, low weight, and everyday reliability.
BRAKES: Hope Tech brakes offering sharp modulation and confident control.
SADDLE: FORM Cycling carbon saddle, ultralight with supportive shaping for hard, fast efforts.
HANDLEBARS: Flat-bar conversion for agility and explosive handling.
Rider Profile: Joseph
Age: 33
Riding Style: Cyclotouring
Primary inspiration for his build: An homage to the bike that “got away,” the Voodoo Wazoo, with paint inspired by one of his most iconic rides in the Olympics.
Key Build Focus: Match the original geometry and feel of the Voodoo Wazoo using modern technology and a paint story drawn from a defining PNW ride.
Bike Customization:
FRAME: A geometry-matched recreation of the original Voodoo Wazoo, a Cyclocross frame built with True Temper OX Platinum, but this bike has been rebuilt with modern Columbus Spirit tubing and finished through Pegoretti’s Ciaveté Artwork program. In this program, you give the artist a brief description of your inspiration and give the artist complete artistic freedom to paint what they think represents your story the best.
This paint draws from one of Joseph’s pivotal rides in the Olympics: a brutal ascent up Bon Jon pass, full bonked, suddenly an intense scent of lavender cutting through exhaustion. Surely, he’s losing his mind... but the summit opened into a sweeping landscape of lavender fields, forest, water, and mountains - The paint captures both the suffering and the reward of that climb.
ACCESSORIES:
Rene Herse front pouch—ideal for Joseph’s style of riding, which isn’t always about speed but about enjoying the ride. Holds snacks, a jacket, and essentials, maximizing comfort for long hours on the bike.
Three riders, three distinct styles, three completely different custom bikes—each one built from the fit up. At Cascade Bicycle Studio, we design and build custom bikes that reflect your story, your body, and your ride style. If you’re ready to build a bike around you, start with a bike fitting or a consultation and we’ll take it from there.
