“We don’t adapt. We create the bike around the customer.”
— Enrico Sarto
SARTO AT SPOKEN
When it comes to building a road or gravel bike that’s truly yours—not just in geometry, but in soul—there are few builders who match the integrity, innovation, and hands-on craftsmanship of Sarto. That’s why when Chainsmith was invited to SPOKEN, we knew exactly which frames deserved the spotlight.
We’re presenting two Sarto Raso TC models:
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A Medium Raso TC Road, built with Campagnolo Super Record 13-speed with Bora Ultra wheels
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A Small Raso TC Gravel, built with SRAM Force E1 XPLR and Fulcrum Sharq wheels
SARTO: A BRIEF TOUCH WITH HISTORY
Both are more than just high-performance machines—they’re tailor-made expressions of rider identity, forged from decades of experience and thousands of builds. And yet, when visiting the Sarto workshop in Veneto, one quickly discerns that this isn’t simply a company focused on aesthetics or tradition. And even though this Company has passed the baton through a generation, it doesn't follow rules simply to uphold customs.
Sarto HQ in Veneto is a place of calculated foresight — where every decision, every measure of carbon, is backed by decades of analysis, market understanding, and rider insight.
In a recent discussion, owner Enrico Sarto explained his awareness early on- that the future of high-performance cycling wouldn’t be shaped by trends, but by timeless functionality and fit. Sarto would build bikes that not only ride with excellence but endure through years of riding evolution.
THE RASO TC ROAD BIKE
The Raso TC is the manifestation of that vision. Beneath its clean lines and aero tubing lies a strategic layering of carbon fibres, geometries tailored to each rider, and material science leveraged to balance stiffness, weight, and vibration control. As beautiful as it appears, this is not a bike designed to simply impress in a showroom — it’s built to satisfy on the road. To accelerate with precision, to corner with predictability, and to offer a harmony between rider and machine that only a purpose-built, truly custom frame can provide.
That’s the Sarto Raso TC.
Chosen to represent both Chainsmith and Sarto at the SPOKEN Show, the Raso TC is more than a frame. At a glance, you see the woven tri-composite carbon that creates its signature finish. Look closer, and you realise it is engineering with soul.
“We don’t adapt. We create the bike around the customer,” said Enrico Sarto. “The others adapt. That’s the biggest difference.”
Where other brands stop at sizing, Sarto begins a dialogue. Every tube of the Raso TC is hand-laid for aerodynamic intention and ride feel, with down tube and stays sculpted for drag reduction, and a fork tuned to balance stiffness and comfort. Refusing to chase trends, the Raso rider will benefit from Sarto's earnt performance through their years of experience building thousands of frames, not only for themselves but for countless others.
“The best moment for my frames,” Enrico recalled, “was when I worked for professional teams. We resolved problems—not just with geometry, but with how the bike felt on the road.” — Enrico Sarto
The Raso TC Road – Where Aero Meets Art
The Raso TC Road represents Sarto’s most refined aerodynamic platform yet. Born from the lessons of the legendary Lampo Plus, and evolved with modern tube shaping and tri-composite carbon technology, the Raso TC is built to do one thing exceptionally well: go fast, with soul.
“We wanted to deliver high-speed performance without compromising ride character.” — Tommaso, Sarto (Marketing Manager)
The proprietary carbon blend allows for fine-tuning of stiffness, vibration damping, and responsiveness in ways monocoque frames simply can’t match. But performance alone wasn’t enough. As Tommaso put it, “It creates a unique aesthetic, where material complexity becomes visible beauty.”
Each tube is laid, shaped, and finished in-house, giving Sarto full control over every millimetre. Aerodynamic down tubes reduce drag, fork and chainstay profiles ensure stability under power, and fully integrated bar-stem-seatpost design keeps the silhouette seamless. This is a frame made to inspire.
“Our carbon lay-up is performed entirely by hand in our workshop, allowing full visual and tactile quality control.”
— Tommaso, Sarto
Material Intelligence: The Carbon Architecture of the Raso TC
Sarto’s use of Tri-Composite carbon fibre in the Raso TC is not just an engineering choice — it’s a statement of purpose. Each frame is built using a combination of infused raw carbon fibre with copper filaments. Alongside this, Sarto applies Forged Carbon, a composite material composed of carbon fiber and resin, in which the fibers are not continuous—as in traditional lay-ups—but instead are chopped into small fragments to form a dense, moldable structure. This isn't a simple aesthetic choice. Each material or method is selected for its specific mechanical response.
The internal knowledge has been developed by Sarto's continual striving for improvement, but also their advantage of being guided by years of internal research and an inspiring custom database of rider profiles.
Hand-layering the carbon — a deliberate rejection of automation or fast production methods — is essential to Sarto's performance goals. Rushing the building process would not allow the frame builders to visually inspect fibre alignment, feel resin distribution, or adjust ply orientation in real-time to account for nuances in rider geometry or use case. Sarto’s decision to avoid pre-impregnated modular sheets and instead cut, inspect, and orient each ply by hand means every centimetre of the frame is purpose-built.
“Each frameset kit is cured using temperature-controlled processes to maximise strength. Afterward, the frame passes through our in-house paintshop, where precision is ensured by experienced technicians.”
— Tommaso, Sarto
The curing cycle is custom-calibrated. By carefully managing temperature ramps, pressure application, and timing, Sarto ensures the carbon fiber matrix bonds uniformly, resulting in a stiffer, more durable frame that performs wearlessly under heavy and varied use. Once cured, frames are finished, prepped, and painted under one roof — meaning Sarto controls the entire production environment from raw carbon to ride-ready chassis.
This layered approach allows the Raso TC to achieve a rare combination: race stiffness in the drivetrain, compliance in the seat stays, and dampening where needed — all in a frame that remains lightweight and deeply responsive. From the feedback of cyclists, the riders notice not just speed, but an unusual harmony between reactivity and comfort, particularly evident in long-distance or technical terrain riding.
Such carbon architecture results in a frame that isn't simply designed for high-performance — it's precisely attuned to the rider. When coupled with Chainsmith’s rider-specific fitting and geometry planning, the Raso TC becomes a truly custom expression of cycling efficiency and control.
The end result: a bike that behaves predictably and efficiently under strain, responds confidently at speed, and supports comfort without compromise — a tailored extension of the rider, not a generic shell.
Built with a Purpose, Not a Deadline
Enrico, who embraced the role of shaping carbon back in 2003, speaks of the workshop as a space where every frame evolves. "One hour more is an investment," he told us. "When we make customers happy, it’s marketing for us. It’s a decision to make the best frame possible."
This philosophy — of analytical design, material mastery, and precision build — permeates the entire Sarto team. Each member, whether carbon technician, machinist, or painter, is entrusted with full responsibility for their domain. It’s a process built on pride, not production quotas.
And this is what makes the Raso TC particularly relevant for Australian riders.
Australia demands more from a bike. Our terrain is expansive and unforgiving — undulating coastlines, heat-cracked roads, sudden descents. It’s where a bike must do everything: accelerate like a race machine, descend with confidence, and smooth out rough chip-seal roads on long training days. A bike built for single-purpose racing geometry often falls short. But the Raso, with its ability to be tuned both in lay-up and geometry, becomes a frame that meets the Australian environment head-on.
It isn’t just a beautiful Italian bike — it’s a performance chassis built to withstand hard efforts, diverse road surfaces, and intense climatic conditions, all while ensuring rider efficiency and comfort over years of riding.
And when paired with Chainsmith’s precision fit process, the result is a bike that isn’t only fast — it’s yours in every measurable way.
Let’s look now at how we built the SPOKEN edition of the Raso TC, and why each component complements this philosophy.
Designed to Be Ridden — and Remembered
Our display model features Campagnolo Super Record 13 Wireless, paired with Bora Ultra 40 wheels, giving unparalleled gear range and responsiveness—made for riders who measure quality in feel, not numbers. The integrated cockpit, seatpost and detailing maintain a seamless aesthetic line, while the Alpitude carbon saddle and cages, plus Garbaruk silver pulleys, round out a build of consistency and intent.
As one of the very few custom builders in the world who manages the entire build in-house—from carbon cutting to paint, Sarto ensures every millimetre of your bike is deliberate.
That’s what sets Sarto apart from the likes of many builders. Not just the order lead time starting within 2–3 months, but the complete ownership of process—a true atelier of performance carbon.
At Chainsmith, we believe a custom bike must do more than fit. It must motivate. The Raso TC does exactly that—built around your goals, tuned to your power, and refined for every kilometre you’ll chase.
SARTO Raso TC Road Bike Blue
Campagnolo Super Record 13‑spd (Wireless)
Campagnolo’s flagship electronic groupset, the Super Record 13, is the first-ever 2×13 wireless road drivetrain, shaving weight and adding range. Riders benefit from ultra-fast, precise shifting and a wider gear ratio that makes finding the ideal cadence seamless on climbs and sprints. The ergonomic thumb-shifter ergonomics enhance comfort, while the carbon-reinforced derailleurs and hydraulic calipers offer high-performance stopping power under stress.
Why chosen: The Super Record 13 aligns perfectly with Sarto’s ethos—elite-level performance with a refined, responsive ride. It completes the custom build by reinforcing the bike’s race-ready pedigree.
Campagnolo Bora Ultra 40 Wheelset
Part of Campagnolo’s renowned Bora series with updated cult ceramic bearings and G3 spoke pattern, the Bora UNO provides aerodynamics, stiffness, and longevity. The 40mm depth delivers a harmonious mix of crosswind stability and wheel response.
Why chosen: With substantial ceramic bearing efficiency—up to 40% less friction—and robust build quality, these wheels not only look stunning but also preserve energy, maximise acceleration, and support aggressive riding.
Sarto Integrated Handlebars & Stem
Custom-designed by Sarto, this one-piece cockpit creates fluid visual symmetry, reducing clutter from cables and stacking. More than style, integration ensures geometric precision and aerodynamic benefit, as components align exactly with the intended rider position.
Why chosen: It reinforces Sarto's philosophy: every part of the bike is built around the rider, not retrofitted. The aesthetic balance echoes the handcrafted frame below.
Sarto Integrated Seatpost
The seatpost is engineered to work seamlessly with the frame’s carbon layup—optimising stiffness-to-comfort ratio and delivering consistent flex where it matters most.
Why chosen: It maintains carbon harmony and accentuates the ride’s compliance, particularly on longer rides where comfort translates to sustained confidence.
Garbaruk Pulleys (Silver)
Premium aftermarket pulley wheels known for ceramic bearings and refined machining, Garbaruk pulleys deliver smoothness and weight savings.
Why chosen: This subtle upgrade reflects Sarto’s attention to detail—refining even small drivetrain components to ensure a tactile shift and mechanical elegance.
Vittoria Corsa N.EXT Competition 700×30c
Elite tubeless racing tires featuring lightweight tread, graphene-enhanced rubber compounds, and a supple carcass.
Why chosen: They fit the 30c clearance on the Raso TC, offering low rolling resistance, classic ride feel, and the ability to absorb road vibrations—matching the bike’s refined performance.
Alpitude Components Carbon Saddle (Red)
A lightweight yet supportive race saddle offering carbon rails and a sculpted profile designed for comfort and torque transfer.
Why chosen: Striking in red, it elevates both function and aesthetic—mirroring the bike’s bold personality and maintaining a light overall build.
Alpitude Components 3K Superleggera Carbon Bottle Cages
Minimalist carbon cages, durable yet featherlight, designed to secure bottles without sacrificing visual elegance.
Why chosen: These cages underscore an uncompromising attention to detail—lightweight, visually cohesive, and aligned with a premium custom build philosophy.
Selle Italia GranFondo Bar Tape
Premium double-density tape providing a soft, grippy, and vibration‑dampening surface, ideal for long days in the saddle.
Why chosen: Completes the cockpit with a ride-first comfort layer while keeping a clean aesthetic and connection to Italia’s tape heritage.
Summary: Balanced, Intentional, Elevated
Each component on the Sarto Raso TC Road build has been including with rider-first performance, visual harmony, and enduring quality in mind. From flagship wireless shifting to ceramic-bearing wheels, from integrated cockpit elements to matching ergonomic supports, the complete build offers an assured, precise, and luxurious ride experience—exactly what riders look for when investing in a frame created just for them.
🔗 [Learn more about the Sarto]
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