Milan is more than just the location for Red Hook Crit: Milano No.7, it’s an inspirational place for designers of all walks of life. Fashion, architecture, art—you name it, it’s there. This time, we’re following the topic and introduces special custom bike design to be ridden by the two series leaders, Colin Strickland and Aldo Ilesic of team Allez-Zllez. It was designed by Specialized’s lead designer, Erik Nolhin, who found inspiration at Ettore Sottsass, an Italian architect and designer, founded the post modernistic artist collective called the Memphis Group in Milano in 1981.
Red Hook Crit Milano Custom Bicycle
Though the style is effectively quite the opposite of Nohlin’s usual scandinavian palate, the attitude is one in the same. As such, the resulting ‘RHC Milano‘ collection has a distinct style, both in terms of extreme aesthetics and superior craftsmanship. Nohlin designed and decorated each and every inch of the rider’s exclusive bikes – with the exception of the frame, which he left raw in a rather counterintuitive move – spending countless hours taping; painting; and styling.
Red Hook Crit Milano Custom Bicycle
Specialized Red Hook Crit Milan custom bike is a tribute to Nohlin’s dedication to his role as designer, his skill with a spray gun, and his understanding of the Memphis group’s work, down to the inclusion of a mysterious red ball, seen above behind the saddle.
Red Hook Crit Milano Custom Bicycle
