" No, but I need to calm down about the personal bikes, I have too many, it's getting ridiculous... "
I swear these are Matthieu's own words, just before saying that it would be great to, I quote, " set up a second Scapada to showcase a brand new group and, above all, a brand new partner for personal paintings ."
Another splurge then, but for good reasons apparently!
The frame and fork
The frame itself is a classic Scapada, size 56, balanced, lively, nice, a bike that doesn't ask anything of anyone.
Except that Matthieu sent it to Tony.Spray .
And Tony, when you give him a pastel pink base, he doesn't send you back the frame neatly sanded with two stickers.
No.
He produces a hydro-dipping (or "hydrographic printing" if you speak French) technique that only he knows the secret to.
The principle is literally to drown the frame in a tank full of patterns that float on the surface.
The frame descends into the bath, the paint wraps around it, it deforms, it stretches, it sticks, it lives.
Nobody is in control of anything, except Tony.
The result: a unique, mutant pastel pink, impossible to recreate, something between modern art and a controlled hallucination.
Matthieu wanted a unique bike, but instead he has a rolling piece of contemporary art.
For fun, we fitted it with a road fork instead of the standard Scapada fork.
The result: The front end is lower, the angles even more aggressive. A geometry designed for attacking (and Instagram photos).
The transmission
So here we have a chapter that reeks of poorly controlled spending.
Matthieu installed the very latest Campagnolo Super Record X groupset,
The cassette is a 10-48.
The chainring is a 42-tooth with an integrated power meter.
Why? Well, why not at this stage, eh!
And the controllers? They're the same as the classic double group we already had.
Officially: “ We’re keeping the dual controllers for redundancy, in case the right controller’s battery dies .”
Unofficially: “The build costs an arm and a leg, we didn’t want to spend the other one on an extra controller.”
Fun fact about the drivetrain: Matthieu used a Super Record cassette (good!) but an EkarGT chain (not good!)
Campa says it's not compatible.
In practice, it seems to work very well.
From there to trying to mix & match with an Ekar or Ingrid crankset and offering a slightly hybrid setup that would avoid spending Qatar's GDP on Campagnolo electric Gravel, there is only one step...which we will take with great satisfaction.
The wheels
For his Scapada, Matthieu chose the very latest Campagnolo Bora X.
A choice very consistent with his desire to have a visually striking bike and to send Massacan down the path of receivership.
The Bora X are designed for fast gravel riding, but they remain light enough to perform on the road.
They feature a 50mm profile, an internal width of 27mm with hooks, please, and a weight of 1430g per pair.
It's light, it's rigid, and it retains just enough absorption to avoid exploding on overly ambitious paths.
The unidirectional carbon construction provides an excellent stiffness-to-comfort ratio, with a reworked G3-type spoke pattern for this gravel version.
Campagnolo has kept its aerodynamic spokes on the windward side
and refined the shape of those on the opposite side to improve fluidity and soften vibrations.
In reality, what we can say about all this is, " Wow, they're beautiful and they're fast! "
Matthieu fitted Hutchinson Blackbird tires to it.
Their streamlined profile, combined with the 27mm internal width, allows for lower pressures without softening the performance, resulting in more grip, more comfort and more stability.
The wheel and tire combination forms a fast, responsive and surprisingly forgiving combo, perfectly suited to the character of the Scapada and to Matthieu's riding style, which is imprecise in its lines and fast when climbing.
Peripherals
On the outskirts, Matthieu remained in “Italy or nothing” mode.
He wanted a bike that was consistent right down to the cables and carbon, so we brought out the full Deda package.
The cockpit is based on a Deda Alanera cockpit, a single, fully integrated piece, a true gem of Italian engineering.
Naturally, we slammed him to the very end.
Not a spacer, not a shim, not a millimeter too much.
Just the frame, the stem, and the road getting dangerously close to the chin.
But visually, it's magnificent, so we consider it a very good choice.
The seatpost is a Deda carbon with zero setback, which perfectly matches the deliberately aggressive position of the handlebars.
It is light, it is easy to forget, and it retains a welcome little flexibility to avoid turning each vibration into a torture session.
It's this kind of small detail that makes the difference when you want a responsive bike without getting too shaken up.
The saddle, finally, is a Selle Italia Flite, like Van Der Poel's, a safe bet for those who like stable support and a sporty profile.
It is said that Mathieu was inspired by Matthieu.
Well, you shouldn't believe everything you read on the internet.
In conclusion
Ultimately, this Scapada is exactly what happens when a not-very-reasonable guy decides to stop being reasonable altogether.
A classic and well-known base, transformed into a rolling work of art by one of Italy's most talented painters.
A Super Record X group that blends modern technology and Italian refinement, with just the right amount of questionable but totally deliberate decisions.
Bora X pedals that transform every rebound into a mini dopamine explosion.
This Scapada is pure pleasure.
The desire to have a beautiful, unique object to contemplate, and also the desire to drive fast and in style.
