We all have that one friend who got us into cycling. For me that friend is Nick! We first met representing our university at the winter ‘uni games’. Even though our choice of snow sport discipline differed, we quickly became inseparable.

At the time when we met I had just bought my first road bike (replacing an old mountain bike that was stolen) to provide transport to and from the gym. Nick convinced me that I should buy some lycra and start doing longer rides. That afternoon Nick took me up my first climb, the 1in20 in the Dandenongs and the love of cycling was born.

Fast forward a few years, Nick has since moved back to Sydney and me to NYC but the love of talking all things cycling has remained. For his 30th birthday Nick got a truly special gift from his parents, a Pegoretti Duende - ABVD paint scheme. I had to ask Nick what ABVD stood for:

“ABVD stands for: Adriamycin, Bleomycin, Vinblastine, and Dacarbazine, four toxic chemotherapeutic agents. I am told Dario received these as part of his chemo treatment when he was battling cancer, and designed this paint scheme during that time in his life.”

Once the frame arrived we traded a few messages back and forth about how the bike should be kitted out and in the end we both agreed, it would be doing the bike a disservice not to keep things as Italian as possible! I think the final result is absolutely stunning and a huge thanks to @bobbarrettphotos for sending these beautiful images across.

Build details

• Groupset: Campagnolo Record 12

• Seatpost: WR Compositi

• Handlebars: WR Compositi

• Stem: Kalloy Uno

• Wheels: Fulcrum Racing One

• Tires: Vittoria Corsa

Build: Felice Santoro - Cycling Projects Racing - @cyclingprojectsracing