Velo City: Bicycle Culture and City Life

Pretty in Pink: Clamont Professional

Clamont Professional by Matt Leasegang

In July, at the 2015 Pushies Galore show in Brisbane, photographer Matt Leasegang came across a bike for sale that he couldn’t pass by. It was this magenta Clamont Professional, and it was offered for sale by the very man who built it, Australia’s own Geoff Scott.

Clamont Professional by Matt Leasegang

This was Geoff’s personal bike, and he was selling it simply to move it on and buy more tubing for other projects. Matt is a collector and a restorer of unique Aussie handmade bikes, so the purchase took little persuading.

Clamont Professional by Matt Leasegang

As well as the honour of owning the personal bike of one of Australia’s most respected frame builders, Matt testifies to how well it rides, especially now that he’s finished it with equipment he’s happy with.

“I chose the parts based on the color on the bike,” Matt says. “I wanted to keep the bike as understated as possible, because the fluorescent pink tends says enough on its own. Ideally, I’d have gone for Record or Chorus, but I couldn’t justify the cost when I’m the limiting factor of the ride.

Clamont Professional by Matt Leasegang

“The ride is incredible,” he continues, “11-speed (Shimano) 105 is unbelievably smooth compared to other groupsets I’ve used. Seeing that it had a mismatch of the multiple-generation 105 and Ultegra 10sp on it, the bike feels completely new and unique.

Since riding one of Geoff’s bikes, Matt has an even deeper appreciation for his frame building. “I have always known about his bikes but didn’t realise just how meticulous and critical he is with his builds.”

Clamont Professional by Matt Leasegang

Geoff has many stories to tell, to ears that are open to hear them, from building bikes for Olympic and Commonwealth Games medalists, on both the road and track, to his engineering history and motorcycle drag racing.

That DNA of speed and passion for metal fabrication runs through Geoff’s current bikes, like Matt’s fillet brazed Clamont and the ‘modern classic’ Gefsco frames. It’s encouraging to know they’re winning over a new generation of hearts — and spades.

Clamont Website | Facebook
Gefsco Instagram | Facebook

Clamont Professional by Matt Leasegang