The unseen artistry behind Passoni’s Titanio Disco Integrata

Over the past six months, Passoni’s engineers have been working on bringing integrated cabling to the Titanio Disco. 

“This first fully integrated routing system is game-changing for our business,” explains Matteo Visentini. Known for timeless bicycles, Passoni is always ready to adopt new technology when it benefits the rider. In recent years, fully integrated cabling has become increasingly popular. Simplifying the silhouette of the bicycle while also reducing drag, Passoni aimed first to bring it to the race-focused Titanio Disco. 

“I think many people don’t understand how much you have to work to provide such things,” says Visentini.

Traditionally, the tapered headtube on the Titanio Disco has been composed of two machined pieces of titanium welded to create a single element. With space inside the headtube extremely limited, this whole section of the bicycle had to be redesigned to accommodate the cables. 

“We now use a single formed piece for the headtube,” explains Visentini. Now featuring holes large enough for the cables to enter through the top before passing cleanly into the frame’s downtube, this required extensive prototyping to get it working perfectly.

“Titanium is notoriously tough,” says Visentini. “So this was a massive job, and we had to remove a lot of material. The surface inside must be smooth and without any edges that might ruin the cables”. 

Extending Passoni’s meticulous finishing to the interior of the tubes, the newly smoothed inner surfaces of the Titanio Disco allow the bike’s control lines to flow easily throughout the frame.

The entire project was conceived alongside the Crema-based component manufacturer Deda, which supplies the Titanio Disco’s integrated carbon cockpit. The firm’s Elementi DCR system comprises a one-piece handlebar and stem and a dedicated fork with a D-shaped steerer that helps accommodate the cables’ passage into the frame. 

Passoni has also produced custom 3D printed spacers to create the most seamless appearance possible.

“We didn’t find the ones provided to be perfect for the bike, says Visentini. “So we created our own to replace those that come as standard with the system”. 

Allowing for the most beautifully composed integration of the bicycle’s controls, it’s a technology that will expand across the firm’s range. For now, you can find it available exclusively on the forward-thinking Titanio Disco.