Officina Battaglin is embracing the trend for improved road bike braking performance with its 2020 Portofino.

The Italian boutique frame builder has announced the addition of a disc brake option to its "Portofino" series of custom steel road bikes.

For road riders who believe in the elegant beauty and ride quality of a perfectly designed and manufactured steel frame, the new Portofino will be an undeniable draw.

Each Portofino has its own unique geometry specifications, which were interpreted by the founder, Giovanni Battaglin, after extensive listening and analysis of potential customers' body dimensions.

While the geometry of each Portofino disc bike is unique, they all share the same elaborate design details created by the Italian hand. The tubes are joined by gorgeous chromed lugs, allowing Officina Battaglin to use Columbus HSS tubing.

An advantage of the Oficina Battaglin-specific oversized tubing is its vibration damping properties. Portofino promises a road bike ride that reduces fatigue and allows owners to endure rather than suffer through long weekend rides.

The Portofino's main triangle may be made of the best cycling steel, but the fork is carbon. Officina Battaglin manufactures Portofino forks to the owner's specifications, and this customization allows for the installation of disc brakes.

Steering response and front wheel tracking stability benefited from the use of oversized head tubes made possible by the lugs and Columbus custom tubing. This allowed Officina Battaglin to produce tapered headtubes from ⅛" to ⑱" to accommodate the larger surface area of the more robust carbon fork crown design.

Officina Battaglin's custom road bike with carbon fork and disc brakes may seem too nontraditional in theory for followers of the Italian classic bike brand. The presence of disc brakes also greatly improves dynamic safety in the rain and when descending steep mountain roads.

In addition to custom sizing, geometry, and fork construction, Officine Battaglin also offers paint finish variations. Annual production is only 70 units, with frames starting at €3,500.