No sooner had Exra Caldwell finished his newest build than he boarded plane for Rome, departing on a well-deserved European vacation. The UTA stands for Ultimate Tight Ass and is, ultimately, a tool for Caldwell to hit some trails and get some fresh air. The Tight Ass refers to the generous donation of parts from manufacturers wanting to contribute to Ezra’s beautiful cause.

Fast Boy Cycles won’t need to much introduction. Ezra’s frames are instantly recognizable, mainly because of an almost complete lack of branding. You don’t really need too much, what with that big heart on the head tube (especially the one on the UTA — nearly as big as a beer can). The unassuming paint schemes let the builder’s craft speak for themselves.

The bluing technique used on the UTA is one of my favorite finishes, though. It highlights the tiny details Ezra has added to this frame, like a master tailor secretly hides a fancy stitch on a suit, visible only to the wearer. It also shows off the components: Formula T1 brakes, Chris King bearings, Industry 9 hubs, ENVE rims, bars, stem and post, and a SRAM drive train and Revelation fork.

In affiliation with Cycle Exif.