Titanium Road Bicycles

Photograph by Justin Steele

Baum Corretto
Titanium is exotic once again

The longer you drive it,
the greater it reveals

Exactly the cycle you would like

In 1991, a year after winning their 3rd journey de France, Greg LeMond’s Z Team came ultimately back to the race on prototypes of this Merlin additional Light. The first titanium bicycle to fully achieve the metal’s guarantee, it absolutely was since powerful as metal but lighter, and possessed a distinctive and pleasing road feel—slightly much more forgiving, with a little extra spring and, somewhat counterintuitively, also even more rigidity. Though ­LeMond failed to win a fourth name, his cycle sparked a fervor for titanium that lasted through the mid ’90s.

Today, the competition to construct frames which can be previously lighter, stiffer, and much more aerodynamic made carbon composites the absolute most desired product for performance roadway bicycles. But to some regarding the grand masters of bike building, and also to a select number of revered engineers and developers who've attempted all the products, there is certainly still absolutely nothing that can compare with titanium.

“You may use body English with a ti cycle as it has some springiness that allows the cycle react to you, ” says Rob Vandermark, which produced that iconic additional Light. “With a stiffer bicycle, especially newer carbon bikes, the rigidity at first feels great, but there’s no connection.”

Vandermark, an early on staff member at Merlin rounds and founder of Seven rounds, has actually an almost unequaled pedigree in custom-bike groups. anyone at their degree is Tom Kellogg, whoever structures had been ridden to two expert globe championships and 20 nationwide titles ­between 1977 and 1980, a track record that resulted in their ­collaboration with Vandermark from the Extra Light. Among custom and production designers, Kellogg’s own range bicycles are some of the most respected when you look at the world—even though they’re created using the untrendy grey material. He points to ti’s nonlinear modulus as the supply of the metal’s special trip: That attribute suggests the more force you use, the harder it becomes to fold. “If you attempt to flex a bit it'll in the beginning provide just a little, ” says Kellogg. “however the further you attempt to flex it, the more resistant it becomes.” On the way, that trait suggests you know precisely what’s going on during the intersection of tire therefore the pavement—a sensation required by performance-oriented riders—but the original flex implies you’re maybe not troubled by harsh pavement. Bicycles created from metallic, aluminum, and carbon can also achieve that result, it's just that titanium does so with a blend of ride sensations absolutely nothing else rather matches, kind of like just how any alcoholic beverage can get you inebriated but only a single-malt Scotch possesses its distinctive, processed mixture of tastes.

Tom Kellogg, the guy behind Spectrum rounds, assisted to modernize Ti frames. (Joshua Simpson)

Vandermark and Kellogg also point out ti’s longevity—the metal will not rust or corrode, is less likely to want to be damaged in an accident than bicycles made of other products, and it has an extended tiredness life than metal or aluminum. But those tend to be extra benefits, nice qualities to have in a bicycle, versus an abiding reason purchase one. Put simply: It’s about the ride. We tested five custom bikes to learn if that mystical, miracle trip experience nonetheless stands apart within the age of carbon. And we also found ourselves in contract with Vandermark, just who informed us, “Ti won't return to its former heyday, but we’re seeing it becoming a more substantial share of our business at Seven. There’s some backlash contrary to the restrictions regarding the carbon trip given that product is forced become as light and rigid as you are able to. It’s great to see great bikers enjoy titanium bicycles in a way that stiffer structures only won’t allow.”