Today, in conjunction with our first Ti Talk, we’re excited to pull back the curtain on No.22‘s development of the brand’s new aero, performance-forward titanium road bike. Constructed from 3D-printed titanium and countless hours of post-printing hand labor, the latest iteration of the Reactor is set to launch in 2025, with this prototype debut at the MADE bike show in Portland, OR, August 23-25th…
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Reportage
Ti Talk with No. 22 Bicycle Company: Demystifying Titanium, the Ultimate Material for Frames
A few weeks back, during our State Bicycle Ti All-Road review, a conversation about titanium unfurled in the comments. The Radavist is uniquely positioned to have this discussion as we’ve amassed more Beautiful Bicycle galleries than anyone else on the web, and a large portion of these feature titanium frames. In the eighteen years of documenting cycling culture, we’ve also amassed a large contact list in the framebuilding world.
In an attempt to demystify the material, we reached out to No. 22 Bicycle Company for a bit of Ti Talk.
Reportage
Prova Cycles: Lean Manufacturing
John and Cari were in Melbourne for a few days following the 2024 MADE Australia showcase, which gave them some free time to visit a couple of shops, one of which was Prova Cycles.
Nestled inside this compact factory, siblings Mark and Kelly Hester build some of the most advanced bikes in the world. This two-person team has optimized production over the past four years, and it’s something to behold…
Radar
Mastering Titanium with Yang MFG
On a recent visit to Taiwan, Daniel Yang from Yang MFG, Artefact, and Neuhaus Metalworks learned how one of the best titanium manufacturers, ORA Engineering, dimples their chainstays. In this video, he shows how he created a similar design using low parts.
Radar
Chumba Rolls Out SLACKR Geo Along With More Sizes For Sendero and Yaupon
Chumba‘s 150 mm travel titanium hardtail, named the SLACKR after the cult classic film from Austin, TX, Slacker, just got its official geometry. The brand also rolled out new sizes for its Sendero hardtail and Yaupon drop-bar 29er mountain bike. Let’s check it out.
Radar
Readers’ Rides: François’ Panorama Torngat Ti Fat Bike in Summer Mode
Inspired by Hailey’s review of the Panorama Cycles Torngat Ti in full-fat winter mode, François submitted a full-length Readers’ Rides review of his Torngat Ti in summer mode. Let’s check it out!
Radar
State Bicycle Co. Titanium All-Road First Ride Review
Featuring offerings in almost every category, there wasn’t a whole lot State Bicycle Co. was missing from their lineup of approachably priced frames and completes. Today, however, State enters the final frontier of metal frames with a $1299 titanium all-road model and multiple build kit options. Nic Morales has spent the past few weeks with the all-new titanium All-Road from State Bicycle Co. and, below, offers an exclusive in-depth first look…
Radar
Crust Bikes Larkin Cycles Titanium Juan Bar
Titanium handlebars and titanium seatposts are two great ways to soften the ride quality of your bike without going to suspension components. Crust Bikes pinged longtime buddy Darren Larkin to bend up some mighty fine titanium bars in the same spec as the Juan Bar. We recommend pairing 22.2⌀ clamp bars with a 22.2⌀ Paul Boxcar stem!
Specs:
- Made in Connecticut, USA
- Color Raw Ti
- Clamp Diameter 22.2⌀
- Width 750 mm
- Backsweep 45°
- Outer Diameter- 22.2mm
- Inner Diameter (At the Ends) 18.5mm
- Grip Area Length (End to Bend) ~180mm
- Weight 388g
Check out more at Crust Bikes.
Radar
Sklar Bikes Titanium Bottle Cages
Sklar Bikes‘ component line is ramping up this year and the first new product are these nifty Sklar Bikes titanium bottle cages that feature 15 mm of vertical adjustment thanks to the long slotted mounting plates. That allows you to adjust them to make room on smaller frames or for a framebag. They’re bent from titanium which is our favorite material for a bottle cage, thanks to the springy nature of the material, ti cages grab your bottles tightly, avoiding them jettisoning on a rocky descent.
Sklar Bikes Titanium Bottle Cage Specs:
Price: $68 each/$100 pair
Weight: 32 g
Adjustability: 15mm
Made in: Taiwan
See more at Sklar Bikes, where they just got in more stock of their titanium seatpost too!
Radar
First Look: Chumba Bikes Slackr 150 mm Titanium Hardtail
With a name that nods to the cult-classic Austin film “Slacker”, Chumba Bikes‘ all-new Slackr titanium hardtail sports a 150 mm travel fork and a geometry tuned for rowdy riding. Let’s check it out below!
Reportage
Otso Cycles Hoot Ti Review: Titanium Hardtail Gets the Last Laugh
Launching today, the Hoot Ti from Otso Cycles is the brand’s first foray into designing a truly modern and progressive hardtail mountain bike. Built around 140 mm of front suspension with short 425mm chainstays across all sizes, the Hoot is meant for demanding trail riding yet is playful enough for riders who like to get airborne. It’s an evolution of where the brand, which has been innovating since day one, is going while also showcasing its ability to deploy new technologies to solve challenging design problems.
Josh has put considerable mileage on the new Hoot over the past few weeks, both in his usual testing grounds of southern Arizona and a big week in the steep mountains of northern New Mexico. Continue reading below for Josh’s review of the Hoot and a peek inside Otso’s Minneapolis, MN-based operations.
Radar
Esker Cycles Smokey Ti Hardtail
Esker Cycles is broadening its hardtail lineup with its most aggressive hardtail, the Smokey Ti. Let’s check it out…
Radar
The Firefly ATB is a Drop or Flat Bar Tourer
Our buddies over at Firefly Bicycles just dropped a beauty of a bike model dubbed the ATB ($5,500 frameset). This new platform is designed for flat or drop bars, dirt roads to single track, unloaded and loaded touring. Let’s check it out below…
Reportage
Viral Derive Review: Titanium Pinion Smart.Shift Hardtail 29er
Yesterday, John walked us through the electronic shifting Pinion C1.12i Smart.Shift gearbox in an in-depth review, and today, we’ll be looking at the bike it was installed on, the Viral Bike Derive hardtail. You know we love hardtails at The Radavist, and this one did not disappoint…
Radar
Chris King Titanium Headsets for Sale
Chris King Precision Components has wrangled up its entire titanium headsets stock and has listed them for sale. This will be the last time Chris King offers titanium headsets so now’s the time to buy one in various configurations from 1″ GripNut to 1 1/8″ NoThreadSet. Roll on over to Chris King to purchase. But do it fast; even as we’re writing this, they’re selling out!
Radar
Esker Cycles 2024 Lorax Titanium Drop Bar MTB
Esker Cycles’ Lorax is back and better than ever. The 2024 Esker Cycles Lorax Titanium is a boost drop bar MTB, with touring accouterments, and a 120 mm suspension corrected fork, designed for long-distance touring and adventure riding. Let’s take a closer look…
Radar
Readers’ Rides: Conor’s Weis MFG Hammer Ti Gravel Bike
We’ve had a number of high-res submissions to Readers’ Rides this year, and Conor’s Weis MFG is following suit. This Hammer titanium gravel bike is his sixth Weis MFG frame and is quite the looker. Let’s check it out below with words by Cole Bennett of Weis MFG.
Reportage
Mock Orange Bikes: 20 Years in Winston-Salem, NC
The last 20 years have seen seismic changes to brick-and-mortar businesses of all kinds, especially bike shops, yet Mock Orange Bikes endures. Mock Orange and its owner, Charles Van Isenburg, have remained a pillar of Winston-Salem, NC’s bike community for two decades with a relationship-driven, neighborhood-oriented, very much offline, and old-school way of conducting retail business.
On one of his frequent swings through his native North Carolina, Andy Karr stopped by his favorite hometown bike shop to chat with Charles about what’s changed in 20 years of owning a shop and what hasn’t.