For a sure buyer, a no-holds-barred, make it as gentle and stiff as potential bike is strictly what they need. And now, Alchemy Bicycles is delivering with their new ultralight lineup, and, surprisingly, they’re not all carbon fiber.
The brand new AU (Alchemy Ultralight) line consists of the carbon Lycos gravel bike and Atlas street bike, and titanium Argos hardtail mountain bike. The carbon fiber frames are designed with very particular and minimal layups to avoid wasting weight, and utilizing a better proportion of high-modulus fibers to make them stiffer, too. They’re completed off with light-weight paint that exhibits the layup and end.
Then they layer on premium builds with light-weight element choices you don’t usually see on full bikes, plus high-end Enduro XD15, Direct Line, and MaxHit bearings throughout the bike…and elements! The purpose? Create full bikes which can be 15-20% lighter than their normal counterparts.
Alchemy Atlas Ultralight Highway Bike
The Alchemy Atlas is their flagship street bike, and the Ultralight mannequin takes it to the subsequent stage. Every body takes 10-14 hours to layup, with about 500 particular person items of carbon fiber.
The seen layering of the carbon plies hearkens again to Alchemy’s early days the place the carbon itself was extremely seen and a part of the design. They nonetheless use a mix of carbons to present it the specified experience high quality, however the AU fashions have a better proportion of high-modulus fibers to extend stiffness with much less materials.
The Alchemy Atlas AU is available in ~840g body weight, with the whole bike proven right here weighing in at 15lb 10oz (7.09kg), thanks partially to a Cerakote end that provides simply 5g.
The bike will are available in 4 builds specs. The bottom “All Highway” construct are $10,999, or improve to the pure “Highway” construct with lighter cockpit and XD15 ceramic bearings for $11,499 and different Enduro bearings:
- MaxHit headset
- Torqtite backside bracket
- Directline derailleur pulleys
For a deep dive on Enduro’s bearing expertise and a hyper-detailed dialogue of bearings usually, hearken to our podcast interview with them.
Regardless of the lighter weight, all frames include a lifetime guarantee.
It’s not simply the headset and backside bracket that get higher bearings, even the drivetrains are upgraded. Select from SRAM Crimson AXS or Shimano Dura-Ace Di2, each with Zipp Service Course Velocity SL stem and publish with XPLR handlebar. Or, go “Premium” (aka “Highway” construct) for $500 extra to improve the Enduro XD15 BB and headset, plus a Tune bar, stem, and seatpost, and Alpitude Composites Gemera saddle.
All builds get Alchemy’s carbon street wheels, with the Premium construct getting XD15 bearings there, too.
Alchemy Lycos Ultralight Gravel Bike
The Lycos AU gravel bike will get the identical upgraded construct however is available in round 800g for the body, together with the identical 5g Cerakote end.
Pricing is identical, however specs are a bit extra fascinating. Select from SRAM Crimson XPLR or a Crimson/XX1 combine, each 1x solely. The Premium construct upgrades to a Tune cockpit, together with saddle, and a combined 1x drivetrain with e*13 elements.
The e*13 XCX Race carbon cranks with 1x chainring are paired to their…
…Helix R 12-speed cassette, utilizing a 9-45 tooth grouping to supply the identical 500% vary as SRAM’s Eagle cassettes, however in a smaller, lighter kind issue.
Premium builds on all bike fashions additionally get titanium {hardware} and different small weight-savings components and bits all through. The Lycos will match 700×50 tires and could be ordered with rack and fender mounts so as to add versatility.
Alchemy Argos Ultralight Mountain Bike
The Argos AU is the refined model of their normal model, utilizing US-made Grade 9, 3/2.5 titanium.
The bike will get their customized tapered, built-in headtube…
…and S-bend seatstays that change form in a number of planes to each add compliance and enhance experience high quality, and in addition create area for the brake caliper to take a seat contained in the rear triangle.
Body weight’s not talked about, however the full bike as proven right here is 24lbs.
Two inventory builds are supplied, with Shimano XTR ($8,499) or SRAM XX1 AXS ($8,999), however they’re mixing each up with the e*13 XCX Race Mountain crankset. This one’s proven with an identical e*13 cassette, too, however you’ll get the common SRAM or Shimano cassette as inventory. e*13 XCX Race wheels and Optimus 2.4 tires with Path Casing.
There’s no “Premium” possibility listed, however each inventory builds get the Enduro headset and BB with XD15 bearings. Cockpit highlights embody a Tag Metals T1 Carbon 35mm bar with Intend Grace FR stem and ESI Racer’s Edge foam grips.
Alchemy x Enduro Bearings collab
That is the primary official “Enduro Bearing Inside” partnership, however the element model says it received’t be the final. They’ll be rising this system, the place full bikes could be bought with the XD15 hybrid ceramic bearing setup within the BB, headset, and Directline derailleur pulleys.
Alchemy will even offer the Enduro improve package on their different bikes as an possibility throughout checkout.
