Technology
Titanium has been the ‘ultimate’ frame material for many years and the more time we spent on the Altitude titanium, the more we agreed. Our aim with the titanium version of the Altitude was to make a bike that offered a smoother, more comfortable ride than the steel Altitude, without the excessive flex that a 3.5lb steel or slim titanium frame could have. The geometry is the same as the steel frames but the feel is lighter, faster and more lively – basically a bit more flex in the frame adds a lot of feel and flow to the ride, but the flex is not a negative, it adds to the ride experience in a way that only titanium can. The main frame uses oversized plain gauge tubes to retain stiffness (titanium has around half the rigidity of steel for a given tube size), stiffness that allows the use of 120mm forks and shorter stems, while the seat tube is oversized 31.6mm diameter and double-butted. This seat tube design works with the thin-wall and tapered stays so that overall weight is low and the frame is resilient and comfortable when in the saddle. We use cold-drawn, seamless grade 9 3Al/2.5V titanium, the industry standard for high-end frames. These frames are made in Taiwan to a very high standard – so high that the factory is the only one currently able to transfer their skills with titanium to the TIG-welding of Reynolds 953. Suited to 100-120mm forks and a perfect match for skilled single-track riders.
- 73mm BB shell - less spacers and a stiffer fit for external-bearing cranks
- Down-tube fender mounts with a CycraGuard included, for year-round protection from filthy trails
- Cowled drop-outs for a neat, slimline rear triangle with maximum weld area
