Titanium road bike

Got a planet x tempest that I've updated for road use, Hunt wheels etc. it's like riding a limousine.

Enigma will see you good. And will make what you ask. Even a fixed wheel road bike.

I've got a titanium MTB which I love, it's just budget stopping all my bikes being titanium.

However, they are not the 'bike for life ' they are supposed to be. Yes, the frame should last many years but 'they' keep messing about with the increasingly inaccurately named 'standards' What use is a straight steerer frame nowadays for example?

I think Feather Cycles are in Yorkshire along with Field Cycles.

I've got a couple of Ti road bikes. A Van Nicholas Yukon which is lovely and comfy with a touring frame. And an Airborne (predecessor to Van Nicholas) Torch which is indestructible, light, fast, and uncomfortable, 6Al/4V  race frame.

And when I say indestructible the Airborne Torch was in a road accident after which pretty much all the components had to be replaced but the frame didn't have a mark on it - 6Al/4V is tough!

Have a look at Laverack frames

Field Cycles have closed, I think; Ricky Feather works with steel inc stainless but not Ti as far as I know.

Planet x get their ti frames from walty. Walty do (did) custom one off frames that work out a bit cheaper than one one.

Why not go custom?

Yes absolutely open to custom. Thanks so far.

I bought a Laverack frame with a small inheritance from my Nan, on the basis that it would be a forever frame. Being a road-oriented build I figured it wouldn’t be as likely to obsolesce as an MTB frame. It wasn’t bought with bad weather and winter in mind, but it has become my de facto rode when conditions aren’t great. It’s stiff yet comfy and with full guards and 32mm tyres does everything I’ve ever asked of it.

I believe Tom Sturdy is at the sharp end of custom titanium bikes.

Not Yorkshire, but if you can afford one of his frames, a couple of trips down to see him isn't going to make it cost prohibitive

I (belatedly) did this just after Covid - had to wait till a savings plan came out when I was 51.

Laverack are 40 minutes away in Oakham, though frames come from China. Weird build as I wanted it as my audax/winter bike, so GRX 2x, dynamo, PDW fenders. Completely ruined the look of such a sexy frame. But it rides beautifully,  gets my fat arse up any hill, in any weather. Still turns heads.

Probably could have got the same from Enigma and saved a grand, but **** it, you're only 51 once!

sonder alpkit colibri ti or the new release gravel race ti has just launched, if

Laverack are 40 minutes away in Oakham, though frames come from China

...and bear some uncanny resemblances to Waltly offerings, or at least did when I looked. No bad thing I guess if you don't fancy going direct.

https://www.simpsonframeworks.co.uk/copy-of-p35-sparkles

These guys are based in Kendal, Martin is a friend of mine, he’s super happy with this.

Sturdy, omg they look lush

Mason to add to the more affordable off the peg list

I use my Reilly Gradient as a winter road bike, or for days when I'm not feeling racy. I would love a Fusion to replace my Defy.

"What use is a straight steerer frame nowadays for example?"

Rim brake? Get a nice 853 fork on it, will ride beautifully

Future classic format imho

While I love Ti and have an original 456Ti I'm looking at one of these:

https://www.cyclist.co.uk/reviews/fairlight-strael-review

I've also a Cotic FS using Reynolds 853 so already 'bought in' to the material and with Fairlight each frame size is available with a standard & taller head tube (I've long legs and are 'old').

Current road/gravel bike is carbon.

Another for Enigma, great personal service too.   I’ve hand an Evoke for 2 years now and thouroughly enjoy it.    I do find Ti bikes to show very fingerprint, dirt and tiny scratch though.

I bought a Planet-X titanium bike for my 40th after saving £25 per month in a "Friendly Society" account for 10 years.

The actual frame was made by Lynsky (original founders of Litespeed) and it had a 9 speed Dura Ace groupset - not bad for £2k.

It is great to ride but, as others have said, developments in the interim have made it seem a little old fashioned.

It has caliper brakes, which work fine but I prefer the hydraulic disks I have on my other road bike, and is limited to 25mm tyres which feel a bit skinny for our pot holed roads.The Dura Ace groupset has a 50/34 chainset and can cope with an 11-28 cassette which lacks the low gears I have on my other bike (34 cassette).

All that means I don't ride it as much as I thought I would although my riding has also changed over time. I now do more long, hilly audax rides where lower gears, puncture resistant and comfortable tyres (i.e. bigger) and the ability to stop quickly are now more important.

If you want titanium then go for it but think long and hard about what riding you plan to do.

A mate has a nice looking Colina bike, I don't know much else about them but seem good value and based in the Peak somewhere.

Another mate has a Dolan, another value offering.

I’ve had a Ti MTB for 15 years, I’ve not had a problem with parts compatibility.

As I approach 50 I reckon I’ve one nice road bike purchase in me

Also... the Gradient was a 60th birthday present to myself, and for my 65th I'm considering getting Meteorworks to build me a new singlespeed. Don't write yourself off too soon!

If my Goldrush had arrived I'd be telling you what a great ride it is.   Ti is not a frame for life though,  but lots of manufacturers are good with warranties.... see my thread from May re cracked ti456 and the incoming Goldrush.

Have a look at J Guillem frames at a local independent bike shop

https://jguillem.com/our-bikes

I got my Atalaya gravel bike from Albion Cycles near Holmfirth.

I’ve had a Ti MTB for 15 years, I’ve not had a problem with parts compatibility.

Straight steerer?

Sturdy, omg they look lush

They were at the Bespoked handbuilt bike show in Manchester the other week and yes, they were stunning. Not just the frames but the integration, the amazing and super neat stem, the hidden seatclamp and so on. Incredible attention to detail.

I'd say the real question now is have standards settled enough to buy a "bike for life"?

And I'd answer probably yes, or at least it feels like there will be parts availability for the foreseeable - and that any subsequent new standards can't really add that much.

I'd still probably go carbon or steel myself for a nice road bike, but the heart wants what the heart wants.

I’m 50 in a few years time and like the OP fancy a titanium road bike. Laverack look stunning and have Yorkshire back story for the OP requirements. Looked at a Reilly gradient gravel a few years ago and it was very impressive, but I couldn’t afford it at the time. In non ti, as a Fairlight Secan owner, the Strael holds real appeal. But then I realise that I don’t need anything more than my current road bike and start looking at mtb options to replace my Signal Ti …….

Lovely idea, and the researching is part of the excitement!

Laverack is my aspiration, they are some lovely looking bikes. Reilly was also on my radar when I was looking for something similar a while back; also check out Ribble. Their frames probably aren't quite as lush, but they have the CGR for more gravelly type stuff, and an endurance frame too, with various builds - you can get it with Di2 for <£5k if you're that way inclined. I have a CGR Ti in the basic build, upgraded a few bits over time (stem, seatpost, wheels) and am pretty happy with it all.

Spa Cycles in Harrogate has some deals on a few Sabbath models at the moment.

If you've got a big budget look at Mason.
I think their Ti frames are hand rolled between the teak coloured, walnut-cracking thighs of a Tuscan artisan welding God.

A Seven, my Axiom Sl frame is 21 years old, over 100k miles. Only reason to replace is if my bike fit requirements change. Seven warranty is absolute, none of this 'lifetime of the frame' nonsense.

I’ve had a Ti MTB for 15 years, I’ve not had a problem with parts compatibility.
Straight steerer?

yep, rigid fork

Enigma are gorgeous (I have one!) and Flamme Rouge distribute them nationwide. I was well impressed with it being delivered to my doorstep fully built and then fitted to me

I went for gravel as a 'retirement (from racing) multi use bike'

But then I ... start looking at mtb options to replace my Signal Ti …….

What don't you like about it?

My original "Bike for Life" was a Merlin Cyrene. THE most beautiful Ti frame from when Merlin engraved them with lovely graphics and no decals. it was stolen. I'd buy another in a 56 in a heartbeat. It was a standard 73 degree parallel road frame, but it drew comments like no other bike I have owned. Almost too nice, so I bought a used alloy Giant TCR to race in naked alloy - looked a bit like Ti.

The biggest question I'd ask is have you ridden a steel road bike you like? Titanium bikes ride like steed (thin tubes so a little more flex), but weigh the same as alloy. Other than that, new high-end stainless steel offers much the same. My cross/gravel bike is Ti and sits on the Kickr at the moment, my fixed wheel is Ti, but I have a steel fixed road bike too. There is little difference in the ride, but you notice when you pick them up (The Enigma is 7.3kg).

And if a Brompton is a titanium road bike - well it's ridden on the road, a T-Line could be my next Ti bike.

BTW, I'm now 55 and hope to have one or two more "nice bike" purchases left in me!

Reilly Gradient here. It's lovely, and a keeper.

Another Enigma rider here. I've an Excel gravel. Though obviously not a road bike the gravel geometry makes it a bit easier on my 60+ yr old body!!

I think Enigma have two ranges 'standard' are imported from the Far East, whilst 'Signature' are hand built in Sussex.  They may however have changed that now.

I know Enigma themselves are brilliant to deal with and will provide you with exactly the bike you want, but I got mine via Prologue in Harrogate (which may keep your Yorkshire demand). They too were brilliant and kept me fully in the loop during the order and build process.

I got a brilliant bike and love it.

Spa Cycles in Harrogate do a range of their own brand frames in titanium. A couple of mates have them and they are very good value, if not very sexy (the bikes, not the mates). Depends exactly what you want it for as to whether there is one that you'd fancy.

I replaced a Mk 1 Enigma Evoke a year ago because it had significantly dated and couldn't handle through axles and wider rims/tyres, but I replaced it with a Mk 3 Evoke, which is just lovely.

I also have an Etape which is now a bit old school but it's my winter bike/commuter so I am less bothered by that; in fact I rode it a 40 mile round trip to work today.

All in all, a Ti bike tart here........

I built up a Shand Stooshie (Columbus & Dedacciai steel) as an all rounder 7.5 years ago.

It's become a seemingly forever bike, thanks to modern standards, neutral colourscheme and some longlived component choices.  So, it's another vote for steel here.

[img] [/img]

Wears DT240-based wheels, 28-35mm tyres, PDW mudgards, Ultegra / GRX / Praxis mix, carbon finishing kit and Hope RX4s calipers - 9.7kg inc. XT pedals.  It's most at home being a B-road and light touring bike in its current build, ideal for when you don't know the roads.

I also have another "bike for life" (again, steel) in the form of a Genesis Volare 931 - first bought a mere 5 years ago.  Sub 8kg and so good that I bought it back after selling it. 😉

[img] [/img]

First - if you are not even 50, you should have a number of bikes left in you. Having said that bike can last and last if you want them to.

I'd be asking myself a few questions about what it is you want before getting too into the brand and material. Is it for racing or pseudo racing (club chain gang and village sign sprints or sportives that aren't a race but actually are)? Or is it a sportive bike? Or even a cross continent self supported race/tour/bikepacker? Or is for just riding around a bit and looking nice. The blur beteeen  gravel-lite, light tour and road bike is getting more and more. Without getting too fancy I'd be very interested in a Kinesis GTD V2 if buying today.

Steel bikes are lovely too. Arguably I'd trust a steel bike more than a titanium bike. Titanium is proper hard to weld without issue and there's only a few places doing it on bike frames that are big enough to do it properly imo. Enigma is somewhere I would trust however.

If I had time and my budget could handle it I'd be taking a day at the Bespoked exhibition, dreaming and chatting. Sadly, you've just missed it this year.

I'd have no hesitation in suggesting you talk to  https://www.northroadcycles.com/   really happy with mine and feels just as at home on-road with a change of wheels / tyres

good people too :good:

In a "recommend what you ride" vein, the Sonder Colibri Ti is a lovely thing.

Buy it from the Yorkshire shop if you like 🙂

Gonna chime in with all those recommending steel being worth a look too…

Personally, I much prefer steel for road bikes over Titanium… Ti frames typically have a touch more compliance, but arguably feel quite dead and lifeless compared to a good steel frame. Obviously these are sweeping generalisations, and you can make a steel frame feel dead and lifeless or make a Ti frame feel lovely and whippy if you know what you’re doing, but more often than not, what I have said rings true.

I have ridden a few Ti road frames, all fairly forgettable to be honest. I currently own a Condor Super Acciaio Disc which might be giving 1lb away to the best Ti frames (it’s giving 2lb away to carbon!) but it’s such a fun, exciting bike to ride, yet still provides that magic carpet ride that you really only get with the best steel frames and I have never experienced with Ti.

In a “recommend what you ride” vein, the Sonder Colibri Ti is a lovely thing.

I went for a look at that, but the straight/unbutted tubing put me off.

#MyProblem

Sevens can be built to be as stiff or flexible as you like. I went with their default settings as at the time didn't know what I wanted.

I'd rather ride a Seven with Centaur than an Enigma with Record

I’d rather ride a Seven with Centaur than an Enigma with Record

I've just realised I exist in a world where that sentence makes sense, and it scares me.

3rd to chip in "a Sonder Colibri Ti is a lovely thing"

Yes, it has straight gauge tubing, but it's all about diminishing returns. Spend the extra on a lovely set of wheels and types and you will appreciate them more than the butted tubing. It's not for life, but it does clean up lovely and that scrape down the side of the café or other bike leaning on yours really does not do any damage a scotch pad will not buff out.

For fancy steel look at :

Fairlight Strael

https://fairlightcycles.com/product/strael3-deposit/?v=79cba1185463

Shand Rizello

https://shandcycles.com/shop/bikes/rizello-disc/

I would also put a vote in for Mason Cycles for fancy steel and titanium options.

OP, what road bike have you got at the moment?

I own 4 titanium-framed bikes - a Colnago, XACD custom road/gravel and two by Waltly - 29+ and fat bike. You can't really butt ti tubing, you can only make the middle thinner by grinding it down, saves about 100g /frame - not really worth the effort IMO. I like the ride of titanium for the way it mutes the chatter of a rough road - when I raced, I had lighter, stiffer carbon bikes but with the bike chattering around it's sometimes harder to get the power down if the back wheel is skipping about and it beats you up after a while. More recent trends for running bigger tyres at lower pressures clearly helps here.

I also like the ride of a classic, skinny tubed steel framed bike - but most modern, mass produced frames have to meet certain test criteria that can make them heavier and dead-feeling. A huge benefit of going custom is being able to choice tubes sizes to suit the rider's weight/needs.

Having owned a few ti brands, I would not hesitate to recommend Seven. Every bike is custom, every tube tuned to how you want it to ride and the workmanship and warranty are outstanding.

Moots are vastly overpriced IMHO and the finish is difficult to keep looking good. The Seven brushed finish looks great year after year and is easy to buff up.

The only caveat that a few people have mentioned is the ever changing 'standards', although with flat mount brakes, 142 spacing, a 44mm head tube and a T47 bb, you should be OK for a few years. The only unknown right now is if UDH and T-Type transmissions might become the norm over the next few years on the road too, and not many brands (Seven included) currently have that option.

Thanks for all the input sorry I’ve been away.
My road bike at the moment is a Trek Emonda. It’s been great but now feels ok. I ride weekends with a mate for 50-80 miles and during the week. One trip abroad riding somewhere nice in Europe. That’s it, no racing anymore, no chain gangs anymore. Simply just enjoying the ride. That’s why I fancy something different that’ll really enjoy.

I’m in Harrogate and not thought Prologue would do Enigma. Nice.

Just looked at Sturdy frames. Simply beautiful!

I've got an Enigma Etape - two and bit years old, so 32-34mm clearance, bolt axles etc. Superb bike - a super comfy cruiser. A bit of flex in the BB...go for the Evoke or a Signature model if you want something racier or stiffer.

As per others, I also have a Fairlight Secan gravel bike and I do think that (as an 853 tubed steel bike) it rides a little nicer than the Etape...slightly stiffer in the BB and has a slightly different and better 'zing' to the frame, and is equally as comfy.

You can't go wrong with either to be fair. And I do prefer the looks of the Enigma.

Ditto on the Fairlight. I had a Secan and it was one of the nicest riding bikes I have ever owned.

Not as glamorous as some. Not a 50th Birthday once in a lifetime type custom bike. But very hard to beat.

I've had a couple: a Litespeed back in the day and an Enigma more recently. Both looked great. But... they're not as light or stiff as you might expect. And I worried about cracks and longevity. As others have suggested, a nice steel bike-for-life like the Fairlight or a custom (Saffron etc) might be the ticket. All things considered, my current carbon Aethos is superior in every way to my titanium bikes.

Bought a titanium gravel bike (Planet X Tempest Ti). Not sure I could describe any difference between that and 531, CrMo, or mild steel frames I've ridden in the past. Looks cool though. Am planning to sell imminently to fund MTB upgrade.

I rode with some new folk last night. The blokes who were 70 and 65 were at least as fast and probably faster than me, so that's giving me inspiration to see how long I can keep riding for :yes:

I have an xl tempest with hunt wheels, force/rival axs and beautiful USE post and bars…Oh; and purple hope headset and seat collar. Probably my favourite bike and the one I use most. Barely over 8kg as well.

You can’t really butt ti tubing, you can only make the middle thinner by grinding it down, saves about 100g /frame – not really worth the effort IMO

My Lynskey 456Ti would disagree - it IS worth the effort 🙂

I rode with some new folk last night. The blokes who were 70 and 65 were at least as fast and probably faster than me, so that’s giving me inspiration to see how long I can keep riding for 

I'm 60 and did my first 300k at the weekend, couldn't keep the pace of some of the older blokes (and then find out later that one of them is an ex-Scottish national champ...), but did it - 15 hours elapsed with 13.5 hours riding.

The longest I'd ever ridden was 100 miles, a few years ago - but regularly do +7-8hr gravel & MTB days.  Entered a 120k in May, did 130k eventually on my gravel bike.  Then did my first 200k in June after treating myself to carbon road wheels & slicks, enjoyed it so entered the 300k.

I'll stick to 200k's and less from now, still looking at the Fairlight Strael though.

I’d rather ride a Seven with Centaur than an Enigma with Record

have you tried both? My Merlin had Centaur, the Enigma has Record (including track cranks). There is little difference in ride. They all ride like a decent steel frame 😉

They all ride like a decent steel frame 😉

SO...

As good as steel, but shinier? Shut up and take my money 😉

Usually lighter than steel too

I'm in a similar boat to the OP, mid-40s, rolling about country lanes on a carbon ego-chariot, not bothered about racing but mulling a last big road bike in the next few years, but I'm increasingly drawn to skinny steel (but with modern standards and parts in mind).

And then the cross-over there with gravel bikes gets me mulling something along those lines.

It seems like every off the peg Steel road frame I find has a Ti sibling for 1.75x the price and a 200g weight saving, so perhaps weirdly if you want a Ti frame look for a steel one and you'll probably find a Ti version too.

O god now I’m getting my head turned by steel! Haha

Anyone used this chap?

https://feathercycles.cc/pricing

A pal of mine has had a bike built by Feather recently - it is a thing of absolute beauty.  Light, too.

If you remove the British requirement, Litespeed are phenomenally good.  I’ve now owned 4 and they just ride better than other Ti bikes.  I’ve owned Merlin, Enigma (close) Kinesis, PX/OO, Cove, Cotic, Titus, etc.  The only comparable quality I’ve had is an Indy Fab.

With near identical builds, my T5G rides so much better than my Tempest commuter.

As good as steel, but shinier? Shut up and take my money 😉

Until it needs a repair. Easier by far to find a frame builder who can repair steel. I had a Ti frame once, sold it and put all the bits on a steel frame; quite a bit heavier, but no qualms about absolutely thrashing the thing. Ti frame was a Hummer, steel frame an Inbred 567.

I’ve also got an Inbred 853 SS, with carbon forks and bars, it’s feather light, and I’d never swap it for anything Ti.

Of course, they are mountain bikes, but if I was going for a gravel bike, it’d have a steel frame, something like 853, or stainless.

In a “recommend what you ride” vein, the Sonder Colibri Ti is a lovely thing.

While I did earlier comment about non-butted tubes I had to take a trip down south yesterday, conveniently passing an Alpkit store, so I popped in.

They had a couple of Colbri Ti's in, a L and an XL.  Chap put me some pedals on and I had a try-for-size.

XL fitted nice.  Frame looks lovely and at £3200 for the Ultegra Di2 model (very) well priced too - many comparable Ti frames from online-type companies are +£4k.

For £49 you can book an all-day demo, getting the money back if you buy.  I'm busy this weekend but will get one booked.  I'll report back my thoughts.

Those Feather bikes look lovely on the sample page. Not cheap mind. But if you can afford it....

What stands out to me on that site are the variety of styles of frame - not just a tweak of dimensions to a default model. I suppose the only counter you could make is that you are buying a prototype. An off the peg will have been through a longer  R&D process.

I guess it's deciding why you want custom. You are an odd shape, you've got unusual needs; a funky paint job; or is it just you want something a bit fancy. Or it might be that want to be part of the process and support smaller makers.

carbon ego-chariot

Great phrase.

Got to say, keep hearing great things about Secan steel bikes. Maybe when the gravel bike needs updating

TiRed 'have you tried both? My Merlin had Centaur, the Enigma has Record (including track cranks). There is little difference in ride. They all ride like a decent steel frame ;-)'

I have, used to ride a preaquisition Merlin, but I'm not comparing Enigma with Merlin but with a Seven which is not a like for like comparison in my opinion, had six months on an Enigma just preferred the Seven.

You ridden a Seven?