NAHBS 2013: Alchemy Bicycles
Cutting edge carbon and classic steel
Published:
Not many custom bicycle companies have a talent pool deep enough to be able to build cutting edge carbon wonder bikes as well as classic steel frames bike with equal levels of mastery.
Alchemy Bicycles can build your dream bike in carbon, titanium or steel. The Denver-based company has their full range of abilities on display at NAHBS this year.
Steel still an option for Alchemy
Steel was the company’s material of choice when it first opened its doors in 2008. Since then titanium, and now carbon, have become more prevalent. Approximately 90 percent of Alchemy’s order are for their carbon offerings. “People associate us with carbon bikes now,” said Simpson. “We wanted to remind people that we also work in steel.”
Alchemy’s head welder worked for Serotta for 10 years before joining the company and, as this classic tig-welded frame demonstrates, he can certainly wield a torch. Alchemy acquired a full new-old-stock Dura-Ace 7400 group to complete this classic look.
“Our in-house painter color mixed the panels to match the look of the vintage component group,” added Simpson.
Xanthus gets a makeover
We recently visited Alchemy’s workshop to give readers a sneak peak at some of the bikes the company was building for the show. At the time of our visit, two of Alchemy’s new frames were masked off and receiving coats of paint.
Beneath the tape were two new versions of Alchemy’s Xanthus road frame. The first is a disc-specific version the Xanthus. It is constructed similar to the current Xanthus, with round tubing supplied by Enve Composites.
The second version of the Xanthus takes advantage of Alchemy’s recent investment in a CNC machine and hydraulic press, which allow the company to create their own molds and tubing in-house. “It’s kind of a combination of the round-tubed Xanthus and the aero Arion,” said Simpson.
The top tube is flattened on top and round on the bottom, with a sublt arc from the head tube to the seat tube. We couldn’t help but think it would look fitting on a ‘cross bike. According the Simpson, we may see a similar tube profiles in an updated Balius cyclocross frame later this year.
Pricing is yet to be determined. Alchemy expects to be delivering both versions of the Xanthus this spring.
Authors
Josh Patterson is a BikeRadar contributor and former technical editor. He has spent most of his career working in the cycling industry as an athlete, mechanic and journalist. He holds a master's degree in journalism and has more than 20 years of experience as a cyclist and 12 years of experience riding and writing for BikeRadar, Cyclingnews, Cycling Weekly, Dirt Rag, RoadBikeReview and Outside Magazine. A native of the Flint Hills of Kansas, Josh was a pioneer in the gravel cycling movement, having raced the first Unbound 200 and many other gravel events around the globe. He considers himself a cycling generalist and enjoys road, gravel and mountain biking in equal measure. When not traveling for work, he can be found exploring the singletrack and lonely gravel roads that surround his home in Fort Collins, Colorado. In addition to his love of cycling, Josh is an enthusiastic supporter of brunch, voting rights and the right to repair movement.
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