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Bastion bikes8/18/2023 ![]() Riding it, I began to notice a precisely engineered flex that filtered out the undesirable aspects the road, leaving intact the more pleasant resonance of the road surface. There was a complex balance between speed and comfort that is an exceptionally rare quality It absorbed bumps with the gracefulness of a titanium frame, while sprinting and descending with the stiffness of a carbon frame. It made me want to ride a lot, and to ride hard. The Bastion had a ride quality that filled me with excitement and energy, impressing me in many different ways. I was genuinely worried they had ruined all other bikes for me. The Bastion had a lot to prove.Īnd sure enough, the first time I went out on the Road Disc I felt I might never forgive Ben Schultz and his team. So having had every aspect of geometry and construction mapped with android-like accuracy, I approached my first ride with a certain amount of scepticism. Having tested many different bikes with wild and wondrous claims, I’ve long since learned to temper my expectations, especially when a new brand claims to have reinvented the bike. The final product, when mapped out onto a scatter diagram, sat between a Cervélo R5, S-Works Tarmac and Focus Izalco Max – three frames I’m rather fond of, which boded well. It was refreshing to see geometry and material customisation working in tandem. In material terms alone, my preference seemed to be ‘Regular’, but before construction began Schultz looked over the stats and disagreed.Ī written report informed me, ‘Our simulation shows that with your geometry, you could achieve a higher torsional stiffness without compromising the ride comfort greatly by selecting “Stiff”.’ Good company I explained that I was a fair-weather racer and generally a lover of speed and stiffness, but that over the years I’ve been increasingly inclined towards comfort.ĭifferent options are given to the consumer – ‘Regular’, ‘Stiff’ or ‘Extra Stiff’. It’s worth pointing out that, while the bike was designed specifically for me, I don’t get to keep it, so my opinions are not being unfairly influenced.įollowing a bike fit and power test, we discussed what sort of bike I would most like to ride. Three-dimensional designīefore ever seeing the Bastion in the flesh, I was invited to Velo Atelier, its UK distributor, where they mapped out my fit and riding requirements to design a bike to suit me. It enables Bastion to customise the frame in ways rarely seen in the bike industry. These lugs look normal from the outside, but split them open and inside is a complex latticework of titanium, printed specifically (and asymmetrically) to preserve torsional stiffness while increasing compliance. The cranks and handlebars will be available to order starting in January 2020.Holding the tubes together is the showpiece of the Bastion brand, thanks to the unique 3D printed titanium lugs (see The Detail box over the page). The Bastion stem is available to order now, requiring a lead time of six to eight weeks. In keeping with the stem, the cranks are customizable, with crankarm lengths available from 160mm to 180mm, while the handlebars are individually sized for the rider as well. ![]() In FEATURED ARTICLES, LATEST ARTICLES, THE DOUBLE DIAMONDīastion Cycles has created the world’s most expensive 3D-printed stem that costs a staggering $1,399.00.Īccording to Bastion, its new stem is made from Ti6AI4V/Grade 5 titanium, which is designed to work specifically with Argon 18’s Electron Pro track frame.īastion says the stem is available in a number of stack heights, and in lengths up to 160mm with an angle of +17/-17 degrees.Ĭreated in collaboration with Cycling Australia, the stem was developed to be used by the Australian national track cycling team at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.Īdditionally, Bastion has also created a titanium track crank, along with a far-flung, integrated titanium “double-drop”’ handlebar, which the Australian company says offer “aerodynamically superior with class leading stiffness” and “several riding positions that improve control and stability as well as aerodynamic performance”.
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