"Of all the base metals, titanium is easily the most truculent when it comes to releasing its magical properties"
Has Titanium Reached Peak-Innovation?
Titanium, like steel and aluminum is a defined material (unlike carbon fibre, which is a composite of materials). This means that titanium has pre-prescribed properties that relate to how it performs - weight, stiffness, resilience, toughness, durability etc.
Over the decades, engineers have alchemised all of the base metals to try and fractionally increase performance. The bicycle frame is the perfect microcosm test-tube of material performance, because of the inherent constraint of human power.
Of all the base metals, titanium is easily the most truculent when it comes to releasing its magical properties. Most high quality ti frames now use a cocktail of 3% aluminium 2.5% vanadium and 94.5% titanium, as the optimal performance formula - commonly known as 3AL-2.5V.
The Godfather of Titanium
Seven Cycles have have made it their life's work to cautiously coax innovation from the world's grumpiest metal. And within Seven Cycles nobody is more respected for his contribution than founder, Rob Vandermark.
This Axiom XX is the current apotheosis of all his hard work. It is the lightest disc-brake ti bike we have ever built (7.5kg) - the same weight as a gen7 Trek Madone by the way. This iconic Seven Axiom sings custom-made from every pore - frame, saddle, seat-post, seat-clamp and wheels.
But is there more to come or have we reached peak-titanium. One thing is for damn sure Rob will keep pushing forwards, but he is also rightly cautious and would never do anything to prejudice a Seven's hallowed reputation and lifetime warranty.
"Over the decades , engineers have alchemised all of the base metals to try and fractionally increase performance"
"This Axiom XX is the current apotheosis of Rob Vandermark's hard work."
"This iconic Seven Axiom sings custom-made from every pore - frame, saddle, seat-post, seat-clamp and wheels"
Technical Spec
FRAME | Seven Axiom XX - triple-butted, USA - milled 3AL, 2.5V titanium |
FORK | Enve RD |
GROUPSET | SRAM RED AXS |
WHEELS | LANDRACE 25mm |
SADDLE | Custom-moulded Reform |
SEATPOST/CLAMP | Firefly (Custom made in Boston for Cyclefit) |