With the age of Carbon firmly upon us it is easy to overlook Titanium - which is what everyone wanted before. Stunning good looks and beautiful welds (welding Ti isn't easy, it's an art) coupled with Titanium's longevity and minimal 'fade' in terms of ride feel are but a few of the reasons not to overlook it as the basis for a premium road bike build. Titanium is often considered expensive, even when held up against high end carbon road frames which we find interesting. Titanium is one of the rarest metals on the planet and carbon one of the most abundant - it seems odd to consider Titanium expensive in this context. No doubt it can take time to prepare and build a carbon frame, equally, cheap carbon frames can be knocked up pretty quickly - good Titanium always takes time and serious skill to weld into a frame worthy of riding or racing.
Nothing feels quite like Ti, on first impressions you might find the frame doesn't feel 'right' - it has unique ride qualities hard to mimic with carbon and aluminium. In fact, it's hard to describe. Titanium bikes tend to be smooth. That's the best word for it. Smooth but fast; riding Ti for the first time you may think you're not as quick as you were on your previous aluminium or carbon bike, but check your Strava sections or your times on a regular route and we'll hazard you'll be as good if not faster. The reason for this lies in Titanium's ability to shield you from the harshness of the roads like steel does. The speed you get comes from Ti's rigidity and light weight and combined with the comfort makes Ti an excellent material for bike frames.
All metals fatigue with use but a Ti frame will last considerably lon ger than aluminium while offering the benefits of low weight and high stiffness. Carbon may feel more reactive, maybe, depending on what you're spending - but Ti is a ride feel you will never tire of and it will continue long after you've hung up your helmet. Besides, we don't all want the same things (well, some do!) and just because someone else has one, doesn't make it better. Don't believe the hype. If you are looking for a 'bike-for-life' then Titanium deserves a look, not just a fleeting glance and an 'ooh that's pretty'. Ti can be stunning and is by no means out-of-date, carbon is just cheaper and easier to work with, but it doesn't make it superior.
Titanium is as raceable as it is comfortable for those long, hilly century rides. A real Jack-of-all-trades. The K19 is excellent value for money with a classy white / naked finish. The front end is snappy and responsive thanks to the alloy used in the front triangle and the tapered oversized headset and Carbon fork. These combine to give a lively road feel but with superb point-and-shoot steering. The rear triangle uses a specific alloy to enhance the metal's forgiving charachteristics without compromising on responsiveness.
It may not be as light as some carbon frames but a sensible build can yield a bike of around 16-17lbs.
Specifications:
The Dedacciai Strada TITANIUM K-19 frame utilizes Ti3AL.2.5V Titanium for the frame front part and the titanium GRADO 2 for the rear frame part. The characteristics of the two alloys, used together, make a higher breaking point for the frame front part, where it is important to maximise its rigidity and absolute resistance to the capacity of the GRADO 2 to be formed to obtain shape and profile not possible to achieve with other alloys.
The lowest specific weight with its elasticity allows the frames to obtain and appreciate its comfort without sacrificing its performance.
Featuring advanced sloping geometry and a compact rear triangle with over-sized dropouts.
The frame also features a mega oversized cone-shaped steerer tube that is 1/1-8 at the top and 1/1/2 at the fork.
All of these features help towards a greater overall stiffness and a reduction in weight.
Features:
- Ti3AL.2.5V Titanium frame
- Head Tube for integrated Head Set 11/8 top - 11/2 bottom
- Bottom Bracket BSA
- Finish: paint and metal polish
- Seat Tube for 31,6 mm OD Seat Post
- Five sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL,
- Weight: 1350g (size M)
- Fork weight: 350g (carbon dropout)
