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Nothing looks like Titanium.
Titanium’s unique properties make it an excellent material for bicycle frame construction. Its high strength, low density, low modulus, excellent fatigue and corrosion resistance deliver a skeleton that is not only extremely strong and durable, but also incredibly lightweight.
Titanium does not break down, rust or corrode under any atmospheric conditions. Titanium is so resistant to corrosion it does not even need to be treated or painted. Some manufacturers do so. (Admittedly adding only a few grams. But, like dieters, top cyclists really do count every one.) Why do this, we ask? We simply brighten its natural colour by lightly brushing it. We love the finish this creates. Take a long look at it. Now you know how magnificent a material Titanium is to make bicycle frames with, doesn’t it seem to shine just that little bit more?
Nothing rides like Titanium.
Similar to steel, Titanium has an in-built flexibility, only it is more pronounced. Therefore it is ever so slightly ‘springy’, which means it can absorb road vibration before it reaches the rider. (A Titanium seat post more or less eliminates it.)
Consequently, you feel like you are gliding across tarmac, even when riding hard. A recent review compared the sensation of riding the Van Nicholas Astraeus to the floating feeling you get from driving a Rolls Royce.
We hasten to add that the same writer heaped as much praise on the bike’s handling, after throwing it into corners with the sort of gusto that would have his licence revoked were he to attempt the same manoeuvres in a car.
Nothing lasts like Titanium.
Unlike aluminium or carbon framesets, Titanium won’t ‘snap’ in an accident. This is because, like steel, it ‘gives’ a little. (In fact, Titanium is even more forgiving than steel, which is why its ride quality is so renowned.) Also, like steel, it is incredibly strong. But it is lighter. And it does not rust. Ever. This is one of the reasons why every Van Nicholas frame is guaranteed for the lifetime of its owner.
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