Alchemy Arktos 27.5 Mountain Bike Frame

We're all pretty lucky in that we live in a time where there are plenty of great full-suspension mountain bike offerings. Materials, suspension platforms, and geometries are all so refined that only small subtleties separate most of the bikes these days. Still, certain brands are more popular than others, and you'll likely encounter the same bikes on the trails and at the races and the choices are pretty slim if you're after a boutique brand with full squish. That is, unless you're reading this and the Arktos 27. 5 Mountain Bike Frame from Alchemy has you intrigued. This frame will build up a bike that's efficient for climbing and pedaling, with its innovative suspension platform, and the travel and slack geometry needed to tackle aggressive enduros, all aboard something a little more special than the mass-produced bikes while coming in around the same price-point. Alchemy is a tight-knit group of designers, engineers, machinists, and painters. The company got its start in Austin, TX a decade ago but the call of the Rocky Mountains proved too much and the brand relocated to Denver, CO. All of its bikes are equal part art and technology and designed to last the long haul. Consistently in the mix as award-winning bikes, Alchemy quickly made a name for itself as a brand that caters to the most discerning cyclists. The construction processes and techniques on its frames are unique and are simply unachievable in typical mass-market manufacturing. The Arktos 27. 5 is a handmade in the USA carbon frame, an industry first and a favorite of cycling editors, people's choice, and shows awards internationally. To achieve this, it requires premium raw materials and the work of highly skilled craftsman to lay-up and cure the carbon fiber over several days. The frames start life as carbon pre-preg sheets that are precisely cut on a CNC plotter of up to 500 pieces for a single frame. These pieces, specific weaving strands, and its dedicated lay-up process yield the bike's rid...