Let’s face it, producing carbon fiber bikes isn’t the most environmentally friendly process. Metal frames can often be repaired (sometimes carbon can too), and the excess tubing, shavings, and even the frames can be recycled. You can’t say that for carbon fiber frames. New Zealand brand Vélos Advancements is changing that by bringing sustainability to building frames, similar to the approach of other brands like Ornot.
When it comes to frames, bike brands start with sheets of new carbon fiber directly from the manufacturer, and create their frames. Vélos is taking a different approach and working with SailGP Technologies and the New Zealand Aerospace industry to use what these industries consider waste, along with recycled and surplus carbon fiber from Toray, to create their frames. As the saying goes, one person’s trash is another person’s treasure.
“I’m a big believer that innovative advancements in a specific industry can be found by looking outwards at other industries, and by aligning Vélos with global leaders in composite technologies that have the same values as we do ensure Vélos will continue pushing boundaries in sustainability, technology, quality, and the circular economies of our products,” explains Company founder Dan Burrows.
Vélos is also looking to emphasize repairability and longevity, without losing focus on being a class-leading bike. It started with bringing designer Dave Higgins on board, previously head of engineering and design at Avanti Bikes. His bike designs have won world championships, and Olympic and Commonwealth Games medals on the track, along with professional stages on the road. Outside of cycling, Higgins’ designs have helped Team New Zealand win the America’s cup in sailing.
Taking things to a higher level, Vélos’ approach to frame building is to make truly one-piece monocoque frames, instead of joining the rear triangle to the frame after it is already molded. This eliminates possible joint failures. An integrated seat mast eliminates cracked frames, damaged seat post, and threaded inserts debonding from the frame. Build quality is taken to the next level by using higher aerospace standards than what is typically used in the cycling industry.
The brand’s first bike, the Holocene, will be available later this year and is open for preorders now. Only 100 will be available for the 2024 production year. The aero road bike will be available in sizes 50-60cm in 2cm increments, with a weight between 900-950g for an unpainted frame and fork in 56cm. Internal cable routing and details like 3D-printed titanium bottle mounts that are molded flush into the frame, give the Holocene a very refined look. Owners will work with Vélos to customize the build in just about every way. Custom paint, your choice of top-end drivetrain, FSA/Vision ACR build kit, Vision wheels, and Vittoria tires. Saddle, pedals and even a power meter can be sourced from your preference, along with details like bearing choice, stem length, bar width, crank length, gear ratios, etc. The sky is the limit to what you can create.
As you’d guess, this white glove treatment and advanced construction techniques doesn’t come cheap. A $2,500 USD gets your deposit in and starts the custom process. Prices for a full Dura-Ace build comes in at $14,800 USD/$25,499 NZD/£12,000/€14,000.
As production ramps up, Vélos will continue to develop plans for the future. Additional sizes, a gravel bike, they are all possible options depending on where the demand lies.
For most brands, sustainability means looking at their packing materials, reducing the amount of plastic for cardboard, but few, if any bike brands are looking at sustainability like Vélos. The Holocene has the potential to revolutionize how brands look at sourcing materials and construction methods to start to consider frames as a durable good, rather than being disposable.
Heckling Editor, Image Taker, Crash Test Dummy, and Beard Master at Bikeworldnews.com
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