Review: Alchemy Arktos 29 ST
Ride the Arktos 29 ST and you'll understand the short-travel trail bike trend. Alchemy makes bikes in Colorado, where those who can endure long fire-road climbs at high altitude are rewarded by fast paced singletrack descents that run for miles without interruption.
Derived from their successful carbon-framed 29-inch wheel enduro racing platform, the Arktos 29 ST (short travel) enters the world with 120-millimeter of rear suspension, powered by a Fox DPX2 shock that is paired with a 140-millimeter Fox 36 fork. Five builds are offered, beginning with our SRAM GX Eagle-based review bike at $5,200 USD, to a Shimano XTR version that costs $9,500.
Derived from their successful carbon-framed 29-inch wheel enduro racing platform, the Arktos 29 ST (short travel) enters the world with 120-millimeter of rear suspension, powered by a Fox DPX2 shock that is paired with a 140-millimeter Fox 36 fork. Five builds are offered, beginning with our SRAM GX Eagle-based review bike at $5,200 USD, to a Shimano XTR version that costs $9,500.
Arktos 29 ST Details
• Wheel size: 29"
• Travel: 120mm rear / 140mm front
• Carbon frame
• 66.1-degree head angle
• Reach: 421 to 485mm (447 size med)
• 436mm chainstay length
• Sizes: S, M, L, XL
• Price: $5,199 USD
• Weight: 30.4 lb/13.8 kg (size M, actual)
• Alchemy Bikes
• Wheel size: 29"
• Travel: 120mm rear / 140mm front
• Carbon frame
• 66.1-degree head angle
• Reach: 421 to 485mm (447 size med)
• 436mm chainstay length
• Sizes: S, M, L, XL
• Price: $5,199 USD
• Weight: 30.4 lb/13.8 kg (size M, actual)
• Alchemy Bikes
Big wheels, armed with 30-millimeter wide rims and full-sized Maxxis Minion rubber mitigate the chassis' minimized wheel travel, but the Arktos ST's secret weapon is its "Sine" suspension kinematics. Designed by David Earle, the short-link system transitions smoothly from an initial falling rate to a progressive curve, then finishes with a falling rate at the end-stroke. Conventional wisdom may suggest otherwise, but Earl crafted the "sine-wave" suspension curve to utilize every millimeter of the Arktos shock's stroke. Apparently, it works quite well.
 | Minimalist trail bikes like the Arktos 29 reap the benefits of big wheels and gravity-tuned geometry, while their limited wheel travel provides more consistent handling. |
Construction and Features
Alchemy is best known for making its carbon and titanium frames in the USA. Sales have outpaced their production capacity, however, so the Colorado bike makers have reached out to Asia to produce the Arktos 29. Construction throughout the sturdy carbon front section and its rear suspension is well executed, and the frame's conservative profile is easy on the eyes.
Top tube clearance is good for a 29er, and the seat tube configuration offers plenty of room for long-stroke dropper posts. Threaded bottom bracket cups and ISCG bosses are a plus, as is the thick plastic down tube protector which frames the under-tube bottle mounts. Closer inspection reveals plenty of room for full-size tires (2.4-inch rubber is standard fare) and generous sound and abrasion protection is applied to the right-side seat and chain stays.
Alchemy's decision to build the 29-inch-wheel Arktos with the wider 157-millimeter Boost Plus axle width was a good call. Wider spaced hub flanges offer stronger support for big wheels and the format creates a better chain line for 12-speed drivetrains as well. Those wary of being locked into a "new" standard have nothing to worry about, because Boost Plus is cross-compatible with conventional DH hubs.
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Those who keep their bikes for a while will appreciate that Alchemy stocks spare parts and offers a comprehensive assembly manual. Alchemy covers the chassis with a lifetime warranty and the maker also offers a crash replacement policy for above-and-beyond events to help get original owners back on their wheels.
Perfect scores are rarely meted, and Alchemy missed a couple of marks when they penned the Arktos 29. Bottle suckers will be disappointed to discover that the Arktos 29's mid-tube shock mount leaves no room for in-frame hydration. Dirty spigots are an unappealing reality of conventionally placed bottles, but after fording a few puddles and cleaving some cow pies, you're going to think twice before pressing your lips to the Arktos' low-mounted bottle. Another questionable feature was the way the rear brake hose and derailleur housing were routed below the swingarm. I had to use a couple of zip-ties to ensure that the tire did not buzz them.
Alchemy is best known for making its carbon and titanium frames in the USA. Sales have outpaced their production capacity, however, so the Colorado bike makers have reached out to Asia to produce the Arktos 29. Construction throughout the sturdy carbon front section and its rear suspension is well executed, and the frame's conservative profile is easy on the eyes.
Top tube clearance is good for a 29er, and the seat tube configuration offers plenty of room for long-stroke dropper posts. Threaded bottom bracket cups and ISCG bosses are a plus, as is the thick plastic down tube protector which frames the under-tube bottle mounts. Closer inspection reveals plenty of room for full-size tires (2.4-inch rubber is standard fare) and generous sound and abrasion protection is applied to the right-side seat and chain stays.
Alchemy's decision to build the 29-inch-wheel Arktos with the wider 157-millimeter Boost Plus axle width was a good call. Wider spaced hub flanges offer stronger support for big wheels and the format creates a better chain line for 12-speed drivetrains as well. Those wary of being locked into a "new" standard have nothing to worry about, because Boost Plus is cross-compatible with conventional DH hubs.
Sine suspension displaces the water bottle below the down tube.
The 157mm rear axle width is the same as a DH hub,
Wrap-around tube junctions reinforce the head tube area.
Those who keep their bikes for a while will appreciate that Alchemy stocks spare parts and offers a comprehensive assembly manual. Alchemy covers the chassis with a lifetime warranty and the maker also offers a crash replacement policy for above-and-beyond events to help get original owners back on their wheels.
Perfect scores are rarely meted, and Alchemy missed a couple of marks when they penned the Arktos 29. Bottle suckers will be disappointed to discover that the Arktos 29's mid-tube shock mount leaves no room for in-frame hydration. Dirty spigots are an unappealing reality of conventionally placed bottles, but after fording a few puddles and cleaving some cow pies, you're going to think twice before pressing your lips to the Arktos' low-mounted bottle. Another questionable feature was the way the rear brake hose and derailleur housing were routed below the swingarm. I had to use a couple of zip-ties to ensure that the tire did not buzz them.
Geometry & Sizing
Arktos 29 ST frames are made in small, medium, large, and X-large sizes, with ample, but not record setting reaches that range from 421 millimeters in the size small to 487 in the XL size. Our medium review bike's 447-millimeter reach was on the roomy side of perfect for me, and according to Alchemy's sizing chart I fall in the center of their suggested range for that size.
You'll find no surprises in the Arktos 29's geometry chart. Every number supports its role as an aggressive, fast pedaling trail bike, intended to flourish under a capable rider. Alchemy begins with a short, 44-millimeter fork offset, which pairs well with the bike's 66.1-degree head tube angle to make the steering feel consistent across a broad speed range.
Modest, but still modern, the 75.5-degree seat tube angle is not so rider-forward that super-short
Suspension Design
Our most affordable version of the Arktos 29 ST is outfitted with pro-level Fox suspension: a 140-millimeter-stroke Factory Float 36 Grip 2 fork, backed by an EVOL DPX2 reservoir shock (Kashima, of course). No questioning Alchemy's commitment.
Squeezing performance from every bit of the Arktos ST's 120-millimeter rear wheel travel fell onto the shoulders of suspension guru David Earl, who used the bike to showcase his latest suspension design; "Sine" suspension refers to its characteristic sine-wave leverage graph. Left unchecked, short-link four-bar linkages all exhibit similar rate reversals at the extremes of their range. Most designers capture one snippet of the rate curve that best suits their needs.
Earle, however, spent most of his career figuring out ways to moderate those rate changes and then use them to an advantage. His trick is hidden behind the forward part of the swingarm, where the lower pivot location articulates on a third lever that creates a cam action as the suspension compresses. Yeti's Switch Infinity system creates a similar effect.
Sine's novel rate curve begins with a falling rate, which is often used to provide pedaling firmness without hindering the suspension's ability to get moving quickly in response to an impact. Near the sag point, the rate curve reverses into a classic
Key to the Arktos' Sine suspension is a hidden link used to moderate abrupt rate changes typical of short-lever four-bar designs.
Those of us who have endured the plethora of "revolutionary" suspension systems that marked the past decade have learned that technology is only impressive when it performs as promised. Sine suspension comes from a reputable source, and while it may seem complicated, it looks (and is) quite simple. You won't have to explain it to bystanders each time you pause to check your Strava.
Alchemy graphic
Components
Budget strapped riders seeking to buy an elite level trail bike from a boutique builder will find it hard to beat the $5,200 Arktos 29. No arguing its Fox Factory suspension, and the same goes for its SRAM GX Eagle drivetrain, time proven DT Swiss M 1700 Spline wheels, and Maxxis Minion WT rubber. Alchemy breaks rank with SRAM to spec Shimano XT brakes. I would prefer SRAM Codes at this price point for their better modulation, but I'd choose XT over Guides any day of the week. Overall, this bike's cockpit and component selection looks and feels like a professional's workspace.
| Specifications | ||
| Release Date | 2019 | |
| Price | $5199 | |
| Travel | 120mm R, 140mm F | |
| Rear Shock | Fox DPX2 Factory Kashima | |
| Fork | Fox 36 Factory Kashima, 140mm, Grip 2 | |
| Headset | Cane Creek | |
| Cassette | SRAM GX 10 x 50t | |
| Crankarms | SRAM Eagle GX 175mm 32t | |
| Chainguide | Praxis top guide | |
| Bottom Bracket | SRAM threaded | |
| Pedals | NA | |
| Rear Derailleur | SRAM Eagle GX | |
| Chain | SRAM Eagle GX | |
| Front Derailleur | NA | |
| Shifter Pods | SRAM Eagle GX | |
| Handlebar | Race Face Aeffect 35×780x20mm | |
| Stem | Race Face Aeffect 50mm | |
| Grips | Ergon GA 20 | |
| Brakes | Shimano XT,180/180mm rotors | |
| Wheelset | DT Swiss M 1700 SPLINE 29 (Rear - 157 mm Boost Plus) | |
| Hubs | DT Swiss | |
| Spokes | DT Swiss | |
| Rim | DT Swiss aluminum, 30mm IW. | |
| Tires | Maxxis Minion DHF WT EXO 2.5" / DHR WT EXO 2.4" | |
| Seat | WTB Volt Race | |
| Seatpost | X-Fusion Manic 150mm | |
| Overall, this bike's cockpit and component selection looks and feels like a professional's workspace. |
Alchemy recommends that riders begin with the rear suspension set at the ubiquitous, 30-percent sag. I was reluctant to follow their advice because I'd be sacrificing a significant portion of the Arktos' 120 millimeters of positive rear-wheel travel. My concerns, however, were unjustified. I would soon learn that the Arktos' Sine suspension kinematics create more than enough mid-stroke support to maximize the effectiveness of its remaining 84 millimeters of compression.
Armed with that knowledge, I set the Fox 36 fork a little stiffer than my norm to strike a balance. Starting with 20-percent sag, I settled on five clicks out on the high-speed rebound and eight clicks out on the low-speed. Compression settings ended up at eight out on the high-speed and ten clicks out on the low-speed dial. Shock settings were eight clicks out on the low speed rebound and three clicks out on the high speed compression. I used the middle position of the DPX2 shock's low-speed compression lever for pedaling paved climbs and left it open for everything else.
| Climbing and pedalling efficiency is multiplied by the Arktos' ability to maintain momentum over terrain that defeats old-school stiffer-is-better suspension designs. |
Climbing and acceleration: Given Colorado's abundant opportunities for extended climbs and the bike's short-travel mission statement, I anticipated the Arktos 29 would feel energetic under power at the expense of some small-bump harshness. Not so. Alchemy's take on an efficient climber is to trade some of the perceived efficiency that comes from a busload of anti-squat and an overly firm feel at the pedals for better square-edge and small-bump suspension performance. Climbing and pedalling efficiency is multiplied by the Arktos' ability to maintain momentum over terrain that defeats old-school stiffer-is-better suspension designs. I didn't always feel like I was covering more ground, but I was faster everywhere pedaling was involved.
Fun factor: "Playful" is commonly used to describe the essence of short-travel trail bikes. Cornering, jumping, making shapes - any move that requires intuition and timing seems easier - and there's a reason for that. Minimize the suspension travel and you also minimize the variables that come with big travel bikes, like unplanned weight transfer and steering angles that are all over the map, depending upon which end of the bike is extended or compressed. Minimalist trail bikes like the Arktos 29 reap the benefits of big wheels and gravity-tuned geometry, while their limited wheel travel provides more consistent handling. Geometry is rock stable through the turns and there's less squish to push through when you need to load up the bike for a jump.
Bottom line is the Arktos 29 ST, with its planted suspension and balanced numbers, feels like an intuitive extension of its pilot - a joy to ride anywhere it's fast, technical and twisty.
Technical riding: Rear-wheel drifts are in vogue, and there's much confidence in the notion that your bike's tail end will break free well before the front tire loses grip. Ask the Arktos and it will comply, but left to its own desires, it will tenaciously hold its line through the turns, and when it does break traction, both wheels will drift about the same. You won't look as stylish, but you'll carry more speed and you'll have an easier time setting up for the next bend.
Point the Arktos 29 toward danger and it probably won't get you in trouble - even when you run out of suspension. Fox's 140-millimeter 36 fork never ceases to impress, and the Arktos' Sine rear suspension follows suit with a level of grip and control that defies the reality of its puny rear-wheel travel. Both O-rings and the Stan's sealant bleeding from the Maxxis EXO tire casings indicated that I was asking for more suspension than Alchemy provided, but the Arktos remained composed in spite of it all.
Invinceable? Yes, you can brake late, leap over rock gardens, take the bold lines down rock faces and carve inside lines around cobbled corners - but push past the Arktos' suspension and your limitations will soon depend upon your skillset. Alchemy makes a more capable enduro version of this machine for the rest of us.
Suspension action: Alchemy's claims about its Sine suspension were justified by the Arktos 29's performance. Sine's reversing leverage rates may or may not have played a commanding role in this equation, given the small range of motion that those elements have to impose their will upon the Fox DPX 2 damper, but there can be no doubt that the Arktos 29 pedals well, remains composed in its mid-stroke and provides an uncanny degree of smoothness over a wide range of speed and trail conditions. I'll attribute some of that composure to the Fox 36 fork, which matches the beauty of Sine's mid-stroke performance, but provides much more of it.
How does it compare? Santa Cruz Tallboy vs. Alchemy Arktos 29 ST
![Santa Cruz Tallboy 2019]()
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PB reviewed the new Santa Cruz Tallboy this year, which is available in a comparably priced version (Tallboy Carbon C-S $4999 USD), also with a similar spec. Santa Cruz designed the 2020 Tallboy to fulfill the same aggressive, short-travel 29er trail bike role with 120 millimeters of rear-wheel travel, paired to a slightly shorter,130-millimeter fork. Both received positive reviews in the suspension department, earning accolades for rear suspension that exceeded their numerical expectations. Alchemy gets the win for better components, with a Fox Factory level 36 fork up front and a Factory DPX2 reservoir shock (SC offers a 34 Float Performance fork and a Performance DPS shock). Both bikes share the same drivetrains - SRAM GX Eagle - while the Tallboy gets SRAM's G2 RSC brakes, and the Aktos has Shimano XT stoppers.
Arktos 29 ST and 2020 Tallboys both feature innovative suspension systems, well made carbon frames, and their numbers are close: Tallboys have a more desirable, 76.6° seat tube angle vs the Arktos' 75.5° while their head tube angles are too close to worry about (65.5° vs 66.1°). Reaches are also comparable, with the medium Tallboy at 448mm and the Arctos at 447mm. Santa Cruz gets the big win for the sacred water bottle placement, made possible by its more compact suspension design, but the Arktos's climb switch is readily accessible on the fly, while you'd have a tough time finding the Tallboy's.
Santa Cruz Tallboy
Alchemy Arktos 29 ST
PB reviewed the new Santa Cruz Tallboy this year, which is available in a comparably priced version (Tallboy Carbon C-S $4999 USD), also with a similar spec. Santa Cruz designed the 2020 Tallboy to fulfill the same aggressive, short-travel 29er trail bike role with 120 millimeters of rear-wheel travel, paired to a slightly shorter,130-millimeter fork. Both received positive reviews in the suspension department, earning accolades for rear suspension that exceeded their numerical expectations. Alchemy gets the win for better components, with a Fox Factory level 36 fork up front and a Factory DPX2 reservoir shock (SC offers a 34 Float Performance fork and a Performance DPS shock). Both bikes share the same drivetrains - SRAM GX Eagle - while the Tallboy gets SRAM's G2 RSC brakes, and the Aktos has Shimano XT stoppers.
Arktos 29 ST and 2020 Tallboys both feature innovative suspension systems, well made carbon frames, and their numbers are close: Tallboys have a more desirable, 76.6° seat tube angle vs the Arktos' 75.5° while their head tube angles are too close to worry about (65.5° vs 66.1°). Reaches are also comparable, with the medium Tallboy at 448mm and the Arctos at 447mm. Santa Cruz gets the big win for the sacred water bottle placement, made possible by its more compact suspension design, but the Arktos's climb switch is readily accessible on the fly, while you'd have a tough time finding the Tallboy's.
Technical Report
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![Maxxis 2.4 Minion DHR WT EXO]()
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Sine Suspension: Vanguard suspension designers start praising straight leverage rates and coil shocks again, then David Earle pops out a reversing sine-wave tailored specifically for air-sprung dampers. Hard to argue with success. Sine suspension works great and forms the centerpiece of the Arktos 29 ST's delightful trail manners.
Watch that bottom bracket: Not so low on paper, but the Arktos' 336mm (13.2") bottom bracket height produced more than a few rodeos. I never went down following a massive crank or pedal strike, but wow! I'd probably boost its fork travel to 150mm to jack the bottom bracket up a little if I were to keep it for an extended ride, or at the very least install some 170mm cranks.
Braking: Shimano must have altered its pad compounds because the last few XT brakes needed a lot of heat before they started gripping like their predecessors. It took three rides before they really woke up, then it was game on.
Aluminum wheels: I've been a fan of good quality carbon wheels, but I often rode this bike beyond the limits of its suspension, which shifted much of the conversation between earth and rider to the wheels. Wide, DT Swiss 1700 Spline wheels, shod with Maxxis Minion EXO WT tires sucked it all up with minimal complaints. I'm a fan.
Fox suspension Alchemy invested heavily in the Arktos 29's suspension components, which is exactly where it did the most good. Short travel trail bikes put a lot of stress on those parts. Alchemy spec'ed the good stuff so you'll never have to worry about a future upgrade.
Watch that bottom bracket: Not so low on paper, but the Arktos' 336mm (13.2") bottom bracket height produced more than a few rodeos. I never went down following a massive crank or pedal strike, but wow! I'd probably boost its fork travel to 150mm to jack the bottom bracket up a little if I were to keep it for an extended ride, or at the very least install some 170mm cranks.
Braking: Shimano must have altered its pad compounds because the last few XT brakes needed a lot of heat before they started gripping like their predecessors. It took three rides before they really woke up, then it was game on.
Aluminum wheels: I've been a fan of good quality carbon wheels, but I often rode this bike beyond the limits of its suspension, which shifted much of the conversation between earth and rider to the wheels. Wide, DT Swiss 1700 Spline wheels, shod with Maxxis Minion EXO WT tires sucked it all up with minimal complaints. I'm a fan.
Fox suspension Alchemy invested heavily in the Arktos 29's suspension components, which is exactly where it did the most good. Short travel trail bikes put a lot of stress on those parts. Alchemy spec'ed the good stuff so you'll never have to worry about a future upgrade.
Is there an Arktos 29 ST in your future?
Big bikes require big trails. Enjoying a long-travel super-slack enduro sled restricts your riding to trail centers with dedicated one-way fall-line tracks packed with features. Here's an alternative: buy a more modestly sprung trail bike like the Arktos 29, and enjoy the best of both worlds: ride hundreds of miles of readily available blue-line trails, and when your enduro bros finally agree on a weekend destination, you can shred blacks. Your Strava times may suffer, but I doubt you'll care.
Big bikes require big trails. Enjoying a long-travel super-slack enduro sled restricts your riding to trail centers with dedicated one-way fall-line tracks packed with features. Here's an alternative: buy a more modestly sprung trail bike like the Arktos 29, and enjoy the best of both worlds: ride hundreds of miles of readily available blue-line trails, and when your enduro bros finally agree on a weekend destination, you can shred blacks. Your Strava times may suffer, but I doubt you'll care.
Pros
+ Good pedaling, confidence inspiring carbon chassis
+ Pro bike components and performance for an attainable price
Cons
- Low bottom bracket could be an issue
- You'll need a hydration pack for serious rides
Pinkbike's Take
| Downsizing your daily driver? Anyone searching for a lighter, trustworthy, ready-for-anything trail bike should add the Arktos 29 ST to their short lists. Alchemy anticipated the trend and got it right the first time. |
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"...You won't have to explain it to bystanders each time you pause to check your Strava..."
Really?
Most of it reads like advertorial.
Return to your old style...
2005 Cube bikes called, they want their seat tube lengths back.
Jesus, say goodbye to a dropper over 125mm
Not only that, but what the heck is going on with the reach on the size L frame? Only 7mm longer than the medium, them it jumps 30mm from L to XL. The medium has ok geometry and the xl intolerable, but at 454mm reach for the L coupled with that 483mm seat tube - just... no thanks.
It also has a similar leverage curve to the one santa Cruz's previous vpp had, that they are very proud to have fixed with the lower link vpp.
Other than a bottom bracket height that, "produced more than a few rodeos," and the strangest reach increments I have ever seen.
But do tell me more about the Sine Wave Suspension which happens the inherent shape of multiple other layouts and notably what both Specialized and Santa Cruz are tuning out of their suspensions.
We don't know if it looks like an old vpp leverage curve, as there is no numbers to show the scale, so we don't know how it is cropped or zoomed.
And, this kinematics is really close to the "rockrider neuf" or yeti's "switch", so as it's quite hard to obtain any significant leverage evolution from it, i'd assume this is actually a nearly flat curve.
Is that a 1% change in leverage? 5% ? 25%? we don't know, and that's the first thing to look at when interpreting these curves.
[conspiracy theory]But maybe the scale is hidden for a reason, like a superflat curve sold as "progressive"[/conspiracy theory]
I doubt the Arktos ST is going to be substantially different.
Right, sure, shorter travel bikes have consistent handling while an additional 20 mm of travel makes any bike a wild bronco ... oh, but wait, there is more: this one is not only consistent but also "invincible"!!!!! ... ... but wait! there is more: "Short travel trail bikes put a lot of stress on those (suspension) parts", right while long travel bikes do not. Or another one (the best one probably): "big bikes require big trails".
A gold mine of fiction!!!!
Also when thinking/comparing the sine suspension to VPP note that what's published here is the Shock Rate on the Y-axis, and most leverage curves and the "softball pitch arc" of VPP that @VonFalkenhausen is referring to is leverage ratio, which is basically the inverse of shock rate. To compare directly, you would have to "flip" the Sine Suspension curve and it would show a rising, falling, rising leverage ratio. Compared to VPPs rising flat, falling.
Less water bottle mounts is More pinkbike hate ?
Nope. Nope. Nope.
If you want to complain about them not coming with Kashima, go for it, it's true. I'd save $200 and avoid the gold bits.
Longer stays are better for climbing traction. Look at hill climb motos.
The one stand out trait of my 575 with it's 450mm stays is traction on tech climbs.
RC, you should know better.
Short stays shift a larger percentage of the rider’s weight over rear tire. This comes with other trade-offs but there’s no question it increases traction.
You don't loop out? You need to lift more Bro! LOL JK
For mountain bikes shorter stays are necessary to maintain climbing traction as seat tube angles grow steeper. I think that's pretty straightforward.
I'm pretty tall at 6'4" and pretty heavy at 240(sometimes a bit more) longish chainstays are a necessity to climb up steep grades, otherwise it is just a constant attempt to keep the front wheel on the ground.
I said the same thing, but I was trolling.
And I see you only got upvotes, so apparently everyone agrees you need short stays for climbing.
I am so confused now.
The move towards steeper ST angles does allow shorter CSs, since the key is the rider weight relative to the axle and contact patch. Also consider that ST is moot once you stand up.
I'm currently riding a Process 111. That bike came out in what, 2014? And since then, there's been the Smuggler, the Following, etc. The idea of a bike with short to moderate travel (somewhere between 110 and 130-ish mm rear), with a wee bit of a reverse-mullet fork travel number, and aggressive geometry/burly spec might be a trend, but it's one that started over half a decade ago. Arktos may have gotten it right the first time - but that's the first time they tried it, rather than the first time it was done. And far from anticipating anything, they did so with the benefit of observing that half decade's worth of competitors' entries into this by now well-established segment.
I'm going to suggest that perhaps we're at the point where short-ish travel bikes with aggressive geometry and burly parts spec don't have to be reviewed as a "new" thing, or anything that has to be explained to people (was it Levy or Kazimer who started their review of such a bike the other week with something along the lines of "what is this thing?). These bikes have been around for a while, they're a well-established market segment, and they really don't need to be justified against longer travel bikes with similar geometry.
"I anticipated the Arktos 29 would feel energetic under power at the expense of some small-bump harshness. Not so. Alchemy's take on an efficient climber is to trade some of the perceived efficiency that comes from a busload of anti-squat and an overly firm feel at the pedals for better square-edge and small-bump suspension performance. Climbing and pedalling efficiency is multiplied by the Arktos' ability to maintain momentum over terrain that defeats old-school stiffer-is-better suspension designs. I didn't always feel like I was covering more ground, but I was faster everywhere pedaling was involved."
So it is not an efficient and firm climbing platform, that is able to move over bumps, but climbing and pedaling efficiency is multiplied by it's ability to maintain momentum over terrain, and you were faster when pedaling was involved... This sounds like marketing, and is at odds with what other PB reviewers and myself feel when reviewing bikes that pedal efficiently. Also the entire section about Sine Suspension is purely marketing, with a conclusion that seems based more on what they told you than how it actually rides.
Office ?
Workshop ?
Zoo ?
Bedroom ?
I do like it though.
So yeah, with all tolerances and deviations involved, that's what they want to stay clear of. With IS disc brake mounts, typically there was too much material on the brake mounts and in most cases it needed to be faced by the mechanic. Maybe with postmount because deviation in axial alignment is now taken care of by the slots in the caliper, there is less need to double check the accuracy of the PM brake mounts on the fork. They err on the side of being too long as being too short causes more issues. And then maybe these brake mounts were just a mm or two too long. Not sure if there are special tools to machine these down. Personally I'd rather grind the fork end of the brake adapter down a mm than mess with the fork lowers. Also because this end doesn't have a thread. He could try that though if he does at this stage, I'd suggest he'd pop some fresh pads in too.
Why do you need 2.5" tires and Fox 37 on a 120mm bike? If you need those heavy duty components, you're better off with a bigger bike.
And what about that Sine wave suspension? Constantly changing spring rate for the sake of being different and not because it makes sense.
SC Tallboy, Giant Trance and similar bikes get the point of short travel agressive bikes. Keep the tires manageable, Fox 34, alternatively Pike and light, durable wheels (Giant's TRX1 are phenomenal for the price and ratchet upgrade is inexpensive).
For instance, Giant's Trance Pro 1 costs 1/3rd of the price, weighs 1.5kgs less and has virtually the same components, but better wheels (and slightly lower end fork). You could have 3 different great bikes for the price of this and all of those with bottle mounts!
www.giant-bicycles.com/us/trance-advanced-pro-29-1-2020
Also the Trance 29 comes with Minions front and rear too, but in 2.3...I'd much prefer the wider ones.
If the Alchemy had the same brakes and suspension it would sell for $4,800 or so.
Why are "Trail" bikes coming with such low BB heights these days? Makes them such a pain in the azz to do any type of technical climbing or get any pedal strokes in on chunky terrain.
Mid to high 13 inch BB heights would make these much more rounded bikes and easier to ride in technical terrain without having to resort to 165mm cranks.
www.spanner.org.uk/2018/09/are-29ers-and-low-bottom-brackets-faster-part-ii
I think it applies to short travel bikes too. The higher the BB, the higher the main pivot is as well, but without changing the AS and kickback, meaning the best of both worlds when straight-lining over chunk.
The key word is "trail", ie undulating terrain. These short travel rippers are tonnes of fun going up, down and all around and can handle the rough stuff with a poppy and playful nature.
Beats pushing a heavy, long travel rig around all day where you get limited opportunity to really make use of its capabilities.
And your "BuT lIFeTiMe WaRRaNtY BrOOOO!" argument is also invalid here.
Not so serious ride would be going out without much of a plan and just what comes my way.
Either way, how much you're going to carry on a ride depends on the weather (and how it can change during the ride), the length of the ride, how thirsty and hungry you can be, what other stuff you like/need to carry for specific goals you have on your ride (bike and garden tools, camera...) and probably much more. But on how serious it is, that all depends on what every individual rider defines as serious for themselves. But it can then probably be more specifically described by what I mentioned above.
And the unnecessarily tall seat post is getting pretty outdated by now. The people want long droppers, even on shot travel bikes.
And the regression at the end of the stroke is becoming unnecessary in modern large volume shocks with more linear springs. Even on a frame with just a little progression, a modern shock like a Deluxe or DPX2 is going to need at least a few volume spacers to keep from bottoming out and still maintain from off the top sensitivity.
This curve would have been the tits 10 years ago when air shocks were stiction-y and progressive AF. Actually, it's still probably nice for very light 50kg riders, but anyone up around 100 kg is going to either blow through the travel all the time, or shove in all the PSIs and get rattled on fast roots and such.
Probably doesn't help that the highest (frame/wheel) leverage ratio is just before sag. Slight weight shifts (heading uphill, pedaling motion, etc) are going to move the BB up and down _a lot_ right at that critical travel zone. The shock is going to see the smallest movements and would have to be over-damped everywhere else in order to get the damper forces high enough around sag to keep the BB stable and higher.
"or at the very least install some 170mm cranks." With a 336mm BB height it should already have 170mm cranks, or even 165mm! This is 2019, everyone either doesn't know/care what length cranks they have, or knows that crank length doesn't noticeably effect power output.
As a GG owner, I'm pretty stoked on my ENTIRE frame being made in the USA and it being affordable enough for me to own it.
Don't get me wrong, I like that we are able to have so many choices--down to regional choices at that (East Coast riders may disagree a bit on the current trend toward long, low, slack), but is the lack of any cohesiveness or general fickle nature of cycling preventing more advanced suspension damper development?
Alchemy brings the same 157 hub, with the same benefits and it's described as "a good call"
What's minimal about this bike? Is is single speed? Hardtail? Suspension has no external adjustments, must be opened up in order to tune? Only fits 140mm rotors? Doesn't even have a rear mech hanger? Has BB30 (no cups, just bearings and clips, that's minimalist.)?
"The term minimalist often colloquially refers to anything that is spare or stripped to its essentials."
That's a rigid single speed, not a factory-level full suspension, dropper equipped, 1x12-speed having trail bike with a little less rear travel than its contemporaries.
I just re-read those two paragraphs and he basically says nothing.
Minimalist. Ha!
I'll drop into my LBS & ask to see their range of minimalist trail bikes.
And look like a goose.
My old aluminum Process 134 is 28 lb, has about the same numbers and cost half as much.
At the end of the day it’s personal preference, just like sram vs Shimano brakes. Why pb finds the need to emphasize bottle mounts as a pro or con in every single review is beyond me. People who prefer a mount can take a look at the first side shot of the bike in a review and see at a glance if there’s space for one or not. Adding it to the pros/cons list just seems like unnecessary filler to me.
Many people do very short rides and they don't need to carry anything, just a bottle of water and the keys of the car.
@Rucker10: As with all information and opinions in particular (which a review is), always check the source before you attribute value to such info. Not putting bottle mounts in the front triangle is not a "mistake" or "failure" as the Pinkbike editors like to put it. It is just a choice, a result of a different set of priorities. Pinkbike is just too preoccupied to accept that and word their own preferences nicely. Then again it is the bit we don't need a review for. There are no bottle mounts inside the front triangle. Everyone should be able to decide for themselves how important that is for them. That said, there good reason to be vocal about our own preferences before the industry takes the Pinkbike editor preferences as general opinion and starts to raise the top tube (affecting stand over) to make room for a massive cargo bay inside the top tube.
So it is actually the original design applied to a new brand
Bike bottle storage is overrated. In addition to some drink most need to carry a phone and car keys anyways necessitating some sort of bag. USWE has some uber light small bags that fit the bill nicely.
I have found the only thing that bottle storage lugs frame mounts are good for (and it is needed for this) is tool storage (exception is Spesh with their ingenious solution) and your tire repair gear. Also if you live in bear country it makes sense to have your bear spray mounted there. But a single bottle is not enough water for any ride over 45 minutes imo and you still have your phone and keys.
Seems there is a butt for every seat and I've learned that tool and gear storage is important to me, but water bottle specific storage isn't.
And I'm happy to show you what an intense ride looks like, too.
I love ebikes. Im gonna do another lap..
www.peterverdone.com/actually-youre-not-a-bike-expert
For a guy that’s so woke on the subject I’m surprised people aren’t lined up around the block for your sage wisdom.
Not today weirdo.
You know who I am. You can see my portfolio over the past 20 years. I've proven I'm an expert.
Read this again...and grow up.
www.peterverdone.com/actually-youre-not-a-bike-expert
You’re in fact the worst kind of a*shole.