There’s a new San Francisco treat to feast your eyes on, and we’re not talking about Rice-A-Roni.
After two year’s in the making, Fourteen Cycles has launched a revamped version of its Gramlight road frame, that’s yielded the kind of weight, weight weenies around the world will rejoice over.
Tipping the scales at a scant 740g, the Gramlight certainly ranks amongst the lightest frames available. However, according to Fourteen Cycles, its not just about the weight, but the ride quality as well.
This is what Fourteen’s operations director, Puck Ananata, has to say about the new frameset:
“It gives you a really comfortable ride.” “It absorbs vibrations and there is no flexing in any way. We designed it for pros, but wanted something everyone could ride in multiple situations. It’s got good stiffness for competitions yet the bike is still very responsive.”
“The monobox was actually the first thing to be designed, with aerodynamics in mind. This specific shape and structure captures the vibrations and distributes it away from the seatpost, making for a really stable ride.”
The Gramlight’s “fuselage” was specifically designed to incorporate ENVE’s carbon fork. In addition, the frame features internal routing that compatible with either mechanical or electronic Shimano groupsets, as well as custom paint options for the lucky buyer.
According to Fourteen Cycles, the new Gramlight sells for $2,200 for the frameset, which includes the ENVE fork, carbon seatpost clamp and headset, with availability starting in April.
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Gramlight Road Frame
The new Gramlight Roadframe, forged out of the highest modulus carbon fiber available and FEA-tested, is a high-performing frame that’s been in development for two years. Using a PAN-based fiber manufactured by Japanese firm Toray Inc, the result is a stronger, stiffer yet flexible frame, perfect for all-round riders who want to zip across the city, compete in road races or take to triathlons.
“It gives you a really comfortable ride,“ said Puck Ananta, Operations Director for Fourteen Cycles and a registered California licensed mechanical engineer “It absorbs vibrations and there is no flexing in any way. We designed it for pros, but wanted something everyone could ride in multiple situations. It’s got good stiffness for competitions yet the bike is still very responsive.”
Made out of unidirectional carbon fiber, the design is focused around its unique monobox – the triangular-shaped part at the junction of the top tube, seat tube and seat stay – to dampen vibrations. Carefully created with varying thickness and curves, this peculiar shape is the foundation to the frame’s stability. “The monobox was actually the first thing to be designed, with aerodynamics in mind,” said Puck. “This specific shape and structure captures the vibrations and distributes it away from the seatpost, making for a really stable ride.”
After the monobox was created, the shape of the chain stay took form. Oversized and rectangular, the design similarly complements the function of the monobox in boosting stability and reducing drag. Following the chain stay was the hexagonal tube design. Puck explains: “It’s all in the shape of the tube. Each side reinforces the other and that’s why we went with the strength of the hexagon tube.”
Using FEA (Finite Element Analysis) software, the composition of every angle and thickness was thoroughly tested. “The tubes were fit accordingly with the monobox and chain stay,” said Puck, “and we wanted to have a frame that was composed of 100% carbon fiber. The bottom bracket is also completely made out of carbon fiber.”
The team who developed the frame are highly-regarded and experienced bike frame designers with over ten years in the industry. Given the highly specialized industry, Fourteen Cycles can’t name names, but is staking our reputation on this frame to match bigger brands in performance, quality, stiffness and weight. The complete frame weighs 740 grams, placing it in the super-light category, and each frame is accompanied by an Enve full carbon composite tapered road fork. The bike frame was designed to fit the fork and designed in cooperation with Enve.
The premium design and product comes with a lifetime warranty, and buyers can also ask for a custom paint. “This bike frame can’t be beaten on quality and price,” said Puck. “No one can match this quality for the affordable price we’ve set. It’s about thoughtful design and the rider feels it every time they get on the bike.”
Specs for the Gramlight Road Frame
– 100% TORAYCA ® T-1200 high modulus unidirectional carbon fiber
– A new proprietary design super-light aerodynamic road frame 740g (small size)
– Proprietary hexagonal tube-shape design, engineered with in-depth FEA (Finite Element Analysis) modeling, and actual model testing
– Gramlight utilizes a new layup process that places each sheet of high modulus carbon fiber in direction and in areas to minimize weight and increase maximum stiffness
– Top and down tubes shaped for optimum strength, stiffness and lightweight
– Integrated headtube design increases aerodynamic efficiency, allowing a more stable riding platform
– Monobox is Fourteen Cycles’ own vibration damping design, which enhances the rider’s ride quality, allowing every rider to ride further and for a longer period of time
– Gramlight incorporates a one-piece carbon PF30 bottom bracket and oversize box chain stay with steep taper at dropout to maximize power transfer and strength
– Smart full internal cable routing offers airflow enhancement and low maintenance
– Full carbon Enve composite taper fork included with frame
– Mechanical and Di2 compatible cable routing
– Custom paint available
Fourteen Cycles
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