12/19/2023 0 Comments Carbon a tags boutique![]() ![]() Alchemy says the sweep of the seat tube and dropped seat stays add compliance to the bike’s rear. The bike’s seat tube is bent, which at first glance appeared to be a design decision to increase tire clearance. First, the Alchemy Premium Carbon Frame felt stiff, responsive, and supportive in the chunk. The Lycos felt like it wanted to go fast and hard, and it had so many great things working for it that dialing it back was tricky. I had no desire to overcook it into a loose corner or find a gravel section just gnarly enough to throw me off into the night. Given that we were riding in the dark in unfamiliar territory, I initially set off cautiously. With a wide tire clearance and a sturdy yet supple carbon frame, the Lycos can handle even the most technical gravel (photo/Mark Wilson) We suited up and took off from a cattle ranch with nothing but the stars and the beams of our lights to pave the way for a roughly 10-mile introductory handshake with the bike. My first ride on the Lycos came at night. I hit the dirt outside of Manhattan, Kan., knowing that I could actually own one of these bad boys. I know those price points are by no means cheap, but they are much more accessible to a much broader spectrum of cyclists. The Lycos has complete builds starting at an MSRP of $4,999 going up to $8,000. Alchemy manufactures titanium frames that sell for a starting MSRP of $4,499 - just for the frame. It comes off as more approachable when compared to the other gravel or all-road models the brand offers. But somehow, it still struck me as a little different. The Lycos both looked and felt like that top-tier product I was expecting. They are well known for custom, hand-built bikes crafted from high-end carbon and titanium and stacked with top-tier components. Before I ever hopped on the Lycos, I viewed Alchemy as a boutique brand. So, when I got the opportunity to hop over to Kansas to put the latest model of the brand’s all-road-styled Lycos through the paces in the same region as Unbound Gravel, I jumped at the opportunity. The Alchemy Lycos is an all-road weapon available in a wide variety of builds, and now for a cheaper price point than ever before (photo/Mark Wilson) But all too often, I’d admire their striking style and then move along, knowing I could probably never afford one. On trips to Colorado, though, I’d always see a few ripping through the front range or hucking around at bike parks. ![]()
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