Guide
Why I use titanium
What you notice
The ride, the toughness, the years
The ride
It takes the buzz out of the trail, the little vibrations that wear you down on a long day. You get to the end less tired and still want to ride.
The toughness
Frames get a hard life, dragged over rocks and leant on walls. Scuffs brush out. There's no paint to chip and nothing to rust.
The years
After five years of regular riding it's nearly as good as the day it arrived. My frames carry a 5-year warranty.
In my own words
When you ride a titanium frame, it's more about what you don't notice. You feel fresher, less beaten up by the terrain.
On day 7 of the Great British Divide, in Derbyshire, early in the morning with the dew still on the ground, the rocks were slippery. I lost the front end on a descent and went over the bars. My fully loaded bike somersaulted through the air. I dusted myself off, picked up the bike, straightened the bars and carried on. Nothing more than a few marks on the frame, which buffed out when I got back.
The most unusual frame I've made so far was a tandem. Then there was the bike with the dog box on the back: we made the chainstays longer than usual to make it more stable.
Bespoke
Built around what you carry
Most frames are made for an average rider on an average ride. Tell me what you do with your bike and I'll draw it around that.
- A dog in a box on the back
- Extra water or fuel for a long dry stretch
- A month away with every bag you own
- Your height, your reach, the way you ride
Bag, rack, mudguard and extra bottle mounts are free. Anything unusual goes on your confirmed quote, and I check it works before anything is made.
Against the rest
Steel, carbon and aluminium
| Material | Good at | Not so good |
|---|---|---|
| Steel | Cheap and well understood. Easy to repair almost anywhere, and it can ride very well. | Rusts if the paint chips or water gets inside. Usually heavier. |
| Carbon | Can be the lightest, and the stiffness can be tuned. Doesn't rust. | A hard knock can damage it where you can't see. Repairs are specialist, and a crash can mean a new frame. |
| Aluminium | Low cost and stiff. Sensible on a tight budget. | Often a firmer ride, and usually a shorter fatigue life. |
- Tight budget: steel or aluminium gets you riding for a lot less.
- Racing, every gram counts: a light carbon frame is usually lighter.
- Repairable anywhere in the world: steel.
One frame, drawn around you, to ride hard and keep for years? I'd go titanium. These are general comparisons, not test results. My frames are 3Al/2.5V titanium with a brushed finish.
Ridden hard
Bikes and rides from the Journal
Great British Divide2,200 km and 35,000 m of climbing, self-supported, from Canterbury to Applecross, on my Travers RUSSTi EVO.Read the story
A frame for a dog boxA customer asked for a frame to carry his dog. I made the chainstays longer so it stays stable. His words: “It had the same zing as my old bike with more comfort and better handling.”Read the story
A titanium tandemThe most unusual frame I've made: a custom titanium 29+ tandem.Read the story
MIGHTi 32My 32-inch mountain bike frame, built for bikepacking.Read the storyIn their own words
What riders say
“I felt like my body had worked hard but somehow I felt more refreshed than usual and not my joints knocked out my sockets!”
“Certainly there is some magic in those titanium tubes!”
“As for the ride quality it was way better than I was expecting. It had the same zing as my old bike with more comfort and better handling.”
“…best bike I've had, well done Mike, and I've had a lot of bikes but this is a keeper.”
“As expected, the frame is beautifully made. The neat yet chunky titanium welds, PDW sliding dropouts and engraved Travers head tube logo all mark the frame out as something a bit special.”
“I fell in love with the RussTi from the first ride – such a sweet ride – accurate and comfortable over long rides and capable of dealing with anything thrown its way.”
Questions
Titanium FAQ
Does titanium ride differently?
In my experience, yes. It takes the sting out of trail buzz better than any other frame material I have ridden. Tyres, geometry and fit matter too, but you notice it most at the end of a long ride.
How tough is a titanium frame?
Very. It doesn't rust and it doesn't need paint. Dragging it over rocks, leaning it on walls, strapping bags to it for weeks, it takes all of that better than other frames I have seen. Scuffs can be brushed out.
Can you design the frame around what I want to carry?
Yes. Tell me what you carry and how you ride. A dog in a box on the back, extra water for a long dry stretch, a month away with bags. I'll design the mounts and the frame around it and check it works before anything is made. Rack, mudguard, bag and extra bottle mounts are free. Anything unusual goes on your confirmed quote.
Is titanium better than steel?
For the way I ride, I think so, but steel is a good material too. It's cheaper and can be repaired almost anywhere. It needs looking after so it doesn't rust, and it's usually heavier. Titanium costs more.
Is a titanium frame lighter than carbon?
A light carbon frame is usually lighter. Titanium is usually lighter than steel. If every gram matters for racing, carbon may suit you better. For hard, long, remote riding, titanium is hard to beat.
Can a titanium frame be repaired?
Yes, by someone who welds titanium, which is a specialist job. It's also much less likely to need it, because it doesn't rust and resists fatigue well.
What does it cost, and what's the warranty?
From £1,999, or £2,199 for mountain, 32-inch gravel and fat bike frames, with free UK delivery. Frames carry my 5-year warranty. The frames page lists every option and what it costs.