Announced at Interbike last year, the Alchemy Arktos was a 155mm carbon trail bike conceived by the Colorado craft carboneers and Yeti Switch originator Steve Earl. With a front triangle made in the USA and painted to order, the $3,750 (£2,300) frame was extremely desirable- and extremely exclusive.
Despite a premium price tag, Alchemy has had difficulty meeting demand for the Arktos. In order to bring prices and wait times down, the company has decided to offshore the second half of the frame and is now offering an Asian-sourced Arktos. The change reduces colour choices to two (blue and yellow), adds 200g to the frame weight, and brings prices down to $3,000: not inexpensive but in line with offerings from far larger brands.
Weight aside, the bikes are said to ride identically- the question now becomes if riders will find the £575 savings a worthy tradeoff for stock colours and a perceived loss of prestige.
