New for Alchemy Bicycles, is the Argos. It's a titanium framed hardtail, a first for the brand. It's hand-made to take on the ridiculously tough climbs of the Colorado Rockies while taking advantage of titanium's known strength. Along with the launch of the new hardtail, the brand has announced that the 2022 Artkos full susser now comes with a flip-chip modification. Here are all of the details.

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Before we get on with the cool new Alchemy Bicycles mountain bike news, the brand has also released a gravel bike. Our mates at road.cc has that one covered though, so click here to see what that bike's all about.

The new Argos titanium hardtail has been designed to be the perfect bike for the Argos Trail that's handily located just behind Alchemy's soon-to-be HQ and it's the newest addition to the brand's expanding lineup.

As mentioned before, the frame is built using the brand's custom USA blended titanium. All of the tubing, bends, and welds are specifically tuned to deliver a quality ride feel and performance. The Argo's chainstay and seat stays are cold-formed to add a hint of comfort and responsiveness, says Alchemy.

On the subject of the rear end, it uses a unique design to incorporate the rear brake caliper within the frame which is said to offer more responsive braking while looking a bit nicer. Then the comfort and responsiveness come from the S-curved on the seat stay. This design also allows for mounting a number of bikepacking bags.

That frame gets a tapered headtube, 12x148mm boost rear end with clearance for a 2,5" rear tyre, and a threaded bottom bracket shell. It's then compatible with a dropper post and is internally cable routed.

Alchemy says that the Argos has been built with a progressive geometry with a 478mm reach on a large frame, a 65° head tube angle, a 75.5° seat tube angle, and a 435mm chainstay. However, that geometry is customisable with the brand offering custom stack and reach measurements. The paint and build kit are also customisable.

So that's the new hardtail. Also new for Alchemy is that the 2022 Arktos now comes with a geometry adjusting flip-chip. Not only does that chip alter the geometry but it also allows the bike to run a mullet wheel setup. Opting for the mixed wheel size means you'll have to keep the bike in the steeper, 'high' setting, however.

If you're running 29" wheels at either end, popping the flip-chip into low mode will slacken the bike by half a degree.

The new Argos is available in four sizes (S up to XL), five different full builds and as a frame only, and with a Fox Factory 34 fork. Prices start at $4,000 (~£2,939) and go up to $8,300 (~6,098).

Arktos builds range from $5,500 (~4,050) and go up to $7,500 (~£5,510).

• alchemybikes.com

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