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First Look: VAAST Bikes A/1 Apex 700c - A magnesium framed all-road bike

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Liam Mercer's picture

Liam Mercer

Since beginning his mountain biking career while working as a resort photographer in Greece in 2014, Liam became a freelance contributor at off.road.cc in 2019. From there, he’s climbed the journalism job ladder from staff writer to deputy technical editor, now finding his place as technical editor.

Partial to the odd enduro race, heart rate-raising efforts on slim-tyred cross-country bikes, hell-for-leather e-MTB blasts or even casual gravel jaunts, there’s not a corner of off-road cycling where Liam fears to tread. With more than 40 bike reviews under his belt and hundreds more on MTB, e-MTB and gravel parts and accessories, Liam’s expertise continues to be cemented and respected by the industry.

6 comments

2 years 8 months ago

Well, pure Mg is brittle and is easily corroded by road salt. Magnesium alloy less so. See for example Minilite Magnesium wheels from the 70s. I'd really want to understand the composition of the material before buying one. Oh, and the quality of the corrosion inhibitor used. And would this work when scraped e.g. the seatpost, BB amd headshell bearings? So many questions.

2 years 8 months ago

Sriracha wrote:

 

So hurry up with the review already! And maybe some background info on why magnesium - for all the benefits they extol - has so far failed to gain any traction; is there a fly in the ointment.

 

Well, pure Mg is brittle and is easily corroded by road salt. Magnesium alloy less so. See e.g. Minilite Magnesium wheels from the 70s. I'd really want to understand the composition of the material before buying one. Oh, and the quality of the corrosion inhibitor used. And would this work when scraped e.g. the seatpost, BB amd headshell bearings? So many questions ...

2 years 8 months ago

Didn't Pace make magnesium framed mountain bikes back in the 90's?

2 years 8 months ago

So hurry up with the review already! And maybe some background info on why magnesium - for all the benefits they extol - has so far failed to gain any traction; is there a fly in the ointment.

Liam Mercer's picture
2 years 8 months ago

When I pulled it out of the box it was surprising how light it was, before I realised it was magnesium. For any other benefits though, you'll have to hang on for the full review!

Sriracha wrote:

 

You must have the only one, the Vaast website shows all sizes out of stock.

Looks like an interesting bike, does the frame material add up to any noticeable benefits?

 

2 years 8 months ago

You must have the only one, the Vaast website shows all sizes out of stock.

Looks like an interesting bike, does the frame material add up to any noticeable benefits?