Alchemy

Hardtail mountain bikes come in several flavors, from mile-crushing cross-country bikes to long and slack "hardcore hardtails." The most common frame materials are aluminum, carbon fiber, and steel. Aluminum frames are inexpensive and provide a great strength-to-weight ratio. When executed properly, aluminum frames offer excellent ride characteristics. Carbon fiber frames are light, stiff, and an industry favorite. Steel is the most exotic of the three materials and offers a damp, comfortable ride that can be easily manipulated to achieve desired ride characteristics. Steel is one of the usual...

Colorado-based Alchemy Bikes have been producing premium carbon and titanium frames since 2008. Last year, they introduced the Arktos 120, designed to be the perfect short-travel weapon that motors up climbs and promotes aggressive riding on the way back down. Utilizing Alchemy’s patented Sine Suspension system with only 120mm of rear-wheel travel matched with a 130mm fork, the Arktos 120 isn’t exactly a trail bike or a cross country bike. However, skimming over the component spec and geometry, it’s clear the smallest Arktos in the family takes cues from its longer travel siblings and puts a...

Last season, we had the opportunity to swing a leg over the Alchemy Arktos 29. It had some good qualities, but it left us feeling that there was more potential there and we hoped to see an updated version before too long. Fast forward a year or so and we’ve got our mitts on the updated Arktos 150, sporting similar travel numbers and aesthetics to the previous version, but with a pile of incremental improvements, including geometry, which we felt were lacking in the previous generation. We’ve been riding the Arktos 150 throughout the spring and summer, and believe that Alchemy may be in line...

Alchemy Bicycles isn't the biggest name, but the Colorado-based company has been building its reputation for high-quality carbon frames since 2008. Alchemy's founders Ryan Cannizzaro and engineer Matt Maczuzak set their sights on producing world-leading bikes and in 2018, they took their design to the Enduro World Series by signing veteran racer Anneke Beerten and style wizard Cody Kelly. In August 2019, Kelly piloted his Artkos Nine7Five to a 7th place result at the notoriously rocky Northstar EWS, confirming the quality and performance capabilities of Alchemy's bikes. For 2020, Alchemy is...