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26 Oct 2007

A Little Watershed.

After a very long wait, today I went down to LA Designs to pick up the hopefully first of many of the new 2008 Tephra CTi’s. As a stock frame, these frames are normally brushed Titanium and clearcoated Unidirectional Carbon, but this client wanted the Team Orange, so who am I to refuse? (Especially when it looks this damn hot.)

thy-ps-tephracti01.jpg

So what’s the deal with the Tephra CTi? Well, basically we decided instead of doing ‘yet another carbon frame’ that we’d actually do something a bit different and go composite. By composite, we mean mating a Titanium lower section to a Carbon Fiber upper section. “Why bother?” you may ask. Well, by doing so you incorporate the great springy ride of Ti with the low resonance characteristics of Cf, so in effect having a big spring out of the saddle, and a buzz killer in the saddle. On top of that, you also have the heavier material on the lower portion of the frame, improving weight distribution.

Now, what about the all important numbers? Well, this example is just a smidge over 1300g and is a big rough and tumble horizontal 57cm built for a guy who likes to sprint, so no weight saving measures were taken. Like all our frames though, every single part of the frame is fully customisable (yes, even the carbon) so an example as low as a kilo would be entirely possible. Not that we could be bothered playing the weight game mind you, coz it’s only relevant in your garage.

So there it is, the new range-topping Tephra CTi in all it’s Team Orange glory. Should have pix of the complete bike built up early next week, which I’m really looking forward to.

thy-ps-tephracti02.jpgthy-ps-tephracti03.jpgthy-ps-tephracti04.jpgthy-ps-tephracti05.jpgthy-ps-tephracti06.jpgthy-ps-tephracti07.jpgthy-ps-tephracti08.jpg

Before I sign off, a quick ‘thank you’ to Reynolds Composites / Macleans for their support with this project.

Posted by warwick @ 9:41 am

3 Responses to “A Little Watershed.”

  1. cs124 Says:
    October 30th, 2007 at 11:31 am

    Amazing frame. Bravo.

    Backyard brings back memories…

  2. thylacine Says:
    October 31st, 2007 at 1:43 am

    The bad news about this frame, is that the guy who owns it just fell off his motorbike and is sidelined for six weeks! Doh! Will have some snaps of the complete bike this weekend though as I’m going to go visit him, bring him some flowers, and maybe steal his bike for a spin around the block! ;)

    I like taking photos of the frames in a rustic urban context because it’s a nice contrast.

  3. cs124 Says:
    October 31st, 2007 at 8:45 am

    Bugger indeed.

    The contrast between subject and background looks great. The backyard itself reminds me of where I grew up which was just across the tracks from you.

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