14 DAY TRIAL // Bicycles continue to be one of the most broadly used means of self-transportation, not counting good old walking. However, this also means that lots of bike accidents happen every day, and we don't think just about those from stunts.
Sure, it's one thing to try and flip several times in mid-air and end up smashing into or through some obstacle or other like, say, the ground.
Particularly hard surfaces, such as concrete and asphalt, tend to make things even worse, like leaving the bike's frame a deformed mess, or breaking it outright.
The lugs on a bicycle are very important because of that. Since they hold multiple elements together, any defect could lead to breakage.
It doesn't even have to be from a crash, though that's what usually precedes such failure. A lug could just snap during a trip because of long use.
Flying Machine is now making 3D printed titanium lugs for bikes
The bike lugs were revealed way back in February, but Australian Company Flying Machine is only now ready to market them officially.
There was probably a lot of red tape involved. The ones who actually design and build bicycles probably had to conduct lots of independent tests to make sure they were safe.
Titanium is a pretty strong material, sure, but if the lug weren't printed properly, even the natural toughness of the metal would avail people little.
Flying Machines is advertising “3D printed titanium bikes” but don't be fooled: they aren't full bikes, since not the entire frames are 3D printed.
3D printed lugs aren't there just for durability by the way. They also provide bike designers with new customization options. So you can get Flying Machine to create a truly luxurious bicycle model, complete with high-end materials and other components. The UCX-TI, F-ONE-S, and F-ONE-C5 are up for grabs.
The luxury bikes
Called F-One-HD, they have invisible titanium lugs connecting titanium tubing together with rims, seat post, forks and carbon fiber handle bars/ stem. They also have Shimano Ice Tech rotors, White Industries CLD hubs, Fizik saddle and bar tape and Carbon Drive Centretrack belt drive.
If you're not a connoisseur, just know that it means that the bike is as luxurious and tough as you can hope. It has to be with a price of $4,000 - $6,000 / €3,200 - €4,800. It takes three weeks to make one bike, which is a pretty short time, and not just in Australia.
