New Bike Day - Alchemy Ronin Titanium

Birds flying high, you know how I feel

Sun in the sky, you know how I feel
Breeze driftin' on by, you know how I feel
It's a new dawn, it's a new day
It's a new life, for me
And I'm feeling good
Feeling Good, Leslie Bricusse & Anthony Newly (1964)

Alchemy Ronin at home on dirt at Green Mountain Open Space Park in Jefferson County, Colorado.

After picking up my new Ronin Titanium gravel bike at Alchemy Bikes last Wednesday, I started pedaling on my first ride at about 11:00 am and didn't stop until almost 6:30 pm. Wow. What a ride. 

I flew along the Cherry Creek, South Platte and Bear Creek Trail bike paths to eventually reach the single track at Bear Creek Lake Park near Morrison. Those bike path miles were fun and fast, but the Ronin really came alive on the skinny dirt roads that park calls trails. Spot on fit, precise handling, silky smooth ride. Awesome sauce.

The next day I rode another two hours up and around Green Mountain Open Space Park in Jefferson County. Those skinny dirt roads were generally rougher, rockier, and steeper than Bear Creek Lake, but certainly nothing that the Ronin didn't handle with ease.

This is going to be fun. I can't wait to get it out on Black Hills forest dirt and Badlands gravel.

I will post more details and impressions as I ride this beauty, but for now, here are a few pictures and the specifications.

Working in my bike during Alchemy's company move, Bryce adjusts my saddle precisely to design.

On my first ride, I reach dirt at Bear Creek Lake Park after a 20+ mile bike path shake down.

Alchemy Ronin rocks Green Mountain Open Space Park on my second day's ride.

The Green Mountain Tail is about to turn steeper and looser. No problem.

Here are the specifications of my Alchemy Ronin Titanium gravel bike.

Frame Set

Frame - Alchemy Titanium, custom fit, geometry & tube shaping

Fork - Alchemy Carbon Fork

Headset - Cane Creek 40 Series, 41/52

Finish - Custom Cerakote, with clear coat titanium rear triangle

Seat

Saddle - Selle Italia Flite Flow Titanium

Seat Post - Alchemy Carbon Seat Post 31.6 mm, 0 degree offset

Seat Post Clamp - Alchemy Seat Post Clamp 31.6 mm

Rear Wheel

Hub - Industry 9 Torch Road Alloy Centerlock

Rim - Industry 9 Ultralite 250 Carbon TRA

Tire - WTB Byway 44 mm

Tubeless - Stan's

Front Wheel

Hub - Industry 9 Torch Road Alloy Centerlock

Rim - Industry 9 Ultralite 250 Carbon TRA

Tire - WTB Byway 44 mm

Tubeless - Stan's

Stem/Bar

Stem - Alchemy Carbon Stem 100mm

Spacers - 20 mm bottom, 10 mm upper

Handlebar - Whiskey No. 9 24F Carbon Drop Bar, 44 cm

Tape - Alchemy Tacky Black

Brakes

Front Brake - Shimano GRX Hydraulic BR-RX810-F

Rear Brake - Shimano GRX Hydraulic BR-RX810-R

Brake Levers - Shimano GRX Di2 Dual Control, ST-RX815-L

Brake Rotors - Shimano GRX Centerlock SM-RT800, 160 mm/140 mm

Drivetrain

Crankset - Shimano GRX FC-RX810-2, 170 mm, 31-48

Bottom Bracket - Shimano Ultegra Threaded, SM-BBR60

Cassette - Shimano GRX CS-HG800-11, 11x34 11 speed

Front Derailleur - Shimano GRX Di2 FD-RX815-F

Rear Derailleur - Shimano GRX Di2 RD-RX817

Shift Levers - Shimano GRX Di2, ST-RX815-L

Chain - Shimano CN-HG701-11

Chain Stay Protector - NA, clear coated titanium

Pedals - Time ATAC XC 8

Accessories

Bottle Cages - Alchemy Carbon Water Bottle Cage, x3

Top Tube Pack - Revelate Designs Mag-Tank bolt on

Saddle Pack - Revelate Designs Shrew

Frame Pack - Revelate Designs Tangle

Feeling Good, Michael Buble (2005)