There’s a brand new high-performance bike model on the block named Avona, created by one in all ARC8’s co-founders, they usually launch right now with a race-ready Callis carbon gravel bike. Avona additionally may have a brief journey Silva path bike later this spring, and a Velum street bike within the works, too. However for now, let’s focus totally on what’s going to make this new Avona model distinctive – what they describe as a holistic method to creating full bikes.
Plus, they’ve some killer restricted artist version paint jobs.
And naturally, we’ll take an in depth have a look at that Callis…
Who’s Avona anyway?
There’s an apparent spoiler when you get a glimpse of the upcoming Avona Silva mountain bike. It’s such a singular design, long-time Bikerumor readers will instantly acknowledge it, and put two and two collectively.
So… Avona is the newest venture of motorbike design engineer Jonas Müller – who co-founded ARC8 bikes with Serafin Pazdera in Switzerland again in 2019. Whereas nonetheless freelancing for ARC8 it appears, Jonas has paired up with product supervisor Max Koch to begin one other, solely separate model the place they may design top-tier, high-performance bikes – full bikes.
Importantly, whereas ARC8 focuses totally on frames/framesets, they created Avona to construct full bikes that maximized efficiency – from the rider to the elements. There’s no level in having the quickest bike, should you don’t give it the quickest wheels, tires, and even chain therapy, proper?
That looks like a no brainer. However the overwhelming majority of manufacturing full bikes have their elements picked by product managers, whose job is most frequently to steadiness: a goal full bike worth, perceived worth of spec’d manufacturers, and infrequently low cost offers huge part corporations make to bundle collectively a number of merchandise out of their catalog.
Assume for instance, about what number of top-end bikes get spec’d with a SRAM AXS drivetrain, Quarq energy meter, Zipp wheels, and Zipp cockpit elements. These are typically all strong, high-performing elements. However no model could make all of the top-performing merchandise in all classes. That’s why you’ll see a number of mountain bike manufacturers spec’ing SRAM drivetrains however Shimano brakes.
And that’s now the place small Avona may be much more choosy and picky about each merchandise they spec on an entire bike.
They describe it as “a holistic method to efficiency”.
What does that imply for the bike itself and the tip client?
First off, it begins lengthy earlier than part spec, even extending to the body design, too. It means Avona takes an analytical have a look at design priorities. Gentle weight is nice, however there’s no denying aerodynamics performs a giant position within the energy riders need to put out to maneuver ahead. In order that they take a extra complete have a look at knowledge to outline efficiency. A few of their key findings are as follows:
If you’re simply taking a look at Watts or KiloJoules over a complete journey, aerodynamics dominate
If you wish to cut back efforts above FTP, different components change into extra necessary
For mountain bikes, descents are the place the gear could make the most important distinction
We should always by no means use something however the perfect tires
A waxed chain is value greater than an costly groupset
In order that finally fuels their bike specs. All bikes get aerodynamic optimization, even when they aren’t particularly aero bikes. Mountain bikes prioritize succesful geometry and supple suspension over simply chasing grams. Each bike comes spec’d with the perfect tires that Avona may discover for every section.
And each bike comes with a series (and drivetrain) that has been cleaned of any manufacturing facility grease, and coated with CeramicSpeed UFO wax to cut back drivetrain drag and hold it clear. In addition they all include CeramicSpeed UFO wax lube to maintain your drivetrain working quick!
However what in regards to the bikes?
All-new carbon Avona Callis quick gravel bike
Avona describes their Callis as a “fashionable gravel race bike”.
That interprets to responsive dealing with that’s extra all-road-leaning geometry than MTB-inspired. It additionally means loads of tire clearance, however nonetheless quickest with fast-rolling 40mm or 45mm tires. Aerodynamic tube form optimization and fork to border integration, however to not a stage that ends in further weight or an excessively stiff journey.
Avona Callis – Tech particulars
950-1020g body weight (S-XL vary, with clearcoat), plus 463g fork (uncut steerer)
designed for quick gravel, however robust sufficient for journey racing, too
CFD optimized & wind tunnel examined aerodynamics
1x or 2x with detachable entrance derailleur hanger
max 46T single or gravel compact double setup (SRAM further compact street double will even match)
max 50mm tire clearance
inside body storage by means of hatch below the downtube water bottle mounts
bungee twine on the again of the hatch door for versatile, easy-access storage
totally built-in cable routing by means of the Token headset
proprietary aero seatpost, however…
BSA threaded backside bracket
UDH for Full mount or typical derailleurs
a complete 44W claimed energy financial savings (cut back aero drag, plus decrease rolling resistance, plus decreased drivetrain friction) at 35km/h in comparison with the final gravel bike Jonas dropped at market.
Avona Callis gravel – Choices, pricing & availability
Avona specs their bikes for holistic efficiency, however they nonetheless wish to present customization prospects for his or her clients. Beginning off, the framesets are available an ordinary Rosé:Blue fade paintjob or easy clearcoat over uncooked black UD carbon. There’s additionally a prepared to color model with out clear as a clean canvas for customized paint jobs. And Avona will frequently run tremendous restricted editions like this #savethepostalservice artist collection bike. Frameset costs begin at 3600€, together with a one-piece house-brand Faserwerk Luftschneider handlebar+stem cockpit combo.
Full gravel bikes are provided now with SRAM Crimson AXS Xplr, powermeter cranks, 50mm carbon DT Swiss GRC1100 wheels, the Faserwerk cockpit for 10,000€. Or decide a way more reasonably priced Shimano GRX Di2 2x construct with Faserwerk carbon gravel wheels for simply 6000€.
Three extra full builds shall be accessible from June. SRAM Rival AXS with reasonably priced alloy DT Swiss G1800 wheels & Hutchinson Caracal Race tires for 4600€. Rival AXS plus Newmen Superior G.34 carbon wheels for 5500€. Pressure AXS with 50mm deep DT Swiss GRC1400 wheels for 7000€.
Persevering with the construct customization, all SRAM builds may be swapped to a mullet setup with a GX AXS Eagle derailleur and 10-52T cassette at no further value. Bikes come normal with the Hutchinson Caracal Race semi-slick that Avona found was extremely fast-rolling on Bicycle Rolling Resistance. However you can too swap in Schwalbe G-One R or 35mm Continental GP 5000 TR street slicks should you favor.
All framesets & full bikes may also be tweaked for match with stem size, bar width, crank size & seatpost offset to swimsuit the client.
Avona Silva light-weight carbon, short-travel path mountain bike
Coming later this summer season is a brief journey full-suspension mountain bike that appears an terrible lot just like the ARC8 Evolve FS. That’s not an enormous shock since Jonas Müller designed them each. And as he advised me, you don’t abandon a fantastic suspension design simply since you begin a brand new firm.
Silva Tech particulars & pricing
This all-new Avona Silva is barely longer journey to deal with a bit extra down nation and path using, with 105-115mm or rear wheel journey matched to 120-130mm of fork journey. Avona describe it because the “lightest full suspension body available on the market”, saving 150g over the Evolve FS of a really comparable design.
However with a slack 65° headtube angle this shall be a light-weight bike constructed to shred.
Framesets will begin at 3500€ together with a Fox Float SL Manufacturing unit shock and the distinctive 1-piece Faserwerk Baslerstab handlebar cockpit that bolts straight to your steerer tube. Full mountain bikes will begin at 5500€ with XT and climb to 12,000€ with XX SL, powermeter, Flight Attendant builds. All get 34/35mm forks for descending capabilities and tremendous quick Wolfpack tires normal.
Avona Velum carbon street bike
Fairly just like the Avona Callis gravel bike, this Velum is supposed to be a quick all-rounder carbon street bike. Once more it will get optimized to steadiness aerodynamics, stiffness, weight & consolation – with out overly specializing in only one parameter.
Avona says the Velum continues to be in improvement, however weights are anticipated round 730g for a uncooked carbon 54cm body. There shall be room for as much as 35mm tires, making it fairly all-road-ready, however with fashionable road-race-worthy geometry. Some particulars embody full inside routing, an extra-thin aero seatpost for vertical compliance, plus a threaded backside bracket.
Extra particulars are anticipated in direction of the tip of summer season, however pricing must be about the identical because the gravel mannequin, and street bikes shall be accessible earlier than the tip of this 12 months.
Avona.cc
