There’s a brand new high-performance bike model on the block named Avona, created by certainly one of ARC8’s co-founders, they usually launch at this time 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 strategy 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, totally separate model the place they might 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 parts. There’s no level in having the quickest bike, for those who don’t give it the quickest wheels, tires, and even chain remedy, proper?
That looks as if a no brainer. However the overwhelming majority of manufacturing full bikes have their parts picked by product managers, whose job is most frequently to stability: a goal full bike worth, perceived worth of spec’d manufacturers, and sometimes low cost offers massive part corporations make to bundle collectively a number of merchandise out of their catalog.
Suppose 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 components. These are usually all stable, high-performing parts. However no model could make all the top-performing merchandise in all classes. That’s why you’ll see loads of mountain bike manufacturers spec’ing SRAM drivetrains however Shimano brakes.
And that’s now the place small Avona will be much more choosy and picky about each merchandise they spec on an entire bike.
They describe it as “a holistic strategy to efficiency”.
What does that imply for the bike itself and the top shopper?
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. Mild weight is nice, however there’s no denying aerodynamics performs an enormous function within the energy riders need to put out to maneuver ahead. In order that they take a extra complete have a look at information 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 trip, aerodynamics dominate
- If you wish to cut back efforts above FTP, different components turn into extra vital
- For mountain bikes, descents are the place the gear could make the most important distinction
- We must always by no means use something however one of the best 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 one of the best tires that Avona might 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 maintain it clear. In addition they all include CeramicSpeed UFO wax lube to maintain your drivetrain working quick!
However what concerning the bikes?
All-new carbon Avona Callis quick gravel bike
Avona describes their Callis as a “trendy 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 degree that leads to further weight or an excessively stiff trip.
Avona Callis – Tech particulars
- 950-1020g body weight (S-XL vary, with clearcoat), plus 463g fork (uncut steerer)
- designed for quick gravel, however powerful 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 may also match)
- max 50mm tire clearance
- inner body storage via hatch beneath the downtube water bottle mounts
- bungee wire on the again of the hatch door for versatile, easy-access storage
- totally built-in cable routing via 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 potentialities for his or her prospects. Beginning off, the framesets are available a typical 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 recurrently 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 supplied 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 might be obtainable 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€. Drive AXS with 50mm deep DT Swiss GRC1400 wheels for 7000€.
Persevering with the construct customization, all SRAM builds will be swapped to a mullet setup with a GX AXS Eagle derailleur and 10-52T cassette at no further price. Bikes come normal with the Hutchinson Caracal Race semi-slick that Avona found was extremely fast-rolling on Bicycle Rolling Resistance. However it’s also possible to swap in Schwalbe G-One R or 35mm Continental GP 5000 TR street slicks for those who want.
All framesets & full bikes will also be tweaked for match with stem size, bar width, crank size & seatpost offset to go well with 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 informed me, you don’t abandon an amazing 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 related design.
However with a slack 65° headtube angle this might be a lightweight bike constructed to shred.
Framesets will begin at 3500€ together with a Fox Float SL Manufacturing facility 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 stability 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 might be room for as much as 35mm tires, making it fairly all-road-ready, however with trendy road-race-worthy geometry. Some particulars embody full inner routing, an extra-thin aero seatpost for vertical compliance, plus a threaded backside bracket.
Extra particulars are anticipated in direction of the top of summer season, however pricing ought to be about the identical because the gravel mannequin, and street bikes might be obtainable earlier than the top of this yr.
