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TECH NEWS

J.Guillem Atalaya titanium gravel bike with 700c and 650b wheel compatibility launched

Mallorcan-based J.Guillem launches titanium gravel bike with really interesting frame tech

Mallorcan-based J.Guillem has launched a titanium gravel and adventure bike with 700c and 650b wheel compatibility, disc brakes, removable mudguard and rack mounts and thru-axles front and rear. 

The founder of Van Nicholas, Jan-Willem Sintnicolass, launched his own brand a few years ago and until now has focused on road bikes. The Atalaya is his first foray into the burgeoning gravel and adventure bike market and it appears to be a carefully designed bike.

J.Guillem Atalaya .JPG

The frame is made from seamless  3Al/2.5V with a hand-brushed finish and there are some interesting details that help this frame stand out from the crowd. A key part and integral to providing the necessary tyre clearance is the cast titanium bottom bracket and chainstay assembly. It provides maximum tyre clearance by curving the stays out as wide as possible, whilst also maintaining the necessary frame stiffness, and removing the need for a chainstay bridge.

The dropouts have also been cast in titanium and are thru-axle compatible with neat removable mudguard eyelets and flat mount disc brake mounts. Likewise, the tapered head tube is also cast from titanium to enable as much frame stiffness as possible. 

J.Guillem Atalaya  7.jpg

All cables and hoses are routed internally, entering the head tube and downtube and through the one-piece cast bottom bracket and chainstays to exit ports near the rear derailleur and rear brake. Drilled holes in the thin titanium walls have been completely avoided.

The frame offers clearance for 700x40mm tyres, or the 650bx2.1in choice that is gaining a bit of popularity with people seeking the comfort benefits of the bigger volume tyres, or the increased option of running a mountain bike tyre for rugged gravel course. 

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“Functionality and performance drives everything we do,” says Jan-Willem Sintnicolaas. “But when you achieve that and raise the overall aesthetic of a frame at the same time, we know that puts a smile on our customers’ faces and makes us happy, too.”

The frame costs €1,999 and complete bikes from €4,398 and is available to pre-order now with delivery slated for June. We’ve put in a request for a test bike as we’re really keen to take a closer look at some of the interesting frame details and see how it rides.

https://jguillem.com/bike/atalaya-gravel

David worked on the road.cc tech team from 2012-2020. Previously he was editor of Bikemagic.com and before that staff writer at RCUK. He's a seasoned cyclist of all disciplines, from road to mountain biking, touring to cyclo-cross, he only wishes he had time to ride them all. He's mildly competitive, though he'll never admit it, and is a frequent road racer but is too lazy to do really well. He currently resides in the Cotswolds, and you can now find him over on his own YouTube channel David Arthur - Just Ride Bikes

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