Like most things “bicycle”, nothing is really new. After all, the very first gravel bikes were just bikes, because pavement had not been invented (it was originally invented to make roads smoother for bicycles).
Titanium anodizing has been around for a long time, with Leni Friedof Titanium Arts working on beautiful projects for years. Firefly has taken graphic design to new levels, and Moots has also produced gorgeous work. It seems we have moved past the black-on-black paint schemes and boring flat solid colors, and now bright bling is coming back in both titanium and alloy parts. We’re now seeing a resurgence in titanium anodizing, with companies like Agave Finish Works producing really neat stuff in titanium, and in the aluminum world, Ashley does amazing stuff.
I got my hands on an anodizer after a bike company I had been working with folded. I also got ahold of their sandblast cabinet, a custom monster large enough to hold a frame and turn it around inside. As is my norm, I started playing around with the blast cabinet, anodizer, and vinyl cutter without responsible adult supervision. The great thing about anodizing is that if you make a mistake, you simply polish it off and start over. All it costs is time.
Over the last several years, I’ve done my own bikes and projects for friends. It’s a hobby, not a business. If you’re interested in anodizing for your own project, reach out to me.
Below is a gallery of projects, just some fun images. Some photos are good, some are bad, and none do a good job of really representing the work. The polished titanium reflects all light sources, and some times the colors look flat or dead. The best way to appreciate anodized titanium is to take the bike outside and ride it.