The carbon Disc Road Bike has been one of Argonaut’s most popular bikes since its origins under the auspices of a gravel bike back at NAHBS in 2014. Since then, disc brakes on the road have become less a compromise and more of the mainstream solution. So Argonaut have overhauled the Disc Road Bike to fit fatter tires, updated to the most current axle & brake standards, and reworked the bike’s custom layups.
New custom carbon Argonaut Disc Road Bike
Updating the Disc Road Bike required Argonaut to step back from their popular bike and see how they could reoptimize how they craft the disc brake road bike to take on any road surface. Of course with the trend of wider road tires, that was a good place to start. But they also looked at how the built each bike by hand one-at-a-time from US-sourced carbon fiber on their own proprietary tooling in their Oregon workshop. At the same time they decided to roll the bike out to a “Test Flight” series down in California where riders could try the revamped bike out.
What’s new in the Argonaut Disc Road Bike?
As component makers have caught up with riders, road disc has cemented itself with new standards. So of course the new Disc Road Bike moves over to thru-axles and flat mount disc brake calipers at both ends. It isn’t only simple 12mm axles, though. Argonaut has added new molded carbon dropouts designed for Mavic Speed Release thru-axles, front & rear.
While the bike remains fully custom in both rider-tuned layup & geometry, Argonaut has reshaped & refined their base carbon layup of the bike to better optimize it for the asymmetric loading of disc braking. They say that has helped them be more efficient in overall weight. But the bigger benefit seems a more balanced ride which allows them more ability to tailor the ride to each rider’s weight, power & riding style.
Everyone wants more tire clearance, so Argonaut covered that too. The new Disc Road Bike now has ample space for up to a 30c tire (actual measurements up to 32mm wide) with the still short 412mm chainstays.
The bike also gets new internal brake routing that also works with electronic wiring and includes an internal Di2 junction box.
Frame details & complete bike spec
The custom Road Disc Bike frame uses a T47 bottom bracket, a direct mount rear derailleur, and gets paired with a matching ENVE Road Disc fork (also with Mavic Speed Release.)
If you are looking to build a complete bike up with the custom frame, Argonaut with sell a bike with a complete Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 hydraulic groupset for $15,300. That includes a set of ENVE 3.4 disc wheels set up tubeless with Schwalbe Pro One tires, plus a ENVE carbon stem, bar, 27.2 seatpost, and a Chris King BB. Besides lightening your wallet, a 54cm frame claims a weight of just 15.7lb/7.1kg complete with pedals and bottle cages.
Argonaut Test Flight program
Now, if you want to take a spin on one before you skip a year’s worth of rent payments, the Argonaut Test Flight Program is your ticket. They are starting with events in the San Francisco area where you can test ride a bike in your size to help determine the ride character you are looking for. There will also be fitting opportunities, and a chance to sit down and discuss how Argonaut can tailored a bike to you. Reserve a slot at Argonaut’s Flight Test site.
