Italian custom bike maker Titici has a new disc brake F-RI02 aero road bike, claimed to be both 10% lighter & more aerodynamic than their first gen PAT flat toptube carbon road bike. While still not as dramatically aero as some bikes, the new carbon bike is sleekly integrated, comfortably Flexy, and made-to-measure with custom finish ensuring a one-of-a-kind dream bike for every buyer.
Titici F-RI02 custom carbon Flexy aero road bike
We’ve focused more recently on Titici’s super thin Plate Absorber Technology (PAT) toptube designs on gravel & off-road bikes, but the same PAT construction brings comfort to the road as well, with almost no sacrifice. Now in its second generation, Titici has further refined the F-RI02 with larger & more aero headtube, downtube & chainstay profiles, while at the same time shedding over 100g across most sizes.
Developed together with Titici rider in retirement, Olympic champ & 2x road World Champion Paolo Bettini, the new bike promises a better mix of race-ready stiffness & all-day comfort than ever before.
The original generation of the bike already feature clean, fully internal cable routing and an integrated Titici aero road design from the fork crown into the downtube. But now a revised transition in the one-piece headtube to NACA profile downtube has further reduced the bike’s drag coefficient thanks to decreased turbulence.
Titici PAT Flexy, but only in a good way
Titici calls their family of carbon bikes with the 8mm thick PAT toptube Flexy, but that obviously only describes how it is proven to damp 18% more vibrations than a standard frame. The ability of the PAT toptube to move more vertically than a round tube results in the Flexy frame being especially able to absorb high frequency vibration (+66%, left above) while also measurably improving absorption of low frequency vibration (+25%, right above). At the same time the wide flat design lends a 7% increase in horizontal stiffness (independent testing by Parma University).
This signature & patented design feature makes for a unique look and feel. (Each time we see one in person, everyone who gets near the bike is uncontrollably driven to try and squeeze that thin toptube between their fingers to feel it flex a bit.) It also is the heart of what Titici says is their “unrivaled ride comfort”.
Titici Aero Road – Tech details (& naming)
Just to explain the cryptic naming of the new bike: F puts it into the carbon Flexy line-up with the PAT toptube, R is for road, I is for integrated routing & 02 as it’s the second generation of the new F-RI family.
Titici creates custom lays up each bike from a mix of 3K, 6K, T700, M30 & UD carbon fiber, with a tube-to-tube process and slow setting resin that they call Progressive Bandage Workmanship – allowing for full custom geometry.
The refined construction is said to shed 10% off overall frame weight, which should put a medium bike under 900g (based on previous F-RI01 claims). Much of the weigh savings comes from a lighter, but equally stiff & strong rear triangle. But even the seattube & seatpost have lost weight, as well.
The frame is designed with a 1.5″ headtube to be compatible with either FSA’s ACR or Deda Elementi’s DCR integrated headset and cockpit systems for completely stealth internal cable routing. The F-RI02 is meant to be a dream bike, so routing is optimized for an electronic EPS, Di2 or AXS groupset, where you specify which compatibility to build into the frame. The bike features a PressFit BB386 bottom bracket, wedge-style clamp for the aero seatpost, a Ritchey 1-bolt seatpost head, 12mm thru-axles & flat mount disc brakes.
Titici F-RI02 – Pricing & availability
Every one of Titici’s carbon road bikes is custom-made by hand for the buyer in their workshop in Italy. That brings with it a sizable pricetag, and a decent lead time of around two months, as well. But it also means you get exactly what you want. There’s no mention of geometry here, as Titici will work to build what you want, and paint options are limited only by your imagination & budget.
The F-RI02 is generally available as either a base Standard Frame Kit from 5000€ with frame, integrated fork & proprietary aero seatpost (0 or -25mm offset); or a more complete Frame Kit FSA for 5600€ that also adds in a FSA ACR integrated headset & Vision Metron 5D bar+stem combo for completely internal cable routing. Custom complete bike builds are available through dealer shops.
