Inside ARGONAUT Cycles: Bespoke USA-Made Carbon Bikes

argonaut cycles tour
Argonaut Cycles RM3 Road Bike

“WE ARE BICYCLE LOVERS, CRAFTSPEOPLE, AND INNOVATORS.” – Argonaut Cycles

“We are in constant search of the edge of what is possible in custom bike design, it’s in our bones to open up the focus of our collective lens onto the composites industry as a whole. To see the immense benefits and ingenuity there, and pull it into our process for crafting carbon bikes from scratch. From brazing frames over a decade ago, to performing carbon wizardry one layer at a time today, we are the changemakers at the intersection of carbon and the bike world.”

Argonaut Cycles Factory Tour Video

Alternative Video Link for those reading via email subscription.

In this video, JOM of the Gravel Cyclist crew joins Alex Candelario (you may recognize him as a former professional cyclist), for a look inside Argonaut’s impressively clean, Bend, Oregon, manufacturing facility.

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Huge thank you to Alex Candelario for making this tour happen!

Continued from Above:

OUR STORY

“Ben Farver started his custom bike building career working with steel in 2007. He built bikes out of steel because that’s the material he loved to ride, and felt had the best overall ride quality. However, the quest for more performance eventually led Ben to carbon, but not the sort of carbon you find on the racks of most bike shops. Carbon piqued Ben’s interest not so much because of the ideal strength to weight ratio, but instead because of the nearly limitless potential for customization.”

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Founder Ben, cutting a swathe through the showroom.

“Nearly 10 years later, Ben and the team at Argonaut Cycles are building bikes that retain the feeling of the original steel bikes made in the early days, but lighter, stiffer where it counts, and with a ride quality that we feel is truly transcendent. Every Argonaut is unique to the individual owner. Every Argonaut rides like an Argonaut.”

argonaut cycles tour
Every Argonaut starts from a chunk of alumin(i)um.

OUR MANIFESTO, JOIN US.

“To forever push the boundaries of what’s possible in carbon bike building, and center customer experience and agency throughout the process. To ensure custom bike builds that last a lifetime by designing and manufacturing to the highest quality. And to handcraft the best carbon bicycles in the world. Period.”

argonaut cycles tour
HAAS CNC machine with Master Operator at work.

PACIFIC NORTHWEST. WE DO IT ALL IN BEND, OREGON.

Designed, tested, and built in Bend, Oregon, we’re proud to employ 18 dedicated, talented, and experienced individuals who bring endless creativity to the table and who inquire along with us: if it can be better why not make it better?”

argonaut cycles tour
All of this craftsmanship, created on-site.
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Argonaut’s unique silicone technology ensures near perfection.
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The detailed work of laying up carbon by hand.
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Fresh out of the oven after cooling. Amazing quality.

Additional Photos

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This Argonaut RM3 is headed to CyclingTips for review.
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I wonder if James Huang will be the reviewer? (knows his stuff!)
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Bespoke bikes built to your specifications.
argonaut cycles tour
The HAAS CNC Machine

argonaut cycles tour

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Liquid silicone is poured into these 3D-printed moulds.

argonaut cycles tour

argonaut cycles tour
Carbon layup is skilled, detail-oriented work.
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Baking of parts happens in this oven.
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Cooling parts out of the oven.
argonaut cycles tour
This part is fresh out of the oven after cooling.

argonaut cycles tour

argonaut cycles tour
Argonaut has various testing equipment on-site.

argonaut cycles tour

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Buffing of a painted Argonaut frame.
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The buffing continues for these parts.
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Clean & tidy work environment at Argonaut HQ.
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Frames nearing completion.
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Frame jigs, where it all happens.
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Frame jig & oven for the final curing of the frame.
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Paint booth!
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The gorgeous finished product.
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Cerakote for this Argonaut.

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