Lynskey - since 2006/USA
The Lynskeys run a family business in the literal sense of the word. Including mongrel dog Rambo, nine Lynskeys work in the titanium forge of the same name. William Lynskey founded a metalworking shop in Tennessee in 1962, where his son David began making bicycle frames in the mid-nineties. The first welding experiments soon gave rise to the company Litespeed, which achieved cult status among welding fetishists. After the sale of Litespeed, the Lynskey team re-formed under the family name. www.lynskeyperformance.com
Bike: Lynskey 260
You have to take a closer look to discover the subtleties. The 260 has American genes, but the DNA has been slightly modified because of the European muddy weather. The cable routing was moved under the top tube to keep it out of the line of fire of mud and rain. The rear stays swing around the tyres in a particularly large arc so that the tyres can be wide. And the rough character of some Alpine trails has also been taken into consideration. In contrast to the US version, the 260 rolls through the terrain here in Germany with a supported brake calliper mount and a thin, flex-friendly titanium seat post. The German importer Gerrit Gaastra is a friend of stress-free technology. Which is why the equipment is more functional than emotional. Which is basically great. But alas, you'd still like to tear the pale XT groupset off the beautiful frame. Because it clearly doesn't want to be anything more than a labour force. It looks out of place. Like a facade painter in a painting studio. Okay, mount up and cheer up your sulking taste buds with a breeze. And oopsala, suddenly the inner tension is released. The geometry fits, the stiffness is noticeable. A brisk cruising speed is quickly reached. Whatever pedal pressure is fed into the 260 is immediately pushed from behind. The rider's weight is distributed just right so that no contortions are required to correct the handling, even on steep sections or choppy bends. The gears engage cleanly, the SID fork confidently fends off attacks from below. And suddenly you are happy about the bitch-free equipment. After all, it's best to ride stress-free.
Test summary: The Lynskey 260 puts itself at the service of the driver. It wants to be a worker, not a diva. Tuning fans build the frame themselves.
Price: 3995 Euro/Frame 1895 Euro
Weight: 9.9 kilos*/frame 1568 grams
Material: Titanium
Delivery time: for Custom 3 months
Geometry: Standard or as required
Equipment: Rock Shox SID, Shimano XT
* Complete weight without pedals
