We were going to get Jules’ thoughts on our new titanium Tupelo frame and what it’s like having bike legends Serotta working for you; but then he face-planted into the back of a pedestrian’s skull and got sent to hospital for reconstructive surgery. So if you’ve ever wanted to read a bike review written by a guy on a morphine drip, this one’s for you:

Normal titanium is 1/3 lighter than steel, it can’t rust, doesn’t fatigue, and is seriously difficult to scratch or dent. ‘Serotta Titanium’ is the most carefully crafted and technically advanced metal on the planet. It’s built in the Serotta factory in Saratoga Springs and they control all the tube processes themselves. Each Tupelo is swaged and shaped in-house using 3AL.2.5V aerospace grade titanium; the alloys of aluminium and vanadium increasing the workability and hardness of the final structure. The Tupelo Ti drop-outs are CNC’d from whole billets of 6AL.4V titanium – they may look like works of art but they are also the strongest drop-outs in the world. For an elegantly minimalist effect the welded frame is hand-polished at the factory to a full satin finish.

Jules pre-op: “An eye-bag lift and a warm smile please surgeon”.

Go to the Serotta website. Take the factory tour. Laugh at the tattoos. But remember these guys shut at 4 everyday just so they can ride.