Here's a two-bit Renaissance man's 2-cents.
PRC has been cornering world supply of 'sponge' and selling to Russia at fixed price. Russia, in return supplies PRC with metal/ tubes, sheets, bars, etc. at favorable contracts.
Russian refined titanium owns (90% of world market) -
VSMPO-AVISMA Corporation - so PRC finished goods (90% of world market for finished 'value added' goods) ti production has a dismal future.
We're still seeing momentum from accumulated PRC stockpiles, but the party's over.
It's a critical metal. The West, scrambling to decouple from Russia controlling anything (except perhaps Cabbage), is investing many billions to make our own. We already process ore to sponge, it's producing titanium sponge to ingots and in turn to billets or slabs, tubes, disks, and rings, forgings.
When our capacity - at whatever price, we don't care - is reached, we'll sanction Russian ti ... and that means PRC goods made from it.
The only place left with the 'extreme' energy required to process the sponge into workable - profitable - products is Kazakhstan. They're committed to uranium production - much more money and that HEAVY smelting infrastructure's already in place.
Infrastructure investment (and financing) involved dictates Western 'titanium materials' cost will rise (min) 400%.
Finished goods will be 'market' prices.
The pricing effect will induce (much less) production, focused on aerospace and medicine, military (deep pockets) grade.
The investment required of any enterprise building bicycle frames out of western ti tubing will make such products very rare indeed.
-
It's safe to say, I have the last titanium Cross Tour or Ultimate Commuter made. You'll note they're no longer on the site.
This is why I posted to all concerned that 'if you want a WW Titanium CT or UC, you better buy the frame retail from PRC - while you can - ship it to Pushkar and have him create your bike'.
These frames 'wholesale' are about the same price 'retail', but the producers are ruining our companies by cancelling; delaying shipment; false information and promises of production; mid-contract, arbitrary price-hikes (sticking WW with the bill they DON'T pass down to customers).
I wouldn't expect WW to obtain the frame, but I'd trust they'll build it right - when they have it.
-
Same is true for ti parts. Good time to stock up.
I like this Tris titanium bottle cage.
American made - out of 'tubing', not '5mm wire' - have better welds and a slightly more elegant backing plate - at 400% markup/ including the $20 ti bolts (free with this).
Using wire means it's about (65grms), 2 x the WolfTooth Morse, or Silca Sicuro weight.
Also - if you get into bikepacking/ camping/ overnights - a titanium mini-stove and cookware set up for 2, with adapters and fuel cannister weighs about 2lbs and takes up <0.5#ft.
A ti bike must have !!! lol. Perfect for heating up my Must Have Coffee, my Parmesan/ Blue Cheese Crusted Chicken Wings, or carb loading pre-made noodle dishes for dinner. You'll come home weighing more than when you started !!!
Like next January, lol.
-
Totally cool community. Multinational too.
To every stripe (even that cranky Aussie. Hey, if everything around me was trying to eat me, I'd be cranky too !!!) ...
You people are the greatest.
Happy Holidays to all !!!
Fn'F
