Discover the Versatile Gravel Bike with Sand-Casted Pressure-Formed Aluminum Frame – Exposing the Hypocrite

When it comes to high-end, high-performance bicycles, most people look to materials like carbon fiber and titanium. However, the Hypocrite gravel bike, made by American manufacturer Heavy Bikes, proves that aluminum can also be a great choice.

The Hypocrite recently gained attention at the MADE hand-built bicycle show in Portland, Oregon. Each bike’s one-piece frame is custom-built using the Pascal Process, a technique developed by partnering company Foundry Casting Systems.

The Pascal Process utilizes sand casting, a method where molten metal is poured into a sand mold with a bonding agent. In this case, an inert gas is injected into the 3D-printed bicycle frame mold at 150 psi, allowing the molten aluminum to fill every detail of the mold while leaving the center hollow. After cooling and hardening, the mold is broken open to reveal the frame.

Following this, the frame undergoes T6 heat treatment and machining. Components like an Enve fork, stem, seatpost, handlebars, Emporia GC3 Pro gravel-specific wheels, and a SRAM XX Eagle drivetrain with RED eTap AXS wireless shifters are added.

So, what’s so special about the Hypocrite?

According to Heavy Bikes president Charlie Murray, the Pascal Process results in stronger and denser parts compared to traditional aluminum casting methods. This allows for thinner and lighter frame walls, while still maintaining the same level of strength as traditional aluminum frames. Additionally, the one-piece frame eliminates unsightly welds.

The current complete bike weighs 23 lb (10.4 kg), but Heavy Bikes aims to reduce it to 21 lb (9.5 kg) through optimized machining. The company is now accepting orders and plans to start production by the end of the year.