Affordable Titanium, American Made: Introducing the Stinner Podium Series Bikes

Titanium bicycles often occupy a space associated with premium pricing, custom geometry, and long wait times. However, Santa Barbara, California's Stinner Frameworks is actively working to reshape this perception with the introduction of their new Podium Series. This initiative expands their stock frame offerings, launching with the Carrizo all-road and Refugio gravel models, aiming to make high-quality, domestically produced titanium frames and bicycles significantly more attainable.

A New Model for American Handcrafted Quality

Stinner Frameworks is not a newcomer to the scene, boasting over a decade of experience fabricating steel and titanium bikes in California, establishing themselves as one of the larger bicycle manufacturers in the US. Their existing Stinner Stock program already offers customers the benefits of handmade quality without the typical hurdles of full custom builds.

The Podium Series takes this concept a step further. By focusing on stock sizing across six standard sizes and implementing streamlined, lean manufacturing processes, Stinner can offer these new titanium models at price points described as groundbreaking for domestically produced titanium. All fabrication, including welding and finishing, occurs in-house at their Santa Barbara facility.

The material chosen for the Podium Series is straight-gauge titanium tubing. This selection provides an excellent blend of the characteristics titanium is known for: strength, desirable ride quality, low weight, and exceptional durability, ensuring a bike built to last. The finish is a refined bead-blasted raw titanium look, complemented by either polished titanium or black decals.

Introducing the Refugio Podium: Ready for Rugged Adventures

Drawing its name and inspiration from the challenging, winding terrain of Refugio Road near Stinner's home base, the Refugio Podium is designed as a versatile gravel machine. It's built for long days in the saddle, capable of handling a wide variety of surfaces, from steep climbs to rough descents.

The frame's straight-gauge titanium construction is engineered to deliver a ride that is both responsive and smooth. A key feature enhancing its capability is the generous tire clearance, accommodating up to 700x50c tires, making it ready for demanding routes. Modern standards are incorporated, including 160mm flat-mount disc brake compatibility and Stinner-designed Universal Derailleur Hanger (UDH) dropouts for broad drivetrain compatibility and future-proofing.

For practicality, the Refugio includes mounts for fenders, triple accessory mounts on the fork legs, a front light mount, and provisions for internal dynamo hub wiring. Complete bikes prioritize reliability and serviceability, featuring component packages built around SRAM AXS 12-speed electronic shifting (either Rival/GX or Force/Eagle Transmission build kits) and wheels from respected brands like DT Swiss or Astral Cycling, depending on the chosen build.

• Refugio Podium Frameset Retail: $2,895
• Refugio Podium Complete Bike Retail: Starting from $5,595

Introducing the Carrizo Podium: The Spirit of All-Road Exploration

Named after the expansive Carrizo Plains National Monument, the Carrizo Podium embodies a spirit of exploration. Positioned as a fast and responsive all-road bicycle, it's designed to be a capable companion for long journeys across varied terrain, performing well on both pavement and unpaved surfaces.

Like its sibling, the Carrizo is fabricated, finished, and assembled in Santa Barbara using Stinner's straight-gauge titanium tubing. It offers tire clearance for up to 700x40c rubber, hitting a sweet spot for all-road versatility. Practicality is enhanced with mounts for fenders and capacity for three water bottles, making it suitable for year-round riding and longer adventures. It also shares the Refugio's UDH dropouts, 160mm flat-mount standard, triple fork mounts, light mount, and internal dynamo routing compatibility.

Complete Carrizo builds feature SRAM AXS electronic groupsets (Rival 2x or Force 2x) and DT Swiss or Astral wheels. Stinner emphasizes the use of high-quality parts from trusted industry partners and adherence to common standards, ensuring ease of maintenance, upgrades, and service for years to come. The frame is also noted as compatible with Shimano Di2 12-speed 2x systems.

• Carrizo Podium Frameset Retail: $2,895
• Carrizo Podium Complete Bike Retail: Starting from $5,695

Looking Ahead: Expanding Accessibility

The launch of the Carrizo and Refugio marks the beginning of the Podium Series. Stinner Frameworks plans to expand this line throughout 2025, eventually incorporating their entire range of bicycle models into this more accessible, stock-focused titanium program.

By combining their established handmade quality with smart manufacturing and stock sizing, Stinner Frameworks is making a compelling case for domestically produced titanium. The Podium Series offers riders a chance to own a durable, high-performance titanium bike, crafted in the USA, without the traditional financial or time investment associated with custom builds.

For more detailed specifications and ordering information, visit StinnerFrameworks.com.