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Austin Cycles launch the AC ATTO folding bike, with deep carbon rims and 11 speed gearing

Aiming to "revolutionising your urban cycling experience", Austin claim the Atto is fast-folding, light and built to ride like your best road bike...

After years in development, British bike brand Austin Cycles have launched the AC ATTO performance folder. It weighs just 7.8kg in its single speed version, has a full carbon monocoque frame with internal cable routing and a choice of 11 speed Shimano Alfine gearing or single speed with a belt drive for an oil-free ride experience.  

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While we've seen folders that claim to offer a ride feel more akin to a 700c bike before - think the Brompton CHPT3 edition developed with David Millar - the AC ATTO takes things up another notch with the internal cabling and carbon components throughout. Austin's own-brand carbon wheels are 38mm deep, dressed with 20" thick Schwalbe Marathon Racer tyres. Even the handlebars are carbon, and the light aluminium pedals also fold up for convenience when storing and carrying.  

atto 2

Austin claim the fold can be done in as little as 8 seconds, with the frame collapsing in the middle of the top tube. The bike uses the Gates Carbon Belt Drive system and Shimano's Alfine 11 speed hub gears in its 11 speed guise , which is easier to maintain and means you don't get oil stains on your work clothes. Shimano hydraulic disc brakes with 160mm rotors front and rear are included, and a titanium-railed Fizik Arione saddle. 

 

atto 3

 

The single speed version comes in at £2,250, and with the 11 speed innternal hub gearing the bike will set you back £2,750 - both come with a free carry bag for every bike purchased, and the colour choices are Magnesium White or Carbon Black. Head over to the Austin Cycles website for more info.

Arriving at road.cc in 2017 via 220 Triathlon Magazine, Jack dipped his toe in most jobs on the site and over at eBikeTips before being named the new editor of road.cc in 2020, much to his surprise. His cycling life began during his students days, when he cobbled together a few hundred quid off the back of a hard winter selling hats (long story) and bought his first road bike - a Trek 1.1 that was quickly relegated to winter steed, before it was sadly pinched a few years later. Creatively replacing it with a Trek 1.2, Jack mostly rides this bike around local cycle paths nowadays, but when he wants to get the racer out and be competitive his preferred events are time trials, sportives, triathlons and pogo sticking - the latter being another long story.  

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12 comments

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planbike.com | 4 years ago
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comment deleted

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Hellfire | 4 years ago
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From what I've found out, one of the guys who founded Lios decided to give up and the other guy took over and carried on. The ATTO is a development of the original frame, not only is it now much cheaper but its also c400g lighter. Apparently, the main frame spar is the same but everything else is brand new with reshaped, stronger profiles and better clearance.  They've also changed the rear dropout to make it work better with the belt drive. 

From what they've said the frames are made in China (what isn't nowadays) but with this new version, they own the frame molds which should stop copies going out of the back door and appearing on alibaba. 

Avatar
mdavidford replied to Hellfire | 4 years ago
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Quote:

...dressed with 20" thick Schwalbe Marathon Racer tyres...

 

20" thick tyres? Well, no need to worry about punctures at least, I suppose...

Avatar
2old2mould | 4 years ago
2 likes

So Jack, this has been years in development has it? For those with very short memories let me remind you...

https://road.cc/content/tech-news/191201-carbon-lios-nano-lightest-foldi...

This is a stock Chinese frame. Very similar of not the same on Alibaba.

At least Austin are pumping these out considerably cheaper than LIOS.

Avatar
HoarseMann replied to 2old2mould | 4 years ago
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2old2mould wrote:

So Jack, this has been years in development has it? For those with very short memories let me remind you... https://road.cc/content/tech-news/191201-carbon-lios-nano-lightest-foldi... This is a stock Chinese frame. Very similar of not the same on Alibaba. At least Austin are pumping these out considerably cheaper than LIOS.

good spot. This looks identical, apart from the horizontal rear drop outs. 

https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/2016-New-design-20-inch-full_6042...

Avatar
Sriracha replied to 2old2mould | 4 years ago
2 likes
2old2mould wrote:

So Jack, this has been years in development has it? For those with very short memories let me remind you...

https://road.cc/content/tech-news/191201-carbon-lios-nano-lightest-foldi...

This is a stock Chinese frame. Very similar of not the same on Alibaba.

At least Austin are pumping these out considerably cheaper than LIOS.

Following the link (http://www.liosfoldingbike.com/ )at the foot of the article you so helpfully link to, they seem to have, er, folded.

Also saw this snippet towards the end of the earlier article:
"The LIOS Nano is a new and totally different product and alongside my business partner Wayland Austin..."
Would that be the same person behind "Austin" Cycles.

Avatar
jerome | 4 years ago
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Would be even better if not folding.

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hawkinspeter replied to jerome | 4 years ago
3 likes

jerome wrote:

Would be even better if not folding.

...and maybe bigger wheels would make for a smoother ride, though probably slower.

Avatar
dodgy | 4 years ago
2 likes

Think they might have a winner with this design.

Avatar
Hellfire | 4 years ago
3 likes

I've seen them do a special drop-bar version with Di2 11 speed Alfine hub. They raced it at the London Nocturne.  You're right it did mess up the fold but did make it for a very fast bike. I think they did it just for fun.

Avatar
hawkinspeter | 4 years ago
1 like

Small deep section wheels should be very aero, but the handlebars are straight - they should do a drop-bar version.

Avatar
Sriracha replied to hawkinspeter | 4 years ago
2 likes
hawkinspeter wrote:

Small deep section wheels should be very aero, but the handlebars are straight - they should do a drop-bar version.

I guess drop bars would compromise the compactness when folded?

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