Argon 18, founded by Canadian, Olympian Gervais Rioux, has been quietly building premium quality bikes in Montreal, Canada for 15 years.  At Interbike, 2004, I had my first chance to see them in person.  Not only did Argon 18 have a fabulous booth, everyone there was friendly and professional.  After studying the Platinum for quite a long time, I decided that it was now one of the top five bikes I wanted to ride.

My curiosity finally got the better of me when I read Cadence Cycling’s remarks about the Platinum here.  So the Platinum is one of Chris Boardman’s “Top Three” favorite rides of all time!  He was only one of the fastest cyclists in the world, beating Eddy Merck’s Hour Record, until he was forced to retire!  If the Platinum is stiff enough for him and it offers a good ride, then it must be a brilliant bike to race.

I then contacted Argon 18 to obtain a Platinum frame set.  Please note that at TgR, we prefer to build test bikes with our own parts.  You can learn a great deal about a bike frame from building one up and then we ride it using familiar parts.  I have always disliked bike reviews that comment on the bike company’s choice of saddle, tires and the like.  No saddle or tire, etc. can please everyone or even most people and these items are easily replaceable.  Fortunately, Argon 18 delivered the frameset, then it was time to build it up.

As is our typical practice, we built the Platinum with a standard Shimano Dura Ace 10 speed group, using our favorite bar, seat post and saddle.  Build up went very smoothly as the Platinum was properly prepared at the factory for assembly without any frustration.  I specifically asked Argon 18 for the matte black version and was pleased with the look of the frameset and how it built up into a complete bike.  Matte carbon has an understated elegance that’s hard to deny and Argon 18 does it as well as any manufacturer.  After riding the Platinum for a month or so, I decided to personalize it some by installing the Stronglight crankset, Wipperman Connex 10 speed chain and the awesome Topolino V39s.  Including pedals, two computers and bottle cages, the Platinum as pictured (but w/o the saddle bag) weighs less than 15.5 lbs.  After I install some Zero Gravity brakes to do a review on the same, I’ll drop another 180g.

The Platinum is a lugged carbon frame with full carbon lugs and tubes.  Carbon frames are either lugged or monocoque.  Lugged versions can have aluminum, titanium, carbon or even steel lugs with carbon tubes glued together.   Monocoque frames are all one piece, although many so-called monocoque framesets have modular stays or even main triangle tubes so they’re not true monocoques.   I usually prefer lugged carbon frames, particularly those with carbon lugs.  Some lugged frames, like the Platinum, can be just as stiff as the best monocoques, but tend to offer a little more road feel and saddle comfort. 

The Platinum is a super stiff 1200g frame that rides lighter than it is.  When you stand up in a big gear, especially while climbing, the bike moves ahead like none other I have ridden; it is here where the stiffness of the bottom bracket really delivers.  It also closes gaps that regularly occur in bike races most efficiently; the acceleration of this bike is simply a cut above most.  Even big, powerful riders will find the stiffness of this frame exceptional, particularly when out of the saddle sprinting or climbing.

Moreover, the handling is spot on; it rides as an extension of your body.  We have a Wednesday afternoon workout called the “pain train” which is an all out ride over a 1.5 mile looping course.  Immediately after a sharp turn we have to avoid a rather large speed hump by getting back to within 18 inches of the curb.  Although we slow down due to potential traffic and the hump, we are still riding 22+ through the turn.  On most bikes, I am concerned about coming back hard to the curb and then making it past the side of the hump while closely following the biker ahead of me.  Not with the Platinum, on it, such maneuvers are child’s play.  You can literally ride within an inch of the elevated edge of the hump without concern because you are in absolute and total control of the bike.  It is just like riding on rails; it corners as neutral as any bike I’ve ridden and you can toss it from side to side, even at high speed, with confidence.  Descending on the Platinum is like the Rockin’ Roller Coaster at Disney World’s MGM Park - pure, unadulterated fun!

While the ride is taut, the Platinum still has excellent road feel and reasonable comfort.  I recently used the Platinum in a 40-mile circuit race and did not feel at all beat up.  Short distance circuit races are all out efforts and tend to exaggerate any saddle discomfort considerably.  Nevertheless, I made it through in reasonable comfort.  I for one am willing to trade a little comfort for a lot of speed.  For triathlon use, the Platinum will prove even more comfortable due to having less of a percentage of your weight on the saddle.

Speaking of using this bike in triathlons, it will serve that mission as well as any 74-degree bike on the market.  Great bottom bracket stiffness and slippery shaped tubing, including a radiused seat tube, mean speed.  Excellent handling and comfort result in more energy for the run.  See, for example, Samantha McGlone riding a Platinum to first place at Wildflower this year.  You can also check out her Platinum on page 30 of the August ’05 issue of “Triathlete”.

The best thing about the Platinum, though, is its remarkably low price.  The MSRP for frame, fork and headset is only $2,100.00.  At this price, you can build either an outstanding road bike, tri bike or dual-purpose bike for well under $4000. 

KDG