TECH TALK
A dive into the tech and benefits of Sarto's Tri-Composite carbon fiber.
If you were to ride a bike built to a cost versus one built for the sheer creative joy of trying something new and seeing where it leads, which would you rather ride?
The latter, obviously. In the spirit of things made for their own sake, not sales figures, today on the Regroup Journal, we’re taking a look at Sarto’s Tri-Composite technology, an upgrade available on the Italian custom carbon fiber brand’s Raso, Raso Gravel and Seta Plus silhouettes.
If the name is new to you, Sarto is a rarified maker of custom carbon fiber bikes. Its headquarters is located a short ride to the west of Venice, Italy, where, within its four walls, it makes everything from scratch – tubes, frames, fork, cockpit, seatpost – the works. To take a Sarto line, it builds its bikes ‘With the freedom to create under one roof’. Incidentally, that roof houses a solar array, making the brand almost entirely energy-independent.
That’s enough context. Let’s get back to the Tri-Composite technology then.
What is Sarto Tri-Composite Carbon Fiber?
What are the advantages of Tri-Composite Carbon Fiber?
Tri-composite technology exhibits excellent vibration-dampening abilities and impact resistance. Beyond Sarto bikes, it’s most commonly used in the automotive industry to create cockpits or helmets.
However, Sarto didn’t just take an off-the-shelf material and offer it as an upgrade on its bikes. CEO Enrico Sarto, son of Antonio Sarto, who founded the company in 1959, explains, “We spent several years on research and development to make it functional for the quality and performance of our top-of-the-range frames.” In other words, the TC Sarto uses is not the TC of the automotive industry. From Japan to Tuscany, Sarto’s Tri-Composite carbon fiber arrives as fabric to the factory door with metallic filaments inside and the expertise of some of the world’s finest composite houses and engineering firms, who create it to Sarto’s demanding specifications.
To further answer the question of the material’s advantages, TC’s vibration dampening acts as a balm on the road, smoothing every surface while providing greater protection in case of an incident.
As to the ride qualities offered by a TC Sarto and a non-TC, the difference is subtle. A TC-less Raso or Seta Plus is already immensely comfortable. Adding TC takes things further but doesn’t make it a different bike.
It’s important to bear nuance like this in mind when you’re evaluating whether to opt for a Tri-Composite Sarto or one without Tri-Composite technology.
What does Tri-Composite technology look like?
If all of this talk of composites has been a bit dry, we invite you to view some of Sarto’s IG Reels featuring its TC bikes. One of the many wonderful things about TC is its appearance when rendered in a frame. Geometric, opalescent, deep, rich – the way TC reacts when covered only in clearcoat is stunning, so much so that you may not need paint.
If TC’s only advantage were an interesting aesthetic, we’d still want it. That it also offers palpable benefits to ride quality and strength is icing on our mid-ride cannoli.
And there are color options, too. Currently, you can choose blue, red, green, silver, or copper hues. Deciding between them is torture.
We hope this dive into the word of Sarto’s Tri-Composite technology has proven useful. If you’re considering a Sarto bike, don’t hesitate to contact us or come to the shop. We’d love to help you experience the Sarto difference.
FEATURED PRODUCT
Discover the Raso, Sarto’s all-road aero endurance bike, available with Tri-Composite tubing for elevated comfort and exceptional strength.
