Technology

ExoGrid®

ExoGrid® technology combines the best attributes of advanced composites with those of traditional metals.

A Holland ExoGrid® frame starts with a titanium tube that has a major portion of the surface area removed through advanced laser machining. The distinct pattern of multiple small laser-cut diamonds is unique to Holland ExoGrid® tubing. We believe the better torsional stiffness, improved durability and structural reliability of our ExoGrid® frames justify the significantly higher laser-cutting and labor costs incurred in the tube manufacture.

A high modulus carbon tube with a proprietary mix of longitudinal and bias fibers designed specifically to deliver the desired Holland ExoGrid® ride characteristics is laid up inside the titanium shell. This adds torsional (twisting) stiffness without increasing the bending stiffness to produce a highly responsive but superbly comfortable ride. Multiple layers of die-cut carbon are hand placed within each titanium diamond, increasing the titanium tube’s ability to withstand buckling stresses and protecting the underlying carbon from environmental wear. These carbon diamonds are layered to end up the precise thickness of the titanium tube after curing.

The raw Ti/C structure is heat and pressure molded together using the patented Bi/Fusion™ process that fuses the titanium and carbon into a single tube and produces flush transitions between the two materials. The perfectly smooth inner bore of the titanium/carbon tube produced by this process prevents the fibers of the inner carbon tube from bowing out. This keeps the fibers of this carbon tube straight – important because carbon is anisotropic, only being strong in tension. The excess titanium on the tube ends allows it to be trimmed to any length for a totally customizable fit.

The resulting ExoGrid® tube is lighter and has improved bending/torsion performance than its pure titanium counterpart. A Holland ExoGrid® frame is as durable as titanium, as opposed to a molded carbon frame, which may or may not survive a crash. And while a molded carbon frame may make a good, short-term economical choice, the limited mold sizes also restrict the available frame sizes and geometries. Holland Cycles specializes in building bikes that fit its customers, regardless of what that size is. An ExoGrid® frame offers a custom fit but with superior carbon feel.

The Ti/C ExoGrid® structure has unique vibration damping qualities due to the dissimilar natural frequencies of the carbon and titanium. When these elements are molded together, some of these frequencies cancel each other out, a phenomenon called constrained layer damping. When ExoGrid® is used in substantial bike frame elements such as the top tube, seat tube and down tube, the built frame delivers improved road feel and exceptional ride quality that are unobtainable from a titanium or carbon fiber frame on their own.

An ExoGrid® frame generally weighs slightly more than a molded carbon frame and slightly less than a pure titanium frame. It also delivers considerably more durability (and safety), which is quite useful unless you are a sponsored pro unconcerned with the economics of replacing a damaged frame. And no one rides just a frame – the component choices available for an ExoGrid® can make the built bike weight comparable to a molded carbon production bike.

The Making of an Exogrid Bicycle

beSPOKE from Jeff Katz on Vimeo.

IsoGrid®

IsoGrid® technology is designed to enhance the performance of thin-walled composite structures without sacrificing the structural integrity.

The IsoGrid® tubing used by Holland Cycles incorporates a structure of raised carbon ribs on the inside for reinforcement to keep it stiff and strong. The strength added by the ribs allows Holland Cycles to use thinner carbon tubing, reducing the weight but producing a structure that is more durable than conventional carbon – in essence, adding carbon to where it is needed for strength and removing it from where it is not to drive weight down. Holland Cycles combines IsoGrid® tubes with titanium lugs to create an extremely light frame with improved durability. Unlike the junctions on a molded carbon frame, which need to be reinforced (and thus increased in size/weight) to support the multiple stresses occurring in different directions, the titanium IsoGrid® lugs provide resistance to strain without requiring increased junction end tube size.

The IsoGrid® titanium and carbon are co-cured using patented Bi/Fusion™ technology, eliminating the “blind-bond” problems typical on many frames where carbon and metal are joined. Pre-placed carbon fiber adhesive film insures perfect saturation – complete connection with no excess adhesive (and its attendant weight).

A Holland IsoGrid® frame can be custom built to any size (including extremely small sizes) and in any configuration, unlike conventional molded carbon frames. The construction allows any damaged tube to be cut out and replaced, making IsoGrid® frames repairable.

Holland Cycles is the sole road bike licensee of ExoGrid®, IsoGrid® , and Bi/Fusion™ technologies from Arizona-based Vyatek Sports, Inc. (www.vyatek.com)

Titanium

Holland Cycles uses only American MIL-SPEC 3/2.5 titanium to produce the highest quality totally customizable full titanium bikes available. To safeguard weld integrity, we clean the surfaces of our titanium tubing ultrasonically immediately prior to beginning the weld process. We double-pass weld our titanium in an ultra-clean environment, free of all oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen and carbon. With nearly two decades of experience welding titanium, our extraordinary attention to detail and our artisanal precision, the quality and performance of Holland titanium bikes are unparalleled. A Holland titanium frame presents an economical path to a lifetime of comfortable, lightweight, responsive and reliable riding on a beautiful handcrafted machine.

It’s your ride.