REVIEW: Atomic22 security skewers, seat post clamp, saddle bolt, stem bolt

REVIEW: Atomic22 security skewers, seat post clamp, saddle bolt, stem bolt

Tribe set H plus a ti saddle bolt for a Brooks Swallow

In my last blog I narrated my visit to UK-based Atomic22, whose sole business is making extraordinarily high quality bicycle security components using a unique, 3D key.

Exactly a week later I returned to Patrick Wells and his business partner Ayantika Mitra to pick up and install the goodies.

What you see here is what Atomic22 sell as a skewer set called Tribe, version H, which retails within the EU for £153 (deduct 20% VAT outside EU).

The only extra is the additional titanium bolt pictured next to the seatpost clamp, which is to replace the allen key bolt attaching my Brooks saddle.

The purpose of installing this little feast on my newish Enigma, is to foil thieves in London.

Installation is relatively straightforward if you are already used to sorting basic bike maintenance. You need to purchase for an extra tenner the Sealey, Micro Ratchet Bit Driver that Atomic 22 sells (they intend to make their own one day), and a torque wrench is a very good thing to have to hand if you don't already have a feel for the difference between 2 Nm of torque and 10 Nm of torque. The only glitch we encountered concerned my stem cap, but this reflected a poor trim of the existing steerer, not the Ahead Stem cap supplied by Atomic22. We resolved it by adding 1mm to the spacer stack height, to ensure that the bolt was tensioning the headset bearings correctly. If in doubt, a good mechanic would help you do all this. Hand them the extremely precise Atomic22 instruction manual and let them get on with it. Any club rider or seasoned commuter will be fine on their own.

Will these components do the trick? I have complete confidence, simply in the sense that there are so many less-well protected bikes for a thief to move on to once they encounter Atomic22 and get confused. It starts with a magic, computer-generated, many-digit number that is the code for a unique, 3-dimensional key. A CNC machine converts this code into metallic reality, using a mixture of titanium and stainless steel depending on the part. Beyond the magic of the formula, Atomic22 have also subjected the parts to all sorts of nasty, down-to-earth attack sequences by burly ex-bike thieves and ex-strong men wielding hammers and chisels and goodness knows what else. It's not just pretty stuff on paper and in the lab. They have blocked the insertion of a slim or sharp implement that can be levered or twisted, a weakness of some rival products.

Skewers from stainless steel; bolts from aerospace grade 6AL 4V titanium. Beautiful.

Obviously, I cannot comment directly on the strength of these parts subjected to attack, because I don't have access to the right sort of laboratory. But the quality of the manufacturing is completely evident from the first glance. Patrick explained how murky the global supply chain is for titanium, to cite one instance of his fastidiousness. Within the top grade, grade 5, there is still a world of difference between a batch of the metal coming from a Chinese mill, and one coming from the States, he tells me. He was once in receipt of a funny batch and returned it immediately. Since then, he has gone so far as to specify the exact mill from which he'll accept shipments. That's exactly the sort of perfectionism we appreciate.

It would be crazy not to mention the aesthetic delight of these parts. They look great displayed in the box, and they look just as good when mounted. They remind me of the skewers supplied with my first ever pair of ZIPP 303s. Fantastic quality.

It would be equally crazy not to pick up on the weight weenie aspect. Atomic22 skewers weigh approximately half the weight of Shimano Dura-Ace. Yes, you have to carry a small bit driver and the key with you, but most riders are carrying an equivalent multi-tool anyway. We weighed the Atomic 22 skewer at 57.4grams. Dura-Ace comes out at 99 grams. The difference is because Atomic22 skewers are butted and don't have chunky quick-release levers. This is all nice-to-have even if the first application is less likely to be a racing situation (although such riders are buying them in droves I hear - these high end wheels we're all buying are vulnerable).

Atomic22 skewer is butted (front). Dura-Ace in background.

Atomic22 skewer trounces Dura-Ace for weight

Do the skewers represent value for money? It all depends on your bike, but there are few wheelsets that cost less to replace than the Atomic22 skewers that mean they won't need to be, quite apart from the inconvenience. They cost less than most dedicated bicycle insurance policies, which is going to sting you if you live in a high-theft post code as I do. For less than one premium you have hardware that will last for years, so I consider them extremely good value.

Criticisms?
Arguably, Atomic22 should provide two 'keys' rather than one (although spares can be purchased). I'd also like to the see the key drilled through so I could attach it to a key-fob for safe-keeping. And the shaft of the key might be recessed to take an allen key so you have the option of using a multi-tool rather than the bit-driver. As it stands I am terrified of losing this tiny bit, even though Atomic 22 have the magic number stored against my personal details.

Summary
The overwhelming impression I have is that these guys have Chris King levels of engineering perfectionism in a relatively new but rapidly growing field of bicycle technology. The challenge they face is how to scale up their micro-manufacturing operation without losing the precision and quality that defines their approach to a universal problem.