Titanium is weird. People treat it like a "forever" material, something you buy when you’re done chasing carbon fiber dreams and just want a bike that survives a nuclear winter. But then you see the No. 22 Little Wing. It isn’t some polite, compliant cruiser for retirees. It’s aggressive. It’s loud—metaphorically, anyway—and it handles like it’s trying to pick a fight with the pavement.
Most cyclists think titanium has to be flexy. They expect that "magical" springy feel that, honestly, sometimes just feels like a wet noodle when you're sprinting for a town line. The Little Wing changes that conversation entirely. It’s a track-inspired, fixed-gear crit machine that No. 22 Bicycle Company eventually evolved into a cult-favorite road geometry. If you haven't been following the Johnstown, New York scene, you're missing out on the most interesting thing happening in American frame building right now.
What Actually Makes a No. 22 Little Wing Different?
Let’s get into the weeds. Most ti bikes use standard round tubing because titanium is a nightmare to shape. It’s stubborn. It eats drill bits for breakfast. But the guys at No. 22—Bryce Gracey and Mike Smith—decided to move their production in-house years ago, taking over the old Serotta factory space. This gave them access to some of the best titanium welders on the planet.
The No. 22 Little Wing stands out because of its seat mast. It’s an integrated seatpost (ISP) design. Usually, an ISP is a carbon fiber thing meant to save grams and look sleek. On a titanium bike? It’s almost unheard of. It creates this incredibly stiff junction that transfers power instantly. No sliding seatposts. No creaking bolts. Just a solid beam of 3Al-2.5V titanium running from the bottom bracket to your saddle.
It’s stiff. Really stiff.
When you're out of the saddle, the bike doesn't wag. You know that feeling when a bike feels like it's trailing behind your input? This doesn't do that. It’s snappy. It feels like a high-end carbon race bike, but it has that distinct titanium "hum" that mutes the high-frequency vibration of crappy chip-seal roads.
The Mystery of the Dropouts
If you look closely at the rear of the bike, you’ll notice the dropouts aren't just flat plates of metal. They’re 3D-printed.
Yep. 3D-printed titanium.
This isn't just a gimmick to sound techy. By using 3D printing (specifically Direct Metal Laser Sintering), No. 22 can create internal hollow structures that are impossible to machine. This makes the dropouts lighter and stronger while allowing for perfectly integrated flat-mount disc brakes and internal cable routing. It’s the kind of detail that makes you realize why these bikes cost what they do. You aren't just paying for the brand; you're paying for the fact that someone spent hundreds of hours figuring out how to fuse aerospace tech with a bicycle.
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Why Do People Get Titanium So Wrong?
There’s this persistent myth that titanium is "soft."
Wrong.
Titanium is only soft if the engineer is lazy. If you use thin, straight-gauge tubes, yeah, it’ll feel like a trampoline. But the Little Wing uses custom-butted tubing. The walls are thicker where the stress is high—like at the joints—and thinner in the middle to save weight. It’s a balancing act. No. 22 tunes the Little Wing to be their most "racy" offering. If you want a plush, all-day gravel grinder, you buy the Drifter. If you want a bike that feels like a precision instrument for carving corners at 30mph, you go for the Little Wing.
Honestly, the aesthetics are what usually hook people first. The anodized finishes? They’re incredible. No. 22 uses an electrochemical process to change the refractive index of the titanium surface. It’s not paint. It won't chip. You can get these deep purples, teals, and golds that look like they belong on a spaceship. It’s a polarizing look, sure, but in a sea of matte black carbon bikes, it’s a breath of fresh air.
The Geometry: Not Your Average Roadie
The Little Wing’s geometry is tight. We’re talking short chainstays and a relatively steep head tube angle. This makes it twitchy in a good way. It rewards an active rider. If you’re the type who likes to "steer with your hips," this bike is going to feel like an extension of your body.
Wait. Let’s talk about the weight for a second.
Titanium will never be as light as a Specialized Tarmac SL8 or a Trek Emonda. It just won't. If you’re a weight weenie who counts every gram of grease in your bearings, you might be disappointed. A fully built Little Wing will usually hover around 16.5 to 18 pounds depending on the components. But here’s the thing: it carries its weight differently. Because the frame is so robust, it feels "planted." On a fast descent with crosswinds, a 13-pound carbon bike can feel like a kite. The Little Wing feels like a heat-seeking missile.
Real Talk: The Cost of Craftsmanship
Let's not dance around it. A No. 22 Little Wing frameset is going to set you back over $5,000. By the time you build it up with SRAM Red AXS or Shimano Dura-Ace and some premium carbon wheels, you're looking at a $12,000+ investment.
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Is it worth it?
If you view a bike as a tool that you replace every three years when the "new aero" comes out, then no. Definitely not. But if you view a bike as a lifetime companion, then the math changes. Carbon fiber can crack. Paint fades. Resale value on mass-produced carbon bikes drops like a stone the second the next model year is announced.
Titanium is different. You can't really "wear out" a titanium frame. If it gets scratched, you can buff it out. If you get tired of the color, No. 22 can actually re-anodize the frame for you. It’s a "buy once, cry once" situation. There are people still riding titanium frames from the 90s that look and perform exactly as they did on day one. You can't say that about many carbon bikes from that era.
Handling the "Fixed Gear" Heritage
The Little Wing started its life as a track bike. In fact, many people still buy it as a fixed-gear frame for track racing or high-end urban riding. But the road version—the one with gears and brakes—retains that "connected" feel.
When you pedal, the bike moves.
There’s zero hesitation. Some of that comes from the oversized T47 bottom bracket shell they use. It’s threaded, so it doesn't creak (thank God), but it’s large enough to allow for massive chainstays. This creates a rock-solid platform for power transfer. You don't have to be a pro sprinter to feel the difference. Even a casual rider will notice that the bike just feels more "efficient" when climbing.
The Nuance of the Ride Quality
It’s easy to say a bike is "smooth," but what does that actually mean?
With the Little Wing, it’s about the "damping" effect. Imagine hitting a pothole. On a stiff carbon bike, that shock travels straight up the seatpost and into your spine. It’s a sharp, jarring "crack." On titanium, that shock is rounded off. It’s more of a "thud." The material itself absorbs the high-frequency vibrations that lead to hand numbness and back fatigue.
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You finish a four-hour ride feeling less "beat up." That’s the real secret of titanium. It’s not necessarily faster in a wind tunnel, but if you’re more comfortable, you’re going to be faster over the long haul.
Limitations and Considerations
I’m not going to sit here and tell you this bike is perfect for everyone. It has limits.
- Lead Times: Because these are handmade in New York, you aren't walking into a shop and buying one today. You’re going to wait months. Sometimes many months.
- Tire Clearance: The Little Wing is a road race bike. While the industry is moving toward 32mm and 35mm tires, the Little Wing is happiest with 28mm or 30mm rubber. If you want to ride chunky gravel, this isn't the bike for you.
- The ISP Commitment: The integrated seat mast looks cool, but it means you have to cut the frame to your height. While there is a topper that allows for about 20mm of adjustment, you can’t just lend the bike to your much taller friend. It’s a custom fit, for better or worse.
Practical Steps for Choosing Your Build
If you’re serious about getting a Little Wing, don’t just click "buy" on a stock size. Talk to them. One of the best parts of the No. 22 experience is the fit process.
- Get a professional fit first. Don't guess. If you’re spending this much on a frame, you need to know your exact reach and stack.
- Decide on the finish early. The raw brushed finish is classic and indestructible. The anodized finishes are art. Just know that fingerprints show up more on the anodized sections (though a bit of Windex cleans them right up).
- Think about the groupset. A bike this beautiful deserves a clean cockpit. Most people go with electronic shifting (SRAM AXS or Shimano Di2) to keep the cable clutter to a minimum.
- Consider the fork. No. 22 usually pairs these with an ENVE fork, which is the gold standard for carbon forks. It complements the ti frame perfectly.
Final Insights on the No. 22 Little Wing
The No. 22 Little Wing isn't just a bicycle; it’s a statement against the disposable nature of the modern cycling industry. It’s for the rider who values the "how" and "where" a bike is made just as much as how it performs. It bridges the gap between the old-school soul of titanium and the high-tech demands of modern racing.
You aren't going to see ten of these at your local group ride. You might not see another one all year. But every time you pull it out of the garage, you're going to feel something that a mass-produced carbon bike just can't replicate. It’s that feeling of riding something that was built by hand, specifically to be the best version of itself.
If you want a bike that is faster in a wind tunnel by 0.5 watts at 45kph, go buy a Specialized. If you want a bike that you'll still be in love with ten years from now, the Little Wing is in a league of its own.
How to move forward with a No. 22 build:
Start by visiting a certified No. 22 dealer who can perform a digital fit scan. This data is sent directly to the builders in New York to ensure the geometry aligns with your biomechanics. Once the fit is locked in, choose your finish—the "High Polish" with "Bronze Anodized" accents is a perennial favorite for a reason. Plan for a 12-to-24 week wait time depending on the current queue, and use that time to source a high-quality wheelset that matches the frame’s stiffness, such as the Reserve 34/37 or ENVE SES 3.4. Finalize your build with a T47 bottom bracket to ensure a lifetime of creak-free performance.