Chiru Bikes NZ sells titanium adventure bike frames, built for bikepacking, gravel and ultra-endurance riding, and is listed at 28 Alton Street in Motupiko, in the Tasman region. The brand takes its name from the chiru, a small antelope of the Tibetan plateau, and its founder, Pierre-Arnaud Le Magnan, has spent twenty years designing frames for long-distance events. The site says its frames were tested on routes such as the Silk Road Mountain Race, the French Divide and the Transcontinental Race, and names the Kegeti, Divider Pinion and Kunlun models.
Titanium is the material the brand chose, and the site gives three reasons for it: durability, lightness and a compliant ride that takes the edge off rough surfaces. Titanium does not corrode, and every titanium frame carries a lifetime warranty. The frames can also be recycled at the end of their life. The site says they suit New Zealand bikepacking, brevet and gravel conditions, and buyers are asked to get in touch to discuss availability and build options. For a rider planning a long gravel trip, a frame that will not corrode and carries a lifetime warranty is the practical point.