2014 Litespeed C3

Our 2014 Litespeed C3 blends race performance, amazing ride quality, and reliability all at a great price. We made the C3 with 30T carbon fiber, using our Reactive Pressure Molding (RPM) frame technology, and it shares many of the Aerologic features found on the C-Series flagship model, the C1R. We refined and tested the aero seat post, shrouded water bottle mount, and aero tuned cross sections in the wind tunnel in order to give you the aero advantage on roads outside the wind tunnel.


The shrouded water bottle mount on the down tube makes that necessary cargo almost invisible to the wind and the aero tuned downtube morphs every millimeter for maximum aerodynamics. Aero seat stays decrease aerodynamic resistance while adding stability and comfort and a tapered fork with our unique bowed design helps absorb turbulent shock and allows air to zip through for a smooth ride. Our engineers used variable-size tubes for all of the aerodynamic elements in order to maximize performance across the bike's size range.

Our Reactive Pressure Molding (RPM) precisely controls the internal structure and wall thickness of the carbon frame during the manufacturing process; this allows us to use design elements far beyond what can be achieved with conventional bladder molding. The result is a lighter, stiffer, faster bike with incorporated aerodynamic elements without the added weight of filler materials.




The minuscule drag penalty of the external cable routing is far outweighed by the weight saving and
ease of maintenance that the design represents. Not to worry, though. The other C-Series models do come with internal cable routing.

Pain Junkies: RAW (Race Across the WEST)

Don Oliveria and his biking partner, David Huckobey, are planning on racing the RAW (Race Across the WEST) next summer. Start time is June 13, 2012.

RAW is one of the most challenging bicycle races in the United States. Unlike other well-known road races, like the Tour de France, RAW is not a stage race. RAW is a single stage. Once the clock starts in Oceanside, California it doesn't stop until the racer reaches the finish line in Durango, Colorado. RAW is the second longest endurance cycling race in the United States. The race is essentially a time trial - a race against the clock, sometimes referred to as the race of truth. The route is about 860 miles, passing through 4 states and climbing over 40,000 feet.

Don and David are raising money for the Wounded Warriors Semper Fi Fund. They are both active Marines. Don is training overseas on a Quintana Roo CD0.1 and a Litespeed C3.



"Our goal is $10,000! Very ambitious we know, but through the power of networking and mass communication we hope to achieve our goal for our Wounded Warriors through the Semper Fi Fund. The Fund www.semperfifund.org is a non profit organization that helps America's true heroes recovering from catastrophic injury. 100% of the donations go to help injured Marines.
We respectfully request two simple things:

First, you pledge to donate to the Semper Fi Fund!The easiest way to contribute is to go to our campaign page and donate securely online.

Second, you pledge to tell five people about our fundraising campaign and ask them to do the same.Via Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Blogger, etc.

Team Semper Fi (TSF) was established in 2006 by the Semper Fi Fund as an extension of the assistance that the Fund provides to those who are injured in combat and training. The idea for Team Semper Fi was inspired by those wounded Marines and Sailors who refused to let their challenges prevent them from competing in athletic events, and whose drive and determination was inspirational to us all"

Cohutta 29er is Across the Pond!

First Look – Litespeed Cohutta 29er

Posted by Albert Steward | Thu 17th November

With the wagon-wheeled world of 29ers looking set to take the UK mtb market by force in 2012 you’re likely to see most manufacturers frantically trying to jump on the bandwagon. North America has pretty much accepted the advantages the larger wheel size straight from the inception and with sales of 29er bikes now far outweighing those of conventional 26” wheeled bikes in the States the ‘switch’ looks to have been firmly made and set. Without doubt 29ers are here to stay and 2012 looks to be the breakthrough year for them here in the UK.

Tennessee based Titanium pioneers, Litespeed aren’t new the world of 29ers, and were in fact pioneers and early adopters of the new standard, having released the much acclaimed Obed hardtail in a 29er version way back in 2007. It was time when 29er’s were still very much considered a niche, flash-in-the-pan fad, let alone a 29er made from Titanium!

With knowledge and understanding of 29” wheel applications having moved on significantly since those early days Litespeed deemed it necessary to go back to the drawing board…

Litespeed are proud to present the brand new 2012 Cohutta 29er frameset. A highly adaptable and versatile 29er platform that’ll happily tackle both trail and XC race duties depending on the spec and flavour of the build.

Litespeed Titanium models are always given a Native American name as a nod to the heritage of the area in which they’re based (Chatanooga, Tennessee). The Cohutta, rather fittingly, shares its name with a grueling 100-mile endurance mtb race (http://www.newleafadventures.com/Cohutta.html/) and also a picturesque forest that spans nearby Georgia and Tennessee.

Stars’n’stripes – Litespeed Titanium frames always have and always will be handcrafted in their factory in Chatanooga, Tennessee.

The usual immaculate welds and attention to detail we’ve come to love and expect from Litespeed are ever present on the Cohutta.

The Pressfit 30 BB allows for either oversize 30mm crankarm axles, standard 24mm diameter (via the used of aftermarket adaptors) or even an aftermarket eccentric BB (to fit the 46mm ID) for single speed duties. The Press Fit 30 system is similar to the concept that Shimano is using – a nylon sleeve/cup holds the bearings and thus does away with the fiddly snap rings of the BB30 system. It gives you a nice big BB shell area for which to attach larger chainstays, downtube and seattube, no counter miters and lastly does not require a tolerance that is +/- .001" as the bearings don’t sit directly in the BB shell of the frame. Neat!

The heatube on the Cohutta is oversize too, but like the BB it’s not for looks and the reasons for speccing it are 100% functional. The headtube measures 1.5"/49mm ID which ultimately makes the Cohutta one extremely versatile bike (suitable for either 80/100/120mm forks); allowing for fine tuning of the headtube angle (if used with the recommended Cane Creek AngleSet ZS49/EC49), accommodation any steerer tube standard (1.5", traditional 1 1/8" or 1.5" - 1 1/8" tapered) and adjustment of stack height (whether you choose to run an internal/external bearings/headset cups).

In addition to increasing torsional stiffness of the entire front triangle, the 49mm ID headtube allows for total freedom with reagrds to headset and fork selection. The above chart should help with selection and setup for the intended use.

Such are demands on a 29er frameset so different from that of the smaller wheeled 26” cousin, the Litespeed engineers have pulled out all the stops and specced exclusive, specially selected and sized 29er-specific tubing for the Cohutta (TT, DT & HT) milled by Litespeed in Tennessee to give optimum ride and performance characteristics.

The mech hange is a non-replaceable but judging by the thickness of the dropouts we don’t think it’s going to be an issue!

With x4 sizes available there should be a Cohutta for everyone – big or small (above geometry chart based on sagged bike w/ 100mm fork).

Headtube Size: 1.5” internally butted (49.6mm internal diameter)
Seatpost Size: 31.6mm
Seatclamp Size: 34.9mm
Dropout: standard 9mm QR (non-replaceable mech hanger)
Front Derailleur Clamp: 34.9mm (top routed)
BB Size: Pressfit 30 (PF30) 73mm x 46mm internal diameter
Suitable Fork Size: 80mm / 100mm / 120mm

Frame Weights:
S – 2018 gr / 4.4 lbs
M – 2088 / 4.6lbs
L – 2160 / 4.7lbs
XL – 2182 / 4.8lbs

We’ll be building up a demo bike as soon as we’ve rounded up all the parts so keep your eyes peeled for reviews from the usual suspects over the coming months! To view/buy the Cohutta on the Evans website please click here.

For more images and details please visit the Litespeed website here.

The Cohutta is Under Review...

Interbike 2011: 29ers Worth Riding

Written by Brian O'Connor on 21 September 2011

With so many manufacturers offering 29er hardtail mountain bikes, it can be difficult to pick one that is right for you. Just as demo days that many companies host around the country for the public, the Interbike OutDoor Demo, that occurs each year before the Interbike tradeshow, allows individuals involved in the bike industry to test the newest and latest rides on the market. Not all manufactures are present, but most of the major players are there alongside the little guys offering a fleet of bikes to ride on the trails of Bootleg Canyon outside of Boulder City, Nevada. Having had a chance to test numerous bikes, 29er hardtails were this writer’s choice to put trough the loops of loose, dry and rocky trails of Bootleg Canyon. Before you lay down your hard earned cash on a hardtail 29er, give any of these bikes a spin.

Favorite Aluminum 29er HT: BMC Team Elite 29 XO (TE29)
Why: This bike rolled smooth and fast through the trails, yet the aluminum frame did not provide a harsh ride that is commonly found on other bikes made of the same material. The geometry, along with the relatively light weight of the bike, produced a ride that seem to glide over the small jumps through the rocks with ease. This quick geometry did not produce a bike that was unstable on the descents – not once on any of the short, steep drops did the TE29 feel unstable.

Product highlights: Triple butted frame with tapered head tube, some Sram XO parts and Fox F29 fork
MSRP: approx. $3600

Favorite Carbon Fiber 29er HT: Felt Nine Series (carbon)
Why: Just as the BMC had their geometry dialed, so does Felt with their carbon fiber 29er frames. Most modern carbon fiber frames look similar with the smooth lines and light weight, but just as the old saying goes with regards to a book and its cover, the same can be said with regards to carbon fiber. Having ridden a few other carbon fiber bikes earlier in the day and not being impressed, the same was to be expected from the Felt Nine, but that was not the case. After the first few turns in the trail, it was obvious that this bike was different. The bike felt lively and very accurate in the turns, but was not too flexible, just soft enough to absorb some of the bumps on the trail. Just as was true with the BMC, the geometry of the Felt was not so steep and quick to make it feel unstable on the short, steep descents.

Product highlights: Carbon fiber, lightness teamed with quick geometry
MSRP: $2399 (frame); $2799-$5999 (complete)

Favorite Titanium 29er HT: Litespeed Cohutta
Why: Litespeed has designed the 2012 Cohutta around a 29er specific tube set which features a BB30 bottom bracket, 49mm head tube, oversized tubes and a curved down tube to clear the adjusting knobs on suspension forks. The frame has been designed to be more compact to help minimize the flex that can often occur with titanium. With some materials might translate to a harsher ride – this is not the case with the Cohutta. This bike is nimble through the turns, yet does not feel like a noodle when the pedals are hammered. The quick descents were not an issue with the geometry and the steep climbs were no match for the Cohutta as no noticeable power was lost from the pedals to the wheels. If the Cohutta did feel to quick or sluggish, the 49mm headtube allows the fork angle to be adjusted to customize to ride to your liking.

Product highlights: BB30 and angle adjustable 49mm headtube
MSRP: tbd, but is being sold as ‘frame only’

Best of the Bunch: The 2012 Litespeed Cohutta
Why: Of all of the hardtail 29ers that I have thrown a leg over, which includes a list much longer that this, the Litespeed got it right with the 2012 Cohutta. The tube set being 29er specific is truly dialed and make a frame that is a treat to ride – I was a bit sad to have to turn the bike back over to Litespeed.

Cycling Weekly Features the 2011 Archon C1R

The UK's Cycling Weekly featured the 2011 Litespeed Archon C1R in their May 19th issue. As the flagship model in Litespeed's Archon C-series, Cycling News praised the C1R for its improvements over the 2010 Archon C1 and its real world aerodynamic workings which are wind tunnel-proven.


Not the first time the Archon C1R has turned heads at Cycling Weekly, click here to see more photos.

UK cyclists should head to Evans Cycles to see the 2011 Archon C1R for themselves. In the US and everywhere else, find your local Litespeed dealer here.

Litespeed-BMW Readies for 2011 Speed Week

Hold your breath...2011 Speed Week is here. Part of the USA Crits Series, Speed Week starts on Saturday with Athens Twilight and continues with seven days of big-time racing in the Southeast. Litespeed-BMW Cycling team is ready and will have a big presence in both Athens Twilight and Sunday's Roswell Criterium.

The Terrapin Twilight criterium, better known as Athens Twilight, kicks off Speed Week. While this festive weekend is known for its music, food, and fun, there will be plenty of action on the crit course. Another nightime crit like Sunny King, look for Litespeed-BMW member Oneil Samuels to rip in the premier Pro,1 race.

The race action stays hot as the riders head to Historic Roswell for a day of crit racing. Litespeed-BMW will be lining up in several of the races including the Category 2/3 and the premier Pro/1.

Good luck, Team!

For an idea of the breath-taking speeds and technical nature of Saturday's course in Athens, check out this video from last year's race.

Litespeed-BMW Cycling Team-Roster and 2011 Schedule Update

The Litespeed-BMW Cycling Team is ready for a strong showing in 2011. With racing already underway and addition of 6-time Jamaican national champion Oneil Samuels, look for the team to top a podium near you.

Please enjoy the excerpt from the Team's blog:

We have a bit of exciting news to share with all. We have come in to the 2011 racing year with one of our best rosters to date, and it just got even better! The hugely talented rider, Oneil Samuels from Port Antonio, Jamaica, may be a name you’ve seen on the top of many leaderboard in recent years, as he’s won just about everything that can be won in the area. After several years of racing around the Southeast, Oneil and the LITESPEED-BMW team saw the obvious fit and have now come together.

Oneil is the current (and six time) Jamaican National Champion, a member of the Jamaican National Team, and has participated in world renowned events such as the Track World Cup, the Commonwealth Games, the Pan-American Championships, and the Central American and Caribbean Games. Oneil won a gold medal in the Central American and Caribbean Games in Colombia in 2006, and his national titles come in the disciplines of the road race, time trial, criterium, and track. He also has many wins on US soil to his credit. We look forward to a great season with Oneil on board. Welcome aboard!

Additionally, we have posted the 2011 team schedule. Please note that this is a tentative schedule, and dates may be added or deleted as the season progresses.

Thanks, Guys. Good luck at the races!

Glory Cycles Applauds the Litespeed Archon C3

Glory Cycles in Greenville, SC is not a Litespeed dealer (yet...). Glory Cycles is not a magazine in which Litespeed pays to advertise. So, after Glory Cycles' owner Clive de Sousa spent five weeks putting the Litespeed Archon C3 through its paces, the result is a true, unbiased look at the bike.

For Glory Cycles' full review of the C3, blog readers will have to go to: http://glorycycles.blogspot.com/2010/06/litespeed-archon-c3-carbon-review-by.html

For a "teaser", read the excerpt from the review below:

Litespeed Archon C Review
Litespeed Archon C3 Carbon Review by Clive de Sousa.

...The Archon C3 is visibly aero but exactly what that translates to in speed cannot be measured on a test ride. I can say it's faster than a traditional bike. Riding the Archon C in a few races I was aware how the bike held a straight line in the gutter and felt fast. Similar to the way good deep carbon wheels feel. The Archon C has a shrouded water bottle design, bow legged fork that "cleans" air turbulence from the front wheel, an aero seat mast and the rear wheel tucked behind the down tube. The aero advantage the Archon C offers is greater than the sum of it's parts and noticeable to the rider...

...If Litespeed's focus was designing an better carbon frame they achieved it. 5 weeks of riding the C3 and I am very impressed with its overall ride quality and blown away by it's speed...

Thanks, Glory Cycles, for reviewing the Archon C3.

Knoxville! Atlanta! The Litespeed Carbon Road Show is Coming Town this Week!

The Litespeed Carbon Road Show will arrive at West Bikes in Knoxville, TN on Wednesday, June 23 and Thursday, June 24. Demo Archon C3 bicycles will be available for test ride from 11-7 pm both days. Contact Fares for more information or check out the shop's informative website at
http://www.westbicycles.com/

At the end of the week, the Litespeed Carbon Road Show will be in Atlanta visiting All3Sports. On Saturday, June 26 from 12-4 pm the C3 fleet will be available for test ride. Contact Alex at All3sports for more information or visit the All3sports website at www.all3sports.com.
Don't forget your pedals!

Litespeed Carbon Road Show Coming to a City Near You!

What is the Litespeed Carbon Road Show?
Litespeed Carbon Road Show is a test ride program where consumers can test ride the new Litespeed aero carbon road bikes at no cost. The Litespeed truck will arrive to town with a fleet of Litespeed carbon bikes-Archon C3-that are ready to ride. In partnership with the Litespeed Dealer-Sponsor for the area, riders will be set up on the Litespeed of their dreams. Litespeed representative Cory Blanton will be on hand.

How do I participate in the Litespeed Carbon Road Show?
Contact the Litespeed Dealer-Sponsor for your area of interest. It is important to contact the Dealer-Sponsor so they can prepare for your test ride. However, please know that bikes are available on a first-come, first-serve basis.

What should I bring for the Litespeed Road Show?
-Photo ID
-Helmet, shoes, and pedals-we will have a limited number of these items at the demo, so please bring your own.

Where will the Litespeed Carbon Road Show be this summer?
St. Louis June 15-17 (Dealer-Sponsor is Bike Surgeon)

Knoxville June 23-24 (Dealer-Sponsor is West Bicycles)

Atlanta June 25-26 (Dealer-Sponsor is All3Sports)

Washington DC July 1-3 (Dealer-Sponsor is Bonzai Sports)

Boston July 9-10 (Dealer-Sponsor is Quad Cycles)

New York City July 15-17 (Dealer-Sponsor is R&A Cycles)

Rochester July 19-20 (Dealer-Sponsor is Park Avenue)

Lancaster, NY July 22 (Dealer-Sponsor is Tom's Pro Bike)

Madison, WI July 24-25 (Dealer-Sponsor is Machinery Row)

Minneapolis July 26-28 (Dealer-Sponsor is NOW Bikes)

Indianapolis July 30-31 (Dealer-Sponsor is T3 Multisport)

Tell me more about Litespeed Carbon road bikes:
Composed of one frameset and two complete bikes, the Litespeed Carbon Archon C-series has an aero design that took two years to develop. Test riding of competitors' bikes by our cyclists of all skills levels in a variety of terrains gave great information about what ride characteristics we wanted to develop in the C-series. Several cycling magazines including Bicycling, ROAD, Road Bike Action, Outside and others have reviewed the bikes and praise their fast, aero feel on the road.

Litespeed Archon C3 Featured in Outside Magazine's 2010 Cycling Issue

Outside Magazine features the 2010 Litespeed Archon C3 online in its 2010 Cycling Issue. Named one of the Best New Road Bikes for 2010, the Archon C3 is one of 20 road bikes tested in Tuscon, AZ by Outside reviewers.

http://outsideonline.com/gear/the-cycling-issue-index-sp.html

Litespeed Launches Carbon C-Series

EuroBike 2010 saw the introduction of Litespeed's highly anticipated line of carbon bikes. Litespeed is headed to InterBike 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Reaction to the Archon C-Series -- from both cyclists and dealers -- has been swift and really encouraging!

Click here to visit the site.