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.

Litespeed Carbon Road Show Visits Tribe in Scottsdale

Tribe Multisport welcomes the Litespeed Carbon Road Show on Saturday, October 30 for a fun and informative day of Litespeed test rides and Q&A sessions.

Litespeed's head designer Brad DeVaney will be on hand during the event.

Saturday's event starts at 10 a.m. with an Information Session with Brad. Learn what Litespeed Aerologic is and how the new Litespeed C-series came about.

Q&A at 10:30 a.m. with Brad.

Test rides start at 11 a.m. You will need to contact Tribe to reserve your bike. There will be Archon C3 bikes of all sizes available. Don't forget your helmet and pedals!

Thanks to Tribe for hosting the Litespeed Carbon Road Show.

The Litespeed Carbon Road Show Visits Bikefest at California Bike-September 25

Attention San Diego! The Litespeed Carbon Road Show is heading to sunny Southern California on Saturday, September 25. The Road Show will coincide with California Bike's annual Bikefest. In addition to riding an Archon C3 test bike, you can enjoy food & drink, participate in a group ride, and try to win a new Archon C3 in the raffle, wow! For more information, visit the California Bike website at www.calbike.com

C3 Rider Aims for 24 Hour and 1000 Km Records

The weekend of July 31- August 1, Seattle resident Chris Ragsdale will attempt to break the world road cycling records for 24 hours and 1000 km on a 2010 Litespeed Archon C3 in partnership with Sammamish Valley Cycles. The attempt will be sanctioned by the Ultramarathon Cycling Association and will be on a 10.8-mile clockwise circuit on rural roads near La Conner, WA, about 90 miles north of Seattle.

The current 24-hour record of 540.313 miles (an average speed of 22.51 mph) is held by Italian Orlando Borini, which he set on 23 June 2007. There is currently no 1000km record for road cycling, but Chris aims to better the two other existing 1000km records and set the record for an overall fastest 1000 km. Rod Evans holds the indoor track 1000km record at 29:12, and Bryce Walsh holds the outdoor track record at 33:01.

Chris’ equipment quiver will include a Litespeed C3, Syntace clip-on areo bars, and a Giro aero helmet. Wheels will include a Zipp disc, Zipp 1080, and 404's.

Since 2007, Chris has amassed a strong ultra race resume that has led him to believe he is mentally and physically ready to break these records. His accomplishments and goals are particularly remarkable because in the summer of 2004, he experienced a life-threatening accident on a bike ride.

Despite his serious condition, Chris was motivated to regain his health and spent July of that year spinning on a trainer wearing a halo as he watched the Tour de France.

Wow! Good luck, Chris! To follow the efforts of Chris next weekend, be sure to check his website at www.ragsdaleridesagain.com

Litespeed Carbon on the Pacific Coast Highway

The photo is taken along California's stretch of the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH), just outside of Solana Beach. On any sunny Saturday in Southern California, over 1000 bikes per hour will pass a given point along a scenic stretch of road just like this. This stretch of the PCH is just one of the many beautiful miles of road which extends from Alaska to Chile.

Pictured are the 2010 Litespeed Archon C1 and Archon C2, courtesy of California Bicycles in La Jolla. California Bicycles is currently the top seller of Litespeed Carbon in the U.S. and are knowledgeable about the Aerologic features of Litespeeds aero road bikes. So, head over to California Bicycles to check out their Litespeed Carbon bicycles. Expect excellent service and advice about "all things bike" in a beautiful store.

Thanks to Kevin and Jason for supplying the bikes - only the best when in So. Cal! For more information about California Bicycles, please see their website at www.calbike.com

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.