Description: Not just named for the cutting edge of speed, but on it. The most aerodynamic production time-trial bike in the world, the Blade has it all-National titles, World titles, Olympic appearances, Iron-man victories and yellow jerseys from Tour de France stage victories.
New, taller head tube design compensates for the shorter stack heights of current threadless headsets and enhances the stiffness of front-fork assemblies that use carbon-fiber steerers
6Al-4V and 3Al-2.5V titanium-alloy tube set blend delivers a super-light, super-strong ride
Sleek, bladed 6Al-4V titanium-alloy down tube and top tube afford an incomparably stiff and aerodynamic ride
Cold-worked, teardrop-shaped, 3Al-2.5V titanium-alloy seat tube presents even more aerodynamic detailing
Massive, 3-inch, bladed 6Al-4V top tube reinforces the light, strong, aerodynamic character of the bike
New internal cable routing reduces drag which enhances aerodynamic performance
1 1/8" oversized steerer design for greater front-end rigidity
55cm and smaller bikes are 650c compatible
57cm and larger sizes are 700c compatible
Fast forward rider position provides faster, more aerodynamic ride
I purchased this bike used over the internet. It was custom built for a pro-racer. It came with a hed disk rear wheel, Zipp carbon cranks, oversized chainrings, Mavic Mektronic shifting system (sucked!) and 3TTT aerobars. I have trained on the bike and raced mostly short distance triathlons. I have done one Ironman distance race on the bike (IronmanUSA). I have found it to be a very comfortable ride. A little on the heavy side for the Adirondack mountains in New York, but fine for the flatlands of east Texas. I would recommend it to anyone interested in a titanium bike. The top tube run a bit long compared to other bikes of the same frame size.
Litespeed makes great road frames, and their work with titanium is the best in the World. However, their top of the line aero frame is not what they advertise. The aero frames used to win World class races were not like this frame. Those were one of a kind, super custom frames that were done as best they could with titanium material. Titanium material is hard to produce in a good aero shape. To produce the aero shape in titanium you must press a round tube into an aero shape. This does not form a good aero shape when compared to an aluminum extrusion. In an extrusion the shape is formed by pushing the material through a die. This is the cheapest way to make pefect aero tubes, such as seen on Cervelo frames, and Vision Tech Aerobars. The other way is to use Carbon Fiber. A good design and mold, can yeild as good or better aero shapes then even aluminum, such as the new Trek TT frame. Carbon Fiber and Aluminum then are the best way to produce the excellent aero shapes. Therefore the Litespeed areo tube shapes are not as good as they could be due to the type of material and the way it must be formed. Furthermore, a good frame design would use not only good aero shape tubes, but as thin aero shape tubes as possible, while still making the
frame strong, stiff, and light. The thinner the
material, and the better the aero shape, the
less drag you have. To go to 1 1/8th then in an aero frame makes no sense. The 1 1/8th fork was designed to make cheap superlight road frames with a carbon fork and aluminum steering tube. While a 1" carbon steering tube is plenty strong, a 1" aluminum is not. Manufacturers that specialize mostly in road frames and Mt. bike frames stock mostly 1 1/8th size forks, so it's more economical to produce triathlon and TT aero frames, using the inventory, tooling, and materials they have on hand. The design of the frame is also not as good as they say. The top tube does not need to be so large around. This tube is only facing into the wind. A tube should be only as big here as it needs to be to add stiffness, strength, and stability to the frame.
The seatube is terrible. The bike is not set up for an aero seatpost. Why have 8" of round material here? The rear wheel does not blend into the seatube enough, and the width of the tube is too wide for the width of the tire and rim of the rear wheel. The stays are not aero shaped at all. At least it has internal cable routing.The 700C wheels roll over rough roads well, but the forward seat tube angle does not guarantee speed. This is only a matter of personal riding style. For the best Road frames in Titanium, choose litespeed. For the best aero frames, look elsewhere.
