Litespeed

L1R

Being at the forefront of the titanium frame revolution would be a benchmark in any company's history, but Litespeed has never been complacent when it comes to innovation. The L1R Frameset marks a new era in Litespeed design, featuring 60-ton carbon fiber, unparalleled aerodynamics, and rigidity unmatched in the carbon aero frame market. The L1R is the flagship of the new Litespeed L-Series, and it's completely UCI legal for hassle-free racing.

The Litespeed L1R is unlike any other carbon frame. Four years in the making, Litespeed utilized its proprietary Continuous Cross-Sectional Morphology technology to create the unique asymmetric and shape-specific design of the L1R. Using a Quadrilateral System, the frame design is meant to manage torsional-frontal and lateral loads. In layman's terms, this means that Litespeed examined the four sections of the frame to manage the stress caused by twisting your weight around. The rigidity resulting from this examination is achieved through Litespeed's own 60-ton aero carbon fork, with a UCI legal 1.125 x 1.5in tapered steerer tube, and oversized aero head tube. Meanwhile, an asymmetric design of the down tube/seat tube junction has been incorporated to promote a direct conduit for energy transfer, resulting in the ultimate in drivetrain efficiency.

The radical ideas for the new L series forced Litespeed to re-think the technology in its manufacturing process in order to execute the design principles. To achieve the unique L1R shape, Litespeed developed Reactive Pressure Molding, RPM, to create advanced molding techniques that allow increasingly rigid aerodynamic shapes while reducing material weight. Typically, manufacturers use a process called bladder molding to form their carbon shapes. This regimen requires extra filler material and permanent components; all contribute to useless weight in the frame in order to decrease drag. RPM allows precise control of inner wall thickness by using a polyurethane sleeve, and thus makes unique shapes, like the L1R's full-carbon head tube, achievable. Litespeed also made great strides in making the L1R extremely aerodynamic outside of RPM. The proprietary carbon fork has been bladed and bowed to allow a clean airflow over the front wheel. Also new is the advent of the BB386 bottom bracket design. Developed in coordination with FSA, BH, and Wilier, BB386 is a wide-bearing BB30 alteration that increases rigidity while decreasing bearing friction.

The Litespeed L1R Frameset is available in sizes Small through X-Large in the color Black/Red. The L1R is compatible with any 31.6mm seat post, and requires a braze-on front derailleur