2012 CX - Litespeed

2012 CX
• Tapered, cold worked 3AL-2.5V Ti tubing
• Post-mount disc compatible
• Cross-specific tube set and 44mm head tube
• PressFit 30 bottom bracket system
• Pro-grade, cross-specific race geometry
• Legendary Litespeed craftsmanship
Available as frame only
$2,500 .00 MSRP
Litespeed Tech Feed: 2012 CX
How do you become a cyclocross fanatic? Likely by accident. How do
you put an entirely new cyclocross bike underneath an industry filled
with wannabes but still starving for the real thing? Deliberately.
Just add Litespeed ingenuity and know-how to titanium durability.
The sport of cyclocross has come a long way from the days of bikes
cobbled together from the abandoned parts bin and the old touring
frames. The competition and courses are more demanding, the available
components more thoughtful and selection more robust. Expectations
are, indeed, higher and Litespeed does not disappoint with their 2012 CX
entry, the ultimate upgrade for the serious CX athlete.
To begin, Litespeed builds the CX with a cross-specific titanium tube
set for the absolute best in combined value, dependability, and prograde
performance rather than re-purposing tubes developed for
mountain bikes as might be found in bikes from other manufacturers.
The 44mm head tube and the larger diameter PressFit 30
bottom bracket provide a foundation of increased strength and
performance on the course with the flexibility to run your rig as a
single speed using an eccentric bottom bracket. And, no doubt
about it, the CX is designed with a geometry to race: this is no sport
utility bike or touring bike with additional wheelbase tacked on.
Still handcrafted in the USA by the best titanium craftsmen in the world, the
CX was designed and engineered with direct feedback by elite athletes
and survived a punishing maiden test drive on the 2012 Tour de Afrique
covering over 7,500 miles from Egypt to South Africa. Design features
include 135mm spacing to accommodate the array of cross-specific wheels
offered by Reynolds, Zipp, and SRAM and post-mount compatibility
alongside built-in legendary Litespeed quality and durability.
Rider Profile: Brent Evans
Two-time Ohio Master’s Elite Cyclocross
Champion Brent Evans of Cleveland proudly
recalls a time when he raced his Litespeed
bike professionally in a foreign place: “I went
to Europe in 1994 and I was riding a Litespeed
– American frame, American pedals, and
American rims on that bike. It was interesting
to be a member of a pro French team, riding
a fully decked out, true-blue American bike.”
Evans’ first off-road Litespeed was a
mountain bike, of course, but he would soon
need something much more specific when
he joined the cyclocross revolution; and this
racer was at the top of Litespeed’s list: “I
was the fifth person in the United States to
have a Litespeed racing cyclocross bike. It
is my favorite bike of all time. I’ve had some
elegant Italian bikes and all that, but I would
ride my 2007 CX Litespeed from California to
Maine and enjoy every mile.” (CONT )
© 2012 American Bicycle Group | All Rights Reserved

2013 CX
Ready to Upgrade? The CX Eagerly Awaits.
Litespeed built the CX with the future of cyclocross in mind so
if you’re finally ready to make the leap from a cantilever bike
to full disc set-up, this could be your big chance. Litespeed’s
engineering team took direct athlete feedback and trending
industry component choices into consideration when
designing and committing to the post-mount disc set-up. The
result? The perfect bike to build to your exact specifications to
achieve a ride like you’ll never find in any off-the-shelf offering.
And, durable? Litespeed wouldn’t have it any other way. The
CX stands ready to resist kicks, bangs, and cleat punches like
no other bike on the market and won’t wilt or scar at a power
wash blast every two laps.
Legendary Litespeed Titanium
Evans explains his love for the bike
that he’s been dragging through the
mud of cyclocross for over four years:
“Titanium is really good for cyclocross
because with the rugged surfaces, you
need a responsive bike that can function
without beating you up – you need
something that can dance the dance
with you.”
As a lifestyle, cycling itself has been
able to dance the dance with Evans. He
praises this sport, which has afforded
him a rich family life: “My Litespeeds
had to get written into my will. Cycling
is something that my kids and wife have
really been able to get into with me.”
Evans continues to travel the country
as the technical director for the helmet
safety program “Color Me Safe” and,
of course, as a racer. “I look for races
that the communities embrace like the
163 miles I’m doing in Ohio – the whole
community is enthusiastic and that’s what
gets me excited about a race.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Litespeed answers the hard and fast questions about the 2012 CX
Q. What’s so special about the CX’s geometry?
A. This is not a touring frame geometry recycled and marketed to the cyclocross
rider; it’s a dedicated race bike design with the agility necessary to maintain and
advance your position within the pack. The comfortable cockpit sits upon angles
and wheelbase that keep steering precise and a range of weight bias that keeps
the wheels planted while carving the slippery course. Good traction coupled with a
proper bottom bracket height also allows you to maximize pedal strokes. All of the
finer details within the geometry are designed to allow you to shave your lap times.
Q. Why are there is no option for cantilever bosses?
A. As the industry trends toward the more reliable option of disc brakes, we decided
to commit to disc mounts and 135 spacing for this bike. To put it bluntly, we didn’t
reverse engineer this bike for yesterday’s technology. It’s purpose built, ready to race.
Q. What are the advantages of a PF30 bottom bracket system on this bike?
A. PF30 is compatible with every crankset known to man. Rather than thinking backwards
compatibility, the advantages lie in looking at the progressive options we’ve
been able to provide. By using a 24mm spindle crankset (Shimano, SRAM, FSA) mated
with a 46mm eccentric bottom bracket, you have the ability to adjust bottom bracket
height by a full centimeter. Or with the same crank setup, you can ditch derailleurs,
shifters, the cogset, and a bit of extra chain for the simplicity of a single speed.
This defending champion will return
to the Ohio State Cyclocross
Championships in October and also
plans to compete at the U.S. National
Cyclocross Championships early next
year with the same mantra he’s claimed
since 1991: “I bleed Litespeed.”
© 2012 American Bicycle Group | All Rights Reserved