Building on a legacy of titanium development, Litespeed has released the Coll dels Reis, which it is calling ‘the world’s lightest titanium road bike’.
“We’ve invested heavily in equipment, materials, and software, and focus continually on exploring the potential of new design and manufacturing techniques to open doors to entirely new ways to solve design and production challenges,” said Chris Pascarella, President of Litespeed.
“That said, we give our team complete autonomy to achieve our product design goals using all means available. In developing the Coll dels Reis, we set out to build the lightest and most performant titanium climbing bike possible. It represents the pinnacle of what the material is capable of today.”
The Coll dels Reis is built from custom-formed 3AL/2.5V titanium tubing and is optimized for climbing. It is claimed to be the world’s lightest production titanium road frame. The bike’s customization will influence final frame weight, which ranges from 948g to 1,049g in size medium.
Clearance for 35mm tyres, disc brake mounts, and fully internal cable routing are standard. Options include a BSA or T47i threaded bottom bracket, a UDH or proprietary lightweight dropout, and a graphical or machined titanium headbadge. The frame is available in three new anodized colours, with custom finishes as an additional option.
“The Coll dels Reis really became a passion project for us,” said Litespeed’s Brad DeVaney. “We are constantly testing every titanium manufacturing method, even 3D printing.
Interestingly, we found new technology and techniques didn’t always guarantee strength-to-weight improvements. With no room to compromise on weight, we carefully evaluated every piece of this bike for strength and function, and chose proprietary methods that we’ve developed over years to produce the lightest weights and most reliable results.
“There’s great satisfaction in working closely with accomplished riders, and our greatest opportunity is the ability to recognize and support their strengths and weaknesses. Frames might look similar, but can be tuned to a rider’s particular weight, power, and pedaling style.
“Understanding and dissecting the traits of elite climbers was step one to formulating the perfect recipe for a frame that could cater to these qualities.”
www.litespeed.com/coll-dels-reis
