1) Did you see the add in Bicycling that was an obitualry for Lightspeed carbon? Clever, but why the drama, and why the discontinuation? 2) Is (was) the LS carbo frame the same as that offered by Pedal Force? 3) Why aren't there more WOMEN in that darn mag? Is it just a paean to testosterone? Not that I want to gawk - oh hell, that's exactly what I want.😄
BTW, some very fast, very svelt woman passed me the other day. Unlike many, I don't consider it a threat to my masculinity. I was prepared to pursue, but my riding partner couldn't keep up. Drats!
LS should stick with Ti. It is what they are known for. My guess is that they weren't selling to many of those carbon bikes. I bet that you will see the Merlin carbon going to a similar fate (afterall it is the same company as Litespeed).
A small but annoying vocal minority of people on another bicycling forum put up a huge stink about it. Essentially, it was a small group of carbon bike owners who felt like they'd just been insulted. Essentially, as if someone had told them their mom was a [censored], the Pope is a Nazi, etc. It was ridiculous. Go-figure, a Litespeed employee (don't know his rank in the company) also frequents the boards and the reports of the "mayhem" the ad caused undoubtedly got back to the company. At least, that's my take on it.
Me? I thought the ad was funny! I own a Litespeed Capella (aluminum frame) and a Specialized Tarmac (carbon frame) and didn't take any offense whatsoever. I plan on building up a fixie some time this year and would love to find a 55-56cm old frame or something similar. I'd then paint it black and stick the Carbonello stickers from the Litespeed ad on it just for kicks.
I've riden pretty much every material out there except a Calfee bamboo (still can't fathom that one). Carbon is nice, but overpriced for the benefit. Litespeed is known for Ti, so that's what they stick with. Notice they are also phasing out the rear carbon stays? Good riding buddy used to be a project manager for Litespeed. I'll have to pick his brain on this topic tomorrow. He did mention that the move to a non-integrated headset a couple of years ago had nothing to do with the headset, but rather the brittleness of TI in the headtube region.
