Litespeed Tuscany Triple

Price Paid:  $3700.00 at Bikesport

Bike Setup:
55 cm Tuscany frame
Reynolds Ouzo Pro carbon fork
Cane Creek integrated headset
Ultegra gruppo
S

Summary:
Great bike! Background - coming from a fast but VERY stiff aluminum bike, I was looking for fast but more comfortable. The choice came down to carbon fibre or titanium because of their damping qualities, and I chose Ti because it's supposed to last longer than carbon (yes, yes - I know lots of folks have had their carbon bike for 50 years...I'm relaying what I learned during research). Other than the wallet hit, I couldn't be happier; the bike still gives great road feel, but the harshness is gone from the ride. You still feel all of the bumps, but the shock is gone. And, this thing goes like a rocket! Acceleration is blindingly quick (possibly partly due to the wheels), and climbing is great too. Finally, it's cliche to say "it corners like it's on rails" - but what can I tell you. Throw the bike into a corner and it stays on an absolutely precise line.

Strengths:
Weight. Acceleration. Comfort. Overall speed. Looks (if you're into bare metal).

Weaknesses:
Not cheap. Note that my purchase price includes everything spec'ed though, not just the straight bike.

Similar Products Used:
Aluminum road bike with huge pipes.

Price Paid:  $3745.00 at Foothills Ski and Bi

Favorite Ride:
Morgul-Bismarck at lunch

Bike Setup:
See the review...

Summary:
Incredible bike. You can actually spec this bike out a bunch of different ways. I built mine with all Shimano Ultegra, which is a Gruppo that improves with time, IMHO. With the new Ultegra, lots of sealed, low-maintenance bearings, beautiful machining and finishing, and a better crank bolt system.

Upgrades (which I highly recommend) were Cane Creek Aerohead wheels and a Reynolds Ouzo Pro carbon fork. The wheelset is similar in construction to Ultegra parts...sealed, low-maintenance bearings, top notch workmanship and finish. The straight spoke system is really trick. The spoke nipples are in the hub, the spokes themselves are straight. Result: stronger, truer, lighter wheels. Overall, a very light in the rim, quick accelerating, track-like-a-laser beam wheel with my fave Michelin Hilite Comps.

And the ride? The Reynolds fork does it's thing, but it's mostly the frame. Campers, I'm here to tell you I was skeptical, but titanium is not a myth. I bought titanium largely because it's the miracle metal that only gets better with age, but I had my doubts about the "Titanium tingle" ride qualities. I'd call it more of a quiet hum. You can feel every bit of the road without having it sucker punch you into submission. It's a vertically compliant ride, all right, but the thing goes forward like an F-15...the bottom bracket area is especially beefy, and the Geometrically
Enhanced Tubing also has a part in the efficiency of this frame.

Understand that it takes a well-designed and put together bike to make titanium happen, and Litespeed's product shows that in spades. Litespeed is notorious for being finicky with manufacturing (they make their own argon gas for welding) and machining tolerances to the thousands, and it shows everywhere.

A side note: I ordered a double and got a triple, and I couldn't be happier. Most of the time, I'm on the middle/big ring, which in combination with a 9 speed hub in the back makes that gearing feel like a standard double, and more. It's really nice, though, to have that little dinky ring when I get to the Wall on the Morgul-Bismarck course...

Go hock your Porsche and buy one...you won't regret it.

Strengths:
All of the above...but especially the ride.

Weaknesses:
Price...but I've always wanted a Ferrari, and now I have one.

Similar Products Used:
Came from Trek 2300 Carbon Fiber and Trek 1000 Aluminum before that. Those level Treks are Porsches, the Tuscany is a Ferrari. Thought about titanium by LeMond,
Serotta, Merlin. I get my Atomic skis

Price Paid:  $2499.00 at Bike Line of Lancast

Favorite Ride:
The area north of Bird-in-Hand, PA

Bike Setup:
Shimano Ultegra Triple group
52-39-30 chainrings
12 x 27 cassette
Shimano M 747 SPD pedals
Thoms

Summary:
I accepted delivery of my new ride this past week and could not be happier. My LBS was able to match a sweet deal I found at an out of state shop thus making it easy and economical to support them. The guys at Bike Line did a good job of fitting me and providing a few "swap out" parts such as the 39 tooth middle ring replacing the "issue" 42. I ordered the low gearing for versatility and for the sake of my knees.
This is a beautifully built bicycle. The frame is stiff and supple at the same time. I'm a Clydesdale (225 give or take 20 lbs!) and the Tuscany feels solid under my rotundity with just a hint of flex. This flex is much different from others I've felt. "Springy" would be the best word to describe it. The bike soaks up road shock very well.
This particular Litespeed came with a few things I had not expected when I ordered it-all of them good:
1) The fork is the new Lite Tec carbon fiber with the titanium mesh overweave and carbon fiber steerer tube.
2) Litespeed has redesigned their head badge for a simpler, more elegant look. Call me a weenie, but I thought the old design was a bit "busy".
3) A nice carbon fiber top cap was include with the fork/stem/headset combination.
I would recommend this bike to anyone looking for a durable, "jack of all trades-master of none" road bike.

Strengths:
Versatility, durability, quality of construction and Litespeed's warranty

Weaknesses:
You've read it before and I'll write it again: the decals! Litespeed actually prints directions in the Owner's Manual for removing them when they get scratched.

Similar Products Used:
The Tuscany will replace a Raleigh R 500 aluminum road bike. An oldie but a goodie!
I looked at a Lemond Zurich, Raleigh Professional, Eddy Merckx MX Leader, Trek 5200 and Litespeed Arenberg during m