When looking at carbon fiber road bikes it can get confusing. Different types of carbon fiber and different shaped frames lead to bikes that look similar on paper but handle very differently on the road. This is the hard part with carbon.
When you look at metal bikes, each type of metal has specific characteristics that hold true for bikes made from that material. Steel is an elastic material that trades stiffness for comfort and durability. Aluminum is stiffer, but offers a harder ride and isn’t as durable. And historically, Litespeed has been known for titanium, which is the most durable material and falls between steel and aluminum when it comes to driving. When they made the move to carbon bikes, Litespeed covered their bases with a stiff aero frame on the “C” series and a more comfortable all-rounder on the bike I’m reviewing, the M1.
Available from Litespeed with SRAM APEX, the revised model differed in that it was built with a Shimano 105 groupset. As usual, the 105 drivetrain worked flawlessly. If you have a bike equipped with Shimano 105 and above or SRAM Rival and above, you can expect big shifts as long as it’s set up right.
The core of this review is around the ride quality and performance of the frameset. The M1 is Litespeed’s entry-level carbon bike, but it doesn’t ride like an entry-level bike. The frame is stiff at the bottom bracket, which is no surprise when you look at the construction. The junction between the down tube and the marine tube is robust, with a large diameter down tube that increases torsional stiffness. The top tube is shaped like an hourglass, wider at the head tube and narrower in the middle. When unloading in a full sprint, it feels like all the power is going to the rear wheel with no noticeable brake rub or front flex. Oversized chainstays resist flexing under load, while slim chainstays add a lot to ride comfort.
On hill climbs, the bike responds well to both constant power and accelerations. Under a better climber than I would be a rocket. It’s a better climber than the Time Edge Racer I rode last year. It is a more solid feeling bike. The Time was nimble like an old-school steel bike, while the Litespeed M1 is more like an aluminum hardtail that doesn’t hit you.
The fit of the M1 allows for a comfortable position as the head tube is slightly longer than many road bikes. A medium has a 160mm steerer tube which allows me to level the bar with the saddle without the stem tilting up. Unlike many relaxed fit bikes, the performance is on par with any race bike you’ve ever ridden. While the fit is good for an aging athlete like me, it’s not a super smooth ride. Comfort over rough roads is good for a race bike, but if you’re looking for a super smooth century and charity bike I’d suggest the Rocky Mountain Prestige as its longer wheelbase will produce less bump on long rides with a like setting.
Describing the ride of a bicycle is a lot like telling someone what something tastes like. While you can get lab measurements of how stiff a bike is, it doesn’t tell you what it’s like on the road. The M1 is a great all-round road machine that balances stiffness, weight and ride quality, along with having a slightly more relaxed handlebar position. For the build quality and details that go into this frame, the price with SRAM APEX is very good value for money ($2399 CAD). As usual with a bike at this price point, you’ll benefit in the speed department from upgrading your wheels and tires, but this isn’t necessary to enjoy the ride.