This Team Wanty replica Litening C:68 SL is so fast on the climbs it'll make your eyes water, even if you're wearing shades. No, really. This ultralight and super stiff race machine will appeal to enthusiasts and died-in-the-wool racers alike. The frame comes perilously close to breaking the magic 850 gram barrier, while our choice of the finest components - including the entire Dura Ace Di2 groupset and Fulcrum wheelset - means there's practically no room for future upgrades.
If you want to be the best, there's no room for compromise. With the Litening C:68 SL frame we didn't just set out to achieve exceptionally low weight - thanks to the latest C:68 carbon technology, optimised frame tube shapes and our C:68 Monocoque Advanced Twin Mould production process. We also wanted to improve stiffness and comfort. The stretched geometry creates an incredibly efficient riding position for rapid forward progress, but keeps the handling agile. And our new Litening C:68 fork combines the best possible comfort with incredible steering precision and very low weight.
Only the very best is good enough for the Litening C:68 SL. That's why we chose Shimano's fully integrated electronic Dura Ace group with 2x11 transmission driven through a 52x36T chainset. Fulcrum's aerodynamic Racing 44 Aero wheelset unleash the bike's speed potential, while rider contact points from the FSA SL-K cockpit and Selle Italia Flite saddle mounted on a carbon post combine superb ergonomics and excellent comfort, even on the longest race stages.
This technique uses a complete core to provide the perfect frame form during the lay-up process. As with the Twin Mould technology, precise inserts are used to ensure extra strength at high-stress frame points. This combination offers maximum control over fibre orientations during the lay-up and production process. The Advanced Twin Mould high-tech carbon manufacturing process translates to outstanding product safety and quality together with optimum weight and stiffness characteristics.
CUBEs highly innovative new C:68 carbon fibre technology allows us to build better bikes than ever. Typically,
carbon fibre frames are around 60% carbon fibre, with the rest being the resin that bonds the fibres together. By distributing carbon fibres evenly, we can make thinner layers within the frame and reduce the amount of resin. Those fibres are a mixture of Ultra High Modulus, High Modulus Spread Tow and Intermediate Modulus carbon, each chosen for the needs of the particular area of the frame. Nanoparticles within the resin itself allows it to be distributed more evenly when under pressure in the frame mould. The result is a range of frames with 68% carbon fibre lower weight, higher stiffness, more fun.
To protect our high-end aluminium frames from damage, they are built with the CUBE Frame Save System replaceable derailleur hanger. The mounting thread is in the hanger and not in the frame as usual. In case of a crash, this hanger can be easily and quickly replaced by a new one.
Internally routed cables offer many advantages. Cables are protected from dirt for longer life, weight is saved thanks to the absence of external housing and the bike has a clean, sleek appearance.
With Press Fit bearings, the bottom bracket bearings are pressed directly into the frame and not screwed in as usual. This gives a wider bottom bracket shell and allows us to build a wider down tube and more broadly-spaced chainstays. Every millimetre of additional width gives a significant improvement in lateral stiffness.
This steerer tube design is stiffer than a conventional straight steerer and yields a more secure ride feel even in difficult terrain. Minimal flex at the front of the frame means the greatest possible steering precision. With the larger steerer, the forks become more rigid. At the same time weight is saved due to the absence of bearing shells as the lower bearing is fully integrated into the head tube. On all of our CUBE carbon models the upper bearing shells are also directly in the frame, so that once more a few grams are saved and the energy transfer is very direct.
On polished, brushed aluminium and all HPC frames, the logos and graphics are applied in multi-layer wet paint. We use this surface treatment technology mainly to save weight.
Trough the full Di2 Integration the Dura Ace Di2 battery is completely fitted within the frame. The Shimano junction box is placed aerodynamically in the stem which makes charging and servicing a lot easier as it can be done via the junction in the stem. Another distinct feature is that it can be easily dismounted and mounted for transporting the bike.
