We combined the Axial GTC's renowned handling and long distance performance with road disc brakes to create the Axial WLS GTC Disc. Innovative brake technology, a state-of-the-art carbon frame and exclusive features combine to form an exciting, high performance race bike for women. The Axial GTC SL Disc is a racer for enthusiasts who just want to keep bettering their personal best.
The GTC's carbon frame, precision-manufactured using Twin Mould technology, has a perfect stiffness to weight ratio. Oversized main frame tubes featuring extra-large cross-sections at the head tube, the tapered head tube, PressFit bottom bracket shell and even the quick release axles at front and rear all provide excellent stiffness and very precise steering, while thin seat stays add comfort by aborbing vibrations. Thanks to the new Flat Post Mount standard we've been able to streamline the brake's appearance by integrating it discretely into the chainstay. Performance-orientated, stretched geometry is highly efficient, combining optimum power transmission with lively handling.
Shimano's 2x11 Ultegra groupset - with a wide-ranging 11-32 cassette and compact, 34x50 chainset - is both high performance and versatile. Add Fulcrum's Racing 77 DB wheelset for rapid acceleration, and this is the ideal bike for everything from storming an Alpine pass to duking it out in a local road race. It's official: the Axial WLS GTC has been approved by the UCI. Shimano's BR-R505 hydraulic disc brake system guarantees excellent braking performance regardless of the weather, while the CUBE CSL Race Carbon Disc fork combines superb comfort with a high level of steering precision. The CUBE cockpit, which includes the Wing Race Bar and Performance pro handlebar stem, has been specially designed to fit the female form - as has Selle Italia's X1 Lady saddle.
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.
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.
Our new WLS models come with different wheel sizes for different frame heights. The 14 and 16" frames have 27.5" wheels, the 17,19 and 21" frames are built as 29ers. Depending on body height, every woman gets the perfect riding character and geometry. The models of our Woman Like Series feature a compact frame geometry with shorter top tubes and longer head tubes, giving a riding position that is more upright than on the mens models. This riding position relieves the pelvis and offers more comfort. The top tubes of the WLS mountain bikes are lowered, making the bike more comfortable and safe to mount and dismount.
The Twin Mould technique uses re-usable cores during the lay-up process to ensure precision frame moulding. Special inserts guarantee optimum ply orientation during the production process to add extra strength at frame points subject to higher loads. This improves the safety of the product and delivers outstanding stiffness characteristics.
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.
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.
We optimized our new dropout design based on the Syntace X12 through-axle system, enlarging the area of the frame where the hanger is mounted. We can now fit the longer Direct Mount hangers. Shifting precision and stiffness is therefore improved. With the new design it's also possible to swap the whole contact area of the axle with the hanger should the system be worn out.
In designing the GTC carbon fiber frames, safety and comfort are the main factors. We use high modulus fibers for the parts which are stressed the most the head tube, the seat tube top and the bottom bracket area. That is why the frame still offers flex and comfort resulting from the flexible tubes. Our special production process with inner and outer molding forms ensure that the minimum of required material is used, reducing overall weight even with complex frame designs. All GTC frames have of course passed DIN -Plus testing.
