When looking at carbon fiber road bikes, it can get confusing. Different types of carbon fiber and differently shaped frames result in bikes that look similar on paper but ride very differently on the road. This is the tricky part of carbon.
When you look at metal bikes, each type of metal has specific characteristics that are valid for bikes made of that material. Steel is a stretchy material that trades stiffness for comfort and durability. Aluminum is stiffer but offers a harder ride and is not as durable. And historically, Litespeed has been known for titanium, which is the most durable material and is somewhere between steel and aluminum when it comes to handling. When they made the move to carbon bikes, Litespeed covered their foundations with a stiff aerodynamic frame on the “C” series and a more comfortable off-road on the bike I’m reviewing, the M1.
Available on Litespeed with SRAM APEX, the revised model differed in that it was built with a Shimano 105 groupset. As usual, the 105 drivetrain performed perfectly. If you have a bike equipped with Shimano 105 and above or SRAM Rival and above, you can expect big changes as long as it is set up properly.
The heart of this review lies in ride quality and frameset performance. The M1 is Litespeed’s entry-level carbon bike, but it doesn’t ride like an entry-level bike. The frame is stiff on the bottom bracket, which is no surprise when you notice the build. The down tube / seat tube joint is robust with a large diameter down tube that increases torsional stiffness. The top tube has an hourglass shape that is wider at the head tube and tapers in the middle. When I unload in a full sprint it feels like all the power is going to the rear wheel with no brake chafing or noticeable front end flex. The oversized chainstays resist flex under load, while the slim chainstays add a lot to ride comfort.
On hill climbs, the bike responds well to both constant power and acceleration. With a better climber than me I would be a rocket ship. It’s a better climber than the Time Edge Racer I rode last year. It is a bike with more solid sensations. The Time was speedy like an old school steel bike, while the Litespeed M1 is more like an aluminum hardtail bike that doesn’t hit you.
The fit of the M1 allows for a comfortable position as the head tube is slightly longer than many race-oriented bikes. A medium has a 160mm head tube that allows me to level my bar with my seat without the stem tilted up. Unlike many relaxed fit bikes, the performance is on par with any racing bike you’ve ever ridden. While the fit is good for an older athlete like me, it’s not a super smooth ride. Rough road comfort is good for a racing bike, but if you’re looking for a super smooth and beneficial bike, I would suggest the Rocky Mountain Prestige as its longer wheelbase will deliver less bump on long rides with a similar fit.
Describing the bike ride is a lot like telling someone what it 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-terrain machine that balances stiffness, weight and ride quality, as well as having a slightly more relaxed bar position. For the build quality and details of this frame, the price with SRAM APEX is very good ($ 2399 CAD). As usual with a bike of this price, you will benefit in the speed department by upgrading the wheels and tires, but this is not necessary to enjoy the ride.
