A bike to ride, some clothes to wear, a tool for repair and an alarm to keep it all safe. This week’s products reflect the needs of most cyclists. They’re linked by a common purpose, to improve our cycling experience, as well as by an innovative approach to doing so.
The new Cube Litening Air is a ‘climbing’ race bike, with a featherweight frame befitting its name. It’s ridden by the Intermache-Wanty boys and it’s already racked up a grand tour stage win before its release. I think that’s known as ‘marketing gold’.
Raleigh’s latest ebike is lightweight too, with hidden technology, that makes it look just like an ordinary, albeit stylish, commuter. Dynaplug also go undercover, devising a neat way to storing a tubeless plugger tool.
Rapha is a little more overt, with a loud and colourful clothing collection centered around its tried-and-tested Pro Team line and designed by artist Bráulio Amado. Finally, the Defender bike shed alarm also looks to make plenty of noise… but only when required.
The Litening Air C:68X is as light as its name suggest…
(Image credit: Cube)
Cube has released a lightweight addition to its Litening C:68 line-up, the new Litening Air C:68X.
The bike is offered in three models, the SLT, the SLX and the Race. Details are a little thin on the ground, although from images it appears that build options will include both Shimano Dura-Ace and Ultegra Di2 groupsets, with wheels from sister company Newmen.
What we do know is that the Air is designed as an “ultra light race bike”. Cube claims the frame weighs 799 grams, which makes it close to 300 grams lighter than its “aero brother” the C:68X. However, it says that it still delivers an aerodynamic advantage while being “comfortable to ride on long days out in the saddle”.
(Image credit: Cube)
The Litening range has gained plenty of attention of late thanks to the exploits of the Intermarche-Wanty-Gobert team. The Belgium-based squad has racked up 21 wins so far in 2022, including Biniam Girmay’s groundbreaking victory at Gent-Wevelgem.
Jan Hirt’s dramatic win on the Queen stage of this year’s Giro was aboard a prototype of the Litening Air C:68X; that 202km stage featured over 5,000km of climbing, including an ascent of the mighty Mortirolo, testimony to Hirt’s good legs and the suitability of the bike for such challenging terrain.
For more information visit cube.eu/air
Where’s the battery? Raleigh’s latest ebike is light, practical and keenly priced
(Image credit: Raleigh)