Wittson Cycles is a Lithuanian handmade bicycle manufacturer located in Klaipėda.[1][2][3] Wittson works exclusively with titanium and sources the European Grade 9 tubes from Baltic neighbor Sweden and the VSMPO Titan Scandinavia corporation, which also supplies aerospace luminaries Boeing and Airbus. Wittson uses 3/2.5 Ti for their frame production, and 6/4 Ti, which has greater tensile strength but is much harder to weld, for dropouts and bottom bracket shells, along with smaller bits such as brake cable stops.[4]
 | |
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1994 |
| Founder | Vidmantas Zukauskas |
| Headquarters | Klaipėda, Lithuania |
| Products | Titanium bicycle frames and forks |
| Website | wittson.com |
History
editWittson Custom Ti Cycles was founded by a famous Lithuanian pro cyclist and the coach of first, independent Lithuanian National Cycling Team Vidmantas Zukauskas. In the mid 90s Vidmantas has combined his cycling and coaching experience to start building titanium bicycle frames for such companies as Colnago, Van Tuyl, Argon18, Red Bull and many others. Later on his son Mindaugas joined him and so the name Wittson was born.[5]
Vidmantas as a pro cyclist
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Vidmantas was born in a small village in Lithuania. His family could never afford a sports bicycle for him, but Vidmantas pursued his dream and signed up for a Cycling Sport School. This day changed his life forever as he became addicted to cycling and to this day his whole life centres around bicycles.
Vidmantas' most notable achievements as a pro cyclist:
- 1977 – 1st National Road Race Championships
- 1977 – 3rd Overall Tour of Lithuania
- 1979 – 3rd Overall Tour of Lithuania
- 1980 – 2nd Overall Tour of Lithuania[6]
Collection
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road race integrated DEVA
editWeight: 1480g (size M)
Material: grade 9 ti
- modern road race disc geometry
- fully integrated COLUMBUS Trittico cockpit
- oversized externally and internally butted headtube
- oversized double butted downtube
- integrated seatpost with a support on toptube/seatstays cross section
- shallow hydroformed seatstays
- Illuminati brake bridge
- hydroformed chainstays
- fully integrated brake cable routing
- T47 bottom bracket
- flat disc mount
- made in USA PARAGON dropouts compatible with both DT Swiss 142 x 12mm and SHIMANO 142 x 12mm hangers
- DT Swiss 142 x 12mm thru axle removable alu hanger
- hand brushed finish
- custom anodizing
- ti headbadge
- anodized bolts
Compatible with: Di2, EPS, AXS groupset only, tapered ZS44 x EC44 headset, T47 bottom bracket, flat mount disc brake caliper, thru axle 142 x 12mm rear hub, 34.9mm clamp band front derailleur, max 32mm tyre[7]
Road Race Suppresio
editWeight: 1580g (size M / seat tube uncut)
Material: grade 9 ti
Specifications:
- road race geometry
- oversized externally and internally butted headtube for conical 1.25" fork
- bi-ovalized toptube
- integrated seatpost with a support on toptube/seatstays cross section
- ti seatmast with ti bolts
- straight seatstays
- conical hydroformed chainstays
- integrated brake cable routing
- integrated shifting cable routing
- PressFit 30 bottom bracket
- made in USA PARAGON Wright dropouts with removable alu hanger
- hand brushed finish
- custom sandblasting
- ti headbadge
- anodized bolts
Compatible with: PressFit 30 bottom bracket, 31.8mm clamp band front derailleur[8]
Road Race Disc Illuminati
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Weight: 1480g (size M)
Material: grade 9 ti
Specifications:
- road race disc geometry
- oversized conical internally butted headtube for 1.5" fork
- diamond hydroformed toptube
- oversized double butted downtube
- double butted seattube
- shallow hydroformed seatstays
- Illuminati brake bridge
- hydroformed chainstays
- integrated brake cable routing
- integrated shifting cable routing
- PressFit 30 bottom bracket
- flat disc mount
- made in USA PARAGON dropouts compatible with both DT Swiss 142 x 12mm and SHIMANO 142 x 12mm hangers
- DT Swiss 142 x 12mm thru axle removable alu hanger
- hand brushed finish
- custom sandblasting
- ti headbadge
- anodized bolts
Compatible with: integrated tapered IS42/28.6 | IS52/40 headset, PressFit 30 bottom bracket, flat mount disc brake caliper, thru axle 142 x 12mm rear hub, 31.6mm seatpost, 34.9mm clamp band front derailleur, max 28C tyre[9]
Cross Country Bestia
editWeight: 1870g (size M / seattube uncut)
Material: grade 9 ti
Specifications:
- cross country race geometry
- oversized externally and internally butted headtube for conical 1.5" fork
- bi-ovalized toptube
- hydroformed curved downtube
- integrated seatpost with a support on toptube/seatsatays cross section
- ti seatmast with ti bolts
- hydroformed seatstays
- hydroformed chainstays
- integrated disc cable routing
- integrated shifting cable routing
- PressFit 30 bottom bracket
- made in USA PARAGON low mount dropouts with removable alu hanger
- hand brushed finish
- custom sandblasting
- ti headbadge
- anodized bolts
Compatible with: PressFit 30 bottom bracket, 34.9mm clamp band front derailleur, max 27.5/29x2.25 tyre[10]
29er Fork Nulla
editSpecifications:
- material: grade 9 ti
- weight: 1023g (steerer uncut)
- wheel size: 29"
- diameter: 1 1/8" or 1 1/8” - 1.5"
- max. tyre size: 29x3.00
- max. rotor size: 185mm
- rake: 45mm
- axle to crown: 470mm
- steerer length: 270mm
- dropouts: quick release or thru axle
- integrated brake hose
- floating postmount
- hand brushed finish
- custom sandblasting[11]
Cyclocross Disc Fork Ele
edit- material: grade 9 ti
- weight: 790g (steerer uncut)
- wheel size: 700C
- diameter: 1 1/8" or 1 1/8" - 1.25" or 1 1/8" - 1.5"
- max. tyre size: 700Cx40
- max. rotor size: 160mm
- rake: 47mm
- axle to crown: 395mm
- steerer length: 270mm
- dropouts: quick release or thru axle
- floating postmount
- hand polished
- sandblasted decals
- handcrafted in Europe[12]
Awards and nominations
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In April 2017 Wittson's Suppresio won the Campagnolo Choice Award at the Bespoked UK Handmade Bicycle Show in Bristol, UK.[13]
In 2014 Wittson won The National Lithuanian Design Award for its Custom CX 001 bicycle. The award was handed in to Vidmantas and Mindaugas Zukauskas by Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite at the Presidential Palace in Vilnius, Lithuania.[14]
Wittson Custom CX 001 Specifications:
- cyclocross disc frame
- oversized headtube for conical 1.5" fork
- integrated seatpost with a support on toptube/seatsatays cross section
- ti seatmast
- integrated disc cable routing
- integrated shifting cable routing
- PressFit BB86
- bullet chainstays
- PARAGON low mount dropouts
- ti bolts[15]
References
edit- ^ Francis Cebedo (August 13, 2013). "Sneak Peek: Wittson Cycles Handmade Ti Bikes". RoadBikeReview. Retrieved 2017-02-03.
- ^ Steve Fisher (November 28, 2016). "Wittson Ti Cycles makes the Bestia even bester with a few key updates". BikeRumor. Retrieved 2017-02-03.
- ^ Aaron Chamberlain (February 12, 2016). "Introducing the Wittson Custom Ti Cycles Bestia 29er". Singletracks. Retrieved 2017-02-03.
- ^ "Wittson Custom Ti Cycles: From father and son to you". www.handbuiltbicyclenews.com. Retrieved 2016-05-03.
- ^ "Wittson Custom Ti Cycles: From father and son to you". www.handbuiltbicyclenews.com. Retrieved 2016-05-03.
- ^ "Interview with Wittson Cycless Vidmantas Zukauskas".
- ^ "road race integrated DEVA". Wittson is a top notch Custom Titanium bike builder. Retrieved 2024-08-22.
- ^ "Behance". www.behance.net. Retrieved 2016-05-03.
- ^ "road race disc ILLUMINATI". Wittson is a top notch Custom Titanium bike builder. Retrieved 2017-06-11.
- ^ "Lithuanian Lightness: Wittson Bestia 29er | Cycle EXIF". Cycle EXIF. 2016-02-22. Retrieved 2016-05-03.
- ^ "Wittson's first stock product is a lovely Ti fork". Singletrack Magazine. Retrieved 2016-05-03.
- ^ Benson, Cory (2015-10-23). "Wittson Cycles introduces Ti Ele Cross fork with Lifetime Warranty, plus a 29+ option". Bikerumor. Retrieved 2016-05-03.
- ^ "Bespoked Awards 2017". Bespoked UK Handmade Bicycle Show. 2017.
- ^ "Wittson Custom CX 001 titanium bicycle frame - Geras dizainas". www.dizainoprizas.lt. Retrieved 2016-05-03.
- ^ "Latest projects | Wittson | Custom Titanium Cycles". wittson.com. Retrieved 2016-05-03.