Check out the new review. The new '05 Blade is an impressive bike and Litespeed deserves acknowledgement for a job very well done.
Here’s the link, top story:
After reading your review I’m a little upset. I had the choice between an 04 and an 05 and went with an 04 because of the price break I received, which I was then able to upgrade to DA 10. Besides the aero seat post/extension are there other major differences between the 04 and 05. I went with a 55 and love the fit also I went with the visiontech bb and carbon clip-ons. Great review, litespeed should be given a lot of credit for a great bike.
Hi Tom,
Thanks for providing your insightful reviews. One question, I was looking at the photo of the “under the bottom bracket cable guides” where the cables enter the downtube and it looks like the edges are jagged or inconsistent. It may just be the photo but do you have any thoughts on this?
Thanks,
Scott
Good observation. The edge of the cut in the tube is rough, but that doesn’t make any difference. No cables touch it, no one sees it. Litespeed could have paid a guy $40 to sit there and hand finish off every one of those edges- or your dealer can do it if you find it cosmetically objectionable. However, it doesn’t exert any negative effect on any part of the bike’s function and it isn;t visible unless the bike is upside down so I had no issue with this.
Ouch…that is ugly.
I imagine Herbert wouldn’t be happy about that shot. Every Litespeed I’ve seen has been flawless…
Tom could probably answer better than I, but from what I’ve seen, the '04 is identical in all ways except for the seat post. Personally I prefer the traditional seat post as it gives me some flexibility with behind-the-seat bottle holder selections, plus if something goes wrong, a 27.2 is available everywhere.
mdo
Hi there,
The only difference between an 04 and an 05 Blade is indeed that aero seatpost.
Hope this finds you well.
Cheers,
Herbert
Litespeed/QR
For a relationalfobic guy, you sure know how to pick your site models.
Tell her Ze Gopha says hi.
Tom,
The Blade is nice,
Now how about your models, where are their bio’s and pix? Are they in the hottie thread?
Oh no!! Up to this time, the old blade review was the only article that completely convinced me that Tom wasn’t on the payroll of these bikes companies. Now, I’m not too sure 
But I’m glad that the blade got so much better. Too bad I don’t have a long torso so it probably wouldn’t fit me well. Can’t afford one anyway.
I like to call the Blade the Tiphoon.
Actually the Blade and the TiPhoon are a bit different. Top tubes are differerent lengths, seat angles are steeper on the Blade, front center is remarkably different, chainstay length, etc… Cosmetically the TiPhoon has different cable routing and a .25 weight advantage.
http://www.rooworld.com/bikes/2005/geometry.aspx?b=tiph
http://www.litespeed.com/bikes/2005/2005geometry.aspx?b=blade
Yeah there are diffrences but it seems all bikes are just kinda starting to melt into the same shape.
Read my reveiw of Cannondale’s entry level tri bike. It is even more scathing since the bikle is even worse.