Can love for a bike destroy human relationships? The cryptic name of the Legor Cicli LWTUA suggests it can. Custom-made in Barcelona, it’s hard not to be instantly captivated by this steel gravel bike’s clever details. But will the love last, and what does the acronym LWTUA stand for? We got aboard to find out.
Here you’ll find our current group test on the best gravel bike.
What makes the perfect gravel bike? While many manufacturers are selling us wide tires, comfortable frames, and endless bag-mounting options as the ultimate gravel-truth, the Legor Cicli LWTUA goes a step further. With an integrated dynamo lighting system from Supernova paired with a clever mix of Shimano mountain and road bike components, this bike is a true detail-shrine.
A student of legendary frame builder Tiziano Zullo, Mattia Paganotti now has his own Barcelona workshop which he shares with his cat Makita. For € 3,170 he’ll hand-build you one of his tailor-made frames using custom Columbus tubing. The price includes an Enve carbon fork, a Chris King headset, modern Syntace 142×12 dropouts and a monochrome paint job. Our test bike (Mattia’s very own) costs a whopping € 8,800. Weighing 9,35 kg in the maestro’s custom frame size: 52 cm top tube, 54 cm seat-tube.
Unsurprisingly Mattia’s bike features a fantasy spec including only top notch bike-porn components. Enve provide the 440 mm cockpit along with the M50 650b wheels which are paired with a set of sexy tan wall Maxxis Ikon tires. However the highlight is the hub-dyno on the front wheel supplying electricity to the integrated front and rear Supernova lights. This adds practical value not only for commuters, but also for adventurers and those unexpectedly long after-work evening rides.
There is one flipside; the hub-dyno feels heavy as lead and weighs down the front wheel. With this setup the bike certainly won’t be winning any sprints. Also, due to the high hub flanges the spokes on the front wheel are slightly shorter. Combined with the very stiff 21 mm wide carbon rims the result is noticeably less riding comfort. This takes us straight to the only other issue our test crew had with the LWTUA: despite being built with steel tubes the Legor Cicli LWTUA offers very little comfort. We recommend you regularly check the air pressure of the 2.2″ wide Maxxis Ikon tires. This will help you achive a good balance of traction and cornering precision, and avoid that annoying bouncing motion when riding on even terrain. An air pressure between 1.4 to 1.6 bar proved to be a good compromise for our 75 kg test rider.
Mutual understanding is one of the most important principles in every relationship. In this setup the Legor doesn’t want to be a lively gravel racer, but rather a loyal and comfortable travel companion. Except for its harsh ride the bike totally convinced us. The same applies to the mix of 1×11 Shimano Ultegra Di2-shifters, XT-Di2 rear derailleur, and hydraulic XTR-brakes. They delivered the best braking power in the entire test field. The programmed shifting logic – right down, left up, works intuitively and reminds us of the SRAM Red eTap setup.
But what does the name LWTUA stand for? Joy Division fans guessed it already: Love will tear us apart. Suggested by Mattia’s wife over a cosy evening beer, no cyclist would say this to their bike. With the pair’s marriage officiated by frame builder and mentor Tiziano Zullo, hopeful it, along with Legor Cicli’s bikes, should be as enduring as one of Zullo’s famous welds.
The Legor Cicli LWTUA in detail
Drivetrain Shimano XT Di2
Wheelset ENVE M50
Brakes Shimano XTR
Tires Maxxis Ikon
Wweight 9.35 kg
Price € 3,170 (frameset)
Geometry of the Legor Cicli LWTUA
Conclusion
If you’re after an individual, handmade steel jewel from Barcelona, the Legor Cicli is a masterpiece from one of the most popular frame builders around. Our test bike convinced us with tons of charm, heaps of know-how, and superb details – all at a fair price. Not only does Mattia know a lot about his craft and components, he also rides himself, meaning he’s ready with valuable advice in any situation. If you’re playing with the idea of getting a custom bike, you should start defining your dream in all its details. Because the Legor has virtually no limits.
Tops
– Cleverest all-round concept
– Design & finish
– Supernova lighting
– Custom XTR brakes
– Combined Ultegra Di2 shifters and XT derailleur
Flops
– Front end is very stiff
– Little comfort for a steel bike
– Wheels are a little harsh
More info at: legorcicli.it
Here you’ll find our current group test on the best gravel bike.
All bikes in test: Festka One Gravel | Merida Silex 9000 | Moots Routt RSL | Open U.P. | Rondo Ruut CF2 | Salsa Cutthroat Force 1 | Specialized Diverge Comp | Specialized Sequoia Elite | Trek Crockett 7 Disc | Trek Procaliber 9.9 SL RSL | Votec VRX Elite
Words: Robin Schmitt, Manuel Buck, Benjamin Topf, Hannah Troop Photos: Valentin Rühl
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