WHILE THE APPEAL OF LIGHT AND STIFF CARBON gravel bikes is undeniable, these bikes are expensive. Recently, though, a tiny brand out of Iceland lowered its prices and now offers some of the best deals available for gravel bikes.
Lauf's Seigla Rigid gravel bike (with a traditional carbon fork) starts at $2,240 and tops out at $5,640 for the SRAM Red-equipped model. Those are killer prices for a carbon gravel bike with good build kits and impressive specifications-massive tire clearance (57mm front and rear), mountain bike-influenced geometry (longer front center and slacker head angle), 10mm of engineered flex ("travel") in the rear triangle, and a SRAM UDH derailleur hanger (for direct-mount rear-derailleur compatibility). Plus, it is reasonably light: Lauf claims 1,163 grams for a painted medium frame.
Lauf's prices are so great that you'd pay far more for a comparable build from Trek, Specialized, or another legacy brand. In fact, when it comes to pricing, Lauf even spanks consumer-direct brands.
The top-of-the-line Seigla Ultimate with SRAM Red XPLR-plus a power meter, carbon rims, carbon bar, and carbon seatpost-stickers at $5,640. That's much cheaper than similarly equipped bikes from big-name brands. Trek's Checkpoint SLR 9, for example, sells for $12,250. And the Lauf is cheaper than the consumer-direct Canyon Grail CF SLX 9, which has a similar build and sells for $7,000.
It's not just Lauf's prices that grabbed my attention. There's also that 10mm of rear travel and the brand's signature Grit 30mm-travel suspension fork. Are we about to fully jump into the era of affordable gravel suspension? Because at Lauf's prices, the Seigla makes this extra bit of technology tempting to consider.
This story is from the Summer 2023 edition of Bicycling US.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the Summer 2023 edition of Bicycling US.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
A Celebration of Junk Miles
No longer dreading my next bunch sprint, I felt like I belonged on my bike again.
THE 92-MILE FAREWELL
THE SEA BREEZE OF THE LONG ISLAND SOUND FELT DELIGHTFUL, AND I WISHED I COULD RIDE WITH MY EYES CLOSED AND TRUST THE REST OF MY SENSES TO STEER ME BACK HOME.
CHECKING IN ON MY CYCLING SELF
BUT, TODAY, PEOPLE OF ALL SORTS OF WONDERFUL, COLORFUL CULTURES WHO LOVE THE WIND IN THEIR HAIR HEAR THE SOUND OF A MILLION ANGRY HORNETS ON THEIR TAIL.
EVERYONE KNOWS 52x11 IS BIGGER THAN 48x10. EVEN THOUGH IT ISN'T.
THE HUMAN THRESHOLD FOR 'LEAST NOTICEABLE DIFFERENCE' IS GENERALLY ON THE ORDER OF 10 PERCENT CHANGE OF A VALUE.
I RODE THROUGH PAIN. YOU SHOULDN'T. HERE'S WHY.
AND WHILE \"PAIN\" AND \"SUFFERING\" ARE OFTEN THROWN AROUND IN THE SAME BREATH, WHEN IT COMES TO THE BODY THEY'RE NOT, IN FACT, THE SAME.
THE RACES ARE FASTER. ARE THEY CLEANER? AND DOES IT MATTER?
THE LAST TWO EDITIONS OF THE MEN'S Tour de France were among the three fastest.
BRAYDON BRINGHURST VERSUS THE BEAST
THIS FORMER POLE VAULTER IS THE RARE ATHLETE WHO CAN BLEND EXPLOSIVE POWER WITH PRECISION AND CONTROL. BUT HE'D NEED A LOT MORE THAN THAT TO RIDE HIS BIKE UP THIS INSANELY TECHNICAL DOWNHILL TRAIL.
THE TRUTH SHALL SET YOU FRICTION-FREE
CONSIDER THE HUMBLE LIKE CHAIN. IT'S AN OFTEN OVERLOOKED BICYCLE PART COMPARED TO FLASHIER COMPONENTS WHEELS, CRANKS, AND DERAILLEURS. BUT THE CHAIN IS THE CRITICAL LINK IN THE DRIVETRAIN BETWEEN THE RIDER'S POWER AND THE BIKE'S REAR WHEEL.
MOLLY'S LAST RIDE
Twelve-year-old Molly Steinsapir crashed onto the pavement from a Rad Power e-bike and never woke up. With a poorly regulated electric-bike industry, WHO IS RESPONSIBLE WHEN A CHILD DIES?
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU COMBINE AETHOS WEIGHT, VENGE AERODYNAMICS, AND BUTTERY SMOOTHNESS?
Building a great bike is hard. Making a great bike better is even more challenging. Yet every three to four years, brands that make race bikes for their professional road racers take on this challenge.