In the last weekend of March we participated in theAquila Gravel, two days of racing and cycling around Vicenza, during which we experienced two faces of dirt roads. The event organizer was Cicli Liotto, a historic company in the Vicenza area., founded in 1922 by Luigi Liotto and now carried on by his grandchildren Pierangelo, Luigina and Doretta.
During the weekend, in the exhibition area set up on the shores of Lake Fimon, we were able to notice and admire the large number of models gravel products by Liotto. From the aluminum ones designed for the bikepacking relaxed to the full carbon ones with a distinct racing spirit. Once back home We contacted Pierangelo Liotto to ask him to tell us more about it in detail how their off-road line was born and how it evolved.
Pierangelo, when was your first born? gravel?
We started producing the first ten years ago, let's say we believed in it right away. The first model it was aluminum with a carbon fork, and with the Sram Apex group, the first born expressly for the gravelI immediately took a ride around the Berici Hills to see for myself, coming from road bikes, and I came back very satisfied. It all started from there.
And how did it continue?
Then came the carbon version, and soon after the steel one . Now we're pushing this one in particular, because it's versatile for all uses, from daily rides to travel.
In L'Aquila Gravel we also noticed the pattern Gravel Race, which does not go unnoticed.
La Gravel Race was born four years ago, when the whole competitive part of the gravel. On the other hand, the first world cup gravel It was made here, on our streets. So we thought about a model with carbon tubes and a race geometry, and over the years we have made several upgrades. Like the asymmetric rear triangle and the introduction of the UDH dropoutWe offer it with two forks, one with 35 mm wheel clearance and one with 45 mm clearance.
35mm is not a small amount for a gravel? We often see racing bikes with these tolerances now.
In my opinion a racing bike with such big tires it's almost not a racing bike anymore. Anyway, that was the first setup four years ago, then we also adapted to the trend of wider tires. The idea for the Gravel Race was to produce a compact bike, with aerodynamic lines, which with two pairs of wheels could include different usesThe same philosophy behind our other model Road Gravel SL.
So only the front fork changes in the two versions?
Yes, because the rear triangle is already set up to accommodate tires up to 45 mm. However, you need to decide first which configuration you want because it changes the height of the bike , just like when you install a suspension fork. It also changes the height and steering angle.
La Gravel Is the Race we saw at the event monocoque?
No, they are carbon tubes molded in Italy and then wrapped by hand , just like a steel frame. This process allows us to create custom geometries in addition to the standard sizes we have in our catalog. And at no additional cost.
The advantage of being an artisan company.
We can also accommodate those with special needs, such as longer legs or a longer torso than usual. Precisely because each bike is produced individually and not mass-produced , there are no additional costs, because each of our bikes is made one by one. We also let you decide on the groupset and components , although we already offer assembly options.
Staying on the Gravel Race, one thing that struck us is the color.
Yes, it's a very special paint job, hand-painted with cotton balls, so that each bike is unique . It also features gold leaf on the front fork and rear triangle, as well as on the front emblem and the Liotto logo. Of course, there are also other standard colors , also available to the customer.
So how many models gravel do you have in the Cicli Liotto catalogue now?
At the moment there are seven. We really have every choice to satisfy everyone from the novice to the expert. gravelmore advanced list. Even in terms of prices, let's go from the 1.600 euros of the aluminum bike at the 8000 of the RaceBut I want to say that the 1.600 euro one is made with the same care as the top-of-the-range one, because it is still handcrafted.
Any news for the future of Liotto production?
A a titanium bike will be released soon, with the same geometries as the Steel Gravel Plus, the steel model, but made with the most noble metal. The Steel Gravel Plus, by the way, it is a recent upgrade of the Steel model. Gravel. Now can fit tyres up to 50 mm wide and is designed for the bikepacking with holes on both the frame and the fork.
How much is it worth? gravel in your sales?
Now we certainly sell more bikes gravel that racing, let's say that we're at 70 to 30This is the trend, and it's understandable. Because If a novice comes in for the rental I give him a gravel, Because it's much more versatile. A racing bike is more technical, while this one makes people fall in love more; it's welcoming and comfortable.
In fact in L'Aquila Gravel There were many more participants in the cycling tour than in the race on Saturday
Historically we have always organised the granfondo here in Vicenza, now it's easier to hold a demonstration gravel, it also gives us more satisfactionBoth to us and to the volunteers who work during the event. There's always tension at granfondos, from when people sign up because they want to know the starting grids until the end, when the results are out. On the other hand, at the cycle tourism centre people are relaxed and smiling., they stop at refreshment points, they chat among themselves and with us, there's a different atmosphere.
Have Liotto's numbers increased compared to last year?
We had a 20 percent increase, closing registration at 500 participants . We could have had more, but we decided to limit it to better manage everything and provide a quality service, especially regarding the refreshments , which were all at local farmhouses, offering local products.
Which, we who were there can confirm, was much appreciated.
There are so many events like this now, and it's crucial to find a way to stand out , specifically by focusing on the quality of services. We also kept the registration fee very low, €25, until the last week . Considering that the long route included four refreshment points, plus the race pack and all the organization, it's a pretty popular price. And the numbers are proving us right.
