Liv Langma Advanced Pro 0 review

The Liv Langma is the women's-specific brand’s flagship all-round race bike, as ridden by pro cycling team Liv AlUla Jayco.

Originally released in 2017 as a lightweight climbing bike and taking its name from the Tibetan for Mount Everest, this third-generation Langma sees a number of small changes from the previous model.

Most notable are the addition of fully integrated cable routing at the front end and the integrated Variant seatpost for the priciest SL models, which is claimed to improve aerodynamic efficiency and minimise weight.

More modest builds, including the Advanced Pro 0 tested here, also get a small increase in tyre clearance, from 32mm to 33mm, narrower handlebars and improved bar tape.

A previous Women’s Bike of the Year winner in 2022, can the Langma be improved upon? While changes at the mid-range pride point are minimal, the race bike’s performance continues to impress.

Liv Langma Advanced Pro 0 frame

Using Liv’s Advanced-grade carbon fibre for the frame and the lighter Advanced-SL carbon for the fork, Liv claims the Advanced Pro 0 frameset weighs in at 1,600g, in a size medium with a painted production frame including all hardware.

While both models share the same fork, the Advanced Pro 0 frame weighs a claimed 128g more than the range-topping Langma Advanced SL.

Like the latest Giant TCR Advanced SL (a bike with which it shares many characteristics), the Langma Advanced Pro 0 features truncated ellipse tubes for optimised aerodynamic efficiency, and hoses and cables are routed internally.

The frameset is finished in a single colourway with deep teal glossy paint and golden decals.

Liv Langma Advanced Pro 0 geometry

The new Langma’s geometry remains largely unchanged from the previous generation, with small revisions including an increased standover by 6mm and a maximum tyre clearance of 33mm rather than 32mm.

The Langma Advanced certainly fits within the race bike category, with a steep head tube angle of 72 degrees, short 977mm wheelbase and a short 135mm head tube on my size-small test bike.

These figures result in an aggressive position on the bike, with a relatively low front end (even with 30mm of headset spacers beneath the stem).

Liv Langma Advanced Pro 0 specification

The Langma Advanced Pro 0 is kitted out with 12-speed Shimano Ultegra Di2 R8150 with semi-compact 52/36t chainrings. Giant’s own-brand dual-sided Power Pro power meter is integrated within the 170mm cranks.

Hydraulic braking is also Shimano Ultegra level, with a 160mm Ice Tech rotor at the front and 140mm rotor at the rear to minimise weight.

The Langma rolls on the brand’s new Giant SLR 0 40 Disc hookless wheelset, which combines a 40mm carbon rim with a 22.4mm inner width and Giant Low Friction hubs with Giant Aero Carbon bladed spokes.

Giant claims the new wheelset weighs in at 1,339g and has a lateral stiffness-to-weight ratio that outperforms rival wheelsets including the Zipp 303 Firecrest (42 per cent improvement), Roval Alpinist CLX (37 per cent improvement) and the Bontrager Aeolus RSL 37 (34 per cent improvement).

The wheels are finished with the brand’s new 28c Cadex Race GC tyres, which come set up tubeless. On the wide rims, these measure up at 28mm.

The new GC tyres use a 240 TPI Supple Race Casing, which Giant claims reduces rolling resistance by 18 per cent compared to the previous model.

The tyres also feature a short sidewall and protruding shoulder design, which is claimed to enhance the contact area and hence stability when cornering and sprinting.

Finishing kit comes from a mixture of Liv and Giant parts, with the Liv Contact SLR carbon handlebar supplied in a narrow 36cm width on the 90mm Giant Contact SL Aerolight stem, which houses the internally routed hydraulic hoses.

A bike computer mount is supplied, which uses the lower stem bolts to attach and is supplied with a range of different GPS unit mounts, as well as a light or camera attachment for underneath the mount.

Giant’s aero bottle cages are not supplied, unlike with the Liv Enviliv or Avail at the same level, although these are available separately for £14.99 each. Alternatively, you can use any standard bottle cages you like.

The seatpost is a D-shaped Giant Variant carbon model, topped with the women’s-specific Liv Alcara saddle in the mid-range SL model with alloy rails.

All in, my size-small test bike, complete with supplied computer mount but no bottle cages, weighs in at an impressively light 7.18kg.

In terms of cost, the Langma Advanced Pro 0 is the top model of the bike’s intermediate, Advanced Pro tier, costing £6,499 / $6,500 / €6,499 / AU$8,199.

Beyond the Langma Advanced Pro 0, seven models are on offer in the new Liv Langma line-up. Pricing ranges from £2,699 / $3,200 / €2,799 / AU$3,799 for the Langma Advanced 2 to £11,999 / $12,500 / €12,499 / AU$14,199 for the Langma Advanced SL 0.

Liv Langma Advanced Pro 0 ride impressions

Setup was relatively straightforward, with just a bit of saddle height and fore-aft fiddling required to get the desired fit.

I also swapped out the inner disc of the supplied out-front computer mount for the Wahoo fitment and added bottle cages.

It’s worth noting here that the clever flippable saddle clamp gives plenty of fore-aft adjustment, allowing you to choose between -5mm or +15mm offset.

Testing took place on my home roads on the edge of Dartmoor in the South West of England. This terrain features a mixture of sweeping main roads, undulating narrow lanes and plenty of hills – with both long, steady ascents and short, punchy climbs.

Conditions were mostly favourable, as you’d expect in June in the UK, though I did also do some testing on wet roads.

The first thing I noticed during testing was the fit of the cockpit. Usually, I’d ride a 38cm bar on the road, but the Langma is kitted out with a slightly narrower 36cm handlebar.

These only took a little getting used to, and felt proportionate for both the size of the build and the bike’s intended purpose. The narrower handlebar gave a more aerodynamic position that's preferable for fast-paced riding and racing.

I was pleased to see Liv has dropped the overly chunky plait-effect bar tape that adorned the previous iteration of the Langma (and several other models). Instead, it has specced a more slimline striped own-brand alternative, the Liv Stratus Elite 2.0.

It’s still grippy enough, but feels much less chunky in the hand and suits the performance-oriented bike’s intended use much better.

In combination with the narrow bar, the short head tube gives a low, racy position, even with a full complement of headset spacers.

Riding out on my usual testing loops, the gearing took some getting used to, with the semi-compact chainrings a little harder to push on local hilly lanes compared to my usual compact setup.

It may only be an extra couple of teeth on the big ring, but I could certainly feel the difference and spent more time in the little ring than I usually would.

However, the Langma really sings when it’s ridden at speed. While the Liv didn't feel sluggish chugging on into a headwind or winching up a climb, it’s when you turn a corner or crest a hill onto faster-rolling roads that you feel the difference.

The Langma won’t make you faster, but it will encourage you to give your best.

Whether sprinting or pushing hard on the pedals during a short, sharp incline, rolling on top of a harder gear provided by the 52t chainring feels better when riding at speed.

The Langma is certainly a bike designed for smoother roads, shod with relatively narrow 28mm tyres, although it's certainly not the harshest race bike I’ve tested when the tarmac gets a bit rough.

The good news is you could easily pop some 32mm tyres on if you’d prefer the extra cushion.

When it came to pointing downhill and heading into corners, the handling of the Langma was excellent. Balanced and stable, I was able to corner at higher speeds with confidence.

How does the Liv Langma Advanced Pro 0 compare to the Liv Avail Advanced Pro 0?

While the Langma and Avail may appear similar at first glance, there are a number of differences that separate the Avail into the endurance road bike category.

Designed for longer days in the saddle with comfort a central priority, the Liv Avail Advanced Pro 0 gives a more relaxed, upright position with a 15mm higher stack, 4mm shorter reach and 10mm taller head tube.

The wheelbase is also 25mm longer, and when combined with a one-degree slacker head tube angle, gives a more stable ride feel at lower speeds and on rougher roads.

In terms of build, the bikes are also quite different. The Avail is kitted out with compact chainrings and a wider 40cm handlebar, not to mention much wider 32mm tyres designed to take on rougher roads with increased confidence.

Finally, the Avail sports mudguard mounts, which makes it more of an all-year all-rounder compared to the Langma, which is probably best reserved for those dry and fine days.

Liv Langma Advanced Pro 0 bottom line

The Liv Langma Advanced Pro 0 continues to be an excellent women's road bike for dedicated racers and riders seeking all-out summer performance at a fast pace.

Small but important improvements to the cockpit haven’t gone unnoticed, while slightly deeper wheels and a narrower handlebar make this race bike even more impressive at speed.

It turns out the 2022 model could indeed be improved upon, though this well-considered race bike will set you back a pretty penny.