When the Pulsium was launched on the market more than ten years ago, it was specially developed for the demands of the tough spring classics, especially of course the cobbled Paris-Roubaix and Tour of Flanders races. High riding comfort has therefore been a top priority from the very beginning. Subsequent development stages increasingly focussed on suitability for the long distance and modified the geometry for less trained cyclists who want to sit more upright in the saddle.
The fourth generation Pulsium is now more race-orientated again, with Lapierre placing the bike at the sporty end of the endurance segment. The head tube is significantly shorter than its predecessor, while the frame length has increased by a few millimetres. In combination with the aluminium handlebar/stem combination, this results in a riding position that is comparable to competition bikes. The large drop in the handlebars means that you sit crouched low, especially in the lower handlebar position.
This moves the pulsium to the Xelius DRS The race all-rounder is also part of the autumn trio of new products from Lapierre. Manufacturers like Cube, Storck or Veto interpret the category in a similarly sporty way with their marathon bikes. The unmistakable trademark of the French manufacturer can also be found on the new Pulsium: it adopts the design with the seat stays connected to the top tube.
Comfort thanks to springy elements
There is no additional elastomer as in the older versions. Instead, the tube knot is designed to be more comfortable thanks to the kink in the seat stays and a specific carbon fibre coating. Our laboratory measurements confirm the manufacturer's idea: the seat post and seat tube offer better suspension than the predecessor.
However, the Lapierre still leaves a gap to the most comfortable marathon bikes on the market, at least as far as the suspension of the frameset is concerned. Thanks to the voluminous tyres, which expand to 34 millimetres over the wide DT Swiss aluminium rims, bumps in the road surface are absorbed in a suspension-like manner. This means that the Lapierre can take on levelled dirt tracks without a grumble. For serious off-road use, the chassis allows for tyres up to 38 millimetres wide, which was the standard for gravel bikes until a few years ago. Even mounting fixed mudguards is still possible with the maximum dimensions. Allroad bike, I hear you!
Lapierre Pulsium 7.0: 8.7 kilograms
The only thing missing to make it a true border crosser between marathon bike and gravel bike is an integrated storage compartment. However, the puncture kit does not have to dangle under the saddle, as a small bag for tools or a spare inner tube can be mounted on the top tube. In addition to the improved frame comfort, the new rear triangle design should also make the bike lighter. According to Lapierre, the unpainted frame of the test version remains under one kilogramme. However, robust aluminium components such as handlebars, stem and seat post increase the weight.
At 8.7 kilograms on the TOUR scales, the Lapierre Pulsium 7.0 is comparatively heavy. With lighter carbon add-on parts like those on the top model, the Lapierre should weigh around 200 grams less. The aerodynamics have also been considered, although the tuning here is rather cautious. Aero profiles on the fork and head tube are now almost standard in the design of modern racing bikes. Lapierre claims a five per cent improvement in aerodynamics compared to its predecessor, although no data is available.
Equipment beyond all doubt
Depending on the speed, the bike should be four to five seconds faster over ten kilometres. On the road, the torsionally stiff Pulsium 7.0 is able to conceal the rather high overall weight well. Its greatest strength is its extremely smooth ride. Fast descents with many changes of direction leave the Lapierre completely unimpressed. The high-quality equipment with the electronic Ultegra groupset from Shimano is beyond reproach, and thanks to the 1:1 gear ratio in the lowest gear, the bike is equipped for use in mountainous terrain.
Test grade & info on the Lapierre Pulsium 7.0
- Price: 4399 Euro
- Weight of complete wheel: 8.7 kilos
- Frame sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL (test size greased)
- TOUR grade: 2,2
Geometry
- Seat/top/head tube: 489/545/156 millimetres
- Stack/Reach/STR: 567/383 millimetres/1.48
- Stack+/Reach+/STR+: 615/575 millimetres/1.07
- Wheelbase/caster: 1010/64 millimetres
Equipment
- Drive/gear shift: Shimano Ultegra Di2 (2x12; 50/34, 11-34 t.) | Shimano Ultegra Di2 (2x12; 50/34, 11-34 t.) Grade: 1.0
- Brakes: Shimano Ultegra (160/140 mm) | Grade: 1.0
- Tyres: Schwalbe One 32 mm (eff.: 34 mm) | Grade: 1.5
- Impellers: DT Swiss ER 1600 30
- Impeller weights: 1548/1977 grams (front/rear)
Measured values
- Weight of complete wheel: 8650 grammes | Grade: 3.7
- Driving stability: 8.4 N/mm | Grade: 1.7
- Rear comfort: 156 N/mm | Grade: 2.3
- Comfort front: 104 N/mm | Grade: 3.0
- Ride/ bottom bracket stiffness: 65 N/mm | Grade: 1.0
Advantages and disadvantages
- Plus: Good comfort thanks to wide tyres, wide range of use
- Minus: Relatively high total weight
Conclusion on the Lapierre Pulsium 7.0: A successful balancing act
Overall, you have to search the market for a complete package like the Pulsium 7.0 for a long time. The new model combines a sporty character in the form of a relatively stretched seating position with modern (comfort) trends such as ample tyre clearance like no other. The balancing act between tradition and modernity is a complete success. The bike is aimed at a wide audience looking for a versatile and comparatively affordable road bike without making any major sporting compromises.
At 4399 euros, the test version is the second most expensive in the range. With the exception of the basic model (2599 euros), all variants are equipped with a Shimano or SRAM wireless transmission. Aerodynamically optimised carbon wheels are reserved for the top model (5699 euros). A new feature is the additional frame size XXL, which is aimed at riders over 1.95 metres. However, the size recommendation is not necessarily the benchmark: our 1.80 metre tall test riders sat on a Pulsium in size M, which the French recommend for a maximum height of 1.75 metres.
Jens Klötzer
Editor
