I mean, if the first 3km was that easy, Id be home in no time! Although the frame is fairly light for a gravel bike at 1,070g, it doesnt feel particularly supple. Its incredibly good at reducing handlebar buzz, too, which over long distances adds to fatigue, and helps with bigger hits, but with 30mm travel, theres only so much it can be expected to handle. Its not a common enough occurrence for me to feel the fork is a compromise on the bike, though. All things considered, I was actually fairly happy with my effort, and although the bike was probably one of the heaviest on the day, it didnt detract from the fun. But not before Id popped to the local bakery to pick up some Scottish delicacies. Following the launch of their head-turning True Grit bike (RBA, June 2018) that stood out with its use of their unique leading-link suspension fork, the inventive lads from Lauf are now heading down a path of what could be deemed roadie reform.. As such, small adjustments require the post to be removed. I got out of the saddle on most of the climbs and spent less time spinning on sharp hills. I have it in the 20-litre size and it just fits my Mountain Hardwear Lamina 20 winter sleeping bag. Theres inherent stability from the length, while the front wheel is better able to track the ground, with both the tyres volume and the forks suspension keeping the whole bike calmer. The long chainstays and top tube combined with a slack 71-degree head angle mean the bike handles predictably when riding off-road and remains stable when loaded up with luggage over long distances. The Lauf Anywhere, as the name implioes, is intended to be a do it all bike. For off-road climbing, the gearing was on the tall side for some and came up on the short side for riders capable of higher paved speeds. However, I like the position, especially when descending. Lauf's Grit forks are also far lighter than the competition, more energy efficient and they don't require any maintenance. With the front end of the bike benefitting from the Grit suspension fork, I was finding the feeling of the bike a little unbalanced, and, truth be told, a little uncomfortable on hard-packed rough tracks. I might install clip-on mudguards in the future if I feel its necessary. I envisaged a desolate slog, through a windswept bog, pushing for hours and cursing my route planning ability. Force level shifters are joined by an XX1 AXS derailleur and 10-50t cassette, driven by a Force 1 chainset with a 42t ring. It's just a shame that the JAF fork limits the bike's compatibility with road and. Sign in to manage your newsletter preferences. A pair of Fast Forward F3D carbon wheels provided the biggest upgrade and I replaced the 32mm WTB Exposure tyres with a pair of 25mm Pirelli P Zero Velo 4s tyres. Removing the tubes and a couple parts swaps would easily bring that number down without breaking the bank. Im also considering fitting my old-faithful WTB Volt saddle, although it might be a relative downgrade in spec its an upgrade in comfort for me. Unfortunately, on that aforementioned first ride, it became apparent that the SRAM Apex rear brake had, at some point, become contaminated. The frame is light at 1,070g, but also strong enough for tackling serious gravel racing. The 4km descent to the loch was a welcome relief and, at the bottom, I decided approaching 40km was a good time to enjoy my lunch by the shores. Unfortunately the frame doesnt have any full-length mudguard mounts, and on a bike that is likely to be ridden through winter means using alternatives that perhaps dont provide as much protection. Fortunately, in between my Trail Bike of the Year testing, Ive been able to get out on the Lauf a fair bitand have continued to explore Bristols surroundings, taking in all the local sights from stately homes to south-west Englands most popular fly tipping sites. Despite the extra weight and the slight resistance added by the SONdelux hub, the setup worked flawlessly and the feeling of reassurance it gave, particularly when riding at night and in poor weather conditions, far outweighed the negatives. The weather stayed dry and riding out of the woods to see the sunrise was really special and a rare treat in the UK. Overall, the trip was a great success. Instead of the JAF I used the No.9 CX Disc fork from Whiskey Parts Co. At the beginning of June I headed out to Ireland to ride the Transatlantic Way a self-supported ride from Dublin to Kinsale, Cork via the wild west coast. And, finally, I will swap back to the Hunt Superdura Dynamo wheel and re-install the lighting system for winter training and to tackle a 300km audax that I have just signed up for but more on that in my next update. However, these are pre-production samples that came with slightly thicker grease than production hubs would. The Smoothie handlebar and 40mm tires definitely help isolate the rider from road imperfections. However, outside the race venue Lauf had a number of handmade jigs with several other bars from different brands as well as the Smoothie attached. Overall, the Lauf Anywhere is a truly awesome all-rounder Ive spent the last six months riding it I have managed to rack up 4,500km The Anywhere will handle pretty much whatever adventure your imagination can think of. With summer waning and the memories of riding the Transatlantic Way fading, I organised a simple overnight bikepacking ride out of Bristol. Having explored a little of the area in the past, I knew there was a fair risk of trudging through mud, even at the best of times, and with my other half working, I also knew thered be no rescue party until at least early evening if things went a little wrong. Jersey: Team Dream . So despite the bike not coming with Laufs famous leaf sprung fork, it can be ridden hard over proper gravel with a bit of nerve. Taking time to set the True Grit up right is worth the effort. At 182cm tall I sit between a Medium and Large on Laufs sizing guide. This uses a glass-fibre top blended into carbon-fibre drops. It's a bike that has been designed for racing across challenging mixed surfaces as fast as possible and does that by combining absolutely enormous tyre clearance with geometry closely comparable to. Merida Ex Enduro (Powered by Shimano Steps), and later the True Grit on the launch event in Iceland. The Anywhere frame is identical to the True Grit, with the only difference being the graphic and rigid fork. The reach is 80mm with a 125mm drop, and the bars have a claimed weight of 240 grams. Subsequently, the tyres I have on there have a little more volume. Riding a fully rigid bike meant that my body felt pretty beaten up by the end of the ride (it took me 12 hours to complete), and watching many other competitors on mountain bikes I definitely could have done with some form of suspension. Having ridden the bike for quite a while already, Ive made a few changes, which Ill talk more about in future updates. The Dava Way follows an old railway path and goes through a number of rather cool cuttings. And, coming from the mountain bike side of things, it feels utterly natural to have a springy front end. Ive plans in the works thatll see me riding the bike a lot later in the year, and in the run up there are a few modifications thatll be needed. Clearance for 45mm tires allows the Anywhere to be ridden over real gravel. I like a racier bike, too. However, I was pleased to report that the bike held up far better than me. If I had the choice of a lower gear I would have definitely taken it, and I think the bike would benefit from an upgrade in the gearing. So, even without prior knowledge of Laufs bikes, the True Grit would naturally sit towards the top of my shortlist. So I planned a 90k loop, avoiding the highest bits of the Cairngorm plateau, and packed a saddle bag with a full set of waterproofs, some synthetic insulation and plenty of snacks. So much so that on my first ride with it I was constantly checking the rear tyre for a flat. And, on top of that, it is a beautifully designed bit of kit with a claimed weight of 485g with its axle and an uncut steerer. It was also great to ride the Lauf on the trails that the bike was designed for and tested on. Looking back at 2019, it was certainly a great year for me in terms of fulfilling my cycling goals and trying new things; I attempted my first ultra-endurance ride, raced open hill climbs, took part in the inaugural Rift gravel race in Iceland, and most recently completed my first 300km audax. Think ultra endurance road racing, gravel racing, a bit of touring and possibly the odd local time-trial. With little actual knowledge of where I was going to go, I jumped on Komoot to plan out a days ride. Swish. The large but smooth 40mm tires allowed us to run low tire pressures (35psi) on wet roads offering great traction and speed. With anything rough off the cards for a few weeks, the Lauf has made riding over terrible roads local to me relatively smooth and much kinder on the wrist, thanks to its tyre volume and Grit fork, with its incredible road buzz-killing abilities. Lauf Anywhere had a small pop up, so I bought that for her TG WW on sale for ~$2.5k shipped vs msrp $1.3k at a LBS for the E5 Diverge? A hanger is provided for a wireless front derailleur and 2x chainring setup. The Anywhere uses the same frame as the True Grit, with a 68mm threaded bottom bracket and the same long/low geometry designed for speed and stability. The bars help to elevate confidence and maintain traction, but on some of our favorite routes, we were still left wishing we had the suspension fork. Lauf Steigla builds and pricing. Lauf True Grit review; Lauf Anywhere review; Pro(moter) bike: Crusher in the Tushar founder Burke Swindlehurst's Lauf Anywhere; Lauf's new model debuted 'Direct To You', will operate . As such, Ill keep my long-term reports rolling in every couple of months. Awesome! The biggest upgrade I made was to the wheelset and tyres. Gates are annoying at the best of times, but boy oh boy, this is the worst kind of gate Ive ever come across. Cleaning the pads and rotor carefully with disc brake cleaner and sanding the sintered brake pads with a fine sandpaper seemed to sort out the problem, and after a few heavy braking sessions to bed them in it was much better (although not quite like a factory feel). Bosses are many - 3x bottle-bosses, 3x fork eyelets and bento-box eyelets. The 30mm of travel the Grit has is 1.8 times stiffer than that found on. PUNCH LINES The Anywhere is nearly identical in feel and handling to the True Grit when on the pavement. The handlebars are standard on all Anywhere models and are available separately for $220. The Lauf Anywheres geometry has been designed specifically for riding fast over unpredictable terrain. I also injured myself earlier this year, so the Lauf has been a useful tool in my recovery from a (potentially, the doctors cant 100 per cent tell) fractured wrist, sustained when I ran out of talent on a mountain bike. Also developed in house by Lauf is the flared drop bar, which is called the Smoothie Composite. The initial photos for this bike were taken a couple of days after I received the bike, back when the sun was shining and the bales were still in the fields. This was not the case, however. This is the first bike I have ridden with flared handlebars, though, and as yet I havent found a natural and comfortable position on the hoods. I then spent half an hour or so removing various bits such as the Lezyne pump bracket and, dare I say it, the Lauf bottle opener! The JAF fork is designed around a 15mm axle, which means many gravel and road wheels arent compatible. But, as always seems to happen on longer rides, the first few kilometres of light, traffic-free gravel out of town flew by, lulling me into a false sense of security. I was hoping to catch the last of the summers warmth, and perhaps a cheeky few dry trails, too, before the inevitable six months of grim puddle dodging. Lauf calls it Long 4 Speed geometry, which is essentially a recipe for a longer, lower and slacker road bike. But, on entering the outskirts of Aviemore, it was great to hit the Aviemore Orbital (yes, like any metropolis, Aviemore has an orbital) and then the highstreet back. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. More on those later. I know it's apples to oranges, but wondering what the peanut gallery thinks of spending twice as much for an entry to gravel bikes for my wife. This year Id also planned to ride the Transatlantic Way, which is a 2,000 to 2,500km self-supported road ride around Ireland, and thought the Anywhere would be a great bike for this event. Was I still happy with the gearing choice after adding all that weight? I rode the Lauf Anywhere on my biggest challenge yet a 2,000km self-supported road event called the Transatlantic Way. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. The one thing that kind of has us scratching our heads is their use of a 15mm thru-axle up front. While the True Grit was celebrated as the gravel markets first production bike specd with front suspension, it remained an outlier for many drop-bar enthusiasts hesitant to embrace either moving parts or the bikes odd appearance. As such, its this skinner rubber Im having to stick with. My road riding really took off after touring Japan in 2017 and I now enjoy bikes designed with adventure in mind. Lauf has equipped the frame with four pairs of bosses: two within the frame triangle for bottles, one under the down tube for either extra water or storage, and a pair in front of the stem for a bento-box, ready for longer races. He is also a regular presenter on BikeRadars YouTube channel and the BikeRadar podcast. Save 25% + DMR Trail Gloves + DeathGrips when you subscribe to MBUK magazine, *Spring Savings* Try 6 issues of Cycling Plus for just 9.99 | Save 74% today, The Lauf Anywhere is an awesome all-rounder that will handle pretty much whatever adventure you throw at it. So the Lauf has offered me a great opportunity to take an evening spin and remind me that theres plenty of good riding to be found locally, if youre happy to have a dig on Komoot and accept that youre not going to be shredding the gnar. Thanks! I did make some changes to the bike, but not that many, which is testament to how versatile the Anywhere is. Lauf True Grit (technically not on the list) At $3765 this is the most expensive (and best looking) option and I'm hesitant to get this as my first gravel bike because of that The same frame as the Lauf Anywhere but has the Lauf fork and SRAM FORCE 1 ( link) Also a 1x42T cank and 11/42T cassette which seems more sensible gearing for gravel Im also considering swapping the current DT Swiss X1900 XC wheels for a lighter wheelset because I will mostly be riding the Lauf Anywhere on tarmac roads. The TCR weighs in at 17.12 pounds . The new Smoothie bar and 40mm tires isolate the rider from the imperfections of the road perfectly. It has Lauf Lush bartape and is 420mm wide on the medium size. However, Im hoping to keep hold of the True Grit for a little longer, into 2022. At around 2,000km distance and roughly 15,000 metres of elevation, I had to make sure that the bike could go the distance. The Smoothie handlebar and 40mm tires definitely help isolate the rider from road imperfections. Setting the post up is a bit of a hassle because the angle of the saddle is defined by the relative position of the two halves, which is secured with a small grub screw located well inside the frames seat tube. I really liked that the light stayed on for up to an hour after stopping pedalling because it gave me a chance to set up camp in the light, and if I needed to stop on the road I was still visible. 1,052 feet, not metres. Four buildsfrom $2690 to $5340are available, including an option for a frameset. Felix spent much of his youth riding mountain bikes but has now gravitated towards endurance and gravel riding. pdf. Lauf's Seigla has taken all of the best aspects from its True Grit gravel race bike and improved it, with increased tyre clearance and frame compliance. At the back theres a 142 x 12mm axle, along with a chainsuck plate to protect the chainstays. When taking tight turns you have to lean into them with confidence. Sadly, thanks to clothing/feeding/weather/time, I pulled out halfway. This means the ride is quite harsh, which I noticed most when racing The Rift gravel race in Iceland. The Maxxis Rambler tyres seem to be a decent all-rounder. Anywheres are available in four builds, for differing tastes and budgets. EDITORS PICK // TOP TWO CYCLING LIGHTS FOR 2023, ALL ABOUT WIND TRAINERS AND INDOOR CYCLING, WHAT YOUR PRESTA VALVE CAPS ARE ACTUALLY FOR, PINARELLO F SERIES WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE ALL-NEW RACE BIKES, CANNONDALE UNVEILS SLEEK 2023 ROAD LINE-UP, THROWBACK THURSDAY, 2015: ALEX DOWSETT BREAKS THE HOUR RECORD. However, Lauf itself has recently moved over to fitting E13s wheels from stock. But, instead, I was treated to a chilly high-pressure system that hadnt dumped much snow, and so I donned some thick gloves, my Sportful Supergiara Puffy and some Nukeproof riding trousers, and headed into the hills behind town for a few achingly beautiful, and achingly cold rides to burn off the Christmas turkey (well, venison actually). I was using Laufs Smoothie handlebars, which are developed in house and made from the same carbon as its leaf sprung suspension fork. With its long wheelbase, the Lauf is incredibly confident when speeding down rough descents. Is it possible to stop by a loch with your bike and not take a photo? #biggravelmiles #lauftruegritKim finally got a gravel bike..And I'm actually kinda jealous. BikeRide is reader-supported, and sometimes we receive commissions for links you click on. Lauf Anywhere Weekend Warrior: $3340 True Grit (12x142mm TA) Lauf JAF (15x100mm TA) Lauf Smoothie SRAM Rival 1 SRAM Rival 1 SRAM Rival 1 Flat mount Hydraulic SRAM S350 42t The frame uses a threaded bottom bracket for extended life with minimal maintenance. It is a shame that the JAF fork limits the bikes compatibility with road and gravel wheelsets because the bike is just a wheel and tyre change away from being a wildly different ride experience. We have read all expert and user reviews on the Lauf Anywhere. Lauf will offer its Steigla with either the Grit fork or with a rigid fork. I soon re-joined my outbound route, the wide gravel tracks corners revealing the mountains Im familiar with seeing in Aviemore. While tyre widths have increased, and the bike has a suspension fork, it's still a race . No matter how much flex the Smoothie bar promised, I was still very much aching after the constant vibration more press ups needed, perhaps? It was clear the Smoothie had considerably more flex than the other brands. An expert wanted a bit more gear range at both top and bottom ends. To continue testing the versatility of the Lauf Anywhere, I entered my second hill climb race of the season at Burrington a local hill not far from Cheddar Gorge. Not at all. In reality, this does help slightly, but real comfort ultimately comes from the frame and some people wont like the 16-degree flare on the bar. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Why? ), goading me into riding faster than my cold legs would go. Save 25% + DMR Trail Gloves + DeathGrips when you subscribe to MBUK magazine, *Spring Savings* Try 6 issues of Cycling Plus for just 9.99 | Save 74% today, This is an initial score and could change as I spend more time on the bike, GBP 3,890.00 RRP With improved frame compliance, massive 292.25 (70057!!!) Obviously, a lighter drivetrain and wheelset/tyre combination would drop a significant amount of weight should I start getting more serious about riding uphill. While the frameset is nicely finished, with numerous neat touches, its the Grit SL fork that steals the show. BikeRide works hard to help you find the lowest prices and information on each bike from the widest possible range of sources. My route took me out of town on a wide NCN cycle path, before taking a diversion through an undulating forest. The bike felt pretty heavy and the first few corners a little unsteady I hadnt ridden a loaded bike for a while but after the first hour I was already used to the change in handling. For off-road climbing, the gearing was on the tall side for some and came up on the short side for riders capable of higher paved speeds.. I did put some tape on the port to remind me, but obviously that wasnt enough Ill put it down to a lack of rest! I have had a couple of freehub engagement issues with my pair, though. SRAM Force calipers, linked to those shifters, pull on 160mm rotors, front and rear. The Rival brakes match, but only the right side has the shifter lever and mechanics. Laufs own Smoothie bar dominates the cockpit. Thats pretty much been the story since my last update because the Lauf continues to chug along very nicely indeed. I was pleased with my pacing because Burrington is a much longer climb than Chew Hill, with about 175m of elevation and an average gradient of around 6 per cent, but at no point during the sub-9 minute effort did my legs feel in the groove I think I used the old excuse that I didnt warm up enough. In reality, I didnt notice a significant difference in performance using the Fast Forwards, but I did really like the 240s hub and its quality freehub, which purrs away with a sort of quiet confidence. Well it performed faultlessly. The Anywhere is the exception to Lauf's range, as it sports a conventional, unsprung, rigid carbon fork. This is exacerbated when I ride in the same place, a month or two apart. Rattling is perhaps too negative a sounding word, its just that a 45c gravel tyre in comparison to a 2.6in wide one gives a fairly different ride experience! Sweep and flare enhanced the comfort of the Smoothie handlebar. tire clearance, and arguably better looks, it's a winner out of the gate. I found this out when testing the Hunt Superdura dynamo wheel, which uses a 12mm axle Son Delux hub. High-frequency buzz is greatly reduced, which not only improves comfort over an individual bump but also helps minimise fatigue on long slogs. I also think the harshness that, most likely, comes from a stiff carbon frame makes this bike particularly rough when riding big gravel. Bib: Velocio I actually think this combination suits my riding perfectly, especially as Im not a natural road racer with years of riding a 53-48t under my belt. As such, the bike was not only used for the event but for all my training, as well as a considerable amount of time spent kit testing in the lead up to the event in early June. I refuse to ride anything else. A number of gravel and road wheels wont fit the JAF forks 15mm thru-axle. Tom Marvin is a technical editor at BikeRadar.com and MBUK magazine. Before this, I felt I hadnt quite done the Anywhere justice because many of my rides were road-based, but this trip really opened up what I thought was possible on a rigid, drop-bar bike. The frame is actually rated to the ISO standard for mountain bikes and I believe the bike will handle a life of adventures without carbon paranoia. I stripped the hubs down (easy to do), cleaned them out, and replaced the grease with a lighter-weight lubricant I had in the garage, and, so far, this seems to have done the trick. Deep down, I was hoping for heavy snow, mostly because one of Scotlands main ski resorts is a mere couple of miles up the hill, and I wanted to fish out a pair of planks and go roost some pow-pow. I felt I really understood what the team behind Lauf wanted to create. When jutting across roads less traveled, you can feel the bars flexing while on the hoods. THE VERDICT Handlebar suspension? On the road, they dont feel too sluggish and their relatively continuous central tread rolls fast, while the carcass seems supple. That makes the TG around $700 cheaper than the similarly configured Seigla. So, with the offer of running the latest version of the bike with an updated Grit SL fork and new componentry, I didnt hesitate to say yes. Maybe its the combo of the supple tyre, and the forks suspension and lower lateral stiffness than a traditional fork, but at those pressures the feel between tarmac and bar is just too vague for my tastes. The Grit accepts a 160mm brake rotor at minimum, with options for a 12mm or 15mm thru-axle. THE RIDE Anywhere User's Manual. Im currently running some Ritchey pedals, but often swap between pedals for a set of Shimano XT Race pedals and something else I cant talk about right now. The Lauf True Grit is built for gravel racing: big days, covering long distances, over a multitude of dirt surfaces. The October sun was positively beating down on my largely windproof, entirely black attire and, feeling rather dehydrated, I rejoined the insulin express with my can of Irn-Bru, very much shaken, not stirred, after four hours of gravel tracks. for a true multi-purpose bike, the Anywhere hits the mark, especially if there is more pavement in your schedule. Opting for a rigid fork will save customers $350/260/300 from the version with a Grit fork. The frame also allows wide tyres of up to 45mm. Sizes: XS, S, M (tested), L, XL, THE GEAR Was I nervous about hitting potholes in the dark with a carbon frame? They are also tubeless-ready and come with everything needed to make the conversion happen. Off road Ive found the handling to be sharp enough to navigate over or around rocks, roots and pot-holes, and still give me the confidence to let loose on the brake levers and carry speed on descents. I found the bike to be very comfortable and more forgiving than both the aluminium and steel bikes that I rode previously. Here, the fork sometimes twists and twangs, which can be unnerving. LAUF ANYWHERE RIDE The Anywhere is nearly identical in feel and handling to the True Grit when on the pavement. The familiar route is about half road, half gravel (plus a bit of mountain biking/hike a bike), so the WTB Exposure 32c tyres Ive been using for many miles were perfect for this mix of surfaces. There was a 178km mountain bike ride a couple of months back, though, which would have been faster on the Lauf, but I rode a Specialized Epic in preparation for an attempt a couple of weeks later to do the West Highland Way in one day. In late March I rode out of Bristol at 7pm, fully loaded with sleeping gear to see how both the bike and I would get on with the experience of a mid-week over-nighter. We want a 10t cog Tyre pressures are set to the low 40s of PSI high enough to avoid feeling sluggish on tarmac, but low enough to give grip and an element of comfort on dirt. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. The internal width of the rims isnt particularly wide nor built for the demands of gravel racing, so I changed back to the DT Swiss X1900 wheelset that the bike came with. Combined with a relatively low front-end, the bike can be built fairly aggressively with aerodynamic qualities. Also, a gravel bike will spend a lot of time on the road, all year round, so the lack of mudguard mounts is disappointing because they would make it into a capable winter training bike. In the drops you still feel the flex up and down across the bar, but there is almost no twisting flex.
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lauf anywhere vs true grit