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. Anywhere User's Manual. Already have an account with us? Because I had a post-mount Shimano hydraulic brake on the Parlee, I had to install Shimano's post mount to flat mount adapter in the 140mm size - this sounds incorrect, but that positions the caliper into the right position on the Lauf Grit. The frame uses a 12x142mm rear thru-axle and a 15x100mm front thru-axle with flat-mount disc brakes. The large but smooth 40mm tires allowed us to run low tire pressures (35psi) on wet roads offering great traction and speed. 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. 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. With no internal cable routing, youre stuck to either using a non-existent wireless 27.2mm post or an externally routed option, which never looks tidy. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. A hanger is provided for a wireless front derailleur and 2x chainring setup. So, whats the seatpost like? MORE on the Lauf Anywhere & Lauf True Grit www.laufcycling.com . I love my Grail, but it's basically a road bike and doesn't really dampen anything off road. These cookies do not store any personal information. 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. I had just my annoying Garmin Virtual Partner for company (seriously, Garmin, why cant I turn it off on my 830?! 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. In December 2019 I took part in the popular Moonrakers and Sunseekers 300km Audax, organised by Will Pomeroy and the team behind Great Western Randonnes. Lauf goes consumer direct, cuts $1,000+ off prices I do think the longer geometry and the fork contribute here. While I very much like the True Grit, I do have a couple of complaints. 3x Bottle Mounts Three bottle mounts come in handy for a long day in the saddle. The frame geometry reinforces this preference for speed. I took my good friend George and it was to be his first experience of riding out and sleeping under the stars. Removing the tubes and a couple parts swaps would easily bring that number down without breaking the bank. In 2017, and prior to joining BikeRadar, Felix quit his job as a production engineer to go bikepacking from one end of Japan to the other. This model is the second tier of the four-model range and features DT Swiss alloy hoops wrapped in Maxxis Rambler tyres, a SRAM Force/XX1 AXS wireless 1x groupset with a 10-50t cassette, and a smattering of FSA and Lauf finishing kit. Plush 40mm tires are stock, providing a supple ride on many surfaces. The bike sits in the middle of the Anywhere range and is referred to as the Weekend Warrior Edition. The frame is light at 1,070g, but also strong enough for tackling serious gravel racing. I havent yet experienced any creaks or play issues either. This would be a great way to liven the bike up a little and to drop some weight. 2023 - Road Bike Action. The Grit accepts a 160mm brake rotor at minimum, with options for a 12mm or 15mm thru-axle. Personally I dont use a dropper on a gravel bike, but I know many do. This means the frame reach is 394mm and reach to handlebar length 456mm. Maxxis Velocita tires proved to be a solid all-round option, on and off-road. The frame is a size medium and weighs a claimed 1,070g, in a striking Racing Rocket colourway. 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. Well, it makes a noticeable difference for sure. I felt very much at home, not needing to steer for the best part of 8km, but I did take a quick detour to see a gorge and Huntlys Cave, where two generations of the Gordon family hid from those theyd annoyed in the mid to late 1600s. Subsequently, the tyres I have on there have a little more volume. Force level shifters are joined by an XX1 AXS derailleur and 10-50t cassette, driven by a Force 1 chainset with a 42t ring. The Anywhere is nearly identical in feel and handling to the True Grit when on the pavement. 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. I know the stack is greatly different, but the specialized seems to be measuring to the end of the future shock (610mm) while Lauf has a Stack (564mm) and a stack to handlebar (605 - 651mm) that would seem to match Specialized better. When jutting across roads less traveled, you can feel the bars flexing while on the hoods. Get real time updates directly on you device, subscribe now. Our Weekend Warrior model had a SRAM Rival 11-speed 1x drivetrain with a 42t crank matched to a 11-42t cassette. Weight: 18.75 pounds I might install clip-on mudguards in the future if I feel its necessary. As such, Ill keep my long-term reports rolling in every couple of months. 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). Glasses: Goodr superfly. These changes got the bike down to a respectable 8.22kg. This was a slight oversight on my behalf which meant that I had to switch the fork to one with a 12mm axle. As featured in my third update, below, I spend regular, but not consistent amounts of time in Aviemore, Scotland. However, Its also noticeable when riding over rough roads. The top of the bars from hood to hood is all glass fiber with the carbon drops bonded on. While tyre widths have increased, and the bike has a suspension fork, it's still a race . In terms of future upgrades to the bike, I think it would really benefit from a lighter, wider gravel wheelset because the DT Swiss X1900s arent the lightest or widest out there. The original wheels fitted to the bike were a pair of DT Swiss XR1501 alloy hoops. I was joined at my lunch spot by the last of the summers midges; their presence an itchy and unwelcome addition to my macaroni pie and empire biscuit Scottish fayre at its finest. A particularly long reach of 399mm for the medium is combined with a short head-tube (133mm) to promote an aerodynamic position on the bike. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. Why are the Lauf bikes sized like they are? Surprisingly, the bike does not use the leaf spring fork that made Lauf famous. It was a new experience for me having never raced before or had any proper gravel riding experience. Ive also been very impressed with the Force/XX1 AXS drivetrain, and more so than I have in a mountain bike context. Well it performed faultlessly. BikeRide works hard to help you find the lowest prices and information on each bike from the widest possible range of sources. 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. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Using bikepack bags, the Anywhere handled well and remained stable. Here, the fork sometimes twists and twangs, which can be unnerving. I found the bike to be very comfortable and more forgiving than both the aluminium and steel bikes that I rode previously. Lauf sees it the same way, a bike built to go fast over gravel, work well over asphalt, and feel more capable than the average gravel bike through sweeping singletrack. I envisaged a desolate slog, through a windswept bog, pushing for hours and cursing my route planning ability. I found this out when testing the Hunt Superdura dynamo wheel, which uses a 12mm axle Son Delux hub. Long-4-Speed geometry keeps things stable at speed and on unruly surfaces. While they are inherently unable to come close to Lauf Grit's response to higher frequency vibration. Lauf Seigla vs Lauf True Grit : r/gravelcycling - Reddit Id been feeling like Id ignored gravel, what with the Merida Ex Enduro (Powered by Shimano Steps) and then a two week holiday in the Alps, where I ragged the El Roy as much as I could before heading home to a UK winter. Unfortunately, on that aforementioned first ride, it became apparent that the SRAM Apex rear brake had, at some point, become contaminated. My road riding really took off after touring Japan in 2017 and I now enjoy bikes designed with adventure in mind. Around day five I accidentally put the Exposure Redeye rear light cable into the input port instead of the output port of the Revo and after that the rear light no longer worked. An expert wanted a bit more gear range at both top and bottom ends. The Seigla has, within a millimetre or two, the same geometry as the True Grit. From 17.6 to 20.7lbs with discs and chunky tires, Anywheres are lightweight. True Grit vs E5 Diverge for my Wife's first gravel I have previously used a battery powered Hope R2 front light for night riding, which produces a claimed 1,300 lumens. Inevitably, I set off late. As you might or might not know, the core of Lauf True Grit is the Lauf Grit SL, with its 30mm front suspension fork. Helmet: Giro Synthe 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. It's just a shame that the JAF fork limits the bike's compatibility with road and. The rear chainstays are reasonably boxy, boosting pedalling stiffness, while the slender seatstays are there to give a little comfort. If youre wondering what Irn-Bru is, well, its a Scottish version of Mountain Dew, but luminous orange instead of luminous green, and likely just as nutritious. 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. 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. The new Smoothie bar and 40mm tires isolate the rider from the imperfections of the road perfectly We have about 200 miles on the Anywhere and it has been lots of fun The large tires allow us to run low tire pressures (35 PSI) on the wet roads offering great traction with speed. Its as much about comfort as it is about control. Already have an account with us? In summary, this is what cyclists think. On Komoot I couldnt tell the difference between fire road and singletrack, but thankfully this narrow sliver of trail through the trees was all passable on my skinny rubber. Im fairly confident I enjoyed my visit more than they did. 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. Overall, the trip was a great success. It relies on a 100 x 15mm axle to secure the front wheel. Theres little to fault with the build If you have access to good fire roads, smooth-ish singletrack or proper gravel, a bike like this is perfect. The glass fibre section of the bar is designed to give a little more flex and buzz reduction, while the carbon sections save weight where this buzz reduction isnt needed. 2020 was a big year for cycling for me with all the free time during lockdowns. In a few situations, the forks architecture can lead to some unwanted twist, which is especially noticeable on steep, rough corners where you need to brake. Lauf Steigla builds and pricing. 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 bikes finishing kit includes a premium FSA SL-K 27.2mm carbon seatpost, Easton EA70 stem and a Ritchey Comp Streem saddle. Ill be back, though. As for the Lauf? The Smoothie handlebar and 40mm tires definitely help isolate the rider from road imperfections. Lauf is now providing a new option in ride (and appearance) preference while maintaining their legacy of uniqueand appreciatedride compliance. Theres no adjustment needed on the fork and, in terms of bar and saddle height, Ive set the bar low-ish, but not quite slammed, and the saddle at my preferred pedalling height. Not at all. As this was my first gravel race, I drew some experience from my mountain biking background and couldnt believe how well the Lauf handled on some of the gnarlier descents. 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. Like a lot of cyclists, Im at times pretty conflicted about driving to and from rides riding from home is much simpler and, of course, its one less vehicle on the roads but as good as Bristol is for riding, the mountain biking available from my door can get a bit stale. Lauf's True Grit makes the drop-bar bike feel a whole lot more viable (and comfortable) off-road. When I ride road bikes, I gravitate towards the racy, more aggressive end of the spectrum. Unfortunately, the Lauf JAF fork uses a 15mm thru-axle and therefore was incompatible with the SONdelux hub on the Superdura Dynamo Disc wheel. One item that has been a revelation is the Mudhugger Gravel Hugger rear mudguard. After completing my first hill climb race on the Lauf Anywhere, it got me thinking about the bikes weight. Photo: Courtesy Lauf Don't 'lauf' at my fork! The Lauf True Grit is built for gravel racing: big days, covering long distances, over a multitude of dirt surfaces. Lauf Grit SL. Lauf True Grit vs Specialized Diverge : r/gravelcycling Review: Lauf Anywhere gravel bike - VeloNews.com Metres would have been cooler. The road category has settled on 12x100mm as the standard and Lauf even makes the rigid and suspension fork in both sizes. I did make some changes to the bike, but not that many, which is testament to how versatile the Anywhere is. The Anywhere could feel harsh on long and intense gravel races. 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. The sequential, flappy-paddle shifting setup is incredibly intuitive and, thus far, shifting performance has been faultless. 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. This section of the ride was why Id packed so much. This could be changed to a 10-42t if the freehub was also changed to an XD driver to accommodate the smaller 10t cog. This feature completely changed the way how gravel cycling is regarded. THE FRAME 23 Reasons to/NOT to Buy Lauf Anywhere (Apr 2023) | BikeRide Why? I guess Im fairly happy rattling over rough surfaces at closer to 50psi, especially considering the squish afforded by the Grit fork. 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. Full-length internal cable-guides preserve cables and make maintenance easier. Combined with a relatively low front-end, the bike can be built fairly aggressively with aerodynamic qualities. The Dava Way follows an old railway path and goes through a number of rather cool cuttings. The one thing that kind of has us scratching our heads is their use of a 15mm thru-axle up front. It would be good to see some provision for internal dropper post cable routing, too. Although there were several guises, the Anywhere remained a true do-it-all bike. While it might not be entirely fair to say this, mountain biking often, because of the trail network in the UK, takes place in Forestry Commission commercial pine forests, and thus aesthetically varies very little. Ill be keeping the rear hovering around 40psi for now, but the front is back up to around 48psi. The urban jungle that is Aviemore has its own Orbital. When jutting across roads less traveled, you can feel the bars flexing while on the hoods. A week in Aviemore, Scotland, where my girlfriend lives, gave me an opportunity to get back on the Lauf, after spending a fair bit of time riding my Marin El Roy. One tester felt that flared bars forced riders into an aggressive stance. Why is the geometry this way? No matter how much flex the Smoothie bar promised, I was still very much aching after the constant vibration more press ups needed, perhaps? Download installation guides and manuals for your True Grit. After the Rift, it was only a matter of time before BikeRadars hill climb extraordinaire and video manager, Joe Norledge, and assistant editor, Jack Luke, roped me into taking part in an open hill climb. |, USD $4,190.00 Editors' Choice: Best Road Bikes and Gravel Bikes of 2019 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. On our normal road group rides, the bike never held us back and has been giving us an advantage on the roads that are littered with fallen rocks and debris. 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. Lauf owners, help me choose! : r/gravelcycling - Reddit This lowers the front end ever so slightly when compared to the Lauf Grit fork, and gives the Anywhere a more road-oriented and aerodynamic stance, making it a gravel race machine, at least . I wish I could keep both (and maybr I could if I didn't get the 2nd highest spec True Grit), but I don't really have the room and I probably wouldn't ride both enough to make it worth it. A rare XL size caters to riders 63 and taller. Yes, a wider tyre in theory would be a great option, however clearance at the back of the bike is limited, and while Lauf says a 45c tyre can be fitted in there, I reckon thats only going to work in dry, dusty locations. Although I wasnt going to reduce its weight by any significant degree, it was still fun to see how light I could make the bike with limited time and upgrades available. Lauf True Grit Race AXS long-term review - Gravel Bikes - BikeRadar Frame: Lauf Anywhere (12x142mm TA) Fork: Lauf JAF (15x100mm TA) . Lauf has previously launched a couple of mountain bike and fat bike forks, and the concept for the Grit is the same. Its still 100 per cent waterproof, having initially tested it on a long cycle tour about three years ago. Clearance for 45mm tires allows the Anywhere to be ridden over real gravel. Jersey: Team Dream Almost 20 hours later, I arrived back in Bristol with a fully stamped Brevet card, and I was extremely relieved. Although the frame is fairly light for a gravel bike at 1,070g, it doesnt feel particularly supple. The Lauf Anywhere was about $2k shipped but they're sold out of smalls. It has Lauf Lush bartape and is 420mm wide on the medium size. Lauf Anywhere: More than the 'Funky Fork' Guys 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. Lauf will offer its Steigla with either the Grit fork or with a rigid fork. The shape of the bike works well for my needs, proving comfortable in sizing and allowing me to adequately get into those more aero shapes that work well on road sections. Sweep and flare enhanced the comfort of the Smoothie handlebar. The Lauf Anywheres geometry has been designed specifically for riding fast over unpredictable terrain. Jamis Renegade vs Lauf Anywhere/True Grit vs Argon 18 Dark Matter - Reddit Ive known the team at Lauf since its first mountain bike fork came out, and have followed the brands growth from a manufacturer of a very niche mountain bike product to a company with a range of products and two bikes in its range last year Felix rode Laufs Anywhere as his long-term bike. The reach is 80mm with a 125mm drop, and the bars have a claimed weight of 240 grams. 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. Ive been rattling around on my Lauf for a good few months now, which has provided the perfect antidote to the mountain bikes I test day-to-day. 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. He has a particular focus on mountain bikes, but spends plenty of time on gravel bikes, too. With improved frame compliance, massive 292.25 (70057!!!) Pick-up from the rear hub is good and they have a nice muted buzz to them. The head tube is still at 71 degrees and 13.3cm long on our size medium. Prices start at $3700 for a complete bike; not a bad deal for all the tech this comes with. The 16-degree flared bars come in three sizes: 40cm (47cm at the drops), 42cm (49cm at the drops) and 44cm (51cm at the drops). And, despite the huge new max tire compatibility, they were able to maintain the same . With sugar coursing through my veins, I followed the largely flat Speyside Way out of Grantown-on-Spey. That's with a hodgepodge spec of alloy Easton EA70 stem and FSA post, Ritchey saddle and DT Swiss wheels. The Anywhere will handle pretty much whatever adventure your imagination can think of and although it might not be the most comfortable, it will do it with speed at its heart. These roll on large volume Maxxis Velocita AR 40c 120 TPI tyres. 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.. Before reviewing the wheels Id like to spend more time on them, but so far that extra depth has had little effect on the handling of the bike, apart from perhaps in the strongest sidewind gusts where theres obviously a little more deflection. It's an evolution of the brand's True Grit gravel bike, and features much improved tyre clearance and dropped stays that give around. Its designed around a popular mountain bike hub axle size, but since the bike is designed for mixed terrain, a 12mm axle would open up more gravel and road wheel options, including the option to use a SON dynamo hub, like me. That said, I noticed that on-tarmac handling is compromised. When taking tight turns you have to lean into them with confidence. The most obvious changes were the wheels and tyres. Lauf Anywhere Weekend Warrior Edition long-term review No, aesthetically, its not to my taste, but its excellent and I would thoroughly recommend it after a winter with no soggy bottoms. In the drops you still feel the flex up and down across the bar, but there is almost no twisting flex. The bike is running an 11-42t cassette on a standard Shimano HG style freehub. At 40mm wide and on the DT Swiss X1900 22.5mm (inner width) rims, they are really fun to rail around corners without feeling the bike could lose grip. The frame has seen updated tube. 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). There are various suspension options out there for gravel; whether its an IsoSpeed decoupler from Trek, FutureShock from Specialized, Fox AX, SR Suntour GVX or Laufs Grit. 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. The Anywhere is nearly identical in feel and handling to the True Grit when on the pavement. 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 count that as success any day! By reports, Maxxis Velocita tires didnt perform well in mud or slippy dirt. Review: Lauf Grit Fork - Does it take the edge off the rough stuff? With the colder months upon us I am very much looking forward to getting some consistency in to my riding and building on my fitness because I have plenty of endurance events that I want to enter in 2020. Handlebar suspension?