While those first few kilometres flew by, the final few took more effort. Despite this, Lauf has created an impressive handlebar in the Lauf Smoothie, which is designed to address the issue of vibration felt through the hands. While I did ride it to my first win in a Pro 1/2 race, the snappy, predictable handling characteristics were precisely the reason I chose it. It was clear the Smoothie had considerably more flex than the other brands. This means the ride is quite harsh, which I noticed most when racing The Rift gravel race in Iceland. Like most people, I ride road bikes with at least two gears up front, but the Anywhere uses a 111 SRAM Rival drivetrain. Chainstays are 425mm long and theres a 1,040mm wheelbase. As hinted at in my original update, see below, Ive now made one or two changes to the bike, the first of which is the addition of the Canyon VCLS 2.0 seatpost. 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. Having not ridden properly for over a month due to (a non-cycling) injury and attending Eurobike, I had absolutely no pressure on me. I count that as success any day! 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. Lauf Anywhere - gravel bikes and lightweight suspension forks Lauf owners, help me choose! : r/gravelcycling - Reddit With summer waning and the memories of riding the Transatlantic Way fading, I organised a simple overnight bikepacking ride out of Bristol. Four buildsfrom $2690 to $5340are available, including an option for a frameset. The glass fiber Smoothie handlebar flexes to compensate for frame judder. Pick-up from the rear hub is good and they have a nice muted buzz to them. It was a new experience for me having never raced before or had any proper gravel riding experience. It has great feeling engagement when putting down the power, too. Merida Ex Enduro (Powered by Shimano Steps), and later the True Grit on the launch event in Iceland. I have had a couple of freehub engagement issues with my pair, though. Photo: Courtesy Lauf Don't 'lauf' at my fork! 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. More on those later. 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. 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. 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. When fitted with gravel tires you have the optimal setup for gravel with proper pedal-to-ground clearance. I also swapped the cassette from an 11-42t to 10-42t in order to increase my top-end speed. 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. Its as much about comfort as it is about control. We are all huge fans of the True Grit and Zap even chose it as his favorite dual purpose bike of 2018. Why is the geometry this way? However, I was pleased to report that the bike held up far better than me. Okay, so this may not have helped me win on the day, but I found the process fun and it did help me get my head in the game. 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. The weather stayed dry and riding out of the woods to see the sunrise was really special and a rare treat in the UK. Furthermore, I really believe suspension has a place on a gravel bike. Having spent plenty of time testing road bikes for Cycling Plus, Ive dodged my fair number of icy patches on tarmac. The virtual top tube length is 56.9cm with a frame reach of 39.9cm. The DT Swiss X1900 wheels use 6-bolt rotors and have the Shimano-style freehub. My route took me out of town on a wide NCN cycle path, before taking a diversion through an undulating forest. Lauf Seigla geometry. When jutting across roads less traveled, you can feel the bars flexing while on the hoods. This construction, plus the overall shaping, allows for isolated flex and a perfect mate for the new rigid fork. If I wasnt bathed in sweat, thanks to a full complement of windproof gear and winter shoes, Id have been loving life. I like a racier bike, too. However, Lauf itself has recently moved over to fitting E13s wheels from stock. True Grit . 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.. Anywhere User's Manual. It's an evolution of the brand's True Grit gravel bike, and features much improved tyre clearance and dropped stays that give around. What makes the Lauf True Grit and Anywhere geometry better? Handlebar suspension? Sadly, thanks to clothing/feeding/weather/time, I pulled out halfway. That's with a hodgepodge spec of alloy Easton EA70 stem and FSA post, Ritchey saddle and DT Swiss wheels. Thanks to the clearance of up to 700 x 45c tyres, and lower, slacker geometry, the bike also promises to be pretty capable off-road, despite its clear all-road intentions. First Impressions & Actual Weights: Lauf Anywhere all-road gravel bike As such, I was sent a set of its latest carbon XCX Gravel Race wheels. Overall, the trip was a great success. After completing my first hill climb race on the Lauf Anywhere, it got me thinking about the bikes weight. SRAM Force calipers, linked to those shifters, pull on 160mm rotors, front and rear. 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. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. And, despite the huge new max tire compatibility, they were able to maintain the same . Owing to the 45mm offset (versus the 47mm that their suspension fork), the bikes wheelbase is slightly shorter at 103.4cm. MG had to run a 25-degree rise, 75mm length stem to dial the fit in for his preferences. Perhaps not surprising because this bike has, as claimed by Lauf offers Copious amount of microscopic comfort. 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. The Maxxis Rambler tyres seem to be a decent all-rounder. 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. Review: Lauf Grit Fork - Does it take the edge off the rough stuff? Lauf True Grit: Checkpoint - Riding Gravel But they all use Shimanos SPD cleat system. In this market it's hard to find bikes, so she was really luck. Get real time updates directly on you device, subscribe now. So, when the Lauf Anywhere arrived for testing by Matthew Allen I was quite interested in it, and after working on the bikes first look video, which suggested that the bike could become the perfect mountain bikers road bike, I was keen to ride the bike myself. Sizes: XS, S, M (tested), L, XL, THE GEAR However, the Anywhere doesnt feature the suspension fork, instead it uses what Lauf calls Just A Fork (JAF), which is essentially a rigid, full carbon fork. 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. 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 . Having ridden the bike for quite a while already, Ive made a few changes, which Ill talk more about in future updates. The frame is light at 1,070g, but also strong enough for tackling serious gravel racing. I have previously used a battery powered Hope R2 front light for night riding, which produces a claimed 1,300 lumens. The Lauf True Grit is built for gravel racing: big days, covering long distances, over a multitude of dirt surfaces. I found the bike to be very comfortable and more forgiving than both the aluminium and steel bikes that I rode previously. While many other gravel bikes have specific damping qualities built into the frame, whether thats using different kinds of carbon in different areas or even elastomers or suspension, the Anywhere feels fairly basic in comparison, and other areas of the bike, such as the tyres, have a greater impact on comfort. The relatively slack 71-degree head angle and short 80mm stem is said to help increase stability at high speeds over rough terrain. Ill be back, though. I already mentioned the gearing, which I intend to gear down for easier climbing when the bike is loaded up. The Maxxis Velocita AR tyres are by far the widest I have ridden on a road-biased bike. Anywheres are available in four builds, for differing tastes and budgets. 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! Swap take ~20 minutes. Almost 20 hours later, I arrived back in Bristol with a fully stamped Brevet card, and I was extremely relieved. The road category has settled on 12x100mm as the standard and Lauf even makes the rigid and suspension fork in both sizes. This also means that on long rides when you become fatigued, the bike isnt hyper-responsive to bar input that could lead to a mistake. Although there were several guises, the Anywhere remained a true do-it-all bike. This makes for a sturdy frame that handles all the fun at only 1.150g - Medium frame in Lava Black, including front and rear derailleur hangers. Lauf is well known in the gravel and adventure cycling world for its unusual leaf sprung Lauf Grit Fork, found on the True Grit. However, this time, the event included a more testing climb with a very talented field. Assembly - Lauf Cycling - gravel bikes and lightweight suspension forks Lauf Anywhere here. 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. Gravel Bike Test: Lauf Anywhere - Road Bike Action These aluminium wheels are 27mm deep with a 19mm internal width and come in at 1,588g for the pair. Question: Anyone own or ridden the Lauf True Grit? Using bikepack bags, the Anywhere handled well and remained stable. First Ride: Lauf Anywhere - Road Bike Action Bib: Velocio So, whats the seatpost like? I had just my annoying Garmin Virtual Partner for company (seriously, Garmin, why cant I turn it off on my 830?! Felix spent much of his youth riding mountain bikes but has now gravitated towards endurance and gravel riding. 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. The frame geometry reinforces this preference for speed. An expert wanted a bit more gear range at both top and bottom ends. Initially, the bike felt fairly long and low, and while it took a few rides to get a feel for it, I actually really like the position. 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. However, like in my case, if you are wanting to use more road-oriented wheels you might not have this capability. 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. The Smoothie handlebar and 40mm tires definitely help isolate the rider from road imperfections. 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. Particularly, it is more lightweight, more compact, and sturdier than the standard model. The experience, organisation of the ride and the people I met were something very special and I intend to do similar events in the future. 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. Riding the Lauf all year round, oftennot in a commercial forest, means I see the seasons changing whenever I ride. The True Grit has a long, low front end, perfect for folks that like an aggressive position. However, Im hoping to keep hold of the True Grit for a little longer, into 2022. out of the box, Laufs Anywhere is ready to go on the pavement, on most mellow dirt roads, and maybe even on the trails if youre feeling bold The second key point is that this bike hits a reasonable price. Why? ), but gravel gives me something else that wider tyres cant easy, local access to great riding, big miles, and long days in the saddle. 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. Thus was born the Anywhere, a bike that couples a traditional road bike profile with a specifically engineered handlebar that provides hand- and forearm-friendly compliance. 2022 Lauf Seigla gravel bike review: Unconventional looks Starting at 10pm this was not only an overnight ride but also the longest single ride I had ever attempted. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Lauf Grit fork review - BikeRadar I was using Laufs Smoothie handlebars, which are developed in house and made from the same carbon as its leaf sprung suspension fork. However, Its also noticeable when riding over rough roads. 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. This time last year I was banging out 100 to 150k rides weekly, with occasional jaunts of up to around 200k. Lauf Seigla - gravel bikes and lightweight suspension forks 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 Lauf Anywhere, as the name implioes, is intended to be a do it all bike. Story; Direct to Consumer; Crew; Lauf Legends; Reviews; Legacy Products. 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. Currently, the bike is sold with DT Swiss XR1501 alloy wheels, fitted with 40c wide Maxxis Rambler tyres. Ive got the brake hoods angled in slightly, as is my preferred feel. SRAMs AXS gears did their job without grumbling, the Grit fork killed buzz as it should and the Maxxis Rambler at the front, paired with a Bontrager G2 at the back, rolled efficiently and comfortably, backed up by that shock-damping Canyon post. Already have an account with us? 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. Well it performed faultlessly. 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. It was also great to ride the Lauf on the trails that the bike was designed for and tested on. Inevitably, I set off late. At the back theres a 142 x 12mm axle, along with a chainsuck plate to protect the chainstays. The Lauf Anywheres geometry has been designed specifically for riding fast over unpredictable terrain. Yet, with the industry-wide embrace of added compliance remaining a key selling feature, the Laufers had another trick up their sleeve. Lauf's new Seigla gravel race bikes gets some significant upgrades As such, Ill keep my long-term reports rolling in every couple of months. 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 Already have an account with us? Was I nervous about hitting potholes in the dark with a carbon frame?
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