Compared to the 800 lumens from the Exposure Revo, the extra power of the R2 is certainly useful when riding faster, however for the kind of road riding I have been doing I felt the Revo was bright enough. As such, Ill keep my long-term reports rolling in every couple of months. Jersey: Team Dream Although the frame is fairly light for a gravel bike at 1,070g, it doesnt feel particularly supple. On asphalt, one reviewer described slight understeer on tight, fast turns. The wailing sound whenever I squeezed the levers hard gave it away. BIKE OF THE WEEK: SCHMOLKE INFINITY GRAVEL, THROWBACK THURSDAY, 2015: ALEX DOWSETT BREAKS THE HOUR, TOM PIDCOCK SHOWS OFF INSANE DESCENDING SKILLS, WATCH 2023 TOUR DOWN UNDER PROLOGUE HIGHLIGHTS. I might install clip-on mudguards in the future if I feel its necessary. 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. 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. Ive also been using a number of 76Projects items, including the excellent Modular Computer Mount to hold my Garmin and Magicshine front light. Lauf Anywhere actual weights Out of the box, the size Large with tubes weighed in at 18.87lb (8.56kg). Less vibration is transmitted through the frame, so the overall bike rides smoother, and thus (in my eyes, at least) faster. For longer rides and bikepack trips, one tester sought a taller front-end. The last four hours were really tough despite being mostly flat and it seemed my legs had only one speed slow! 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. At checkpoint three, one of the volunteers very kindly gave me a small bottle of Stans No Tubes sealant, which instantly plugged the hole and didnt present a problem for the rest of the ride. While those first few kilometres flew by, the final few took more effort. Download installation guides and manuals for your True Grit. 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. 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. Inevitably, I set off late. Two straps cinch it to the handlebars, but for more off-road bikepacking Id recommend a handlebar harness to help keep the bag secure Ive got Aplkits Kanga. But they all use Shimanos SPD cleat system. This uses a glass-fibre top blended into carbon-fibre drops. Lauf True Grit $3,690 to $10,490 Lauf True Grit. The glass fiber Smoothie handlebar flexes to compensate for frame judder. Chainstays are 425mm long and theres a 1,040mm wheelbase. Swap take ~20 minutes. 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.. Anywheres are available in four builds, for differing tastes and budgets. THE FRAME Although the Anywhere is built with gravel racing at its heart, the bike was great fun to ride both on the tarmac and off road, but, on a ride like this, perhaps the front end of the bike could do with being a bit taller for added comfort. At 182cm tall I sit between a Medium and Large on Laufs sizing guide. . 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. MG had to run a 25-degree rise, 75mm length stem to dial the fit in for his preferences. True Grit - Gravel Bike . Having not ridden properly for over a month due to (a non-cycling) injury and attending Eurobike, I had absolutely no pressure on me. 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). Its a relatively lightweight, but tough, carbon disc frame with large tyre clearance, mounts galore and designed with an emphasis on comfort with slightly relaxed geometry and even a vibration reducing handlebar. Prices start at $3700 for a complete bike; not a bad deal for all the tech this comes with. Although I havent ridden the bike off road yet, setup tubeless and with 30 psi in each tyre I have no doubt it will be a blast. No bike can be perfect at everything, though, and there are a few points to consider. 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.. This would be a great way to liven the bike up a little and to drop some weight. Also, when it comes to comfort, because the front end is suspended its more obvious that the rear isnt. SRAM Force calipers, linked to those shifters, pull on 160mm rotors, front and rear. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. 1996 - 2023 bikeride.com Elite CafeMedia Publisher, If this bike is out of stock, take a look at our other. Perhaps not surprising because this bike has, as claimed by Lauf offers Copious amount of microscopic comfort. This was a relatively pain-free process, although having initially tried to pump the tyres up without removing the valve core, I quickly learned that it was not going to inflate without taking this step first. THE VERDICT Im fairly confident I enjoyed my visit more than they did. My route took me out of town on a wide NCN cycle path, before taking a diversion through an undulating forest. I reinstalled the third bottle cage on the down tube, but to carry my coffee and coffee cup. Story; Direct to Consumer; Crew; Lauf Legends; Reviews; Legacy Products. 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. 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. As such, its this skinner rubber Im having to stick with. Although there were several guises, the Anywhere remained a true do-it-all bike. My road riding really took off after touring Japan in 2017 and I now enjoy bikes designed with adventure in mind. Why are the Lauf bikes sized like they are? Also developed in house by Lauf is the flared drop bar, which is called the Smoothie Composite. 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? Swish. Its barely compromised on tarmac with the right tyres and itll fly along unmade roads with gleeful abandon. Currently, the bike is sold with DT Swiss XR1501 alloy wheels, fitted with 40c wide Maxxis Rambler tyres. The Lauf True Grit gravel frame has undergone serious testing as it meets the ISO standard for mountain bike frames. The frame is a size medium and weighs a claimed 1,070g, in a striking Racing Rocket colourway. I have previously used a battery powered Hope R2 front light for night riding, which produces a claimed 1,300 lumens. It would be good to see some provision for internal dropper post cable routing, too. Riding the Lauf all year round, oftennot in a commercial forest, means I see the seasons changing whenever I ride. Personally, I prefer the concept of a suspension system that isolates (to some extent) the front wheel from the frame. 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. |, USD $4,190.00 The new Smoothie bar and 40mm tires isolate the rider from the imperfections of the road perfectly. Six weeks after the Transatlantic Way, I was off to race The Rift a 200km gravel race in Hvolsller, Iceland. I set up the WTB Exposure tyre with Weldtite sealant which, despite putting in more than recommended, ended up spraying out and not sealing. Felix Smith is the video manager of BikeRadar's YouTube channel. 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. Overall, the Lauf Anywhere is a truly awesome all-rounder. It was a new experience for me having never raced before or had any proper gravel riding experience. 1,052 feet, not metres. Glasses: Goodr superfly. While the frameset is nicely finished, with numerous neat touches, its the Grit SL fork that steals the show. Give it a couple of months and itll be skis I need round here, not a bike! This is so I dont have to worry about charging heavy batteries on the longer rides I have planned and to give a bit more visibility in all lighting and weather conditions. All Rights Reserved. Lauf says the Smoothie bars are some of the best drop bars available for reducing vibration, but its very difficult to say how much the Smoothie bars actually helped. Hes also worked out that shaving your legs saves 8 watts, while testing aerodynamics in a wind tunnel. 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. 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! Is it possible to stop by a loch with your bike and not take a photo? 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. Instead of the JAF I used the No.9 CX Disc fork from Whiskey Parts Co. Traditional telescopic suspension forks are designed to absorb large impacts, and they are good at that. The rest of my sleeping kit was stored in the saddle bag. The Smoothie handlebar is made with a combination of S2 glass fibers and carbon, but as with their Grit suspension fork, the materials are not a blend but instead separate and isolated to offer more compliance while eliminating fatigue failure. The True Grit is designed for 700c gravel tires, in proper width (up to 45mm) and with short chainstays (425mm). When the bike is loaded with gear the smaller chainring would be really beneficial for spinning up those steep climbs. The frame uses a threaded bottom bracket for extended life with minimal maintenance. The Lauf Anywheres geometry has been designed specifically for riding fast over unpredictable terrain. With sugar coursing through my veins, I followed the largely flat Speyside Way out of Grantown-on-Spey. I have a True Grit fork that I swap out as terrain demands. 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. 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 Weight: 18.75 pounds #biggravelmiles #lauftruegritKim finally got a gravel bike..And I'm actually kinda jealous. Its incredible to think that I rode all of that on the same bike! The frame has seen updated tube. Why is the geometry this way? From 17.6 to 20.7lbs with discs and chunky tires, Anywheres are lightweight. With its long wheelbase, the Lauf is incredibly confident when speeding down rough descents. I havent yet experienced any creaks or play issues either. It sports a 11-42t SRAM 1130 cassette and chain that is coupled with a single X-Sync 42t chainring up front. 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). Outside of testing bikes, Tom competes in a wide range of mountain bike races, from multi-day enduros through to 24-hour races in the depths of the Scottish winter pushing bikes, components and his legs to their limits. I thought the stock 40c Maxxis Velocita tyres were a bit overkill for the road riding I was doing, so I borrowed a fetching pair of tan wall WTB Exposure 32 tyres. 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. With summer waning and the memories of riding the Transatlantic Way fading, I organised a simple overnight bikepacking ride out of Bristol. These roll on large volume Maxxis Velocita AR 40c 120 TPI tyres. This time last year I was banging out 100 to 150k rides weekly, with occasional jaunts of up to around 200k. 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. Lauf Steigla builds and pricing. I found this out when testing the Hunt Superdura dynamo wheel, which uses a 12mm axle Son Delux hub. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. 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. Unfortunately, on that aforementioned first ride, it became apparent that the SRAM Apex rear brake had, at some point, become contaminated. A handy bottle-opener is affixed to the frame, in place of a front derailleur. Already have an account with us? He is also a regular presenter on BikeRadars YouTube channel and the BikeRadar podcast. you get the best of both worlds and the ability to adapt the horse to the course This is still one of my favorite handlebars The shape is unique but extremely comfortable If youre looking everywhere for a gravel bike, try looking Anywhere. 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. 3x Bottle Mounts Three bottle mounts come in handy for a long day in the saddle. High-frequency buzz is greatly reduced, which not only improves comfort over an individual bump but also helps minimise fatigue on long slogs. The relatively slack 71-degree head angle and short 80mm stem is said to help increase stability at high speeds over rough terrain. 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. The bike sits in the middle of the Anywhere range and is referred to as the Weekend Warrior Edition. I love gravel riding. 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. That's with a hodgepodge spec of alloy Easton EA70 stem and FSA post, Ritchey saddle and DT Swiss wheels. I rode the Lauf Anywhere on my biggest challenge yet a 2,000km self-supported road event called the Transatlantic Way. The large but smooth 40mm tires allowed us to run low tire pressures (35psi) on wet roads offering great traction and speed. Though the frame will take a gear cable, this version of the True Grit uses SRAMs wireless AXS groupsets as do the top-level Ultimate (5,990) and third-tier Weekend Warrior AXS (3,390). By reports, Maxxis Velocita tires didnt perform well in mud or slippy dirt. 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. The True Grit frameset is an all carbon affair, and has fully guided internal cable routing for a 1x drivetrain. 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. Starting at 10pm this was not only an overnight ride but also the longest single ride I had ever attempted. 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. The SRAM Rival brakes require a re-bleed and a clean up of the pads and discs because they are lacking in power and make a horrendous noise when riding in the wet. The frame geometry reinforces this preference for speed. While there were no hills to hinder my progress, it did seem like death by a thousand gates. 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 head tube is still at 71 degrees and 13.3cm long on our size medium. These changes got the bike down to a respectable 8.22kg. 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. It's not designed to carry all your bells and whistles, but still manages. 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. I also think the harshness that, most likely, comes from a stiff carbon frame makes this bike particularly rough when riding big gravel. The frame uses a 12x142mm rear thru-axle and a 15x100mm front thru-axle with flat-mount disc brakes. 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. As for the bike, the only issue I had was a hole in the rear tyre that wouldnt seal. The True Grit has, largely, worked as expected. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. While its a good 10k before anything exciting happens, at least the Lauf is an efficient way of crossing ground and once out on those gravel roads, theyre definitely worth the trip. It also meant that I didnt actually change anything specifically on my bike, and much to the amusement of Joe I even kept on my third down-tube bottle cage and 32mm gravel tyres. 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. 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. 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. With more than twenty years of mountain biking experience, and nearly a decade of testing mountain and gravel bikes, Tom has ridden and tested thousands of bikes and products, from super-light XC race bikes through to the most powerful brakes on the market. Removing the tubes and a couple parts swaps would easily bring that number down without breaking the bank. I ride mountain bikes a lot for work (and adore MTBing too! 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 . A hanger is provided for a wireless front derailleur and 2x chainring setup. It has great feeling engagement when putting down the power, too. . 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. Lauf has made room for 45mm tires with plenty of space for large knobs and debris to pass through. This could be changed to a 10-42t if the freehub was also changed to an XD driver to accommodate the smaller 10t cog. So, with the Cairngorms having mile upon mile of prime gravel, it was an easy decision to chuck the Lauf in the back of the van as I cruised far up north. Particularly, it is more lightweight, more compact, and sturdier than the standard model. Ive only recently been letting my tyres down so low on the True Grit. I swapped back the dynamo wheel which is still one of my favourite bits of kit for the Lauf and attached the Crudcatcher Roadracer MK3 mudguard set to keep me dry and comfortable. That makes the TG around $700 cheaper than the similarly configured Seigla. In the drops you still feel the flex up and down across the bar, but there is almost no twisting flex. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. 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. Anywhere Installation Guide. You've been subscribed to our newsletter. I refuse to ride anything else. 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 Join Join. However, I was pleased to report that the bike held up far better than me. 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. Here, the fork sometimes twists and twangs, which can be unnerving. 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 also allows wide tyres of up to 45mm. I got out of the saddle on most of the climbs and spent less time spinning on sharp hills. There are three water bottle cage mounts, as well as a bolt-on top tube mounts for a bag. Owing to the 45mm offset (versus the 47mm that their suspension fork), the bikes wheelbase is slightly shorter at 103.4cm. On the road, they dont feel too sluggish and their relatively continuous central tread rolls fast, while the carcass seems supple. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. BikeRide is reader-supported, and sometimes we receive commissions for links you click on. Taking time to set the True Grit up right is worth the effort. Opting for a rigid fork will save customers $350/260/300 from the version with a Grit fork. 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. 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. The Anywhere is the exception to Lauf's range, as it sports a conventional, unsprung, rigid carbon fork. I have it in the 20-litre size and it just fits my Mountain Hardwear Lamina 20 winter sleeping bag. It's an evolution of the brand's True Grit gravel bike, and features much improved tyre clearance and dropped stays that give around. Sadly, thanks to clothing/feeding/weather/time, I pulled out halfway. 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. Toms well acquainted with the True Grit and is looking to put this latest version through its paces over south-west England's finest gravel. However, well leave those arguments for another day. 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. This got the bike to a final weight of 8.15kg, which was a total saving of 450g on its original weight of 8.6kg. Giant's TCR Advanced Pro 0 Disc earned the top step in more than one sense. The Grit accepts a 160mm brake rotor at minimum, with options for a 12mm or 15mm thru-axle. This also means if you already have 12mm thru-axle wheels, you will need adapters. And, despite the huge new max tire compatibility, they were able to maintain the same . 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. Would you like to receive offers, updates and events from BikeRadar and its publisher Our Media Ltd (an Immediate Group Company)? 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. Ive also been very impressed with the Force/XX1 AXS drivetrain, and more so than I have in a mountain bike context. I mentioned in my initial review (see below) that I would be getting a dynamo wheel to remove the need for heavy batteries and keep myself visible at all times, well I chose the Hunt Superdura Dynamo Disc wheel paired with an Exposure Revo Dynamo front light and Redeye rear light. Handlebar suspension? Lauf's Grit forks are also far lighter than the competition, more energy efficient and they don't require any maintenance. One signature Lauf feature carried over on the Anywhere is the handy seatstay-mounted bottle opener, which doubles as a front derailleur mount for anyone who prefers a 2x drivetrain or gets less thirsty on the ride. When fitted with gravel tires you have the optimal setup for gravel with proper pedal-to-ground clearance. Lauf has released a new gravel bike, called the Seigla. I also swapped the cassette from an 11-42t to 10-42t in order to increase my top-end speed. Personally, I prefer a slightly more aggressive fit on a bike, and have slightly shorter legs for my height, so chose the Medium. 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. The urban jungle that is Aviemore has its own Orbital.
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