This uses a glass-fibre top blended into carbon-fibre drops. 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. It's an evolution of the brand's True Grit gravel bike, and features much improved tyre clearance and dropped stays that give around. I love my Grail, but it's basically a road bike and doesn't really dampen anything off road. Bosses are many - 3x bottle-bosses, 3x fork eyelets and bento-box eyelets. One of the biggest changes to the bike I intend to make is swapping the front wheel for a dynamo-equipped model. Gravel and adventure bikes with the highest BikeRide Scores. Review: Lauf Anywhere gravel bike - VeloNews.com Lauf Grit SL. Having spent plenty of time testing road bikes for Cycling Plus, Ive dodged my fair number of icy patches on tarmac. Since. Entering year three of racing it (12+ races per year). Unfortunately, the Lauf JAF fork uses a 15mm thru-axle and therefore was incompatible with the SONdelux hub on the Superdura Dynamo Disc wheel. Given I know the True Grit fairly well, set up has been easy. Away from work, Felix can be found zenning-out by misting his collection of exotic houseplants as well as getting lost on his bike. pdf. The carbon in the handlebar has been specifically used to promote flex and reduce the high frequency chatter that you find when gravel riding. Lauf True Grit: Checkpoint - Riding Gravel Im pretty sure British Cycling should get their athletes on this diet. 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 love gravel riding. I refuse to ride anything else. Its incredible to think that I rode all of that on the same bike! 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. Was I still happy with the gearing choice after adding all that weight? That said, I noticed that on-tarmac handling is compromised. Lauf goes consumer direct, cuts $1,000+ off prices Compared to a racier road bike, the steering will feel unresponsive and hard to turn. You've been subscribed to our newsletter. First Ride: Lauf Anywhere - Road Bike Action 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. 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. 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. The reach is 80mm with a 125mm drop, and the bars have a claimed weight of 240 grams. LAUF ANYWHERE GRAVEL BIKE TEST - Road Bike Action Awesome! tire clearance, and arguably better looks, it's a winner out of the gate. 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. 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. Then when you swap to slimmer 700c tires, say 30mm, the bottom bracket "automatically" drops accordingly. Lauf is now providing a new option in ride (and appearance) preference while maintaining their legacy of uniqueand appreciatedride compliance. 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. It's not designed to carry all your bells and whistles, but still manages. I swapped the front chainring from a 42-tooth to a Hope 38-tooth narrow wide model. 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. 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. So much so that on my first ride with it I was constantly checking the rear tyre for a flat. 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. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. Perhaps not surprising because this bike has, as claimed by Lauf offers Copious amount of microscopic comfort. Would you like to receive offers, updates and events from BikeRadar and its publisher Our Media Ltd (an Immediate Group Company)? All Rights Reserved. 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. Almost 20 hours later, I arrived back in Bristol with a fully stamped Brevet card, and I was extremely relieved. While tyre widths have increased, and the bike has a suspension fork, it's still a race . Ill be keeping the rear hovering around 40psi for now, but the front is back up to around 48psi. My only complaint with the tyres is that their bead seems fairly baggy on a number of wheels Ive tried, and getting them to pop into the rims bead tubeless can be a frustrating exercise. 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. Already have an account with us? When taking tight turns you have to lean into them with confidence. 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. Sadly, thanks to clothing/feeding/weather/time, I pulled out halfway. RBA OG Embroidered Champion Packable Jacket. Thanks for the feedback. Since this bike is not using a wireless 2x drivetrain (the frame is incompatible with wired 2x drivetrains), you might have also noticed a nifty Lauf Bottle Opener taking the place of the front derailleur. 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. Lauf Bikes Brand Brief Overview - Hood MWR Much like the fork, the Canyon VCLS 2.0 seatpost Ive fitted is a two-piece leaf-sprung unit, designed to flutter backward and forward, to take the sting out of trail chatter. My route took me out of town on a wide NCN cycle path, before taking a diversion through an undulating forest. 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. Why is the geometry this way? Lauf also tweaked the geometry it developed on its first frame, the True Grit, to make the Anywhere ride more like a familiar drop-bar bike. 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. I was a bit unsure how my knee would take it, but thankfully it held up with only slight pain around the 100-mile mark. A rare XL size caters to riders 63 and taller. The weather stayed dry and riding out of the woods to see the sunrise was really special and a rare treat in the UK. 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. Sweep and flare enhanced the comfort of the Smoothie handlebar. No, aesthetically, its not to my taste, but its excellent and I would thoroughly recommend it after a winter with no soggy bottoms. Sizes: XS, S, M (tested), L, XL, THE GEAR One item that has been a revelation is the Mudhugger Gravel Hugger rear mudguard. for a true multi-purpose bike, the Anywhere hits the mark, especially if there is more pavement in your schedule. Tom has written for BikeRadar, MBUK and Cycling Plus, and was previously technical editor of What Mountain Bike magazine. BikeRide works hard to help you find the lowest prices and information on each bike from the widest possible range of sources. 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. All-new Lauf Seigla gravel bike dramatically boosts - Bikerumor At 182cm tall I sit between a Medium and Large on Laufs sizing guide. Here, in the UK, a 40c tyre collecting and then clogging the rear end of the bike is a frequent occurrence. I also swapped the cassette from an 11-42t to 10-42t in order to increase my top-end speed. True Grit . 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. Surprisingly, the bike does not use the leaf spring fork that made Lauf famous. I took my good friend George and it was to be his first experience of riding out and sleeping under the stars. Lauf has released a new gravel bike, called the Seigla. 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 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. In future updates, Ill talk more about the geometry and handling. 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. 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. The new Smoothie bar and 40mm tires isolate the rider from the imperfections of the road perfectly. Ive also been using a number of 76Projects items, including the excellent Modular Computer Mount to hold my Garmin and Magicshine front light. From 17.6 to 20.7lbs with discs and chunky tires, Anywheres are lightweight. The Weekend Warrior edition that Ive been riding comes in at 8.5kg, while similarly specced endurance road bikes, such as the Cannondale Synapse, weigh around the 9kg mark. 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. It's just a shame that the JAF fork limits the bike's compatibility with road and. 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. 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. When jutting across roads less traveled, you can feel the bars flexing while on the hoods. 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. I would say that for a relatively short ride the gearing is fine. 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. When jutting across roads less traveled, you can feel the bars flexing while on the hoods. 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 decided to save my Irn-Bru until later, for another insulin roller coaster later in the ride. The Grit SL fork at the front relies on a dozen glass-fibre leaf springs to provide the 30mm of un-damped travel, with a pair of rubber stoppers preventing a super-harsh bottom-out. A handy bottle-opener is affixed to the frame, in place of a front derailleur. Perhaps the biggest low of the Anywhere is the 15mm axle on the JAF fork. For longer rides and bikepack trips, one tester sought a taller front-end. Lauf will offer its Steigla with either the Grit fork or with a rigid fork. 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. I mean, if the first 3km was that easy, Id be home in no time! pdf. 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. With under 40psi in my Maxxis Rambler (f) and Bontrager GR2 (r) tyres, I still skirted around the most glass-like patches of ice without issue, but it was refreshing to be totally comfortable scooting over frost patches, or bits of fireroad where stones and grass poked through an underlying layer of ice, safe in the knowledge that I was fairly, er, safe. Unfortunately, I couldnt complete the ride due to acute knee pain, which I later found out was an overuse injury of the tendon. 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 might install clip-on mudguards in the future if I feel its necessary. 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! As such, its this skinner rubber Im having to stick with. In this market it's hard to find bikes, so she was really luck. . The bike comes with tubeless-ready DT Swiss X1900 wheels and is specced with a Shimano-style freehub body. Is it possible to stop by a loch with your bike and not take a photo? MG had to run a 25-degree rise, 75mm length stem to dial the fit in for his preferences. The frame also allows wide tyres of up to 45mm. Removing the tubes and a couple parts swaps would easily bring that number down without breaking the bank. 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. 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. LAUF ANYWHERE RIDE The Anywhere is nearly identical in feel and handling to the True Grit when on the pavement. Metres would have been cooler. Its not designed to carry all your bells and whistles, but still manages to blend an element of comfort into its relatively racy demeanour, with generous front-end-height adjustment if you dont have pro-Tour-esque flexibility. Think ultra endurance road racing, gravel racing, a bit of touring and possibly the odd local time-trial. Lauf Steigla builds and pricing. 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. I had just my annoying Garmin Virtual Partner for company (seriously, Garmin, why cant I turn it off on my 830?! Thats pretty much been the story since my last update because the Lauf continues to chug along very nicely indeed. As a result, Felix loves to find the limits of endurance bikes and bikepacking gear for BikeRadar, while he also lets his competitive side loose during gravel races and hill climbs. Review: Lauf Grit Fork - Does it take the edge off the rough stuff? Lauf True Grit | Gravel Bike Review - Bicycling He is also a regular presenter on BikeRadars YouTube channel and the BikeRadar podcast. 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. I was a little disappointed that the frame doesnt accept mudguards because training in the winter/spring means having to accept that Ill inevitably get wet. As you might or might not know, the core of Lauf True Grit is the Lauf Grit SL, with its 30mm front suspension fork. These changes got the bike down to a respectable 8.22kg. Frame: Lauf Anywhere (12x142mm TA) Fork: Lauf JAF (15x100mm TA) . 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. As featured in my third update, below, I spend regular, but not consistent amounts of time in Aviemore, Scotland. 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. A number of gravel and road wheels wont fit the JAF forks 15mm thru-axle. The True Grit frameset is an all carbon affair, and has fully guided internal cable routing for a 1x drivetrain. The large but smooth 40mm tires allowed us to run low tire pressures (35psi) on wet roads offering great traction and speed. I found the bike to be very comfortable and more forgiving than both the aluminium and steel bikes that I rode previously. This would be a great way to liven the bike up a little and to drop some weight. Owing to the 45mm offset (versus the 47mm that their suspension fork), the bikes wheelbase is slightly shorter at 103.4cm. 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. 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. The biggest upgrade I made was to the wheelset and tyres. It relies on a 100 x 15mm axle to secure the front wheel. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Lauf True Grit $3,690 to $10,490 Lauf True Grit. Clearance for 45mm tires allows the Anywhere to be ridden over real gravel. That makes the TG around $700 cheaper than the similarly configured Seigla. It has Lauf Lush bartape and is 420mm wide on the medium size. 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. More on those later. I felt I really understood what the team behind Lauf wanted to create. The frame is built around a conventional threaded bottom bracket, which means I can remove it easily at home if it needs replacing or cleaning. On asphalt, one reviewer described slight understeer on tight, fast turns. I have had a couple of freehub engagement issues with my pair, though. 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. Story; Direct to Consumer; Crew; Lauf Legends; Reviews; Legacy Products. 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. While I very much like the True Grit, I do have a couple of complaints. 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. The most obvious changes were the wheels and tyres. Was I nervous about hitting potholes in the dark with a carbon frame? Using bikepack bags, the Anywhere handled well and remained stable. I have a True Grit fork that I swap out as terrain demands. As it was, it was a fairly steep, but entirely rideable and incredibly scenic rough doubletrack over the hill with a little dip and then a steep final pitch to 360-degree views of the mountains. Socks: Team Dream Bib: Velocio Its still 100 per cent waterproof, having initially tested it on a long cycle tour about three years ago. The Anywhere is nearly identical in feel and handling when on the pavement. We have read all expert and user reviews on the Lauf Anywhere. After completing my first hill climb race on the Lauf Anywhere, it got me thinking about the bikes weight. My reasoning for this isnt because it will give me a faster top-end speed, but rather would allow me to run a smaller chainring up front without sacrificing too much of the top-end speed being lost from the smaller chainring. I already mentioned the gearing, which I intend to gear down for easier climbing when the bike is loaded up. Lauf True Grit - gravel bikes and lightweight suspension forks An expert wanted a bit more gear range at both top and bottom ends. Not at all. While Id worn far too many clothes, I didnt end up pushing anything or get lost or find myself axle-deep in mud or water. When not riding he can be found at the climbing wall, in his garden or cooking up culinary delights. The ride took me south on a mostly flat, traffic-free route and I planned my bivi spot at around 35km. 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. 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. I didnt need to modify the Lauf Anywhere for this mini adventure, which is one of the joys of this bike and its put up with most things I have thrown at it. 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 If I wasnt bathed in sweat, thanks to a full complement of windproof gear and winter shoes, Id have been loving life. 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. Anywhere Installation Guide. True Grit - Gravel Bike . Felix spent much of his youth riding mountain bikes but has now gravitated towards endurance and gravel riding. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. 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. Lauf Seigla geometry. 2023 - Road Bike Action. The Maxxis Rambler tyres seem to be a decent all-rounder. I reinstalled the third bottle cage on the down tube, but to carry my coffee and coffee cup. Giant's TCR Advanced Pro 0 Disc earned the top step in more than one sense. Im not going to sit back and say the True Grit was an unknown quantity far from it. 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. The frame uses a 12x142mm rear thru-axle and a 15x100mm front thru-axle with flat-mount disc brakes. Unless I end up riding the bike more off road I will likely swap the tyres to something a little lighter for more road-focussed riding. Thanks! On the road, they dont feel too sluggish and their relatively continuous central tread rolls fast, while the carcass seems supple. 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.. A form of built-in frame compliance would also pose an advantage if you plan to ride ultra distances when comfort is most needed. It has been a season of ups and downs for me with many incredible new experiences and also some injuries too, but I have managed to rack up 4,500km on the Anywhere and I am happy to report that the bike has more than lived up to its versatile intentions. While they are inherently unable to come close to Lauf Grit's response to higher frequency vibration. Its barely compromised on tarmac with the right tyres and itll fly along unmade roads with gleeful abandon. I have previously used a battery powered Hope R2 front light for night riding, which produces a claimed 1,300 lumens. 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. The Anywhere rode well on gravel, fire-trails, asphalt and manicured trails. 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. 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. This means the frame reach is 394mm and reach to handlebar length 456mm. I got out of the saddle on most of the climbs and spent less time spinning on sharp hills. The last four hours were really tough despite being mostly flat and it seemed my legs had only one speed slow! 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. 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.