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. 1996 - 2023 bikeride.com Elite CafeMedia Publisher, If this bike is out of stock, take a look at our other. This could be changed to a 10-42t if the freehub was also changed to an XD driver to accommodate the smaller 10t cog. A hanger is provided for a wireless front derailleur and 2x chainring setup. Lauf True Grit vs Specialized Diverge : r/gravelcycling 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. 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. One of the best moments riding the Anywhere has got to be taking part in The Rift gravel race. The True Grit has a long, low front end, perfect for folks that like an aggressive position. 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. At this time of year, we traditionally say goodbye to our long-term bikes. No bike can be perfect at everything, though, and there are a few points to consider. When taking tight turns you have to lean into them with confidence. It was clear the Smoothie had considerably more flex than the other brands. Prices start at $3700 for a complete bike; not a bad deal for all the tech this comes with. So despite the bike not coming with Laufs famous leaf sprung fork, it can be ridden hard over proper gravel with a bit of nerve. 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. At around 2,000km distance and roughly 15,000 metres of elevation, I had to make sure that the bike could go the distance. The Dava Way follows an old railway path and goes through a number of rather cool cuttings. It sports a 11-42t SRAM 1130 cassette and chain that is coupled with a single X-Sync 42t chainring up front. Lauf Anywhere - BIKEPACKING.com This uses a glass-fibre top blended into carbon-fibre drops. Swish. 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. 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. By reports, Maxxis Velocita tires didnt perform well in mud or slippy dirt. 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. Ill be back, though. True Grit vs E5 Diverge for my Wife's first gravel 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. Ive only recently been letting my tyres down so low on the True Grit. Unfortunately, on that aforementioned first ride, it became apparent that the SRAM Apex rear brake had, at some point, become contaminated. 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. 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 got the bike to a final weight of 8.15kg, which was a total saving of 450g on its original weight of 8.6kg. Clearance for 45mm tires ensured real off-road compatibility and a cushy ride. When I ride road bikes, I gravitate towards the racy, more aggressive end of the spectrum. I was hoping this year would continue in the same vein because I had a few long-distance goals I wanted to hit, but that hasnt been the case so far. 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. I swapped the front chainring from a 42-tooth to a Hope 38-tooth narrow wide model. It just baffles us on why they would spec it with the less common (now outdated) option. It was a new experience for me having never raced before or had any proper gravel riding experience. I also think the harshness that, most likely, comes from a stiff carbon frame makes this bike particularly rough when riding big gravel. Review: Lauf Anywhere gravel bike - VeloNews.com Why is the geometry this way? 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 . 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! 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). These cookies do not store any personal information. With improved frame compliance, massive 292.25 (70057!!!) Lauf Steigla builds and pricing. It's just a shame that the JAF fork limits the bike's compatibility with road and. This was a slight oversight on my behalf which meant that I had to switch the fork to one with a 12mm axle. Having suffered from knee pain at the end of day three it was clear that the lower gearing was a good choice and suggested that I should have spent more time in those lower gears to help reduce the load going through my knee. This meant I could achieve a lower gear, which was essential for me because the bike was loaded up with everything I needed for the ride in other words it was very heavy! While those first few kilometres flew by, the final few took more effort. I dont think the Grit SL is a perfect fork, though, and will cover this in more detail in my impressions below, but I do think its got a lot going for it and its certainly a subject of debate within the BikeRadar office. More on those later. 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. The urban jungle that is Aviemore has its own Orbital. The bike sits in the middle of the Anywhere range and is referred to as the Weekend Warrior Edition. 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. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. The head tube is still at 71 degrees and 13.3cm long on our size medium. Story; Direct to Consumer; Crew; Lauf Legends; Reviews; Legacy Products. The Grit accepts a 160mm brake rotor at minimum, with options for a 12mm or 15mm thru-axle. The top of the bars from hood to hood is all glass fiber with the carbon drops bonded on. Would you like to receive offers, updates and events from BikeRadar and its publisher Our Media Ltd (an Immediate Group Company)? Editors' Choice: Best Road Bikes and Gravel Bikes of 2019 I like a racier bike, too. Seat tube length measures 542mm, while the head tube is 133mm and theres a 65mm bottom bracket drop. So, whats the seatpost like? With summer waning and the memories of riding the Transatlantic Way fading, I organised a simple overnight bikepacking ride out of Bristol. It impressed on asphalt, dirt and true gravel. 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. The Icelandic leaf-spring design looks crazy, but really isn't any different than a. One item that has been a revelation is the Mudhugger Gravel Hugger rear mudguard. Having said that, the X1900 wheels arent light at 1,721g for the pair and the internal width of 22.5mm isnt very wide. Well, it makes a noticeable difference for sure. Depending on how bad the weather is and whether I can stand getting wet on rides, a set of clip-on mudguards could be a worthy addition, as mentioned above. Chainstays are 425mm long and theres a 1,040mm wheelbase. Lauf True Grit | Gravel Bike Review - Bicycling Four buildsfrom $2690 to $5340are available, including an option for a frameset. Sizes: XS, S, M (tested), L, XL, THE GEAR I ride mountain bikes a lot for work (and adore MTBing too! I do think the longer geometry and the fork contribute here. However, having shunned my Virtual Partner, I was in much better company with Mark Knopflers Dire Straits powering me along the tracks via Nethy Bridge and Boat of Garten. The sequential, flappy-paddle shifting setup is incredibly intuitive and, thus far, shifting performance has been faultless. Why are the Lauf bikes sized like they are? Felix spent much of his youth riding mountain bikes but has now gravitated towards endurance and gravel riding. LAUF ANYWHERE RIDE The Anywhere is nearly identical in feel and handling to the True Grit when on the pavement. 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. The Maxxis Rambler tyres seem to be a decent all-rounder. When it comes to really rough off-road riding, the Smoothie handlebar isnt nearly as effective as the 30mm-travel Grit suspension fork. While they are inherently unable to come close to Lauf Grit's response to higher frequency vibration. Weighing a claimed 450g, the Lauf Anywheres Just A Fork (JAF) has a full carbon construction, triple cage mounts on each leg, and is based around a 15 x 100m thru-axle. Since. That makes the TG around $700 cheaper than the similarly configured Seigla. Almost 20 hours later, I arrived back in Bristol with a fully stamped Brevet card, and I was extremely relieved. Greetings all, I am considering getting the Lauf Seigla Weekend Warrior (mechanical groupset), but saw that the Lauf True Grit Weekend Warrior is currently 20% off here in the US. 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. It would be good to see some provision for internal dropper post cable routing, too. The frame also allows wide tyres of up to 45mm. Away from work, Felix can be found zenning-out by misting his collection of exotic houseplants as well as getting lost on his bike. Its still 100 per cent waterproof, having initially tested it on a long cycle tour about three years ago. This means the frame reach is 394mm and reach to handlebar length 456mm. The JAF fork is designed around a 15mm axle, which means many gravel and road wheels arent compatible. From there, I enjoyed a mix of tarmac, farm track and, eventually, classic Scottish gravel double track through and past Carrbridge, and on to the climb up and over the hills to Lochindorb. You've been subscribed to our newsletter. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. 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. 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. 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 I have a True Grit fork that I swap out as terrain demands. Instead of the JAF I used the No.9 CX Disc fork from Whiskey Parts Co. 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. Lauf's Grit forks are also far lighter than the competition, more energy efficient and they don't require any maintenance. Six weeks after the Transatlantic Way, I was off to race The Rift a 200km gravel race in Hvolsller, Iceland. 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. Full-length internal cable-guides preserve cables and make maintenance easier. 2023 - Road Bike Action. Gravel and adventure bikes with the highest BikeRide Scores. 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.. 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. Anywhere Installation Guide. My tried and tested Apidura saddlebag and top tube bag got another outing, along with a real hidden gem in the world of bikepacking bags, Alpkits Airlok Dual handlebar bag. It has Lauf Lush bartape and is 420mm wide on the medium size. A handy bottle-opener is affixed to the frame, in place of a front derailleur. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. I found the bike to be very comfortable and more forgiving than both the aluminium and steel bikes that I rode previously. Unfortunately, the Lauf JAF fork uses a 15mm thru-axle and therefore was incompatible with the SONdelux hub on the Superdura Dynamo Disc wheel. 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. 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. 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. Using bikepack bags, the Anywhere handled well and remained stable. A number of gravel and road wheels wont fit the JAF forks 15mm thru-axle. 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. Ive got the brake hoods angled in slightly, as is my preferred feel. 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. Lauf Anywhere here. Opting for a rigid fork will save customers $350/260/300 from the version with a Grit fork. The frame is light at 1,070g, but also strong enough for tackling serious gravel racing. The Smoothie handlebar and 40mm tires definitely help isolate the rider from road imperfections. When not riding he can be found at the climbing wall, in his garden or cooking up culinary delights. It has great feeling engagement when putting down the power, too. 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. Lauf Seigla Weekend Warrior review - Gravel Bikes - BikeRadar Given I know the True Grit fairly well, set up has been easy. 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. I rode the Lauf Anywhere on my biggest challenge yet a 2,000km self-supported road event called the Transatlantic Way. Bib: Velocio An expert wanted a bit more gear range at both top and bottom ends. 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. The carbon fiber Icelandic gravel bike employs the company's signature Grit SL fork to give. The frame uses a threaded bottom bracket for extended life with minimal maintenance. 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. In deep or slippery mud its inevitable that they dont always hold traction particularly well, but thats a trade-off Ive been happy to make all winter. This would be a great way to liven the bike up a little and to drop some weight. These roll on large volume Maxxis Velocita AR 40c 120 TPI tyres. The Lauf True Grit is built for gravel racing: big days, covering long distances, over a multitude of dirt surfaces. 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. 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. 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. Removing the tubes and a couple parts swaps would easily bring that number down without breaking the bank. Starting at 10pm this was not only an overnight ride but also the longest single ride I had ever attempted. I refuse to ride anything else. With its long wheelbase, the Lauf is incredibly confident when speeding down rough descents. 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. Im pretty sure British Cycling should get their athletes on this diet. Its barely compromised on tarmac with the right tyres and itll fly along unmade roads with gleeful abandon. With anything rough off the cards for a few weeks, the Lauf has made riding over terrible roads local to me relatively smooth and much kinder on the wrist, thanks to its tyre volume and Grit fork, with its incredible road buzz-killing abilities. Shoes: Giro Empire VR90 Tom has written for BikeRadar, MBUK and Cycling Plus, and was previously technical editor of What Mountain Bike magazine. Overall, the Lauf Anywhere is a truly awesome all-rounder. Lauf's new Seigla gravel race bikes gets some significant upgrades 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 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 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. Lauf has released a new gravel bike, called the Seigla. In the UK, where mud is a regular feature of a gravel ride, the 40c standard width tyres can get clogged up around the chainstays. 15mm front axle, STATS 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. 3x Bottle Mounts Three bottle mounts come in handy for a long day in the saddle. I had just my annoying Garmin Virtual Partner for company (seriously, Garmin, why cant I turn it off on my 830?! So much so that on my first ride with it I was constantly checking the rear tyre for a flat. My road riding really took off after touring Japan in 2017 and I now enjoy bikes designed with adventure in mind. 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. As for the Lauf? Lauf True Grit: Checkpoint - Riding Gravel This suits me as I intend to ride this bike in as many different ways as possible. I played close attention to my position on the bike because in late 2018 I picked up a knee injury, which I have been trying to fix ever since, and I have been wary of riding a new bike because I dont want to damage my knee further by riding hard on a different setup. First Impressions & Actual Weights: Lauf Anywhere all-road gravel bike 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. The bikes finishing kit includes a premium FSA SL-K 27.2mm carbon seatpost, Easton EA70 stem and a Ritchey Comp Streem saddle. Builds all feature SRAM Rival, Force or Red XPLR groupsets, e*thirteen wheels with 40mm Maxxis Rambler tires, and FSA and Fizik finishing kit. Download installation guides and manuals for your True Grit. Although there were several guises, the Anywhere remained a true do-it-all bike. 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. Off road Ive found the handling to be sharp enough to navigate over or around rocks, roots and pot-holes, and still give me the confidence to let loose on the brake levers and carry speed on descents. We have read all expert and user reviews on the Lauf Anywhere. Lauf True Grit - gravel bikes and lightweight suspension forks 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. . They are also tubeless-ready and come with everything needed to make the conversion happen. 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. Gates are annoying at the best of times, but boy oh boy, this is the worst kind of gate Ive ever come across. That said, I noticed that on-tarmac handling is compromised. Entering year three of racing it (12+ races per year). Its incredible to think that I rode all of that on the same bike! 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 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. The Anywhere rode well on gravel, fire-trails, asphalt and manicured trails. It's an evolution of the brand's True Grit gravel bike, and features much improved tyre clearance and dropped stays that give around. 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. A little more clearance would be no bad thing here. The True Grit has, largely, worked as expected. I decided to save my Irn-Bru until later, for another insulin roller coaster later in the ride. 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. The Anywhere is nearly identical in feel and handling to the True Grit when on the pavement. Surprisingly, the bike does not use the leaf spring fork that made Lauf famous. That's with a hodgepodge spec of alloy Easton EA70 stem and FSA post, Ritchey saddle and DT Swiss wheels. Lauf calls it Long 4 Speed geometry, which is essentially a recipe for a longer, lower and slacker road bike. The Anywhere frame is identical to the True Grit, with the only difference being the graphic and rigid fork. My only criticism of the drivetrain/brakes has been that the shift paddle can sometimes squash my 4th and 5th fingers if Im braking on the hoods and my brake pads are a touch worn. The one thing that kind of has us scratching our heads is their use of a 15mm thru-axle up front.