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. The True Grit is designed for 700c gravel tires, in proper width (up to 45mm) and with short chainstays (425mm). On the road, they dont feel too sluggish and their relatively continuous central tread rolls fast, while the carcass seems supple. It just baffles us on why they would spec it with the less common (now outdated) option. 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. Would you like to receive offers, updates and events from BikeRadar and its publisher Our Media Ltd (an Immediate Group Company)? This also means if you already have 12mm thru-axle wheels, you will need adapters. The fork is easy to get secondhand (as I did) or get it new. This leaf-sprung suspension fork offers 30mm of travel, which is enough to take the sting out of the dirt roads, without impacting too much on the bikes dynamic geometry. 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. That makes the TG around $700 cheaper than the similarly configured Seigla. Weight: 18.75 pounds 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. I would say that for a relatively short ride the gearing is fine. He has since been swept up in the self-supported, ultra-endurance cycling world, taking part in the Transatlantic Way race in 2019. Basically, what we have here is a roadie version of the True Grit. The weather stayed dry and riding out of the woods to see the sunrise was really special and a rare treat in the UK. My route took me out of town on a wide NCN cycle path, before taking a diversion through an undulating forest. Unfortunately, I couldnt complete the ride due to acute knee pain, which I later found out was an overuse injury of the tendon. Jump out the door, grind your way through or load it up and head anywhere you want. 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). The large but smooth 40mm tires allowed us to run low tire pressures (35psi) on wet roads offering great traction and speed. The Rival brakes match, but only the right side has the shifter lever and mechanics. 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 bike sits in the middle of the Anywhere range and is referred to as the Weekend Warrior Edition. However, Its also noticeable when riding over rough roads. 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. 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. 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. Theres a bit of bum-bounce when pedalling on roads but off-road this disappears. 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). In summary, this is what cyclists think. 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. The Anywhere could feel harsh on long and intense gravel races. I felt I really understood what the team behind Lauf wanted to create. Still, for a true multi-purpose bike (that can run either a 1x or 2x drivetrain), the Anywhere hits the mark, especially if there is more pavement in your schedule. 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. Was I nervous about hitting potholes in the dark with a carbon frame? Having spent plenty of time testing road bikes for Cycling Plus, Ive dodged my fair number of icy patches on tarmac. Surprisingly, the bike does not use the leaf spring fork that made Lauf famous. But they all use Shimanos SPD cleat system. It feels rock-steady, particularly at speed, which gives a huge amount of confidence when picking a line down a potholed lane or gravel descent. pdf. So, whats the seatpost like? Personally I dont use a dropper on a gravel bike, but I know many do. Many of the routes I cycle involve either narrow and rough roads or gravel bike paths in order to avoid heavy traffic areas, or to open up new places to ride. Lauf is now providing a new option in ride (and appearance) preference while maintaining their legacy of uniqueand appreciatedride compliance. The carbon fiber Icelandic gravel bike employs the company's signature Grit SL fork to give. 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. With a quick fork swap, you could have either bike, but you would also need a new front brake line that would be long enough to reach on the suspension 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. 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. Seat tube length measures 542mm, while the head tube is 133mm and theres a 65mm bottom bracket drop. 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. I set up the WTB Exposure tyre with Weldtite sealant which, despite putting in more than recommended, ended up spraying out and not sealing. Lauf sees it the same way, a bike built to go fast over gravel, work well over asphalt, and feel more capable than the average gravel bike through sweeping singletrack. 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. . Lauf Seigla geometry. In this market it's hard to find bikes, so she was really luck. The Smoothie has a 3-degree back sweep that offers a natural angle to hold the cross section. I got out of the saddle on most of the climbs and spent less time spinning on sharp hills. 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. As you might or might not know, the core of Lauf True Grit is the Lauf Grit SL, with its 30mm front suspension fork. Lauf has equipped the frame with four pairs of bosses: two within the frame triangle for bottles, one under the down tube for either extra water or storage, and a pair in front of the stem for a bento-box, ready for longer races. 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 have a True Grit fork that I swap out as terrain demands. This gives me both extra seatpost extension for comfort and a lower front end. Lauf True Grit $3,690 to $10,490 Lauf True Grit. Having not ridden properly for over a month due to (a non-cycling) injury and attending Eurobike, I had absolutely no pressure on me. Why are the Lauf bikes sized like they are? So, even without prior knowledge of Laufs bikes, the True Grit would naturally sit towards the top of my shortlist. The virtual top tube length is 56.9cm with a frame reach of 39.9cm. The Smoothie handlebar and 40mm tires definitely help isolate the rider from road imperfections. Having said that, the X1900 wheels arent light at 1,721g for the pair and the internal width of 22.5mm isnt very wide. The JAF fork is designed around a 15mm axle, which means many gravel and road wheels arent compatible. The Anywhere frame is identical to the True Grit, with the only difference being the graphic and rigid fork. I had just my annoying Garmin Virtual Partner for company (seriously, Garmin, why cant I turn it off on my 830?! There was a 178km mountain bike ride a couple of months back, though, which would have been faster on the Lauf, but I rode a Specialized Epic in preparation for an attempt a couple of weeks later to do the West Highland Way in one day. 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. Its barely compromised on tarmac with the right tyres and itll fly along unmade roads with gleeful abandon. I guess Im fairly happy rattling over rough surfaces at closer to 50psi, especially considering the squish afforded by the Grit fork. The frame has seen updated tube. We want a 10t cog When not riding he can be found at the climbing wall, in his garden or cooking up culinary delights. At around 2,000km distance and roughly 15,000 metres of elevation, I had to make sure that the bike could go the distance. I havent yet experienced any creaks or play issues either. There are three water bottle cage mounts, as well as a bolt-on top tube mounts for a bag. When it comes to really rough off-road riding, the Smoothie handlebar isnt nearly as effective as the 30mm-travel Grit suspension fork. The Lauf Anywheres geometry has been designed specifically for riding fast over unpredictable terrain. Although there were several guises, the Anywhere remained a true do-it-all bike. A hanger is provided for a wireless front derailleur and 2x chainring setup. Since then weve had a long British winter thats only just on the wane. 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. Given I know the True Grit fairly well, set up has been easy. EDITORS PICK // TOP TWO CYCLING LIGHTS FOR 2023, ALL ABOUT WIND TRAINERS AND INDOOR CYCLING, WHAT YOUR PRESTA VALVE CAPS ARE ACTUALLY FOR, PINARELLO F SERIES WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE ALL-NEW RACE BIKES, CANNONDALE UNVEILS SLEEK 2023 ROAD LINE-UP, THROWBACK THURSDAY, 2015: ALEX DOWSETT BREAKS THE HOUR RECORD. The TCR weighs in at 17.12 pounds . I was pleased with my pacing because Burrington is a much longer climb than Chew Hill, with about 175m of elevation and an average gradient of around 6 per cent, but at no point during the sub-9 minute effort did my legs feel in the groove I think I used the old excuse that I didnt warm up enough. 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 Seigla has, within a millimetre or two, the same geometry as the True Grit. While tyre widths have increased, and the bike has a suspension fork, it's still a race . One of the biggest changes to the bike I intend to make is swapping the front wheel for a dynamo-equipped model. However, these are pre-production samples that came with slightly thicker grease than production hubs would. These changes got the bike down to a respectable 8.22kg. 15mm front axle, STATS MORE on the Lauf Anywhere & Lauf True Grit www.laufcycling.com . Swish. One item that has been a revelation is the Mudhugger Gravel Hugger rear mudguard. 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. Almost 20 hours later, I arrived back in Bristol with a fully stamped Brevet card, and I was extremely relieved. 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 Download installation guides and manuals for your True Grit. With summer waning and the memories of riding the Transatlantic Way fading, I organised a simple overnight bikepacking ride out of Bristol. 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. On a sunny day, take a picture of a pine forest and youd be hard-pressed to tell the difference between summer and winter especially as puddles in the UK are a near year-round feature. It would be good to see some provision for internal dropper post cable routing, too. 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. 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. 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. Was I still happy with the gearing choice after adding all that weight? RBA OG Embroidered Champion Packable Jacket. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. When taking tight turns you have to lean into them with confidence. Handlebar suspension? 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. Hes also worked out that shaving your legs saves 8 watts, while testing aerodynamics in a wind tunnel. And, despite the huge new max tire compatibility, they were able to maintain the same . Taking time to set the True Grit up right is worth the effort. Lauf is well known in the gravel and adventure cycling world for its unusual leaf sprung Lauf Grit Fork, found on the True Grit. 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. Jersey: Team Dream September marks the start of the UK hill climb season and it was exciting to be a part of the event. I was also lucky enough to ride the Grit fork when it launched, and later the True Grit on the launch event in Iceland and longer term after the event. This suits me as I intend to ride this bike in as many different ways as possible. It's just a shame that the JAF fork limits the bikes compatibility with road and gravel wheelsets, Lauf Anywhere Weekend Warrior Edition long-term review, A true gravel race bike and equally fun adventure bike, No mudguard mounts, 15mm fork axle limits road wheelsets, SRAM Rival 1 flat mount hydraulic (160mm rotor front and rear), Lauf Smoothie composite (420mm for the size medium).
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