The bars help to elevate confidence and maintain traction, but on some of our favorite routes, we were still left wishing we had the suspension fork. 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. Almost 20 hours later, I arrived back in Bristol with a fully stamped Brevet card, and I was extremely relieved. No matter how much flex the Smoothie bar promised, I was still very much aching after the constant vibration more press ups needed, perhaps? 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. The Dava Way follows an old railway path and goes through a number of rather cool cuttings. 2020 was a big year for cycling for me with all the free time during lockdowns. 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. And, despite the huge new max tire compatibility, they were able to maintain the same . A week in Aviemore, Scotland, where my girlfriend lives, gave me an opportunity to get back on the Lauf, after spending a fair bit of time riding my Marin El Roy. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. 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. Lauf has previously launched a couple of mountain bike and fat bike forks, and the concept for the Grit is the same. Furthermore, I really believe suspension has a place on a gravel bike. We want a 10t cog 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. But, on entering the outskirts of Aviemore, it was great to hit the Aviemore Orbital (yes, like any metropolis, Aviemore has an orbital) and then the highstreet back. The bike is running an 11-42t cassette on a standard Shimano HG style freehub. Its not a common enough occurrence for me to feel the fork is a compromise on the bike, though. The virtual top tube length is 56.9cm with a frame reach of 39.9cm. True Grit vs E5 Diverge for my Wife's first gravel Plush 40mm tires are stock, providing a supple ride on many surfaces. As such, Ill keep my long-term reports rolling in every couple of months. When I ride road bikes, I gravitate towards the racy, more aggressive end of the spectrum. On our normal road group rides, the bike never held us back and has been giving us an advantage on the roads that are littered with fallen rocks and debris. The Grind: 20 gravel bikes I'm excited about for 2020 These wheels are a touch deeper than the DT wheels at 28mm, and are also a little wider internally, coming in at 24mm. 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. 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. The large but smooth 40mm tires allowed us to run low tire pressures (35psi) on wet roads offering great traction and speed. Pick-up from the rear hub is good and they have a nice muted buzz to them. So much so that on my first ride with it I was constantly checking the rear tyre for a flat. Like most people, I ride road bikes with at least two gears up front, but the Anywhere uses a 111 SRAM Rival drivetrain. THE RIDE Lauf Anywhere actual weights Out of the box, the size Large with tubes weighed in at 18.87lb (8.56kg). And, coming from the mountain bike side of things, it feels utterly natural to have a springy front end. 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.
