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| Image courtesy of Lauf |
Lauf Announces An MTB To Their Range:
Lauf, previously best known for their funky leaf sprung forks and gravel bikes has just announced a new XC/Trail mountain bike called the Elja. (Say "ell-yah")
A single pivot design in carbon fiber, this bike can handle up to 29" X 3.0" tires with no problem. Available in four colors and two spec levels, the Elja XC has 120mm of travel and is also available in a longer travel "Trail" version featuring 130mm of rear travel. Bikes are on a pre-order now for early 2025 delivery.
Comments: I won't get into the weeds on specs and technical aspects of this design, but I highly encourage you to read Lauf's explanations of their choices for this bike. (You can find all of it on THIS LINK) Scroll that page and read it all. There is, in my opinion, a lot of BS debunking text to chew on there. I will share on example here concerning why vibration reduction is key to gravel bike design, not the "bump eating" types of suspension that are represented in telescopic gravel fork designs. Read this and think about it: (From Lauf's page on the Elja)
"Gravel bikes are mostly subject to vibration from rough surfaces. Gravel bikes benefit from a “low-pass filter”, that wipes out high-frequency “stuff” with minimal friction and energy loss. This is done efficiently by the undamped leaf-springs of Lauf gravel suspension forks."
Of course, Lauf is going to push their product, why wouldn't they? However; this fact applies across all gravel bikes and devices used to make riding more comfortable. What are we dealing with on gravel rides? Trail obstacles or high frequency vibrations? This is something that makes sense and is not what a telescopic gravel fork does best, or at all.
But that's just one nugget from tat page. Again, it is worth your time to read their thoughts and think it over. A lot of horse sense is shared there and I found it refreshing. It's definitely NOT you average marketing drivel.
The Guitar Ted Podcast Episode #58:
N.Y. Roll and I got together again and laid down another podcast episode for you to check out HERE. We kind of go all over the place in this one, but N.Y. Roll texted me after I posted it and said he thought it was one of our best episodes.
We covered tires, event production, bikes, and more. We especially are intrigued by the use of big tires by the "fast guys" (Pro gravel riders) Reminds me of something I read on Lauf's page linked above, actually now that I think about that.
At any rate, there is another episode for you to chew on. let me know what you think if you listen to it. By the way, did you know that you can now leave comments on our Spotify page if you listen from there? Or you can comment here or email me also. I would love to hear any comments or suggestions for the podcast you might have.
This season is coming to a close quickly for the podcast. We will plan on recording through November when we will sign off for a month and reconvene in January of 2025. I suspect we will get in about five, maybe six more episodes for the season. Thank you for listening, if you do.
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| Image courtesy of Velo Orange |
Velo Orange Announces New Gibbous Cage:
The 'big cage' for big containers and bottles range is getting hotter with new additions for bikepacking and long rides. Velo Orange has the excellent Mojave Cage which I reviewed here and now adds the Gibbous Cage, a side-loader design.
The stainless steel cage is available in both left and right configurations. It also features several mounting holes in its base to accommodate different mounting positions or to take advantage of the "Three-Pack" bolt arrangements found on some bicycles.
The cage costs $39.00 USD and you can get one from Velo Orange's site HERE.
Comments: This cage, and several like it, are great ideas for increasing the water carrying capacity on bikes you may like that were designed before all the "adventure warts" became a popular choice for adventure bikes. Bicycles like my On One Inbred, as an example, could really benefit from having a cage like this on it.
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| Image courtesy of Dennis Grelk's Facebook page. |
I've mentioned the name of Trans Iowa v7 winner Dennis Grelk here before, but what you did not know is that Dennis is a mechanical mastermind the sort which used to be seen much more of in times past. This mind-blowing 2 wheel drive, 2 wheel steering, fully suspended, belt driven recumbent is such a cool machine that I thought it deserved a bit wider attention. I'm quite certain Dennis would not approve, but look at this! It is amazing, right? And it has been trail-tested.
In a world of marginal gains and electrified everything, this bicycle stands out of the crowd as being something truly innovative. Yeah.....just amazing! Well done, Dennis!
I'll leave you all with that bit of inspiration. Thanks for reading Guitar Ted Productions! Get out and ride those bikes!
Thanks for the Lauf link and suggestion to read. I’m not in the market for a fully suspended bike and don’t do any sort of riding that would require it. But if I was considering one it would now be really hard for me to consider any other! As an engineer and a curious gear nerd I appreciate their approach to solving problems. Work on the primary root issues, look for the simplest way to solve problems, and then optimize those solutions. All without regard for prior conventions or fear of looking weird. Leaf spring forks on gravel bikes? Threaded BB and linkage? Not cutting holes in Carbon frames? Clearance for 29x3? I like it all!
ReplyDelete@tntmoriv - Thank you! I, like you, am also not in the market for such a bike, but I also agree that Lauf's approach is refreshing.
DeleteLike it or not, much of what we see as "innovation" is merely fashion and marketing of marginally good ideas. That's a dangerous statement to make as some will use that against anything they don't like without considering whether or not the item in question actually has benefits or any innovations. (Remembering 29"ers and why we wanted bicycles for riding on gravel better tuned for that purpose) But in Lauf's case with the Elja, what they are saying makes a lot of sense and strips away the fashion for functionality.
I’m stoked with what Lauf has done with the Elja… and that recumbent of Dennis’. That’s on another planet of innovation altogether. He’s a mad scientist in the best possible way.
ReplyDeleteHave a great weekend, Brother!
You too, Brother! Thank you for reading the blog!
DeleteHi Mark, I had a good read of the Lauf info and agree with much they say, I like that they have an ethos and can stand behind it with clear reasons. Much of MTB design IS stuck with multiple pivots and relatively narrow tyres, although I would add that the large undamped volume in semi fat tyres could negatively affect how precision suspension performs.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I once had a 26" Orange Five for the best part of a decade and enjoyed the single pivot ride. It was about £8 to swap out the main bearings too!
Unfortunately, Lauf lost me at the 'no cables' part. I know this is the way things are going but it is a mistake in my view. The usability of this bike will be just as long as compatible electronic kit is available. My Bird Aether 9 has full external cabling but if I felt the need for electronic, it's there. It might spoil the aesthetic but I'd rather that than otherwise.
As for geometry, the large is bang on for me. I've found a slacker head angle and shortish travel (65 degrees and 130mm on the Bird) suits me just fine from 30 mile days to hour long 'shreds' (if my style of riding has any kind of shred to it!).
Best wishes, Matt
@MuddyMatt - Great perspectives and thanks for taking the time to write it all out here.
DeleteI would 100% agree on the no cable thing. I'd rather have the option, and perhaps having cable routes would "future proof" this bike unless Lauf knows something we don't!
Looking at these comments I guess I am the minority but as much as function matters more... fashion or the way something looks also holds some value to me and that thing is ugly with a capital UGLY. That rear looks like it was printed by a middle school kid on a 3-D printer in his parents basement. Match that with the price tag and it's a hard pass for me.
ReplyDelete@Rydn9ers - I can see where you are coming from there. I will only add that - in my opinion - most FS bikes look really weird these days.
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