[Closed] Fell from the top of the ugly tree, and hit every branch on the way down

It is a bit PRST-1

That is truly awful.

That is truly [s]awful[/s] fantastic.

I can't see why it has two waterbottles on it because surely that's just designed to go to the shops and back?

Not a fan of the lauf forks, nope not at all.
They seem to be turning up on all sorts of nice bikes too, but that ^^ isn't a particularly nice bike..

I officially like that.

Why are the seat stays dropped like that? Looks stupid and can't be very strong.

Weirdness just to be different I reckon rather than for any benefit.

Straight up minging. There's really no excuse for something like that.

Needs moar paperclip.

And an Ellsworth logo.

Suspect it's a bucket load of fun, though

Very much this. Even more so with a proper fork...

Why are the seat stays dropped like that? Looks stupid and can't be very strong.

Vertical compliance innit

Suspect it's a bucket load of fun

What on earth gives you that impression, given it has silly handlebars that restrict movement on technical stuff, silly forks which are known to be crap, crap brakes, a jump on your top tube designed to intercept your genitals if you crash and a tiller where there ought to be a stem?

A rather poor tool for the job of bike touring, yes, but fun, no?

Weirdness just to be different I reckon

Exactly what I was thinking. Looks all wrong!

mmmm...gearbox bike!

However, that first image is actually quite a flattering angle, it looks much worse when you follow the link!

Weirdness just to be different I reckon rather than for any benefit.

It's the sort of bike that will impress the non cyclist when you tell them how expensive/wonderful it is, with proper cyclists thinking/saying - what a pile of sh1te.

My fiver's on that lauf fork snapping within 20 miles

My fiver's on that lauf fork snapping within 20 miles

A year's mileage for a bike like that.

Take off the bottles, silly fork and bars and I think it would look okay. Wouldn't mind a ride on it.

My fiver's on that lauf fork snapping within 20 miles

However, that first image is actually quite a flattering angle, it looks much worse when you follow the link!

Dropped seat stays and a seat tube that sticks out a long way above the top tube often results in cracking, unless they've used a thick tube or some kind of sleeve.

Call me weird, but I really like that.

I like it!

Okay, not the comedy bars, I'd stick some proper ones ones but the rest is cool.

If I was ultra fussy I'd say it looks a wimpy around the headtube.

Looks exactly what I fancy at the moment, years of big agro FS bikes makes me fancy something like that.

I own some truly freaky bikes, but that is flipping bogging, even by my niche attention whore ego chariot standards.

'kin L!
That's worse than any of John Climbers!
😳

Someone's put a lot of love into developing that. It's odd but I quite like it.

Even if the TT is bent the wrong way and putting the rear end loads into the middle of the seat tube the seat tube is a really bad idea. It's a bit like the reverse of a classic ladies bike.

Loading it up with bags does help to disguise how ugly it is.

[img] [/img]

Seat stays and top tube don't do it for me.

Any of those moaning about the Jones bars actually ridden a bike with them?

I've had a very short ride on a bike (one of John Climber's actually) with Lauf forks, way too short to properly test and fully form an opinion. Thinking about them for a current build but they aren't something I'd put on a bike intended for bike parks or trail centres.

The Lauf forks have a very specific niche. Everyone admits they aren't good outside that, and are not a substitute for normal forks.

I'm very intrigued by the gearbox bike for adventure biking though. I'd buy one if it were a realistic option. I've long been interested in the idea of a maintenance-free bike.

I'm very intrigued by the gearbox bike for adventure biking though. I'd buy one if it were a realistic option. I've long been interested in the idea of a maintenance-free bike.

Is it really a good idea? Ok it might be less likely to go wrong but if it did then there would be little chance to get it fixed locally and it might also be difficult to bodge something.

Reminds me of this 😀 Gtech ebike
[img] [/img]

Ok it might be less likely to go wrong but if it did then there would be little chance to get it fixed locally and it might also be difficult to bodge something.

That all depends on how likely it is to go wrong. If it's bombproof, then no worries. You'd have the advantage of not caring about a muddy drivetrain.

That all depends on how likely it is to go wrong. If it's bombproof, then no worries. You'd have the advantage of not caring about a muddy drivetrain.

Doubt the owners of that abomination would have to worry about a muddy drivetrain either, given it'll never to further than the corner shop. It's a statement bike rather than one designed for real use.

I don't think so tbh. Doesn't look like what non-cycling gear junkies expect a bike to look like.

I always think bars like that would look better with a wicker basket attached.

The hunchback top tube is the worst bit for me. I liked that Lauf were thinking outside the conventional telescopic fork concept when they came up with their forks, so they count as interesting rather than ugly to me. I hadn't followed them closely enough to know that they'd turned out to be poor and/or very limited in application.

I don't think so tbh. Doesn't look like what non-cycling gear junkies expect a bike to look like.

That just gives the idiot owner a chance to lecture them on how expensive and how wonderful the abomination is.

Come on Ben,you know where Wicker looks best 😛
[img] [/img]

kin L!
That's worse than any of John Climbers!

Woa! You've crossed a line there 😆

Ok, so you all know I have a quirky bike and dress sense, but all this needs is 'More Cowbell' and I'm sure it will be a hit.

Rob, how did you find the Laufs on the American Trail Race?

It must be effective as Pierre absolutely smashed everyone else on the French Divide, yes I know its not about the bike.

I just couldn't bring myself to trust that seat tube not to collapse forwards on landing after a big jump. The frame must be heavy thanks to the inefficient shape?

And five different places to stack your gear must make for a lot of faffing as you set up camp then pack. Give me a simple pair of panniers any day; well-packed and secured panniers don't upset the handling on a hardtail.

It is partly about the bike. You'd not get far on that Brompton on the HT550 would you?

@globalti - no faffing at all really, you just organise your kit accordingly. On an ITT I'll have one bag containing my bivy kit, one for spare clothes, food is in stem cells, etc. Depending on the distance, time of year, weather and strategy I'll use the minimum set of bags needed.

This weekend is the YD200, looks like decent weather and I intend to ride it in one so I'll just have two stem cells for food and a very small seat pack with some spare clothes and an emergency bivy bag.

globalti - Member
I just couldn't bring myself to trust that seat tube not to collapse forwards on landing after a big jump.

I'm not sure "big jumps" are really on the horizon for any of these frames.

😆

Why are the seat stays dropped like that?

It's a statement bike rather than one designed for real use.

This^^^

I would imagine it's the ideal mode of transport for the type of hipster who sits in the window of Starbuck drinking latte while using his electric typewriter.

I personally think it's probably the most terrible looking bike I've ever seen.

I personally think it's probably the most terrible looking bike I've ever seen.

Champion for Life

[img] [/img]

Whitestone - the Lauf's do what they said on the tin. They are spot on for that kind of racing; light, reliable, comfortable.

I know some folk think they are ugly, but I sleep in ditches and wear my bibs outside my shirt when I'm racing, so why would I care what a fork looks like?

I'll be on them again when I hit the race again......

I would imagine it's the ideal mode of transport for the type of hipster who sits in the window of Starbuck drinking latte while using his electric typewriter.

Not a chance. Hipsters don't ride stuff like this. And they sure as hell don't go to Starbucks. Not from London are you?

Cheers Rob - was thinking about them for the HT550 and CTR.

HT550? CTR? I'd leave the Lauf in the shed and go back to a set of Reba's for that one if I ever get the time to race them.
Thats far outside the Lauf remit.

Cheers Rob. Looks like the Pikes if I can't find any 29er Rebas with 15mm axle.