Unpack, install, ride off - this is how my bitter-sweet love-hate relationship with the Lauf fork begins. Apart from the play in the headset bearing, I don't have to adjust anything.
The continuation: throw off, get up, ride on - at first I kiss the forest floor twice, because it takes a while to get used to the elaborate fibreglass-carbon construction and to trust it.
But after a while, I'm blindly mastering my home trails again. Countless training sessions with the Lauf in all weathers allow me to immerse myself in a new dimension of speed rush full of euphoria. Time flies on the flowing, fast trails! However, root carpets and stone fields always bring me back down to earth.
Because the 60 mm "suspension travel" is not the world, the fighting weight of just under 1000 grams has to be achieved somehow. The lower height of only 487 mm (similar to an 80 mm suspension fork) transforms my marathon bike into a CC rocket. But I can get used to that. Bunny-hops over hub-high obstacles are suddenly a piece of cake, and the odd Strava KOM becomes mine thanks to the Lauf Trail Racer!
Deceleration is provided by a 180 mm disc, which is also the smallest option that can be fitted. I swapped the 15 mm thru axle for a model with a lever for more everyday practicality.
How to ride the Lauf Trail Racer 29
The leaf spring design absorbs small bumps much better than a conventional suspension fork, but on large steps or roots, the barrel is at a disadvantage. The ride feel is therefore more reminiscent of a rigid fork paired with low tyre pressure. I have to be very active on the trails in order to stay on the bike at all - mistakes are not forgiven here and the fork bounces up extremely when the roots follow each other quickly.
So up onto the forest motorway! This is where the fork feels most at home. The slight bobbing when pedalling out of the saddle is hardly noticeable, in contrast to the low overall height, which significantly increases the steering angle.
Changes (30 km):
- Quick-release axle with lever fitted
- Stem mounted raised
Conclusion:
Extravagant look that attracts everyone's attention. Weight fetishists can buy the Lauf with a clear conscience. The intended use is more limited to the forest motorway than technical trails. The absolutely low maintenance requirement was worth its weight in gold for me, especially in the wet, cold months of the year!
The facts about the Trail Racer 29 running fork
Weight: 1100 g (BIKE measurement pre-series model, 990 g planned for series production)
Geometry: 487 mm height (distance from thru axle to fork crown), 45 mm offset
Spring travel60 mm; three spring stiffnesses available (50-75 kg, 70-95 kg and 90-110 kg)
Price: 990 euros, www.laufforks.com
