Lauf Elja Trail
Final Review. And the story of a rider leveling up.
How This Season Started
This summer and fall marked a real turning point for me as a mountain biker.
I committed to the Aquarius Trail, a five-day, 200-mile hut-to-hut ride that asked more of me than anything I’d done before. More miles. More climbing. More days in a row. Mesa and I spent the summer stacking fitness, grinding uphill, and learning what endurance actually feels like.
I came out of that experience stronger and proud, but also unsure what to focus on next.
Then an unexpected opportunity landed at exactly the right moment. Lauf Cycling invited a small group of riders to test their new mountain bikes, and I was lucky enough to be included. I didn’t know what the Elja would unlock for me.
I just knew I was grateful.
Lauf Elja Lander Team
A few of us in Lander formed an informal test crew of NOLSies. Jamie, Galen, Jared, and I rode together throughout the fall.
Riding with people who are technically skilled, deeply supportive, and genuinely joyful on bikes turned out to be a big part of the story.
Leveling up isn’t just about terrain. It’s a lot about who you ride with.
From the very first ride, the Elja felt different. Light. Fast. Responsive.
My first ride was with Jamie at the Bus Loop. We rode with big smiles and a lot of gratitude. I remember laughing at how quick the bike felt.
I’m going to have to learn to keep up with this bike, I thought.
It invited me into a version of riding that blends two things I love: climbing with efficiency and ease, and descending with speed and precision.
First Ride
What Shifted
Finishing the Aquarius Trail with friends was a huge accomplishment after lots of training. Little did I know there was more to come.
After the Elja arrived, I realized I had more room to grow, especially technically. All summer I had focused on fitness. This fall, my excitement shifted toward obstacles I’d been avoiding.
In Lander, I started riding lines I had walked around for years. Riding with my friend Stacy, I reconnected with my love of steep, rollable drops.
In Hurricane, Utah, with Jamie, the terrain demanded precision: quick, punchy climbs that required front-wheel lifts and committed weight shifts, followed by fast, flowing descents on sandstone.
The riding was physical and relentless. I loved it so much. Up. Down. Obstacle after obstacle.
The Elja’s nimbleness and lightness made that kind of riding not just possible, but deeply fun.
Leveling Up
Late in the season, I surprised myself by fully cleaning Johnny On Top, a black diamond trail in Lander that I’d been riding as a “common to step off and walk” situation since spring. But this time, I didn’t stop or hesitate. I was ready to ride it all and I knew it.
One section stood out: a chunky rock garden on a corner with exposure on the left, followed by more steep technical rolls. The video makes it look chill, but I had worked up to this moment. With one last piece of beta from Galen, I had my strategy, and I cleaned it no problem.
Something subtle but important shifted. I stopped staring at obstacles. I started looking up and ahead. My vision widened.
I trusted that my body knew what to do once I chose a line.
It feels a little vulnerable to say that a bike supported my confidence. But it did.
The Elja moved with me instead of asking me to wrestle its weight. My mindset shifted from play it safe, don’t get hurt toward something more forward-leaning.
Stay loose.
Trust your gut.
Believe it’s possible.
The Review:
Bottom Line: I love this bike, and I got it at the perfect time in my riding progression.
Climbing | Efficient, Grippy, Uncomplicated
The Elja is built to climb well first. Its light carbon frame and efficient suspension reward steady power without constant micromanagement.
My size Small build came in around 28 pounds with pedals, which fundamentally changed how long and technical climbs felt. On loose, stepped-up terrain, traction stood out immediately. The rear wheel stayed planted without feeling over-damped.
The bike never gets in the way. It simply turns effort into forward motion.
Descending | Fast, Precise, Confidence-Building
With 130mm front / 120mm rear travel, this is not an enduro bike, and it doesn’t pretend to be.
What it is instead is fast, precise, and composed. The geometry balances stability with agility, holding a line through rocky descents without feeling dull or vague.
For long, technical days in the sharp rocks of southern Utah, I swapped the stock tires for burlier Continental tires. The added security increased confidence without muting the bike’s lively feel.
Flight Attendant System | Fewer Decisions, More Presence
Locked on smooth climbs.
Open on rocky ups.
Fully open on descents.
I didn’t expect to love this system as much as I do. The ability to fine-tune behavior in the SRAM AXS app made it easy to dial in, and the biggest benefit was mental.
One less decision meant more presence.
Geometry & Ride Feel | Playful, Stable, Clear
Playful without feeling nervous. Solid without being sluggish.
Big moves like drops, ledges, and rock gardens feel controlled and predictable. The bike communicates clearly, which made it easier to learn, adjust, and trust my choices.
Tire Clearance & New Lines
The Elja ships with 29 x 2.6” tires and has generous clearance for wider rubber.
Running higher-volume tires expanded the terrain I felt comfortable committing to. Lines that once felt questionable became inviting. The Elja feels like it expands the menu rather than narrowing it.
Who This Bike Is For
The Elja is a strong fit for riders who love long days on singletrack and value efficiency without giving up trail confidence.
It’s ideal for riders who want to progress without being held back by their equipment. For me, as an intermediate rider looking to level up, it was a perfect match. It would also serve riders across skill levels who value endurance, precision, and a bike that grows with them.
I know I can learn and have fun on any bike. This one supported a faster, more joyful progression than I expected.
The Elja expanded what feels possible. It changed how I ride, how I look ahead, and how I trust myself on the trail. It’s already shaping the goals I’m dreaming into next year: bikepacking, steeper rolls, more technical climbs, playful jumps.
Definitely more riding with friends, dogs, and big beautiful landscapes.
This fall changed my riding.
I’m grateful.
Thank you to Lauf Cycles for the trust and opportunity.
Thank you to the riders who have pushed and supported me: Jamie, Galen, Jared, Stacy, Julia, Eric, Mike, Mo, Jeremy, Amy, Clair, Steve.
Thanks to the dogs who remind us the joy of playing outside: Mesa, Pingo, Archie, Patch, Ellie, Juno, Kody, Luke, Lyra, and many more.
And thank you to the trails and wild place that taught me what was possible.
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