Last fall, after learning Esker was bringing back the Lorax in steel and what it was actually going to be, I became quite excited. When I was told more, sent the geometry and what the parts build would
be, my anticipation grew like a little kid tucked in on Christmas Eve,
trying with all their might to fall asleep and bring the morning
quicker.
I Could Not Wait.
And then it arrived a couple weeks ago, so super duper thanks to Esker for getting me one early, mostly because we're a dealer and we believe in this bike - but also because I wouldn't stop pestering them. Esker gets it: take care of those who take care of you, and we could not be more thankful.
Immediately I built it up - meticulously - quickly slapped on a water cage and pedals, closed up the shop, and started my commute home with the ascent to - and up - Dirt Tunnel. What a hell of a first impression. For those who don't know Dirt Tunnel; it is about a one mile dirt road with an average grade of 11%, but there are a couple steep kickers in there including a 19%. It is no joke.
Well, this bike is a goat.
The 38 tooth chain ring did not hold me back with the full range of the 10-51 tooth XT cassette as I plowed though every steep turn in the deep dust layered on top of hard, dry earth. The chainline was great, keeping the drive train quiet while smoothly moving through the entire cassette, and the bottom bracket high enough to keep my pedals from striking. It comes stock with 170mm cranks which I swapped for 175mm because that's what I ride, and there were zero issues. You would likely have no issue with 180's as well if that's your jam.
The Maxxis Ikons bit hard and not once did the bike lose traction. The short stem married to the Wolf Tooth Lithic fork set at 44mm of offset coupled to the tight and tucked rear end kept the front end nimble while I powered at the slow grind, the tracking completely predictable and fluid. Yes, there are two offsets on this fork, 44mm and 51.5mm. The other super cool thing about the fork is the four different dropouts - it comes stock at 15x110, but they have a 12x100 which will let me use my favorite dyno hub; the Shimano Alfine.
Once at the top of Tunnel Road, I shifted down to the 10t cog and spun up to rip the road to Skyline Gate with pure confidence and speed (dropper posts are great in high speed turns).
After a quick pit stop at Skyline gate for water and a few fit adjustments, I rolled onto West Ridge at a smooth cadence and speed. With lots of dog walkers and joggers and hikers using this, I kept it relatively slow and safe. The bike rolled so smooth and nimble though the small rocks, undulations and around each turn. I can see how this bike would dominate something like Unbound Gravel, Trans Iowa (RIP) as well as so many other endless miles of midwest gravel. I raced Trans Iowa in 2007 and 2008 on a Cross Check, and this Lorax would have been an absolute dream.
Popping out of West Ridge I zipped Skyline over to the small chunk of Sequoia Bayview across from the Space Center and found myself brake checking through the rough as the bike kept begging to go faster! From there I continued down Sequioa Bayview - probably a little quicker than I should have - where I finally stopped to take a quick photo.
Back on with the sun setting, the roll to Sunset Trail was made as smooth as butter on this amazing machine. The small lips kicking me into the air, and even charging into that small wall ride, there was no fear and no hesitation. Before I knew it I was on Ascot headed toward Park and then home after my commute of 16 blissful miles and 1600ft of climbing - where I immediately sent my friends at Esker a resounding "HELL YEAH!"
Sunday came and with the day off I wanted to give this bike a solid workout and see what it is capable of. I added a another water cage, packed a bag of snacks and started my early-before-people-started-their-day ascent to Dimond Canyon.
On the road the bike was stable and not even remotely sluggish. The spin up to the dirt awaiting me was as easy as riding my road bike. Turning off onto a side road to catch the Old Canon Trail, the bike soared through the single track, up every steep grade, and carved down the other side. When I hit the creek and started the climb up the switchbacks, I knew this would be a good test.
As is the case, I gave it everything I had, but some days making all four switchbacks isn't in the cards. I wish I could blame the tires or the bike or anything other than me, but... well, if you have ever ridden these you know. A more capable (and lucky) rider would have soared up the climb aboard this rig.
Once at the top, the bike rolled smooth and fast keeping me on a solid pace all the way to Butters and into Joaquin Miller. And this is when it got even more awesomer.
I dropped into Sinawik, lowered the saddle, and had to keep brake checking to hold the bike back, it wanted to be let loose so badly. At some point I will let this thing go, but I had seen a couple hikers and today was not the day to ruin it. Even keeping things a little tame it was an absolute blast to zip down past the bridge to Palos Coroados and charge up that steep climb. Like I said, this bike is a goat. The geo kept the front end down while the tires gripped like a two year old to an ice cream cone, there was no letting go. Making it to the top almost too easily the bike kept asking for more so the charge continued all the way to the top of Sunset. From there is was a soft pedal to West Ridge, and to the descent down to the valley bottom.
The confidence this bike gave me was invigorating on the (up to) -22% grade of rocks and roots and dust. The Lorax ate it all up and asked for so much more. And this time I let it loose for a bit. It was almost like the bike was driving itself - as if it knew where to go - snaking through the turns, launching off small drops, carving through the S turn and down into the final rip to the valley below. I can only imagine how it would descend with the fork offset in the 51mm setting...
I stopped for a quick snack and water in the bottom of the park before climbing back up to East Ridge. And again, the geometry, set up and build kept the front end glued to the ground giving me more traction than I needed all the way to the top. (yes I have talked about this a lot in such a short review, but I have yet to ride a bike of this genre that doesn't)
It was another predictable and confident roll from there to West Ridge and back to that little chunk of Sequoia Bayview off Skyline where I just let the bike go again. At the bottom of this little descent I realized the Lorax LOVES singletrack. I typically ride rigid mountain bikes, and I have to say that if you are looking for a drop bar bike to give you confidence on tight, twisty somewhat technical dirt ribbons, this bike is for you.
From here it was Big Trees to Upper Colorados (where the switchbacks were a breeze), then Sunset, and Park to make my way home. Coming down Park I hit 43.5 MPH, so yeah, this bike is fast and does just fine on pavement.
And then I took it to Larkspur and rode it over Mt Tam through the Marin Headlands, and back to the SF Ferry Building. Add in another commute and this brings the total to just about 96 miles and around 11,150ft of elevation gain, mostly on dirt. I'd say this is one hell of a way to make a first impression.
So why was I so excited, why do I believe this bike is fantastic, and why does this matter?
Since the early 2000's I have been riding, racing and training, bikepacking and touring, on road, off road, on east coast technical mountain bike trails, mid west gravel, as well as everything in the Bay on a Cross Check with 45c knobbies. Over the years many companies have offered "drop bar mountain bikes", and with every one I tried, the ride always ended with a frown. They were either sluggish, slow, heavy, too tall (I say too tall and I'm 6ft so there's that - you need to be one with the bike, not perched on it - I could no imagine being under 5ft 5in and having to deal with some of the other offerings), or they just didn't handle actual mountain biking very well. I always went back to my Cross Check to find a nimble drop bar bike that could handle real off road use without having to go full custom.
When I decided to do the Great Divide in 2014, I had to get a custom bike made for it because no one offered a production bike that out shined my Cross Check which was not what I felt confident finishing on. Since then, I found that I could only get another capable bike (for me) by again going full custom, because every production bike available held me back in some way or another, or it just rode like crap... until now.
Esker has brought something to the table that not only checks every box, it exceeds all my expectations. And in my humble opinion the price is almost $1000 less than I anticipated for a bike of this caliber. For only $3000 you can get a machine that is 100% Tour Divide ready right out of the box, which was the cost of my custom frame and fork more than 10 years ago. This has got to be the best value available right now.
If you are in the market for a drop bar, off road adventure / tourer / bikepacking / anything you want to do bike, you would be making a huge mistake if you didn't seriously consider the Lorax.
I know it is a bold statement, but this is THE Best Production Adventure Bike I have ever ridden.
Stop by our
Piedmont shop to take a look, and I'll be more than pleased to order one up for you. The stock build is just great, but we always love a custom frame up build to make it exactly what you like. I promise you will be amazed!
Yes, named after the book.
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