E-Bikes And The Law

Image courtesy of A. Andonopoulos

 Recently a new law was signed by the outgoing governor of the State of New Jersey which pretty much treats every electrified bike/two wheeled vehicle as a motorcycle. 

See this excellent explainer video on YouTube HERE for a complete look at what this law might entail.  

Other states are also taking action, or considering to take action. Here in Iowa a recent study bill included language which pretty much would have made riding any bicycle  on any road with a 25mph speed limit or higher illegal. Thankfully this bill has been pulled at the moment. People in New York, Arizona, and in some smaller communities across the USA report similar laws being either enacted or are statutes and ordinances under consideration. 

Essentially, this all boils down to a few key points. 

• Deaths and injuries involving electrified bicycles, including fires caused by batteries for such vehicles, is compelling law makers "to do something about it.  This especially becomes a higher priority when people under the age of 21 are involved. 
• Due to how the original class system for electrified bicycles was set up, there were gaps in the system and opportunities for profiteering opened up. This was evidenced by the surge in Far Eastern sourced electrified, two wheeled vehicles which would satisfy the appetite of US citizens for cheap, high-powered two wheeled vehicles which could be ridden with little to no effort. 
• Law enforcement has an insurmountable task in trying to weed out the wheat from the chaff when it comes to the bikes which are undesirable, illegal, or safe. Basically, it is impossible for any law to address this and not affect those who benefit most from assisted cycling. So, "blanket measures" are being written and, in the case of New Jersey, enacted with little to no regard for nuance.

 First of all, the genie is out of the bottle when it comes to the three class system and making that the "standard" for e-Bikes. This has failed and is essentially useless as a way to regulate motorized two-wheeled transportation. So any attempt to point to this system and think we can reverse field and have things the way they were intended to be with the three class system is doomed to fail. 

Okay, what do we do from this point? 

In New Jersey, they essentially are saying all two-wheeled "things" are now going to be treated like motorcycling. License, registration, and DOT approved motorcycle helmets. Insurance. The works. Most non-cyclists and people in government are going to nod their heads in approval with laws in this vein. It makes it easy - No trying to weed out what is this or that. Kill 'em all, let God sort it out. Brutal, but easy to write a law by this standard. 

Of course, it is unenforceable. The law enforcement departments haven't the time, resources, or will to tackle a law like this in totality. So, essentially it becomes a tool for (a) local entities to raise funds via citations, (b) a tool for law enforcement to seek out more serious crime by pulling over people for riding illegally with an intent for looking for evidence , or interrogation leading to arrests for more serious crimes. It also could easily be used as a way to intimidate minorities or whatnot. So, from this standpoint, these sorts of laws are opening doors for abuse and uses not intended by the law specifically. From this standpoint alone these laws should not be allowed on the books.

But what about the kids? 

This is where I think it is prudent to have laws making it illegal for underage individuals to be on these vehicles. It would be easier to enforce, it would have wider support from the cycling community, and it would address the root cause for concern. Meanwhile, our government should regulate imports and force quality checks on these e-Bikes coming in which are not compliant with safety regulations currently. Perhaps e-Bike specific ones, drawing from the three class system, could be implemented as well.  

I;m probably missing a lot here, but those are my initial thoughts on this subject. I do know laws like the one proposed in Iowa are ridiculous and completely unenforceable. Why are we wasting time trying to write lazy law like this? Our representatives should be doing better. And - of course - 100% human powered bicycles should never be a part of this. 

Let me know what you think in the comments. 

CABDA 2026 Show Chicago: Report

 Last year I was able to post a report from my friend, Ari Andonopoulos, on the CABDA Show. CABDA is an acronym for Chicago Area Bicycle Dealers Association. Vendors from the industry come to show a variety of bicycles, components, and tools which may be of interest to the Chicago area bicycle retail trade, and beyond. 

This year Ari was in attendance again and he graciously sent over several images and a nice report. Folowing will be a plethora of images and a few words. Thanks for checking this out, and a big "thank you" to Ari for taking the time to share this with us!

All images credited to Ari Andonopoulos.  

Chicago, Illinois: Report filed by Ari Andonopoulos - I made the drive to the Schaumburg Convention center for the 2026 CABDA show. I also ran into a couple of people I know in the lobby, got signed in, badged, and looked for the coat check. No such luck! 

 

I did some quick rounds to get a sense of what was there. I immediately noticed the hustle and bustle surrounding all the e-bike booths. Aventon was the busiest, so was Velotric. Young and old were taking bikes onto the indoor test track with smiles on their faces.

 

 I was impressed with the Shimano booth. It was perhaps the largest display in the hall. I want to say they probably had everything on display with a large amount of staff helping visitors. They had assembled mini seminars, explaining bleeding brakes, setting up DI2 and MTB stuff. 

 The new Q-Auto system was also on display. I spent a lot of time there. 

Missing were some carbon bike companies that were there last year, like Factor, Cervelo and others. Park tool had their display and were showcasing some new work stands and manual tools. 

 

Absent were also Velocity , which I wanted to check out some 32" rim they were working on. Also absent was Provision Cycling, importer for Campagnolo and Assos .

Billy Flamingo is a new company specializing in winter tires mainly for fat bikes. Studded tires in 27.5x4 inches seem to be the norm up in Alaska, where the company is from. Other notable mentions were Jamis, Abus, Kryptonite, Giant, Pedros , Risse Racing, Koolstop, and Kenda. 

Vee Rubber is working on 20"x4" tires for e-bikes ,which we use a lot at the shop where I work. I talked to a lot of the vendors and everyone seemed optimistic for a good 2026 bike season. I spent more time this year than last and had better conversations with the vendors. Glad I made the trek out there. 

 

Thanks Ari! It looks as though it was a big and well attended show. Interesting to see the focus on electrified bikes that, for better or worse, seem to be in the crosshairs of governments across the USA now. 

This will wrap up the report section of the CABDA 2026 report. In the next post there will be a photo dump with no words, other than some captions. 

 

Thank you for reading Guitar Ted Productions, and another shout-out toAri Andonopoulos for providing us with this report.   

CABDA 2026 Show Chicago: Photo Dump

Thanks to Ari Andonopoulos for all the imagery in today's post! There won't be any commentary, but this will give you an idea of what caught Ari's eye at the dealer show held in Chicago earlier this week. I may include a few captions here and there. 

Feel free to ask questions in the comments. Ari and I will do our best to get you answers. In the meantime, enjoy the image show and thanks for reading Guitar Ted Productions! 

Also, look for the report from Ari and more images in the following post for today, (which may appear ahead of this post if you are checking out the blog on your PC.) 

Alloy Giant bike without drive train or brakes.

Bike Rags Apparel is an Iowa based company

A rare and expensive Colnago gravel bike.

Billy Flamingo is a fat bike tire and accessory company from Alaska. This is the 27.5 "Quill Pig"

Billy Flamingo only offers 27.5" fat bike tires currently. 

The company also offers studs in different anodized colors along with a studding tool.

Kenda isn't at the top of most folks gravel tire desires. Kenda hopes to change that with the Crusher.

Here's the Crusher in a black wall version. 

A close up of the Kenda Alluvium Pro gravel tire.

Kenda makes several "e-Fat tires" for various electric bike applications,

Kinekt was there at CABDA showing their vibration absorbing stems and seat posts.

Pedros makes several tools which are mechanic favorites.

A good looking Sage Titanium Storm King with a suspension fork.

The only 32"er at CABDA was this SE Bikes "Colossal Ripper". Aptly named!

Stans on tap? I'll pass....

You may know Thomson for components like stems and seat posts. But did you know they have bicycles too?

This MTB hardtail is decked out in Thomson components. 

This track bike is pretty awesome looking. 

Well, that will be it for this photo dump from the 2026 CABDA show in Chicago. Thanks once again to Ari Andonopoulos for his time and energy in providing this content for Guitar Ted Productions. 

Look for the report from Ari and more images here as well.  

Friday News And Views

Airborne Bicycle Co To Launch New Product Soon:

As I was cruising social media earlier this week I came across an old name I hadn't seen much of in recent years. Airborne bikes were semi-famous in the early 2000's as a titanium brand with very inexpensive bikes. (For titanium, that is). Several models were available and Airborne was one of the first titanium 29"er bikes you could buy as a complete offering. 

Airborne was then sold to Huffy Bicycles and they revived the company as a budget oriented brand for mountain biking. I actually tested a Goblin 29 model back around 2012 or so for the 29"er site I wrote for. 

Then Airborne fell off my radar. Well, according to the comments made by "Airborne Bicycle Co." in the Facebook post I saw, the company was bought back by its original owner and since those days it has been quietly running with what appears to be only a couple MTB bikes. (See website HERE)

Supposedly there will be announcements in the coming weeks with new bikes. What these may be are hinted at in that Facebook post I saw. A dirt jumper, some MTB bikes, a return to titanium. But whether or no there will be gravel bikes, there was no hint given. I would bet there has to be something there. We will see.....

Proposed Iowa Bill May Make RAGBRAI, Gravel Riding A Crime:

Thanks to www.bikiowa.com, a new study bill in the Iowa legislature has been exposed which could have several unintended consequences for Iowa cyclists and tourism based on cycling in Iowa. 

Read the Bikeiowa article here and get all the details. 

Comments: Instigated as a way to regulate "devices" on public roadways with speed limits over 25mph, this broad-swath approach to law making could have a detrimental effect on cycling in the state. Unfortunately, this includes gravel roads as well. 

As of Wednesday morning the bill had been pulled. I would assume this is due to all the hub-bub created by Iowa cyclists. Postings about this bill were noted on several social media sites all expressing a negative take on the bill and its possible effects.  

While things seem to have cooled down for now, this hasn't gone away 100%. Worst case scenario is the law passes with no modifications. In my opinion it is unenforceable. Black Hawk county has approximately 550 miles of gravel and dirt roads, and you think you would have time, resources, and technology available to cover just this part to enforce the law? Give me a break! There is no way that happens. 

But Iowans, and you, dear readers, should be taking this seriously. Already we have seen New Jersey pull off a law making e-Bikes have to be licensed and registered as vehicles with insurance. Don't think for a minute your state isn't watching what happens and that your representatives aren't fiddling with similar ideas. 

Surly Offers Midnight Special With Carbon Fork:

Surly Bikes revealed on Tuesday of this past week a new offering of the Midnight Special with a carbon fork. 

The bike, dubbed an "endurance bike for backroads" by Surly, features a Waxwing carbon fork which Surly claims "has a knack for reducing road chatter"

The bike is also set up with Teravail's own carbon rims and tires. The drive train consists mostly of Shimano 105 12 speed parts. List price for this version of the Midnight Special is $3,499.00. 

Comments: Surly continues to "un-Surly" its offerings with this introduction of carbon fiber into its line. My audible chuckle was heard when I read the bit about "reducing road chatter". I have the very same Waxwing fork on my Honemann Flyer. I can tell ya......it ain't all that great at reducing chatter". In fact, I slapped a Redshift Sports ShockStop stem on the bike to do what Surly says the fork does, but does not do.  

And that geometry is pretty weird. 73° head tube angle matched with a 65mm bottom bracket drop? (Looking at a 58cm example) What is this? A Trek cyclo cross bike? I think the geometry is very similar. Anyway, it is about as far away from a "backroads bike" as I can think of for myself. Your mileage may vary.  

Image courtesy of the Gravel Cycling Hall of fame

GCHoF News Snubbed:

Several hours after the news broke on Wednesday morning about the new class of 2026 inductees for the Gravel Cycling Hall of Fame, I checked several major cycling news sites. I noted no mention of the 2026 class for the GCHoF. Note: I did eventually find one well written story posted six hours after the announcement on Cycling Weekly by Anne-Marije Rook. HERE.

This is very interesting. 

The cycling industry has benefited greatly due to the development of gravel events and the subsequent innovations the industry has made to accommodate gravel cyclists. It is arguable that gravel, as a category, has made the transition from post pandemic troubles a bit less burdensome on brands and other companies with gravel products. 

There is no question that gravel events draw more participants than most other niches of cycle sport the mainstream sites froth over in their coverage. News on road cycling, MTB, or even such mundane things as the layoff situation at Campagnolo grabbed space in their news feeds. 

How gravel history and its impact on the industry is so conveniently ignored by all of the mainstream news sites is not going unnoticed. Also, for the record, those sites were afforded the opportunity to mention the GCHoF's Class of 2026 by way of a press release I know they were sent. (I happen to know the PR guy, so there is that...)

I don't know, but the way mainstream cycling media pushes news like this to the back burner is rather curious. 

Also, our take on the Guitar Ted Podcast can be heard on our latest podcast episode HERE.  

Bobcat tracks I saw in 2006

Bobcats More Common In Iowa:

As a cyclist, I enjoy seeing wildlife on my gravel rides. I was pretty curious and thrilled then when back in 2006 I came across bob cat tracks near Hickory Hills on a gravel ride.  

As I recall this was a ride in January which took me all the way down Ansborough Avenue Southward to the "T" intersection in Tama County where I stopped and refreshed myself with water and nutrition I had at the time. It was then when I spied those tracks in the snowy ditch. 

Bobcats were rare animals then and I felt fortunate to have even found tracks. But according to State biologists, the species has rebounded in the last 20 years to the point of becoming observed in urban areas. 

Mating season for the bobcat is now through March. So, males may be more on the move at this time. Keep an eye out for bobcats in fields along wooded areas or check for tracks when you stop. If you see one, don't panic. They are very wary of humans, and it would be a very chance occurrence if you did see one on a ride. But......there is a chance. A much better one than I had 20 years ago.  

Image courtesy of State Bicycle Co. social media

The 32" Watch: State Bicycle Co. Teases 32"er

State Bicycle Co., purveyors of budget and value driven bicycles and components, recently showed a bike with a front wheel that is 32" in diameter. Sporting the now ubiquitous Maxxis Aspen 32" X 2.4" tire, State seems to be testing the waters here. 

It is worth keeping an eye on if you are 32"er curious as anything State might put out there with a 32 inch wheel will likely be very competitively priced. 

Will they do this? I'm thinking there is a very good chance they will, but if so, my bet is nothing shows up for sale until 2027. It would take at least this long to develop a bike, components, and if they are going to provide a budget suspension choice, this might tack on a bit more time to get into production as well. 
 

That's a wrap on this week's FN&V. Thanks for reading Guitar ted Productions. Get out and ride a bicycle soon! 

Gravel Cycling Hall of Fame Class 2026

The Gravel Cycling Hall of Fame has announced its 5th class of entrants to the hall. Let's take a look at each entrant, their bio for the hall, and then I'll have a bit of commentary afterward on each individual. 

Please keep in mind these comments I make in each "Comments" section for each individual are my own opinions and may not reflect the opinions of the GCHoF, cycling media, or anyone else, for that matter. I'm open to civil discourse concerning any of my comments so please do not hesitate to reach out if you feel so inclined in the comments section here. 

Image courtesy of the Gravel Cycling Hall of Fame

 

The Inductees for 2026

Kristen Legan
Meg Fisher
Paul Errington
Jim Cummins

Kristen Legan: From her bio in the press release: "Her accomplishments on the bike include multiple Unbound 200 podiums and a victory at the 2023 Unbound XL, but today her ongoing legacy is in her storytelling and the riders she coaches. Kristen has helped cyclists of all abilities accomplish and exceed their goals in gravel cycling. In addition to her coaching, Kristen works with leading brands in the cycling industry, including Shimano, Lazer helmets and others, to advance and promote the sport of gravel cycling."

Comments: Kristen has been an athlete and a mover behind the scenes. Her husband, Nick Legan, also a member of the GCHoF, along with Kristen, are both instrumental in influencing product, particularly from Shimano, when it comes to gravel cycling. Kristen's athletic accomplishments and advocacy further underscore why she belongs in the Hall. 

Meg Fisher: From her bio in the press release: "With palmares including Paralympic gold, silver and bronze medals, Meg Fisher turned her world-class talent to gravel bicycle racing. There, she quickly became an example of courage, perseverance and inclusivity, with para category wins at world-class events including Unbound Gravel, Rebecca’s Private Idaho, Gravel Worlds, and SBT GVL, among others. As an advocate for the creation of para classes, Meg has helped create inclusive spaces at gravel events across the country. Her presence at those events, her willingness to share her story, and her encouragement of others has inspired countless riders of all abilities to find confidence, resilience and joy through gravel cycling."

Comments: The obvious influence here is Meg Fisher's spirit and grit to overcome things which seem overwhelming to many of us. In the face of her difficulties she shows us a form of the "Spirit of Gravel" which is at once both inspirational and indisputable.  

Paul Errington: From his bio in the press release: "While modern gravel cycling has its roots firmly planted in the USA, it has quickly become a global phenomenon. One of the key figures in the global proliferation of gravel events has been Paul Errington. He recognized the potential of gravel cycling as a unique and accessible form of outdoor adventure. As an early advocate for the sport, he’s inspired countless cyclists to explore the world on gravel, both in Europe and beyond. He hosted his first gravel event –– The Dirty Reiver –– in 2016 and was a key figure in the global expansion of the Grinduro gravel series. Today, as the Grinduro series owner, Paul hosts thousands of riders each year at multiple events across the globe."

Comments: I have been aware of Paul for many years. He came and rode in Trans Iowa v9 in 2013. He also partook of the DK200 as well. Being inspired by these events he went back to the UK and started the Dirty Reiver,taking cues from the US scene, and  his bio tells the rest of the story. Definitely one very influential person in the gravel scene. 

Jim Cummins: From his bio in the press release: "As co-founder of Unbound Gravel’s predecessor, the Dirty Kanza 200 (with 2023 GCHOF inductee, Joel Dyke), Jim Cummins placed his bet on the potential of gravel as a cycling discipline in 2006. Jim and the DK team successfully scaled from 34 riders in 2006, to using a lottery system to fill the 2,500 available spots in 2018 –– remarkable growth by any standards. It was also one of the first gravel events to host international riders. Today, Unbound Gravel is the world’s largest gravel cycling event, bringing thousands of riders, support crews and race fans from all over the world to the Emporia area. The economic impact is easy to see, as the empty storefronts of 2006 have been replaced by thriving businesses. Throughout the spring, summer and fall, the Emporia area is now a destination for gravel cyclists seeking adventure."

Comments: Wish granted. (IYKYK) Also: It's about time! This has been a person who has first ballot credentials who was ignored for reasons outside of gravel riding and arguably very unfairly so. Now that the electors have gotten over their nonsense the issue has been rectified. 

I've written here several times why Jim deserved to be in this hall, and I know many of you readers are in agreement. The accomplishments are without peer and his influence on gravel cycling is immeasurable. The hall saves its integrity as well. A very well-deserved, long overdue inclusion. 

Overall Comments:  The inclusion of Jim Cummins was met with many commenting and voicing happiness and relief that it finally happened. I was on my phone texting about it for a solid hour after the announcement. I know of two individuals who said they were thinking of starting their own Halls of Fame for gravel and inducting Jim if it did not happen for him this year to be inducted into the GCHoF. 

Besides Jim, the rest of the inductees are worthy additions. I like the international flavor here with Paul Errington's recognition. It points to further inclusions for others not in the US sphere of gravel, but who were obviously influenced by the scene here, and spread the word in a significant way, as Paul did with his efforts. 

Overall a significant and worthy class. I like it, but more importantly, it further legitimizes the Hall as being representative of the most important innovators and historical figures in gravel cycling. More work needs to be done there. (Jana Vavra and Sarah Cooper as women athletes, Craig Schmidt of Gravel Worlds, Mike Narchand as an athlete, as examples), but given what has happened in this class, I have hope those people needing to be included have a chance to be with a continued focus on our gravel cycling pioneers. 

It would help matters if the nomination process was streamlined and taken in-house. I am not in favor of how nominations are done by the GCHoF currently, and this has been expressed to them, and on these pages here, before. I will not belabor the point today, but there could be a far better process for nominations if the GCHoF has the appetite to take authority there. 

Congratulations to the Class of 2026 Gravel Cycling Hall of Fame inductees!

The 32" Watch: More Gravel

Baum DBM 32"er. (Image courtesy of Baum's social media)

It's Not Just For MTB:

While most 32"ers seen so far are meant as mountain bikes for XC use, there are now some being offered as gravel bikes. I showed a Singular Albatross here last Friday, and now I have come across this Baum Cycles DBM drop bar bike which was built as a gravel bike for a tall client of theirs. 

It is interesting to see a big 32"er frame which makes the wheels look normal. I would suspect their will be a lot of taller folks getting on the 32"er bandwagon now that tires and rim choices have started to become more commonplace for this size wheel. 

Speaking of rims, I was tipped off to this Chinese carbon 32'er rim choice which is sub-300 bucks each. That is a pretty outstanding price. While I am not a big fan of hookless rims, these are meant for MTB tires which would make these rims make more sense then as a hookless option.  

I have heard the 32"ers will appear on gravel bikes and road bikes as well. Look for more sightings as Sea Otter draws nearer in mid-April.  

Note: The Gravel Cycling Hall of Fame class for 2026 will be announced today at 9:00am CST. Look for the announcement and a breakdown of my reactions to each inductee tomorrow here on Guitar Ted Productions.

Congratulations to the Class of 2026! 

Jim Cummins
Kristen Legan
Meg Fisher
Paul Errington

Dreaming

Image courtesy of Cannondale's social media

I had a crazy dream this past weekend about road bikes! I know.......weird! Why should I care about road bikes? I do not understand the dream, but it was a vivid one where I was asked what I thought should be done in the future for road bikes. 

Road bicycles, the ones with a racing influence and drop bar handlebars, haven't changed their parameters for years. There is a kind of unseen "box" which road designs seem to be locked into which has been around for decades. 

Wheel spacing, bottom bracket widths, crank set design, and some other details are seemingly lines you cannot cross in road bike design. But in my dream, two things I remember from the dream were pretty outrageous. The first was wheel spacing. In my dream I said the rear wheel spacing would be widened to match current MTB Boost standards. That would be rear 148mm and front 110mm. 

The other thing was regarding bottom brackets as I said in my dream that this should also match MTB standard width. This would make sense because road wheel and tire combinations are getting ever wider and this would allow for clearances and better chain lines. 

Now, perhaps this is too extreme for road bicycles, but gravel bikes? Maybe gravel bikes will be assimilated into MTB anyway,. and road bicycles can become the "all-road" thing I was advocating for in 2011 and I can just ride some fancy new road bike with clearance for 45mm tires maximum and forget about "gravel bikes". 

Ha! Fancy that.....

Searching For The "Magic" Alloy

Image courtesy of State Bicycle Co. 

 Frame materials for bicycles can be a fun discussion amongst bicycle nerds. I have delved into the subject several times here over the years. 

In 2026, I find most people are probably thinking along the lines of the following: Aluminum is "entry level", carbon is "the best", and titanium is for "cork sniffers" in the bicycling scene. 

Steel is .......I'm not going to say it! Steel is perceived by many casual cyclists I've met as being "heavy". Most don't want anything to do with it.  

Apologies if I offended anyone with those gross generalizations, but I used those to prove a point: Most folks have no idea what a frame material really does for them. Sure, they have heard things. You might think carbon fiber is "the lightest" and most prestigious frame material. You may have heard aluminum isn't comfortable to ride. You may have heard titanium is "expensive". As generalizations go, some of their basis is true. Much of the nuance lost will paint a more detailed and truer picture. 

That goes for pretty much anything in life. 

Anyway, this is about an idea I had to help dispel some notions about aluminum gravel bike frames. The thing is, the frames you can buy are priced all over the place and some are more expensive than what I would pay for a carbon fiber frame and fork from China. 

The next thing you'll notice is that many of these frames have odd geometries. In fact, those geometries are all over the place as well. Adding in my proclivities for what a gravel bike geometry should be, and well, it gets darn near impossible to find anything I'd like to try. 

Take for instance the State Bicycle Co. 6061 AllRoad, (shown here). It is sub-$900.00 with a carbon fork. Tire clearance up to a 50mm tire. But the bottom bracket drop is straight out of cyclo cross. Too little of it, that is, so it fails as something I'd want to test. 

Then there is the fine looking Velo Orange Chessie.  I took a deep-dive look at this bike last year. It was almost there like the State offering, but the bottom bracket drop was odd on the bike so I passed on it. Honestly, I was disappointed because I really like everything else about the Chessie. 

So, if any of you dear readers have a suggestion, here are my parameters: The frame/fork must not cost 1K or more. Secondly, the frame must be aluminum, but the fork can be carbon, or whatever. Now, geometry is important. Bottom bracket drop must be 72mm or more. The head tube angle must be 72° or slacker. Tire clearance must be up to a 45mm, and preferably up to 50mm.  I'm open to suggestions on anything else, but I'd really like to stay away from any oddball bottom bracket standards and I prefer threads there, but I can work around this detail.

Got anything for me? Hit me up in the comments.