Test Mules

The ol' Raleigh Tamland Two Test Sled Of Doom

In the review gig I have found myself in over the last 14 years, I have had several "test mules" as they are called sometimes in the business. That term means that a certain vehicle is used as a base for testing various components or ideas. Those of you who have been around the blog here know some of these "mules" well. The one that I have probably used the longest is the old Gen 1 Fargo, but I have definitely used the Raleigh Tamland Two more frequently. In fact, it was noted by a reader here at one time that almost nothing on the bike is original anymore except the frame and fork. And now even the fork is gone.

Well, not "gone" as in "never coming back", it just isn't on the bike at the present time since I am testing the Fyxation carbon fork on it for a while. When that review is over I'll likely put the original fork back on there again, just because that's the way I originally had intended the bike to be. Raleigh asked if there should be a carbon fork originally and I said a steel fork would be better than some jackhammer cyclo cross fork, unless they were to develope a new fork for gravel. They said it would be easier to go with a steel fork, and so that's what they did. Anyway, some backstory for ya there.....

So, back to the whole test mule thing..... Now I am testing the aforementioned fork and some new tires. IRC Tires, to be exact. As with many companies, they are jumping into the gravel scene with tires meant for the purpose. The "Boken" tires I have on there are pretty smooth riding and fast, but not very grippy on mud, that's for sure! I'll have more on these later. But yeah, tires are a big thing as far as testing goes. I mean, I have no idea how many sets of tires have been on this bike, but there have been a LOT for sure. This has been a great bike for doing tire testing. Lots of clearance and room to slide in 650B stuff too. In that way, the Tamland was waaaay ahead of its time. 

The "new school" test mule.

But things get old, standards change, and this old Tamland is becoming less relevant as the days go by from the standpoint of testing stuff. No through axles, a straight steer tube fork, and not a lot of braze ons for accessories. It's time to move this one to the pasture. It's testing mule days are coming to a close.

 That said, I'll not be parting with this old bike, and I will still ride it when I have no testing going on, or if I just need to be on a steel rig that I like a lot. Plus, I cannot say there will ever be a bike that I had a hand in the design of again. That is a rare deal if you are not inside in a brand. I mean, I was just a shop mechanic that wrote a blog and here I was on the phone tellin' 'em what ta do. So, no....this bike, (which I purchased at employee discount from the shop where I work, by the way), isn't going anywhere soon.

The newer replacement "test mule" is already in service, and you've seen a lot of it too. It is the "Bubblegum Princess", or the Black Mountain Cycles MCD, (official name), and it has the through axles and braze ons, but......still has the 1 1/8th steer tube. So, I am in search of one more "test mule" bike, and there are a couple of things I want it to be before I pull the trigger. Through axles front and rear, of course, but I am thinking carbon fiber and........ Stay tuned. I've nothing on the radar for sure now, so the playing field is wide open at this point.