Getting My GRX On: Update

There she be! The Noble GX5 with GRX on it. (That's a lot of "G's" and "X's"!)

The installation of the new Shimano GRX components and PRO brand stuff I was sent has been accomplished. I rode the bike on its first legit gravel ride Monday for over two hours.

The 1X thing hasn't really been appealing to me for quite some time. I had to stick with it since this bike is not routed for a front derailleur. (I could use an electronic one) So 1X GRX was spec'ed and that's what you see there in the image.

So far, since I have run Force 1X and now this GRX 1X, I have "gotten used to it", but it doesn't have as deep a range as I can get with a 2X set up, and that might end up becoming an issue at some point with the current set up. Which is a 42T drive ring turning an 11-42T cassette, by the way. So "low" is 1 to 1, and you don't get to go lower than that.

Now where I live? That is likely alright. I've run across a couple of situations where less than a one to one ratio would have been nice. Usually on century rides. But for the one to five hour range of rides? I probably am fine. Going somewhere else with this bike? Maybe not so much. But I've got other bikes too, so it isn't imperative that I have 2X on the Noble GX5.

So, enough about the gearing. Here is a run down of all the new parts on the bike:

• Shimano GRX 800 Mechanical 11 speed Right hydraulic lever.
• Shimano GRX 800 Dummy Left Lever set up for Dropper Post actuation. (See Note below)
• Shimano GRX 800 Hydraulic Brake Calipers F/R 160mm Rotors F/R
• Shimano GRX 800 Crank w/42T drive ring, 172.5mm
• Shimano GRX 800 Rear Derailleur (Mechanical 11 spd)
• Shimano GRX Wheel set
• Shimano XTR/Dura Ace 11 speed chain
• Shimano XT 11spd 11-42T Cassette
• Shimano XT pedals
• Shimano PRO seat post
• Shimano PRO stem
• Shimano PRO bar tape
• Shimano PRO bottle cages
• Shimano Discovery Series Big Flare handle bar
• WTB Volt saddle, medium width
• Wheels Manufacturing BB86 Thread-together bottom bracket

The GRX rear derailleur has a clutch, like the MTB line, but it feels far different

(NOTE: Disclaimer dead ahead. Skip ahead if you don't care)

That's most of the bike! I should also note here that besides the bottom bracket, which I purchased, the rest is all sent for no charge to Riding Gravel for test and review. I am not being paid, nor bribed for this post here.

Now- with that out of the way, I got this all set up and everything went quite well, actually. The first legit gravel ride went well too. Shifting required a slight tweak from the barrel adjuster, (standard issue on the GRX derailleur- Huzzah!), and I imagine I'll have a couple more tweaks to that before it settles in. The brakes are fantastic. Probably the best drop bar Shimano hydro brakes yet. Maybe best ever? Close. Really quiet too.......so far. 

The brake hoods feel awesome too. They put some nice texturing on it for grip, and the rubber they used feels nice. The shape is excellent with a nicer, flatter radiused shape with a nice width to them. I also like Shimano's hydraulic hood shape far more than SRAM's which looks ugly in my opinion. At any rate, Shimano's shape looks a lot less weird and more like the fully mechanical levers they make. The big deal here is the lever blades. They shaped the blade and while that may seem like not such a big deal, it is when you feel them under your fingers. The shapes and contours just feel really good.

The GRX levers feel great under the hand.

So besides those stand outs, the bike was like before. Good wheels, no issues there, and everything else just worked like it should. Now I will say a bit about the saddle, the WTB Volt, because there is an interesting story.

WTB has the "Fit Right System" now where you measure your wrist and then a calculation their system does based upon some preferences and that wrist measurement spits out what saddle is right for you out of their line. I had been preferring the WTB Pure series of saddles, which measures out to be in their "wide" size range. Now I have to back track a bit to several years ago when I tried Bontrager's saddle fit system and I was measured out in their "medium" width category, which I think is something like 143mm or round about there. So, I tried that, and I just never got along with their saddles at all. I abandoned them after sitting on a Pure V and liking that. So, I pursued getting a bunch of those saddles and for a time, all was well.

Recently I have been not as pleased with Pure V's as I have been getting soreness which I cannot remember having. Age changes things. Maybe that was it? Dunno. But change in my saddle of choice was going to be necessary. Then last Summer I got the chance to try a new, medium width Silverado. I really liked it. This was a 142mm width saddle, which was interesting to me, remembering the old Bontrager measurement.

The medium width Volt from WTB

Fast forward to August and Gravel Worlds where I saw the WTB Fit Right System in operation. Later on I was asked to go through the system and WTB wanted to send me a saddle or two, write up a review, and see what I thought. I got two Volts. One in Medium and one in Wide.

One ride on the Wide one was all it took for me to realize that it wasn't right. The saddle was hitting me just like a Pure V and no wonder. They have almost identical shapes. Then I tried the Medium saddle. Goldilocks! This was really good, and again- 142mm.

So, both the Bontrager system and the Fit Right System were correct, it's just that WTB stuff agrees with me and the old Bontrager stuff never really did. Now the Silverado will get pitted against the Volt and I'll have to see which feels correct, or just better, and go with it. Or.....maybe both will be fine. Possible. Testing will be necessary.

What else? Hmm.... Oh yeah! The seat post. I have a left lever that was modified by Shimano for dropper post actuation. I didn't get the correct dropper post when Shimano sent me the stuff, but when they have the right one, I will be making the switch and checking that out as well. I remember really liking a dropper on an Otso test bike I had a year and a half ago or so now. It will be interesting to see what that does for Winter riding, as I'll likely be trying that out whenever conditions allow for it over the Winter months.

So, yeah.... So far so good. Both on the GRX and the saddle. Stay tuned here and at Riding Gravel for future updates.

Getting My GRX On: Update

There she be! The Noble GX5 with GRX on it. (That's a lot of "G's" and "X's"!)

The installation of the new Shimano GRX components and PRO brand stuff I was sent has been accomplished. I rode the bike on its first legit gravel ride Monday for over two hours.

The 1X thing hasn't really been appealing to me for quite some time. I had to stick with it since this bike is not routed for a front derailleur. (I could use an electronic one) So 1X GRX was spec'ed and that's what you see there in the image.

So far, since I have run Force 1X and now this GRX 1X, I have "gotten used to it", but it doesn't have as deep a range as I can get with a 2X set up, and that might end up becoming an issue at some point with the current set up. Which is a 42T drive ring turning an 11-42T cassette, by the way. So "low" is 1 to 1, and you don't get to go lower than that.

Now where I live? That is likely alright. I've run across a couple of situations where less than a one to one ratio would have been nice. Usually on century rides. But for the one to five hour range of rides? I probably am fine. Going somewhere else with this bike? Maybe not so much. But I've got other bikes too, so it isn't imperative that I have 2X on the Noble GX5.

So, enough about the gearing. Here is a run down of all the new parts on the bike:

• Shimano GRX 800 Mechanical 11 speed Right hydraulic lever.
• Shimano GRX 800 Dummy Left Lever set up for Dropper Post actuation. (See Note below)
• Shimano GRX 800 Hydraulic Brake Calipers F/R 160mm Rotors F/R
• Shimano GRX 800 Crank w/42T drive ring, 172.5mm
• Shimano GRX 800 Rear Derailleur (Mechanical 11 spd)
• Shimano GRX Wheel set
• Shimano XTR/Dura Ace 11 speed chain
• Shimano XT 11spd 11-42T Cassette
• Shimano XT pedals
• Shimano PRO seat post
• Shimano PRO stem
• Shimano PRO bar tape
• Shimano PRO bottle cages
• Shimano Discovery Series Big Flare handle bar
• WTB Volt saddle, medium width
• Wheels Manufacturing BB86 Thread-together bottom bracket

The GRX rear derailleur has a clutch, like the MTB line, but it feels far different

(NOTE: Disclaimer dead ahead. Skip ahead if you don't care)

That's most of the bike! I should also note here that besides the bottom bracket, which I purchased, the rest is all sent for no charge to Riding Gravel for test and review. I am not being paid, nor bribed for this post here.

Now- with that out of the way, I got this all set up and everything went quite well, actually. The first legit gravel ride went well too. Shifting required a slight tweak from the barrel adjuster, (standard issue on the GRX derailleur- Huzzah!), and I imagine I'll have a couple more tweaks to that before it settles in. The brakes are fantastic. Probably the best drop bar Shimano hydro brakes yet. Maybe best ever? Close. Really quiet too.......so far. 

The brake hoods feel awesome too. They put some nice texturing on it for grip, and the rubber they used feels nice. The shape is excellent with a nicer, flatter radiused shape with a nice width to them. I also like Shimano's hydraulic hood shape far more than SRAM's which looks ugly in my opinion. At any rate, Shimano's shape looks a lot less weird and more like the fully mechanical levers they make. The big deal here is the lever blades. They shaped the blade and while that may seem like not such a big deal, it is when you feel them under your fingers. The shapes and contours just feel really good.

The GRX levers feel great under the hand.

So besides those stand outs, the bike was like before. Good wheels, no issues there, and everything else just worked like it should. Now I will say a bit about the saddle, the WTB Volt, because there is an interesting story.

WTB has the "Fit Right System" now where you measure your wrist and then a calculation their system does based upon some preferences and that wrist measurement spits out what saddle is right for you out of their line. I had been preferring the WTB Pure series of saddles, which measures out to be in their "wide" size range. Now I have to back track a bit to several years ago when I tried Bontrager's saddle fit system and I was measured out in their "medium" width category, which I think is something like 143mm or round about there. So, I tried that, and I just never got along with their saddles at all. I abandoned them after sitting on a Pure V and liking that. So, I pursued getting a bunch of those saddles and for a time, all was well.

Recently I have been not as pleased with Pure V's as I have been getting soreness which I cannot remember having. Age changes things. Maybe that was it? Dunno. But change in my saddle of choice was going to be necessary. Then last Summer I got the chance to try a new, medium width Silverado. I really liked it. This was a 142mm width saddle, which was interesting to me, remembering the old Bontrager measurement.

The medium width Volt from WTB

Fast forward to August and Gravel Worlds where I saw the WTB Fit Right System in operation. Later on I was asked to go through the system and WTB wanted to send me a saddle or two, write up a review, and see what I thought. I got two Volts. One in Medium and one in Wide.

One ride on the Wide one was all it took for me to realize that it wasn't right. The saddle was hitting me just like a Pure V and no wonder. They have almost identical shapes. Then I tried the Medium saddle. Goldilocks! This was really good, and again- 142mm.

So, both the Bontrager system and the Fit Right System were correct, it's just that WTB stuff agrees with me and the old Bontrager stuff never really did. Now the Silverado will get pitted against the Volt and I'll have to see which feels correct, or just better, and go with it. Or.....maybe both will be fine. Possible. Testing will be necessary.

What else? Hmm.... Oh yeah! The seat post. I have a left lever that was modified by Shimano for dropper post actuation. I didn't get the correct dropper post when Shimano sent me the stuff, but when they have the right one, I will be making the switch and checking that out as well. I remember really liking a dropper on an Otso test bike I had a year and a half ago or so now. It will be interesting to see what that does for Winter riding, as I'll likely be trying that out whenever conditions allow for it over the Winter months.

So, yeah.... So far so good. Both on the GRX and the saddle. Stay tuned here and at Riding Gravel for future updates.

Brown Season: More Harvest Action

Corn stalks round baled sitting alongside empty corn fields.

With "Brown Season" in full swing I was able to get out before we got any snow that was predicted. With time running out to get the crops out, there was a lot of activity out in the fields.

The temperature was in the upper 30's or so with a nice Northwest breeze. That probably made things feel like the upper 20's. So what did I do after I got to my launching off point? I realized I had forgotten my gloves. Doh! Good thing my Bontrager jacket was made with a sleeve length that was right for a spider monkey, because I was able to pull the sleeves over my hands- mostly- and I started riding. I knew once I got going that my hands would warm up. I knew this because I had raced Triple D in January in similar temperatures, maybe even colder, and was able to ride for miles with no gloves. So, I figured I would take the chance to try it out. I could always cut things short. But thankfully, things turned out just as I had predicted and I rode for 2 1/4 hours.

There was a variety of road surfaces ranging from pavement-like, blazing fast to rough, mile long slogs in deep, fresh white rock. I headed east this time, a bit further than I have gone in a long while. Actually I went a couple miles East of Dunkerton, so far Eastern reaches of Black Hawk County on that day. This meant that besides seeing a lot of farmers hard at work I also got to see more new-to-me barns. And you know what that means!

More "Barns For Jason", that's what that means!

Barns For Jason #1.

An older Farmall and a Brent wagon await a fresh load of corn. 

I took Big Rock Road East most of this day and it is not a particularly flat stretch. It doesn't have the super punchy roller type of hills, but longer grades which require a rhythm to tackle. I like the different feel of this area as far as climbing goes.

Coming at ya! A combine dumps freshly harvested corn into a wagon pulled by a tractor.

Wouldn't THIS old Chevy make a great vacation hot rood or a vehicle for a bike shop? It would take a LOT of $$$'s though!

I saw a lot of harvesting going on and it seemed like I saw more the further East I went. Of course, these behemoth vehicles were cruising the gravel roads as well. I was fortunate to miss having to be passed by any of them I saw though. Had I been obliged to meet one, or been overtaken by one, I would have had to have gotten off and into the ditch!

I passed a County maintainer on the way out.

Barns For Jason #2

I had another dog encounter, but this time it was actually humorous. I heard the barking, of course, and as I looked to see what sort of hound was on my tail, I saw a figure that was somewhat unexpected. A pit bull-ish thing, a bit overweight, and it was running pretty fast, but not something I couldn't outrun. She didn't draw a bead on me at first, so I played things out to see if she would stop at the "end of her territory". But she didn't. Actually, she made a sudden 90° turn right at me. So, I jammed on the brakes, came to a halt, and she reached me just about at that time. She "booped" me with her nose, immediately turned about, and ran back to her house without so much as another bark, or even a look.

Weird!

A harvester lost in a sea of corn.

Barns For Jason #3

I did a little lollipop loop out of this ride. I went a mile South on Nesbit Road, then I turned back West again on East Airline Highway. I realized immediately I was going to be pushing the wind most of the way back. It wasn't bad, so I just had to temper my expectations for speed a bit and continue grinding.

St. Francis Catholic Church on East Airline Highway.

Most soybean harvesting is over, but here we see a harvester taking out a field on Ordway Road in Black Hawk County.

I had to head back a mile North to Big Rock Road again to miss a section where Airline Highway is truncated. I passed Schenck Road where I had come up to Big Rock and went to Sage Road to see "The Big Rock" which the road takes its name from.

Wagons at the ready.

Barns For Jason #4

The ride went well, I stayed warm, even my hands, and only my feet got chilled, really. I probably should have used some "dirt bag" vapor barriers. Oh well..... No harm-no foul. I've no idea how many miles it was as my Lezyne computer would not boot up right and all I was getting was speed, elevation, and time. Dang devices!

And one more- Barns For Jason #5

A strange mix of crows and some other smaller birds here.

The ride went a bit longer than I had intended, but only going over by 15 minutes wasn't bad. I still had plenty of time left in the day to get some website work done, tackle e-mails, and write, so it went great. And I beat the snow, because Monday night the white stuff made its official arrival to kick off Winter here in Iowa. I'm sure it won't last too long, but you never know if you will get a break, so we will see.

Brown Season: More Harvest Action

Corn stalks round baled sitting alongside empty corn fields.

With "Brown Season" in full swing I was able to get out before we got any snow that was predicted. With time running out to get the crops out, there was a lot of activity out in the fields.

The temperature was in the upper 30's or so with a nice Northwest breeze. That probably made things feel like the upper 20's. So what did I do after I got to my launching off point? I realized I had forgotten my gloves. Doh! Good thing my Bontrager jacket was made with a sleeve length that was right for a spider monkey, because I was able to pull the sleeves over my hands- mostly- and I started riding. I knew once I got going that my hands would warm up. I knew this because I had raced Triple D in January in similar temperatures, maybe even colder, and was able to ride for miles with no gloves. So, I figured I would take the chance to try it out. I could always cut things short. But thankfully, things turned out just as I had predicted and I rode for 2 1/4 hours.

There was a variety of road surfaces ranging from pavement-like, blazing fast to rough, mile long slogs in deep, fresh white rock. I headed east this time, a bit further than I have gone in a long while. Actually I went a couple miles East of Dunkerton, so far Eastern reaches of Black Hawk County on that day. This meant that besides seeing a lot of farmers hard at work I also got to see more new-to-me barns. And you know what that means!

More "Barns For Jason", that's what that means!

Barns For Jason #1.

An older Farmall and a Brent wagon await a fresh load of corn. 

I took Big Rock Road East most of this day and it is not a particularly flat stretch. It doesn't have the super punchy roller type of hills, but longer grades which require a rhythm to tackle. I like the different feel of this area as far as climbing goes.

Coming at ya! A combine dumps freshly harvested corn into a wagon pulled by a tractor.

Wouldn't THIS old Chevy make a great vacation hot rood or a vehicle for a bike shop? It would take a LOT of $$$'s though!

I saw a lot of harvesting going on and it seemed like I saw more the further East I went. Of course, these behemoth vehicles were cruising the gravel roads as well. I was fortunate to miss having to be passed by any of them I saw though. Had I been obliged to meet one, or been overtaken by one, I would have had to have gotten off and into the ditch!

I passed a County maintainer on the way out.

Barns For Jason #2

I had another dog encounter, but this time it was actually humorous. I heard the barking, of course, and as I looked to see what sort of hound was on my tail, I saw a figure that was somewhat unexpected. A pit bull-ish thing, a bit overweight, and it was running pretty fast, but not something I couldn't outrun. She didn't draw a bead on me at first, so I played things out to see if she would stop at the "end of her territory". But she didn't. Actually, she made a sudden 90° turn right at me. So, I jammed on the brakes, came to a halt, and she reached me just about at that time. She "booped" me with her nose, immediately turned about, and ran back to her house without so much as another bark, or even a look.

Weird!

A harvester lost in a sea of corn.

Barns For Jason #3

I did a little lollipop loop out of this ride. I went a mile South on Nesbit Road, then I turned back West again on East Airline Highway. I realized immediately I was going to be pushing the wind most of the way back. It wasn't bad, so I just had to temper my expectations for speed a bit and continue grinding.

St. Francis Catholic Church on East Airline Highway.

Most soybean harvesting is over, but here we see a harvester taking out a field on Ordway Road in Black Hawk County.

I had to head back a mile North to Big Rock Road again to miss a section where Airline Highway is truncated. I passed Schenck Road where I had come up to Big Rock and went to Sage Road to see "The Big Rock" which the road takes its name from.

Wagons at the ready.

Barns For Jason #4

The ride went well, I stayed warm, even my hands, and only my feet got chilled, really. I probably should have used some "dirt bag" vapor barriers. Oh well..... No harm-no foul. I've no idea how many miles it was as my Lezyne computer would not boot up right and all I was getting was speed, elevation, and time. Dang devices!

And one more- Barns For Jason #5

A strange mix of crows and some other smaller birds here.

The ride went a bit longer than I had intended, but only going over by 15 minutes wasn't bad. I still had plenty of time left in the day to get some website work done, tackle e-mails, and write, so it went great. And I beat the snow, because Monday night the white stuff made its official arrival to kick off Winter here in Iowa. I'm sure it won't last too long, but you never know if you will get a break, so we will see.

Guitar Ted Lube-Off Update 2

A close up of the squirt lubed chain after 6 hours riding on gravel

Guitar Ted Lube-Off Update: Squirt Lube - 

 Note: For the Introduction to the contenders and procedures used in this test, please see THIS POST. Also please note that the possibility of a fourth contender never materialized, so this test is just between the three lubes mentioned in the introduction.

The second contender in the Lube-Off is Squirt Lube and it was the lube which recommended a reapplication after six hours of riding. So, since it was the only one I'm testing that gave a hard time limit, I applied that to all three lubes in the test. (Well, I am still. One more to go here.)

The first update on the Muc-Off lube can be read here.

So, Squirt Lube is a water based wax lube. Now I will say up front that I am not an advocate for any wax based lube because most folks misuse it to their own detriment. If used according to label instructions, it generally is "okay", but most folks cannot be arsed to do the chain stripping, cleaning, and re-application process. They usually just dump more wax lube on the dirty wax lube already on the chain. This is a recipe for quick death to your drive train. And this goes for a LOT of lubricants, by the way. Usually it is a great idea to clean your chain first- then apply lube. 

So, this is why I stripped the two chains which would be getting the two new lubes to the test, then applied according to the label instructions. There is no other way to do this properly than with the required amount of labor and time. No "easy button" here folks. Sorry! So, if you end up getting any lube I recommend here, you are going to have to put in the time and preparation, or your results will not be satisfactory.

The cassette on the Squirt lubed drive train.

Looking at the Squirt lubed chain and cassette, I observed that there was a fine coating of grit on all surfaces that the lubrication contacted. More so than the Muc-Off C3 Ceramic lube. The Squirt didn't get what I would call "gunk", but the fine gritty coating was definitely noticeable over the C3.

Shifting performance was fine with the Squirt lube. There was no noticeable chain noise either. I did not get this set up wet, as I did with the C3, so I cannot say whether Squirt would have kept the chain from corroding.

The "Touch Test" revealed a dry, gritty residue on my finger and a chain that was less slick than the C3 lubricated chain, but not without some slickness. So, a level less slick than the C3's. I know.......subjective. I would say that after six hours it was high time to clean and re-lubricate this drive train though. I would not want to continue past the six hour mark with Squirt. This fact will play into my final verdict, so please refer to my general lubrication practices comments above and keep this note in mind.

Again- the Squirt Lube and the Muc-Off C3 Ceramic lube are both great products and I can recommend both, but I think you can discern a difference here that separates these two, one from another. The C3, after six hours, wasn't at the point where I felt it needed re-lubing, and keep in mind that I ran that lube through a bit more severe conditions.

Residue from the "Touch Test" after six hours of use.

So, it is onward with the final bit in the Lube-Off where I am pitting an already several hours old application of DuMonde Tech against these two contenders. The DuMonde Tech will be subjected to six more hours of use before I do a comparison, and then I will declare my final thoughts on all three lubes and chose a number one.

Actually, I could end the testing now, as I am pretty sure this DuMonde tech application has more than six hours of ride time on it already. But that said, I'm sticking to my original plan here. So far, I have almost two hours of riding on the DuMonde Tech. That means a hair over four more hours of ride time and this test will be concluded.

I haven't noted this yet, but I was not asked to do this test, and I am doing it out of my own curiosity. There is no "prize" for coming out on top. No sponsorship, no personal connection with Squirt, Muc-Off, or DuMonde tech here.  The products used for this "Lube-Off" came from various events, or were sent to me to try at no charge. I am not being bribed, nor paid for this "Lube-Off", and any thoughts and opinions are only my own. Your results may vary.

Okay, so with that out of the way, hang on for a bit and I will come back with the results of the DuMonde tech six hour run and a final verdict soon.

Guitar Ted Lube-Off Update 2

A close up of the squirt lubed chain after 6 hours riding on gravel

Guitar Ted Lube-Off Update: Squirt Lube - 

 Note: For the Introduction to the contenders and procedures used in this test, please see THIS POST. Also please note that the possibility of a fourth contender never materialized, so this test is just between the three lubes mentioned in the introduction.

The second contender in the Lube-Off is Squirt Lube and it was the lube which recommended a reapplication after six hours of riding. So, since it was the only one I'm testing that gave a hard time limit, I applied that to all three lubes in the test. (Well, I am still. One more to go here.)

The first update on the Muc-Off lube can be read here.

So, Squirt Lube is a water based wax lube. Now I will say up front that I am not an advocate for any wax based lube because most folks misuse it to their own detriment. If used according to label instructions, it generally is "okay", but most folks cannot be arsed to do the chain stripping, cleaning, and re-application process. They usually just dump more wax lube on the dirty wax lube already on the chain. This is a recipe for quick death to your drive train. And this goes for a LOT of lubricants, by the way. Usually it is a great idea to clean your chain first- then apply lube. 

So, this is why I stripped the two chains which would be getting the two new lubes to the test, then applied according to the label instructions. There is no other way to do this properly than with the required amount of labor and time. No "easy button" here folks. Sorry! So, if you end up getting any lube I recommend here, you are going to have to put in the time and preparation, or your results will not be satisfactory.

The cassette on the Squirt lubed drive train.

Looking at the Squirt lubed chain and cassette, I observed that there was a fine coating of grit on all surfaces that the lubrication contacted. More so than the Muc-Off C3 Ceramic lube. The Squirt didn't get what I would call "gunk", but the fine gritty coating was definitely noticeable over the C3.

Shifting performance was fine with the Squirt lube. There was no noticeable chain noise either. I did not get this set up wet, as I did with the C3, so I cannot say whether Squirt would have kept the chain from corroding.

The "Touch Test" revealed a dry, gritty residue on my finger and a chain that was less slick than the C3 lubricated chain, but not without some slickness. So, a level less slick than the C3's. I know.......subjective. I would say that after six hours it was high time to clean and re-lubricate this drive train though. I would not want to continue past the six hour mark with Squirt. This fact will play into my final verdict, so please refer to my general lubrication practices comments above and keep this note in mind.

Again- the Squirt Lube and the Muc-Off C3 Ceramic lube are both great products and I can recommend both, but I think you can discern a difference here that separates these two, one from another. The C3, after six hours, wasn't at the point where I felt it needed re-lubing, and keep in mind that I ran that lube through a bit more severe conditions.

Residue from the "Touch Test" after six hours of use.

So, it is onward with the final bit in the Lube-Off where I am pitting an already several hours old application of DuMonde Tech against these two contenders. The DuMonde Tech will be subjected to six more hours of use before I do a comparison, and then I will declare my final thoughts on all three lubes and chose a number one.

Actually, I could end the testing now, as I am pretty sure this DuMonde tech application has more than six hours of ride time on it already. But that said, I'm sticking to my original plan here. So far, I have almost two hours of riding on the DuMonde Tech. That means a hair over four more hours of ride time and this test will be concluded.

I haven't noted this yet, but I was not asked to do this test, and I am doing it out of my own curiosity. There is no "prize" for coming out on top. No sponsorship, no personal connection with Squirt, Muc-Off, or DuMonde tech here.  The products used for this "Lube-Off" came from various events, or were sent to me to try at no charge. I am not being bribed, nor paid for this "Lube-Off", and any thoughts and opinions are only my own. Your results may vary.

Okay, so with that out of the way, hang on for a bit and I will come back with the results of the DuMonde tech six hour run and a final verdict soon.

Brown Season

The ruins of an old barn overlook brown fields.

Saturday was a weird day at the Guitar Ted Productions Headquarters. I had awoken late, as in really late. It was all due to being up Friday night into the wee hours of Saturday waiting up for my two children/young adults.

NOTICE; Unsolicited parenting advice! So, maybe "waiting up for your kids" seems "old school", but let me tell ya something- that wasn't the "old school way" I was raised. Nope! My parents hardly ever knew where I was, and it seemed as though they didn't care either. I could come home late and no one would be around to say hello. One time I came home late from an away football game to find myself locked out of the house. I wasn't trusted with a key, so I had to shack up in our family's travel trailer on a night where it got below freezing. That wasn't much fun!

So, I waited up for my kids, and they seem happy that I and Mrs. Guitar Ted do that. I would suggest that if you have a loving relationship with your children that it isn't a bad thing to wait up for them. But to each their own........

Pardon the digression, but this waiting up deal figures into the current story. Because I didn't hit the hay till after bar time, I woke up just before noon and with half the day wasted I had not much time to get around to riding. That had to be put off till around 3:00pm, and that doesn't leave much time for daylight anymore.

Airline Highway looking West. This is a fast set of rollers.

I decided to get a little time in on the pink BMC for the Guitar Ted Lube-Off testing. I hauled the bike out to the North edge of town to save time and planned on maybe riding East a fair amount since it's been awhile since I've been out that way. once I reached Gates Park I unloaded and got kitted up. I might get two hours in, if things went well, I figured.

Well, I figured wrong......

A harvester in a corn field North of Waterloo, Iowa.

See, I forgot that the pink BMC is the bike with the new Time pedals I am testing and I had the Shimano RX8 shoes on instead of the Fasterkatts which have the Time cleats.

Doh!

With so little time available for a ride I just made do. It wasn't an ideal set up, for sure. In fact, I doubted I could trust the foot to stay on the pedal if things got a bit sketchy. So, I took it easy, went slow down the hills, and decided that two hours out was one hour too many. Definitely with that bad match of pedal and shoe. So, I cut it back to an hour of riding and that was that.

While it sucked that I had the wrong shoes on, I at least got a ride in. Riding is better than not riding any day, and so I was happy. It wasn't what I was going out for but any ride works for me. Especially after a dismal October where it rained so much there were several days I could not even get a ride in at all.

While things look possibly snowy and colder in the near term, I hope to get some decent November miles in. We'll see.

Brown Season

The ruins of an old barn overlook brown fields.

Saturday was a weird day at the Guitar Ted Productions Headquarters. I had awoken late, as in really late. It was all due to being up Friday night into the wee hours of Saturday waiting up for my two children/young adults.

NOTICE; Unsolicited parenting advice! So, maybe "waiting up for your kids" seems "old school", but let me tell ya something- that wasn't the "old school way" I was raised. Nope! My parents hardly ever knew where I was, and it seemed as though they didn't care either. I could come home late and no one would be around to say hello. One time I came home late from an away football game to find myself locked out of the house. I wasn't trusted with a key, so I had to shack up in our family's travel trailer on a night where it got below freezing. That wasn't much fun!

So, I waited up for my kids, and they seem happy that I and Mrs. Guitar Ted do that. I would suggest that if you have a loving relationship with your children that it isn't a bad thing to wait up for them. But to each their own........

Pardon the digression, but this waiting up deal figures into the current story. Because I didn't hit the hay till after bar time, I woke up just before noon and with half the day wasted I had not much time to get around to riding. That had to be put off till around 3:00pm, and that doesn't leave much time for daylight anymore.

Airline Highway looking West. This is a fast set of rollers.

I decided to get a little time in on the pink BMC for the Guitar Ted Lube-Off testing. I hauled the bike out to the North edge of town to save time and planned on maybe riding East a fair amount since it's been awhile since I've been out that way. once I reached Gates Park I unloaded and got kitted up. I might get two hours in, if things went well, I figured.

Well, I figured wrong......

A harvester in a corn field North of Waterloo, Iowa.

See, I forgot that the pink BMC is the bike with the new Time pedals I am testing and I had the Shimano RX8 shoes on instead of the Fasterkatts which have the Time cleats.

Doh!

With so little time available for a ride I just made do. It wasn't an ideal set up, for sure. In fact, I doubted I could trust the foot to stay on the pedal if things got a bit sketchy. So, I took it easy, went slow down the hills, and decided that two hours out was one hour too many. Definitely with that bad match of pedal and shoe. So, I cut it back to an hour of riding and that was that.

While it sucked that I had the wrong shoes on, I at least got a ride in. Riding is better than not riding any day, and so I was happy. It wasn't what I was going out for but any ride works for me. Especially after a dismal October where it rained so much there were several days I could not even get a ride in at all.

While things look possibly snowy and colder in the near term, I hope to get some decent November miles in. We'll see.