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| From Peter Stetina's Twitter feed: A bull knocks down a rider at the Rock Cobbler event. |
Last weekend on social media you may have noted a few images of people getting knocked down by a young bull during the Rock Cobbler event in California. Apparently there were no severe injuries and I did not see anything related to what the event director(s) may have stated afterward.
Comments: While every event is an expression of what the organizer(s) think is appropriate for a challenge, one has to wonder how this event will deal with the fall-out from the incidents of the past weekend during their event. My opinion is my own, but if I had to make a call here I would have possibly diverted the course around such a danger.
I have, a few different times, been exposed to "open range" conditions at the event formerly known as The Dirty Kanza 200. I am not aware that any bulls were around, but I have seen cows right on the course we were directed to ride on. That's dangerous enough, as a cow can easily cause serious injury to a cyclist that is unaware of the dangers of cattle.
And as a former director of events which were similar to the Rock Cobbler, I can tell you that some form of education prior to the event is necessary and must be repeated multiple times. Even then, you are not guaranteed the people in your audience are taking you seriously. That's why, (again- risk assessment comes into play), you as a Race Director are tasked with judging your course and the risks it may present with an ultra-critical eye. Getting outside advice is often wise as well, because no matter how 'cool' you may think a certain experience may be for your riders, you may be blinded to possibilities for things to get ugly.
In the case of open range riding and bulls, I would submit that it is not a prudent idea to submit your riders to such possibilities for injury and harm. But that's just me......
Fork Update:
Thank you for all of the excellent comments about my recently discovered Colnago Super Fork from Monday's post this week. I really appreciated every one of the responses and considered each one.
A few good points were made. Like how often this bike would see roads? And that is really a good way to look at this. Also, some suggested just trying to polish it out to get a better read on where I am at with it. Perhaps do that and seal it with a clear coat?
And to be honest, those were the comments that resonated the most with me. Getting it painted, or re-chromed makes sense if I am creating a garage queen, or restoration of some sort, well then yeah. However; I am not at a point where I have the free cash or inclination to do a full-on early 80's restoration so I think that just getting it going with the least fuss possible is what makes sense here.
Next I will do the clean up, polish, and inspect it from there. I think clear coating the lower fork legs is a good idea to arrest the rust pitting that will be there. I probably will touch up the yellow painted bits as well. Of course, I'll need that threaded Athena head set, but I almost forgot that I'll also need a quill stem now. Hmm..... I may have to do some more digging around in the shop!
Guitar Ted 'Lube-Off' Update:
Thanks to all those readers who commented on the post from Wednesday concerning lubes to test for the next Lube-Off. I got some solid votes on one brand and some advice on using the wax I mentioned I have.
So, it was crystal-clear that SILCA's "Super-Secret" lube should be in the next Lube-Off. So, I will get a bottle of that coming and I will likely install that with a new Shimano 11 speed chain I just received for my Raleigh Tamland Two. (Most likely anyway.)
The wax is NOT going to make the cut in this round. One commenter saying, "Super secret is supposed to have most of the wax benefit without the hassle of actual waxing". Another commenter chimed in saying, "I also think sticking with a drip lube for your round up is the best option as most people have no desire to go through the tedious processes of maintaining a hot dip waxed chain every 200 or so miles."
That's enough reason there to convince me that using the Molten Speed Chain Wax is not really all that interesting to you- the readers- and it definitely is okay with me if I do not have to hassle with that stuff. That said, someday I'll try it.
I will work on the compiling of all the "Lube-Off" results and post that soon. Stay tuned for that and the next round of the Lube-Off soon.
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| New Polar water bottles from their Breakaway series. |
On Tuesday of this past week, Polar Bottle introduced the new Breakaway series of bottles which includes a new 30 ounce size.
Last year I did a bit of a series on water bottles and using larger sized ones. I found that by doing some careful tweaking utilizing some bottle mount expanders like the Wolf Tooth B-Rad, I could carry as much water on the bike as I could have with a hydration pack on my body.
While not everyone can use bigger capacity bottles, perhaps due to shorter frames or specific frame limitations, those who can may want to look into that. It works out well in practice on longer rides and I have seen the benefits of not having a heavy hydration pack on my body.
I get that hydration packs have their fans and reasons for being a great choice. One, and maybe the biggest reason of all to use a hydration vest or pack, is that you can drink 'on-the-fly' easily and that this promotes better hydration. That's an excellent case for using a hydration bladder somewhere on your body or bicycle. However; those systems have some pretty significant drawbacks as well.
Keeping the hoses clean, the bladders clean, having weight on your back, (if it is traditional system) and having more of a hassle in filling a bladder in the field are but a few of the concerns. "End-of-service" life of hydration packs is also a bit more difficult than with bottles, and is a subject not many consider when thinking about bladders and packs.
At any rate, it is nice to see options in bottles now.
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| The new Surly Bikes Ghost Grappler |
A bit of a surprise here from Surly. A drop bar trail bike that has a very familiar look to it if you are a Fargo aficionado. It is a bike designed around a drop bar for bike packing, trail riding, and gravel with a focus on versatility and 27.5" wheels. Steel, of course, and it has several interesting features.
Besides looking like a Gen I Fargo, the Ghost Grappler has through axle capabilities with Surly's "GnotBoost" rear spacing, a Boost spaced fork which is not suspension corrected, and new bottle mounts on the seat stays near the drop outs. Stealth dropper post routing is also offered along with rack, fender, and Three-Pack mounting options on the top and bottom of the down tube.
Tire clearance is 27.5 X 3.0" or 29" X 2.5". The frame has a straight, 1 1/8th head tube and the fork, called the Surly "Dinner Fork", is available separately.
Comments: Yeah, if Salsa Cycles had ever done a Fargo Gen I reissue, this Ghost Grappler would be pretty much what I would have expected from them. It's very close, in my opinion, to what a Fargo should be now days.
But hold on- That name! Yes, this is Surly Bikes, after all, but still. Weird. I guess that's the whole point? Anyway...... GnotBoost rear spacing? Rear facing, track fork style drop outs? Uggh! In some ways Surly's bent to be the most versatile bike choice is also its undoing. If you've ever dealt with their various versions of multiple-standard rear drop out designs, you'll understand. A Salsa version would have been elegantly executed with their Alternator Drop Out. But this is Surly's way....
After checking out the geometry, this really isn't all that far off from the Gen I Fargo. Tweaked for the modern day trail rider, yes. And I like what Surly has done with the geometry. Tire sizes that can be used here are also very appropriate, in my view.
Some will grouse and say that the Gen I Fargo had a better drive train compatibility, but with Boost spacing? You are not going to get old, triple crank drive trains, or even a double with a big drive ring, on a bike like that. Boost pretty much kicked all that to the curb and so 1X is pretty much going to be the jam here, unfortunately.
Finally- A straight steer tube MTB in 2022? I did not see that coming. I think that's a big mistake, but whatever. It should ride better, and maybe that's one reason Surly did that. It also pretty much takes the whole, "Can I put a suspension fork on this?" question off the table. Regarding the fork: It is soooo short, axle to crown, that anyone thinking it might work for their Gen I Fargo, or an older 29"er should reconsider that. Axle to crown is a short 420mm, which was the old sus corrected length for 26" wheeled rigid forks. It'll clear a 29"er wheel/tire, but juuust barely. Plus, because it is a short fork it would really steepen most 29"er bike's head angles to the point that you would negatively affect handling. (I know- I've tried it before.)
That's a wrap for this week! Thank you for reading Guitar Ted Productions and I hope that you get out for some riding this weekend!
19 comments:
GT, I thought the same thing when I first saw the new Surly GG; Gen 1 Fargo update? But those rear dropouts were a turn-off (I have a gnot-boost ECR and used to have a Moonlander) and did you see the 50mm BB drop? Almost an inch higher than my Fargo! Oh well.
@tntmoriv - I think that higher bottom bracket is a reflection of the idea that the GG is mainly a 650B bike. While you *can* put 29"ers in there, its main purpose is to be a 650B bike. I think the geometry reflects this. The chain stays are quite a bit shorter as well, also a nod to its being a 27.5"er centered design.
If I were to get this bike, I would run something along the lines of a faster design tread in a 27.5 X 2.8 size, if that exists. (I'm not up on MTB tires these days) I had a Fargo Gen 2 set up with 27.5 X 2.8 Trailblazers and that worked really well in certain conditions.
I wonder if it was because of the pandemic or what but I remember seeing pictures of the prototype of this bike in the wild way back in October of 2020. Guy named Alex Lowe captured the shots and according to him was pressured not to release the photos but did anyway.
Greets GT, -Surly seems to say rear clearance @ 29x2.1- even more 27.5” centric.
Happy Friday GT! What issues do you have with the surly gnot-boost spacing? I've found them to be really convenient, but i've only really set them up singlespeed. I like how they're easily adaptable to all the wheelsets I own (from 135 qr with the adapter washers, to 142 and 148). Do they present challenges when setting them up geared?
Also, thanks again for offering up your perspective on these new releases. You brought to light a ton of things i would've easily overlooked with that ghost grappler - so thank you!
@Rydn9ers - That would account for why Bikepacking.com said "...long awaited new model from Surly" I hadn't heard anything about this, but I surmised from the way that was stated that someone had. Now we all know. Thanks!
Surly did mention on their blog in the release of this bike that they were very hand-tied by supply issues and almost had to decide to offer just frames and forks or completes, but not both as they seem to be doing.
@Skidmark - See Surly's site for the GG which I linked in the post. You'll find the stated clearances there which I put into the post here. They say- without fenders and the rear tire all the way back in the drop outs- that it takes a 2.5" 29" tire.
@Tomcat - Convenient = Versatile? Okay, I'll give you that, but I would much rather work on a bike with Salsa Cycles' Alternator drop outs, a bike with an eccentric bottom bracket, or a bike dedicated to vertical drop outs. In my experience in the field and in the shop, Surly's various versions of "versatile drop outs" has been fraught with frustration. Rear-facing drop outs are really not that great for geared set ups, by the way.
I'm glad you find your bike satisfactory. I just do not like Surly's approach versus everyone else. But Surly isn't the only offender there. I've run up against some other bike designs with less than easy wheel removal/installation issues. Trek's earlier rear psuedo-through axles being one. Black Mountain Cycles Monster Cross with the in between "GnotRite" spacing to name another.
Anyway, GnotBoost is 'gnot' up my alley. ;>)
Oh I want to dogpile on the Gnotbost conversation @GT. Remember why and how Surly makes their designs. They are to be anywhere in the bike traveling world repair. I find the 1" Steer tube to be a good throw back for compatibility while traveling through a remote land. Also the Gnot boost is awesome if you have a steel frame bike. As a rider, I am not tied to a wheel standard and offers flexibility. Not everything is about the bike mechanic in an AC shop.
As Roger Miller penned and sang more than six decades ago, " You Can't Roller Skate in a Buffalo Herd", pertains to cattle, deer or any herds for that matter Very unpredictable animals. Goes for bicycles too. A couple of years ago, slowly plugging along on a bicycle / jogging lane right in the middle of town here, without any warning a deer came busting out the trees full tilt boogie just missing jumping on the front wheel of my bike. WHOA!! Custer State Park, while we're all sitting in our cars waiting for a herd of buffalo standing in the road, they always just stand there looking at you so harmlessly and stoically, finally slowly starts sauntering off. A big bull walking in front of the car ahead of us suddenly rears up and headbutts the hood of their car looking kind of pissed while he's doing it. WHOA!! Driving home thru the Navajo Hopi reservation after a trip to Phoenix on one of their few highways, come over a blind rise to a whole herd of goats, no herder around, in the middle of the road. WHOA!! And you do not want to kill any of their livestock. That could cost you dearly. The only point to this is if you're out bike packing, touring, racing whatever on open range, in the Black Hills or certain state or national parks, play it safe, watch yer ass and Please don't Feed the Bears....
Ted, do you think that Surly fork would work on a Gen 2 Fargo and still have reasonable trail?
I haven't used them so can only speculate, but how easy is it to insert a thru-axle into "dropouts" that aren't parallel to each other?
And yes, track-ends (rear-facing non-dropouts), stink when used with gears. That from a former Karate Monkey owner.
@N.Y. Roll - Not every GG will see World Touring situations and I would bet that percentage that won't would be over 90%.
Not to dogpile back atcha, but........ :>)
@baric - No. Those Gen 2's had suspension corrected forks of 470mm axle to crown. You'd be talking about putting on a fork with a 50mm shorter axle to crown height.
Plus, the offset of 50mm on the Dinner Fork won't make up for the steepened head angle you'd get, and then you also have to account for the lowered BB height and lowered stack height you would create with the Dinner Fork on a Gen 2.
My verdict? Not a good candidate for a Gen 2 Fargo. Impossible? No. Just not a great idea.
I like most things about this bike, however the 50mm BB drop is a deal killer for me. On rigid bike, 60mm drop is my absolute minimum and I prefer my bikes to be more in the 70-80mm range. The 75mm BB drop was one of the best things about the Gen 1 Fargo.
@GT not every Picaso is hung in the Guggenheim, but was that the artists vison to do so?
@N.Y. Roll. Who is this "Picaso" you speak of? I know about 'Picasso', and he was a genius.
This dealing with the unwashed heathens is tiring..... :>)
@MG - Yeah, I hear ya. That's why I think this was really meant to be just a 650B wheeled bike. I like those deeper BB's as well. The GG with 29"er wheels and tires probably wouldn't be a set up I'd like much.
This was a comment "Derek" made which he posted to the wrong post, and he asked me to move it here:
"Regarding the wire wheel and clear coat, I was seeing this treatemnt (or glass bead blast) on old Craftsman bench vises on Ebay, and it looks pretty cool. Some advertised it as "steampunk". I tried it on an old Crestaloy USA made crescent wrench, and it looks pretty good and is holding up ok as well. Your fork has a chromed layer, as well, so it might look even neater with the chrome and bare (coated) steel spots interspersed throughout. Maybe like something from The Road Warrior? :-)"
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