Has Gravel Outgrown Its Britches

Saturday Peter Sagan and Specialized announced that he will be at Unbound Gravel

 When I was a kid, hanging out with my  relatives who were mostly farmers, they would often admonish me with this maxim when I was getting a little bit too proud or self-assured in a bad way. It was this, "You're gettin a little too big fer yer britches, young man!" 

Maybe that was old parlance for "Stay in your lane", or something, but it stuck with me and I think about this when things that started out simple, and easy to understand become more complicated, bloated, and over-the-top. 

And I think the whole gravel scene has gotten there. I mean, Pro riders coming to a lottery based event which is almost impossible for the average 'Pete' to get into and if they do, it costs an arm and a leg to do the event? When that happens? Yeah... I'll circle back to this later.

And yes- you can even argue that having a Gravel Cycling Hall of Fame adds to this image of gravel cycling getting too big fer its britches.  Although I'd argue that if it is kept to being a historical/influencer/documentation resource that it isn't out of line to have such an organization. If it gets to be a popularity contest, then yeah....it's lost its relevance. 

The recently announced Warbird AXS Rival bike costs $7999.00 Image courtesy of Salsa Cycles

But more than that, the price to get into cycling has skyrocketed. It doesn't help matters when media pushes the bling out into our faces and makes us feel as though you have to have an eight thousand dollar bike, or shoes that cost hundreds of dollars, and power meters, or an expensive navigation device, or you will be off the back when you come to your local gravel event. 

It doesn't help matters when you go all 'ga-ga' when a former World Champion Pro road cyclist comes to a Kansas gravel event. It's as if your masses of riders who make up 99% of the field don't matter a whit.  Kudos to Gravel Worlds, and unPAved by the way, who are leading the way with social media to turn the tide in these matters. To be fair: Unbound has promoted a couple of average racer Instagram posts in the last week, but you don't see cycling media showing that.

And all of that highly visible narrative just flies in the face of the social missions many gravel events proclaim to be behind. Inclusive? Not much by the signs we see from cycling media, especially. Events and media could do well to damp the high-end, Pro racer, big-ticket items, 'suffer-fest' narratives, and focus on budget priced, average persons stories, and maybe how small businesses in these big event venues are benefiting from said big events. I dunno..... I'm just spit-ballin' here. There are plenty of great human interest stories in gravel. We don't need to recreate the Pro Road racing scene in gravel more than it has been so far. In fact, we need to back far away from that. 

In a bit of a satirical ranting I did along with N.Y. Roll, I suggested that we start another event, have a single category: "Human", and stipulate that the bike/gear used in the event has to cost less than 2G. And there is no entry fee, and if anyone doesn't have a bike, or means to get to the event, they get a free bike and travel/lodging. Inclusive? That's how I would do it. 

But I'm retired from event promoting, so someone else can take that idea and claim it as their own. And remember, that's a bit of satire there, so don't get all wound up about it. 

A Quick Note: I will be gone tomorrow, (Wednesday) and Thursday for the induction ceremonies for the Gravel Cycling Hall of Fame. I have scheduled posts for both days ahead of time. I'll have a special report on the ceremonies, the trip in general, and perhaps some items seen at the "All Things Gravel Expo", which I hope to run through on Thursday morning before I peel out for home. 

That will likely take over the space normally reserved for the weekly "FN&V" post. Thanks for reading Guitar Ted Productions! 

Has Gravel Outgrown Its Britches

Saturday Peter Sagan and Specialized announced that he will be at Unbound Gravel

 When I was a kid, hanging out with my  relatives who were mostly farmers, they would often admonish me with this maxim when I was getting a little bit too proud or self-assured in a bad way. It was this, "You're gettin a little too big fer yer britches, young man!" 

Maybe that was old parlance for "Stay in your lane", or something, but it stuck with me and I think about this when things that started out simple, and easy to understand become more complicated, bloated, and over-the-top. 

And I think the whole gravel scene has gotten there. I mean, Pro riders coming to a lottery based event which is almost impossible for the average 'Pete' to get into and if they do, it costs an arm and a leg to do the event? When that happens? Yeah... I'll circle back to this later.

And yes- you can even argue that having a Gravel Cycling Hall of Fame adds to this image of gravel cycling getting too big fer its britches.  Although I'd argue that if it is kept to being a historical/influencer/documentation resource that it isn't out of line to have such an organization. If it gets to be a popularity contest, then yeah....it's lost its relevance. 

The recently announced Warbird AXS Rival bike costs $7999.00 Image courtesy of Salsa Cycles

But more than that, the price to get into cycling has skyrocketed. It doesn't help matters when media pushes the bling out into our faces and makes us feel as though you have to have an eight thousand dollar bike, or shoes that cost hundreds of dollars, and power meters, or an expensive navigation device, or you will be off the back when you come to your local gravel event. 

It doesn't help matters when you go all 'ga-ga' when a former World Champion Pro road cyclist comes to a Kansas gravel event. It's as if your masses of riders who make up 99% of the field don't matter a whit.  Kudos to Gravel Worlds, and unPAved by the way, who are leading the way with social media to turn the tide in these matters. To be fair: Unbound has promoted a couple of average racer Instagram posts in the last week, but you don't see cycling media showing that.

And all of that highly visible narrative just flies in the face of the social missions many gravel events proclaim to be behind. Inclusive? Not much by the signs we see from cycling media, especially. Events and media could do well to damp the high-end, Pro racer, big-ticket items, 'suffer-fest' narratives, and focus on budget priced, average persons stories, and maybe how small businesses in these big event venues are benefiting from said big events. I dunno..... I'm just spit-ballin' here. There are plenty of great human interest stories in gravel. We don't need to recreate the Pro Road racing scene in gravel more than it has been so far. In fact, we need to back far away from that. 

In a bit of a satirical ranting I did along with N.Y. Roll, I suggested that we start another event, have a single category: "Human", and stipulate that the bike/gear used in the event has to cost less than 2G. And there is no entry fee, and if anyone doesn't have a bike, or means to get to the event, they get a free bike and travel/lodging. Inclusive? That's how I would do it. 

But I'm retired from event promoting, so someone else can take that idea and claim it as their own. And remember, that's a bit of satire there, so don't get all wound up about it. 

A Quick Note: I will be gone tomorrow, (Wednesday) and Thursday for the induction ceremonies for the Gravel Cycling Hall of Fame. I have scheduled posts for both days ahead of time. I'll have a special report on the ceremonies, the trip in general, and perhaps some items seen at the "All Things Gravel Expo", which I hope to run through on Thursday morning before I peel out for home. 

That will likely take over the space normally reserved for the weekly "FN&V" post. Thanks for reading Guitar Ted Productions! 

Country Views: My "Rule Of Three"

Escape Route: Pavement >>Gravel (In the distance)

Interestingly, there has been a format for events which has gained a bit of popularity recently which entails using multi-surface routes in a loop course. For instance, a course that has pavement, gravel, and single track in it. That was the recipe for the recent Arkansas event called "Rule of Three". there is going to be a similar event in Iowa soon called "Core 4", and we assume that event will have four surfaces on its course. 

People that have been around events for bicycles a long time will be quick to point out that multi-surface courses are nothing new and that major cycling events which feature several surfaces on their courses have existed for quite some time. However; as far as I know, none of those were promoted as having that as its main drawing point, like Rule of Three did, or as Core 4 is doing. Correct me if I am wrong, please. 

Marketing. It strikes again! 

Anyway, I did my own little version of a "Rule of Three" ride on Friday, a couple days ago now. I started out in town. (I do that a lot) And my original goal was to capture the decorations at local cemeteries. Only thing was that none of them had anything up as of Friday morning when I rode. Weird! I guess maybe it was the cold, rainy weather we experienced most of the week that postponed their efforts. (?) At any rate, my original mission was a dud.

A dandelion seed manufacturing facility just South of Waterloo. (I'm being sarcastic!)

 

An unusual steed for gravel grinding? Perhaps. The Ti Muk 2

I was riding my Ti Muk 2, because it was the best choice for places in Waterloo where there is no infrastructure in place for pedestrians or cyclists. Bumbling alongside busy traffic on the grassy strips between roads and properties where the City never really had a vision for how things grew. They just kind of happened over time, and the next thing ya know? No room for sidewalks or bike paths and the roads? Converted years ago from their original dirt pathways into narrow two lane blacktops which, at one time, were out in the country. 

Wasburn Road looking West

New calves and their mothers grazing some fresh, green Springtime grass.

In fact, a lot of the pavement I used on my ride, at one time a couple of hundred years ago now, was Native American footpath. Waterloo being one of- if not the only- place where the Red Cedar trees and Maples gave way to a clear, grassy prairie and led down to the rapids of the (Red) Cedar River where Waterloo was eventually founded. The Native Americans crossed there and then went on Northwestward to the Big Wood to hunt game and gather syrup from the forest in Summer.

This path I was on, to the Southwest of the prairie crossing, was a major pathway beaten into the ground by the Native Americans which went toward where Des Moines is now. Early European settlers here turned it into a road. It connected the towns of Waterloo and Eldora, and then points on Southwestward to Des Moines. That ended up becoming a State highway, and eventually was a part of Highway 63.  Highway 63 was eventually relocated along a different course, so what remains of the 'original' route is 4th Street out of Waterloo to Eldora Road, which is broken up into bits due to intrusions of farmland.

The storage bins make this enormous Ag sprayer look small.

On the same farm: This planter is going back into storage for the year after having done its job.

Since the cemeteries were behind on their decorating, I knew of a farm that would provide me with the proper patriotic look I was searching for. So, off to the gravel! I went South and West until I was about a mile from Hudson, Iowa and the particular farm I had in mind, which always flies an American flag from its mailbox which happens to be right on the road.

The county maintenance grader was out on this day.

A tattered and faded Old Glory flies over Holmes Road.

It was a really great day out. Lots of sunshine, big, blue skies, and yes- there was a stiff Northwest wind. I had to push against that a bit, but my new route plan had me in a place where the wind would not be much of a concern. 

Barns For Jason

Barns For Jason: As seen along Eldora Road

But to get to the wind break route, I had to actually use a bit of that former stretch of Highway 63 which was along that ancient Native American and Pioneer trail. It is called Eldora Road and it stays on the high ground between Waterloo and Hudson.

Out of the wind in the Leonard Katoski Green Belt.

The meadow/prairie grass preserve just North of the Ridgeway Avenue access to the Green Belt.

So, now into the Green Belt and out of the wind! Single tracking where I learned how to in the late 80's. The place has changed a lot over the years, but in many places it is exactly the same as it was. I hadn't been back here for a long time and, by the looks of things, neither has anyone else. The City has mown the strip of trail through there in their typical, brutal, wide, and crude style, but at least you can ride through without fear of getting into anything you'd rather not get into.

It wasn't the ride I thought I was going out for, but it was a great ride with pavement, gravel, and dirt all represented. A "Rule of Three" that worked for me!

Country Views: My "Rule Of Three"

Escape Route: Pavement >>Gravel (In the distance)

Interestingly, there has been a format for events which has gained a bit of popularity recently which entails using multi-surface routes in a loop course. For instance, a course that has pavement, gravel, and single track in it. That was the recipe for the recent Arkansas event called "Rule of Three". there is going to be a similar event in Iowa soon called "Core 4", and we assume that event will have four surfaces on its course. 

People that have been around events for bicycles a long time will be quick to point out that multi-surface courses are nothing new and that major cycling events which feature several surfaces on their courses have existed for quite some time. However; as far as I know, none of those were promoted as having that as its main drawing point, like Rule of Three did, or as Core 4 is doing. Correct me if I am wrong, please. 

Marketing. It strikes again! 

Anyway, I did my own little version of a "Rule of Three" ride on Friday, a couple days ago now. I started out in town. (I do that a lot) And my original goal was to capture the decorations at local cemeteries. Only thing was that none of them had anything up as of Friday morning when I rode. Weird! I guess maybe it was the cold, rainy weather we experienced most of the week that postponed their efforts. (?) At any rate, my original mission was a dud.

A dandelion seed manufacturing facility just South of Waterloo. (I'm being sarcastic!)

 

An unusual steed for gravel grinding? Perhaps. The Ti Muk 2

I was riding my Ti Muk 2, because it was the best choice for places in Waterloo where there is no infrastructure in place for pedestrians or cyclists. Bumbling alongside busy traffic on the grassy strips between roads and properties where the City never really had a vision for how things grew. They just kind of happened over time, and the next thing ya know? No room for sidewalks or bike paths and the roads? Converted years ago from their original dirt pathways into narrow two lane blacktops which, at one time, were out in the country. 

Wasburn Road looking West

New calves and their mothers grazing some fresh, green Springtime grass.

In fact, a lot of the pavement I used on my ride, at one time a couple of hundred years ago now, was Native American footpath. Waterloo being one of- if not the only- place where the Red Cedar trees and Maples gave way to a clear, grassy prairie and led down to the rapids of the (Red) Cedar River where Waterloo was eventually founded. The Native Americans crossed there and then went on Northwestward to the Big Wood to hunt game and gather syrup from the forest in Summer.

This path I was on, to the Southwest of the prairie crossing, was a major pathway beaten into the ground by the Native Americans which went toward where Des Moines is now. Early European settlers here turned it into a road. It connected the towns of Waterloo and Eldora, and then points on Southwestward to Des Moines. That ended up becoming a State highway, and eventually was a part of Highway 63.  Highway 63 was eventually relocated along a different course, so what remains of the 'original' route is 4th Street out of Waterloo to Eldora Road, which is broken up into bits due to intrusions of farmland.

The storage bins make this enormous Ag sprayer look small.

On the same farm: This planter is going back into storage for the year after having done its job.

Since the cemeteries were behind on their decorating, I knew of a farm that would provide me with the proper patriotic look I was searching for. So, off to the gravel! I went South and West until I was about a mile from Hudson, Iowa and the particular farm I had in mind, which always flies an American flag from its mailbox which happens to be right on the road.

The county maintenance grader was out on this day.

A tattered and faded Old Glory flies over Holmes Road.

It was a really great day out. Lots of sunshine, big, blue skies, and yes- there was a stiff Northwest wind. I had to push against that a bit, but my new route plan had me in a place where the wind would not be much of a concern. 

Barns For Jason

Barns For Jason: As seen along Eldora Road

But to get to the wind break route, I had to actually use a bit of that former stretch of Highway 63 which was along that ancient Native American and Pioneer trail. It is called Eldora Road and it stays on the high ground between Waterloo and Hudson.

Out of the wind in the Leonard Katoski Green Belt.

The meadow/prairie grass preserve just North of the Ridgeway Avenue access to the Green Belt.

So, now into the Green Belt and out of the wind! Single tracking where I learned how to in the late 80's. The place has changed a lot over the years, but in many places it is exactly the same as it was. I hadn't been back here for a long time and, by the looks of things, neither has anyone else. The City has mown the strip of trail through there in their typical, brutal, wide, and crude style, but at least you can ride through without fear of getting into anything you'd rather not get into.

It wasn't the ride I thought I was going out for, but it was a great ride with pavement, gravel, and dirt all represented. A "Rule of Three" that worked for me!

Memorial Day

 

Memorial Day

Today we solemnly remember those who gave their lives so we can be free.

"Courage is almost a contradiction in terms. It means a strong desire to live taking the form of a readiness to die."

G.K. Chesterton 

"Our debt to the heroic men and valiant women in the service of our country can never be repaid. They have earned our undying gratitude. America will never forget their sacrifices."

Harry S. Truman

Memorial Day

 

Memorial Day

Today we solemnly remember those who gave their lives so we can be free.

"Courage is almost a contradiction in terms. It means a strong desire to live taking the form of a readiness to die."

G.K. Chesterton 

"Our debt to the heroic men and valiant women in the service of our country can never be repaid. They have earned our undying gratitude. America will never forget their sacrifices."

Harry S. Truman

Trans Iowa Stories: Lessons Learned - Part 2

(L-R) Riders Scott Sumpter, Nathan Griffee, and Corey Godfrey during T.I.v14 Image by J. Duke

 "Trans Iowa Stories" is an every Sunday post which helps tell the stories behind the event. You can check out other posts about this subject  by clicking on the "Trans Iowa Stories" link under the blog header. Thanks and enjoy!  

Part of the reasoning for Tony to have us stop at that preserve where we were hanging out was to observe riders going by. The Coffman Wood Preserve was situated such that it was the only way on gravel you could go after the cues which he knew were going to provide a huge challenge to the riders of Trans Iowa v14. If someone missed a certain set of cues, he knew, and so did I, that if they did not pass the drive way we were standing on, that they did not get it right, and that we had an issue. Good thing Tony suggested this, as what he and I feared did come true.

Trans Iowa was a gravel event, true enough, but it was much more than just a gravel event. One of the challenges of the event was the time cut-offs. Another was the self-supported nature of the challenge. But one other challenge inherent to the overall Trans Iowa experience was navigation. This was done manually by cue sheets and, if you've never done cue sheet navigation, it is very mentally taxing. Especially when you are dealing with a fatigued body and mind running on little to no sleep after around 200 miles of riding on chunky gravel roads. 

I happened upon a delicious little twist set up happenstance by how roads were named and laid out in two adjacent counties. I knew it would provide a serious challenge to navigation, but my cues for this were unquestionably spot on, so if a rider actually paid attention to detail, they would sail through the sector with no issues. If they assumed what was happening, well...... That was what bit a lot of the riders and ended up changing the face of the event for three riders in particular. 

Detail of the area in T.I.v14 that caused navigational issues. Red arrows define correct route.

I wouldn't normally go into fine detail on such a thing as a route and cues for it, but in this case, it bears looking at because this detail derailed a lot of riders and caused many to miss Checkpoint #2's cut-off time. Also, this is what tripped up a few riders and got them disqualified from the event, which I will get around to later.

The riders were traveling Northbound on Keokuk-Washington Road, which is pretty much the county line road. Now adjacent counties often do not use similar naming conventions, and situations like this where roads cross borders don't often happen, but in this case, there were two 120th Streets in close proximity to each other both stemming off of Keokuk-Washinton Road.  One was a right choice, the other was not. 

The cues said: "BR (means "Bear Right") On Keokuk-Washington Road". Then the next cue was "L (for Left turn) On 120th Street" 

What tripped up many riders was that "BR" isn't usually critical. Just - you know - follow the road. it bends to the right. No big deal. Many riders would instead skip over cues like that, focusing on only the directional turns "L" or "R". So, the next turn after they got on Keokuk- Washington Road was a "L" at 120th Street. They skipped over the critical "BR" on Keokuk-Washington Road. Because of this, many riders made the mistake of turning onto the first 120th street they saw, (despite it not matching up with mileage, which was given to the nearest tenth of a mile on the cues), and fell afoul of that navigational difficulty. Many riders caught it right away. They backtracked and found the correct way. Many riders got it on the first try. Three riders forged onward, not backtracking the course, and ended up getting caught. 

(L-R) Greg Gleason, Stefano Tomasello, and Waletr Zitz got burned by the "120th Street Cue" issue in T.I.v14. Image by Celeste Mathias

The situation was that Luke Wilson had approximately an  hour, maybe a few minutes more, lead out on three chasers. They were Walter Zitz and Greg Gleason, co-winners of Trans Iowa v12, and Greg being the winner of Trans Iowa v10. With them was rookie to Trans Iowa, Stefano Tomasello. Behind those three was Matthew Kutilek, trailing that trio by about 45 minutes. 

As we stood in that driveway on that beautiful day, soaking it all in, we were also being vigilant to watch for riders. We observed Luke Wilson riding by. Then we waited. And we waited! Where were the three chasers? After what seemed like an eternity, Matthew Kutilek went by driving a steady cadence. Tony was the first to call out that the three chasers must have cut the course at the 120th cue.

What he meant was that by missing the second, and correct 120th Street, riders could cut off a 'lolipop' of the course by going directly West and not to the North, then West, and then South. It was this Southern road on the course where we were standing, and it was the only way, due to the way the South English river disrupted the normal 'grid' of gravel roads, to get by and find the next, correct part of the course. 

We assumed at that time that by going directly West that eventually that trio of Gleason, Zitz, and Tomasello found a correct road on the cues, decided that they were back on course, and proceeded on toward Checkpoint #2. 

On our way to Checkpoint #2, Matthew Kutilek (the dot ahead in the distance) was the only rider we passed.

 We had a situation. Tony and Mike were hoping to get to the checkpoint, tell the three riders that we knew they went off-course, and ask them to rectify that mistake or be disqualified. However; they were too late.  One of the checkpoint volunteers, Dave Roll, texted me and said that Luke Wilson had been through and that three chasers were also through at 8 minutes behind Wilson!  Wilson had an hour-plus some lead before. There was no way that the chasers had put that much time into Wilson, unless the trio had short-cut the course.

Now that the three chasers had gone through CP#2, there was no going back to rectify their mistake, and we were going to have to disqualify the trio for short-cutting the course. Why Gleason, Zitz, and Tomasello were the only ones that decided to do this out of the entire field was something I never did find out, and it doesn't matter anymore. They made a decision. There were consequences for that decision. 

While Tony and Mike had gone directly to Checkpoint #2, Matt and I drove the actual course. By doing this we hoped to verify that the three had, in fact, not done the correct course, but Dave's text basically made that point moot. 

Now we had a difficult job to do.....

Next: Lessons Learned - Part 3

Trans Iowa Stories: Lessons Learned - Part 2

(L-R) Riders Scott Sumpter, Nathan Griffee, and Corey Godfrey during T.I.v14 Image by J. Duke

 "Trans Iowa Stories" is an every Sunday post which helps tell the stories behind the event. You can check out other posts about this subject  by clicking on the "Trans Iowa Stories" link under the blog header. Thanks and enjoy!  

Part of the reasoning for Tony to have us stop at that preserve where we were hanging out was to observe riders going by. The Coffman Wood Preserve was situated such that it was the only way on gravel you could go after the cues which he knew were going to provide a huge challenge to the riders of Trans Iowa v14. If someone missed a certain set of cues, he knew, and so did I, that if they did not pass the drive way we were standing on, that they did not get it right, and that we had an issue. Good thing Tony suggested this, as what he and I feared did come true.

Trans Iowa was a gravel event, true enough, but it was much more than just a gravel event. One of the challenges of the event was the time cut-offs. Another was the self-supported nature of the challenge. But one other challenge inherent to the overall Trans Iowa experience was navigation. This was done manually by cue sheets and, if you've never done cue sheet navigation, it is very mentally taxing. Especially when you are dealing with a fatigued body and mind running on little to no sleep after around 200 miles of riding on chunky gravel roads. 

I happened upon a delicious little twist set up happenstance by how roads were named and laid out in two adjacent counties. I knew it would provide a serious challenge to navigation, but my cues for this were unquestionably spot on, so if a rider actually paid attention to detail, they would sail through the sector with no issues. If they assumed what was happening, well...... That was what bit a lot of the riders and ended up changing the face of the event for three riders in particular. 

Detail of the area in T.I.v14 that caused navigational issues. Red arrows define correct route.

I wouldn't normally go into fine detail on such a thing as a route and cues for it, but in this case, it bears looking at because this detail derailed a lot of riders and caused many to miss Checkpoint #2's cut-off time. Also, this is what tripped up a few riders and got them disqualified from the event, which I will get around to later.

The riders were traveling Northbound on Keokuk-Washington Road, which is pretty much the county line road. Now adjacent counties often do not use similar naming conventions, and situations like this where roads cross borders don't often happen, but in this case, there were two 120th Streets in close proximity to each other both stemming off of Keokuk-Washinton Road.  One was a right choice, the other was not. 

The cues said: "BR (means "Bear Right") On Keokuk-Washington Road". Then the next cue was "L (for Left turn) On 120th Street" 

What tripped up many riders was that "BR" isn't usually critical. Just - you know - follow the road. it bends to the right. No big deal. Many riders would instead skip over cues like that, focusing on only the directional turns "L" or "R". So, the next turn after they got on Keokuk- Washington Road was a "L" at 120th Street. They skipped over the critical "BR" on Keokuk-Washington Road. Because of this, many riders made the mistake of turning onto the first 120th street they saw, (despite it not matching up with mileage, which was given to the nearest tenth of a mile on the cues), and fell afoul of that navigational difficulty. Many riders caught it right away. They backtracked and found the correct way. Many riders got it on the first try. Three riders forged onward, not backtracking the course, and ended up getting caught. 

(L-R) Greg Gleason, Stefano Tomasello, and Waletr Zitz got burned by the "120th Street Cue" issue in T.I.v14. Image by Celeste Mathias

The situation was that Luke Wilson had approximately an  hour, maybe a few minutes more, lead out on three chasers. They were Walter Zitz and Greg Gleason, co-winners of Trans Iowa v12, and Greg being the winner of Trans Iowa v10. With them was rookie to Trans Iowa, Stefano Tomasello. Behind those three was Matthew Kutilek, trailing that trio by about 45 minutes. 

As we stood in that driveway on that beautiful day, soaking it all in, we were also being vigilant to watch for riders. We observed Luke Wilson riding by. Then we waited. And we waited! Where were the three chasers? After what seemed like an eternity, Matthew Kutilek went by driving a steady cadence. Tony was the first to call out that the three chasers must have cut the course at the 120th cue.

What he meant was that by missing the second, and correct 120th Street, riders could cut off a 'lolipop' of the course by going directly West and not to the North, then West, and then South. It was this Southern road on the course where we were standing, and it was the only way, due to the way the South English river disrupted the normal 'grid' of gravel roads, to get by and find the next, correct part of the course. 

We assumed at that time that by going directly West that eventually that trio of Gleason, Zitz, and Tomasello found a correct road on the cues, decided that they were back on course, and proceeded on toward Checkpoint #2. 

On our way to Checkpoint #2, Matthew Kutilek (the dot ahead in the distance) was the only rider we passed.

 We had a situation. Tony and Mike were hoping to get to the checkpoint, tell the three riders that we knew they went off-course, and ask them to rectify that mistake or be disqualified. However; they were too late.  One of the checkpoint volunteers, Dave Roll, texted me and said that Luke Wilson had been through and that three chasers were also through at 8 minutes behind Wilson!  Wilson had an hour-plus some lead before. There was no way that the chasers had put that much time into Wilson, unless the trio had short-cut the course.

Now that the three chasers had gone through CP#2, there was no going back to rectify their mistake, and we were going to have to disqualify the trio for short-cutting the course. Why Gleason, Zitz, and Tomasello were the only ones that decided to do this out of the entire field was something I never did find out, and it doesn't matter anymore. They made a decision. There were consequences for that decision. 

While Tony and Mike had gone directly to Checkpoint #2, Matt and I drove the actual course. By doing this we hoped to verify that the three had, in fact, not done the correct course, but Dave's text basically made that point moot. 

Now we had a difficult job to do.....

Next: Lessons Learned - Part 3

Bike Shop Tales

Scrap haul (Image by Jim Thompson)

The other day, my co-worker at the Cedar Valley Bicycle Collective, Carl, asked me what I thought about working there so far. I told him, as well as anyone else that asks me, that it is a night and day difference from my 25 years of retail bike shop experience. 

The mission of the Cedar Valley Bicycle Collective is not to turn a profit, and that right there makes everything very different. We also are not a service and repair shop, which doubly makes things different. No RAGBRAI tune-ups. No last minute, desperation repairs for racers, forgetful vacationers, or trail bombers. 

We do help people. There is a very vibrant and active cycling community that rides because that is their primary form of transportation. There are folks who cannot afford new bikes that can get good, solid, serviceable options at the Collective. 

We have service programs that help the community, like Bike Valet, Earn-a-Bike, and bike rodeos. We will be doing a few clinics as well coming up. And this all thanks to the Otto Shoitz Foundation Grant which funds operational costs for the Collective, (amongst other grants), and is allowing for us to open up for these clinics and established programs on nights we aren't already in operation. 

We also help the environment by diverting bicycles from landfills and into proper recycling pipelines. Just Wednesday of this last week we probably took nearly 3,000lbs of scrap bicycles and parts to get recycled. This makes me feel good about what I do, and is a big help to the community at large. 

So, back to that question: How do I like working at the Cedar Valley Bicycle Collective? Well, I like it a lot. It is a very rewarding job experience and about as far as East is from the West from where I was before. It will be good to push forward and do even more things with this organization in the future.

Bike Shop Tales

Scrap haul (Image by Jim Thompson)

The other day, my co-worker at the Cedar Valley Bicycle Collective, Carl, asked me what I thought about working there so far. I told him, as well as anyone else that asks me, that it is a night and day difference from my 25 years of retail bike shop experience. 

The mission of the Cedar Valley Bicycle Collective is not to turn a profit, and that right there makes everything very different. We also are not a service and repair shop, which doubly makes things different. No RAGBRAI tune-ups. No last minute, desperation repairs for racers, forgetful vacationers, or trail bombers. 

We do help people. There is a very vibrant and active cycling community that rides because that is their primary form of transportation. There are folks who cannot afford new bikes that can get good, solid, serviceable options at the Collective. 

We have service programs that help the community, like Bike Valet, Earn-a-Bike, and bike rodeos. We will be doing a few clinics as well coming up. And this all thanks to the Otto Shoitz Foundation Grant which funds operational costs for the Collective, (amongst other grants), and is allowing for us to open up for these clinics and established programs on nights we aren't already in operation. 

We also help the environment by diverting bicycles from landfills and into proper recycling pipelines. Just Wednesday of this last week we probably took nearly 3,000lbs of scrap bicycles and parts to get recycled. This makes me feel good about what I do, and is a big help to the community at large. 

So, back to that question: How do I like working at the Cedar Valley Bicycle Collective? Well, I like it a lot. It is a very rewarding job experience and about as far as East is from the West from where I was before. It will be good to push forward and do even more things with this organization in the future.

Friday News And Views

Tweet from Neil Rogers seen last Thursday

Outside Media Lays Off A "Significant Number" Of Employees:

Within the last few years, Outside Incorporated had annexed several publications under its media umbrella, including Cyclingtips, Beta, and VeloNews. Industry rag, Bicycle Retailer and Industry News, and registry company athleteReg were also gobbled up within the last few years. I was hoping that the typical thing that happens to media conglomerations wouldn't happen, but it appears that it has, indeed, gone down as many had feared. 

Since COVID hit the scene, a lot of upheaval has occurred in the economic landscape and publishing was not immune to the effects. BIKE Magazine folded in 2020 due to the pandemic, but many of the staff were invited to start up the publication called, BETA, which was online only and subscription based. Sounded like a great idea, until- apparently- it wasn't. In the thread under the Tweet I have shown here, a commenter mentioned that BETA had been shut down. It also was reported in the Tweet thread that Outside Incorporated is planning on reducing print media by 60% or more.

It also appears that Ben Delaney, a columnist for VeloNews, was let go as his Strava post was also shared on that same Tweet thread. Corporatization of media has traditionally led to such blood-lettings of talent, and - it would seem- Outside Incorporated is no different in that regard. 

Comments: I'll be honest and upfront here: I don't like mergers, I don't trust big corporate boards, and media conglomerations under one roof are never a good idea. Now we have less talent, and apparently less outlets to read from, and the 'narrative' will only get more monetized as we go forward. Sorry for the dour outlook, but really? I'm not sorry. We should know better. 

More details emerged later Thursday regarding the lay-offs.

As far as digital content, I am not sure how that will work. Obviously news and features will get cut back since attention spans are measured digitally and when someone clicks out, they note that time. That is conflated to mean that the person is not reading through long form articles, so that style of news and features gets cut. Whether or not that is actually true, or merely self-fulfilling prophecy is not known. I know I'll read a longer piece in a magazine at my leisure, but trying to read from a phone, or tablet, is not pleasant, and you get distracting pop-up ads, prompts, and mayhem of all sorts on many of these sites. Paper is 'calmer', and I think, easier to read longer times with. 

I notice this with this blog. My stats show the vast majority of you read this on a PC. Some tablets are used and almost no one is using a phone to read this blog. Guess which sort of device most people use to engage digital content with now? 

Phones don't lend themselves to comfortable, longer timed reads, so mass media gets this, and you get more sugar-coated candy with a side of pop-up ad and distraction. Have fun with that and those 'empty calories'..... 

Another interesting perspective on the current print media landscape and this Outside Incorporated layoff can be read here: https://www.adventure-journal.com/2022/05/thoughts-on-outsides-layoffs-outdoor-media-and-adventure-journal/

Ere Research "Tenaci" grip system

ere Research Shows Drop Bar Grip Idea:

Scrolling through the innergoogles, as one does, I came across this new company called 'ere Reseaerch' which I had never heard of before. Looking at tires first, I came across a more interesting product offering from this company called Tenachi Handlebar Covers.

I gather that the bottom part, which goes on the extensions and up into the drops, is one piece and then the rest from the lever perches on up to the tops is pretty much standard tape. ere says, "They are designed to give as many pressure-relieved hand positions as possible and are exceptionally suitable for long days in the saddle."

Comments: So, this is kind of like track grips and bar tape together. Not a bad idea, really. I could see where this idea could not only provide a better, more secure grip in the drops, but that with the right materials, that it could be a vibration damper as well. I did actually test something similar years ago but those were stick on pads, and did not encompass the handle bar

I actually tried to order some of this but apparently the company doesn't ship to the United States. (??) I couldn't find that option in the drop down menu, at any rate. So, maybe later......

2022 Cutthroat, Warbirds Announced:

Salsa Cycles released the new colors and specifications for their 2022 Cutthroat, Warbird, and Warroad models. I won't bother with the Warroad bikes as they are not my cuppa tea and are not really all-road/gravel bikes. (They kind of are, but....they are a weird niche bike, in my opinion)

2022 Cutthroat GRX 600 (Image courtesy of Salsa Cycles)

Colors and specifications on bikes that have not fundamentally changed in what? Four years now, Five....? Not that it matters much. I mean by that to say this: The Warbird and Cutthroat don't really need to change much, if at all. The designs are pretty dialed and unless you are going in for some radical change, (and why would you?), these bikes seem to be pretty much at the pinnacle of their design evolution. 

Not that Salsa Cycles is not working on something. I am sure that they are, it's just that it would be hard to understand them dropping Class V VRS or carbon, or all the versatility in these bikes as they are set up. Refine the bikes? Maybe. Ground up redesign? Hmm...... If they can, I guess they will, but it would be hard to imagine what they would do. 

I have seen comments by folks pining for steel drop bar bikes, titanium drop bar bikes, and the same in MTB/bikepacking from Salsa. Here's the thing- they did that and you folks didn't buy them. Not in enough numbers to perpetuate bikes like the titanium models they used to make, like the Ti Vaya, (a KILLER gravel bike, by the way), or the Ti El Mariachi, a quintessential bike packing rig. And steel? Yeah, they dd that too, but you almost couldn't give them away. Only the venerable Fargo has really sold in any significant numbers for a Salsa model that is made from steel. And frankly, I am surprised that Salsa still offers that model in steel!

Finally, availability on the Shimano equipped 2022 models will be delayed until Fall, according to the information I received. That would probably be a good indication of what to expect from other brands as well, but what can be said for sure is that if you want a Warbird or Cutthroat now, it will be a SRAM equipped bike. 

Old Glory waves on a farm North of Waterloo.

Memorial Day Weekend:

This is a long weekend for many and the first holiday which is considered to 'kick-off' Summertime in the Mid-West. The weather, while not having been very Summer-like", has been okay of late and this weekend looks clear so far. 

Of course, it is a busy weekend for many of us as well. Graduations, vacations, and just recreating can eat into your time in a hurry. maybe we get so tied up in the fast-paced activities for three days that we tend to forget why we even have this holiday.

I suggest a slowing down, disconnect, and some introspection might be appropriate. Spend some quiet time considering this holiday, and consider showing some gratitude where appropriate. 

I'll maybe have time on Monday to do a bit of a ride. I hope that you all have a wonderful, safe, and meaningful weekend. Thanks for reading Guitar Ted Productions.

Friday News And Views

Tweet from Neil Rogers seen last Thursday

Outside Media Lays Off A "Significant Number" Of Employees:

Within the last few years, Outside Incorporated had annexed several publications under its media umbrella, including Cyclingtips, Beta, and VeloNews. Industry rag, Bicycle Retailer and Industry News, and registry company athleteReg were also gobbled up within the last few years. I was hoping that the typical thing that happens to media conglomerations wouldn't happen, but it appears that it has, indeed, gone down as many had feared. 

Since COVID hit the scene, a lot of upheaval has occurred in the economic landscape and publishing was not immune to the effects. BIKE Magazine folded in 2020 due to the pandemic, but many of the staff were invited to start up the publication called, BETA, which was online only and subscription based. Sounded like a great idea, until- apparently- it wasn't. In the thread under the Tweet I have shown here, a commenter mentioned that BETA had been shut down. It also was reported in the Tweet thread that Outside Incorporated is planning on reducing print media by 60% or more.

It also appears that Ben Delaney, a columnist for VeloNews, was let go as his Strava post was also shared on that same Tweet thread. Corporatization of media has traditionally led to such blood-lettings of talent, and - it would seem- Outside Incorporated is no different in that regard. 

Comments: I'll be honest and upfront here: I don't like mergers, I don't trust big corporate boards, and media conglomerations under one roof are never a good idea. Now we have less talent, and apparently less outlets to read from, and the 'narrative' will only get more monetized as we go forward. Sorry for the dour outlook, but really? I'm not sorry. We should know better. 

More details emerged later Thursday regarding the lay-offs.

As far as digital content, I am not sure how that will work. Obviously news and features will get cut back since attention spans are measured digitally and when someone clicks out, they note that time. That is conflated to mean that the person is not reading through long form articles, so that style of news and features gets cut. Whether or not that is actually true, or merely self-fulfilling prophecy is not known. I know I'll read a longer piece in a magazine at my leisure, but trying to read from a phone, or tablet, is not pleasant, and you get distracting pop-up ads, prompts, and mayhem of all sorts on many of these sites. Paper is 'calmer', and I think, easier to read longer times with. 

I notice this with this blog. My stats show the vast majority of you read this on a PC. Some tablets are used and almost no one is using a phone to read this blog. Guess which sort of device most people use to engage digital content with now? 

Phones don't lend themselves to comfortable, longer timed reads, so mass media gets this, and you get more sugar-coated candy with a side of pop-up ad and distraction. Have fun with that and those 'empty calories'..... 

Another interesting perspective on the current print media landscape and this Outside Incorporated layoff can be read here: https://www.adventure-journal.com/2022/05/thoughts-on-outsides-layoffs-outdoor-media-and-adventure-journal/

Ere Research "Tenaci" grip system

ere Research Shows Drop Bar Grip Idea:

Scrolling through the innergoogles, as one does, I came across this new company called 'ere Reseaerch' which I had never heard of before. Looking at tires first, I came across a more interesting product offering from this company called Tenachi Handlebar Covers.

I gather that the bottom part, which goes on the extensions and up into the drops, is one piece and then the rest from the lever perches on up to the tops is pretty much standard tape. ere says, "They are designed to give as many pressure-relieved hand positions as possible and are exceptionally suitable for long days in the saddle."

Comments: So, this is kind of like track grips and bar tape together. Not a bad idea, really. I could see where this idea could not only provide a better, more secure grip in the drops, but that with the right materials, that it could be a vibration damper as well. I did actually test something similar years ago but those were stick on pads, and did not encompass the handle bar

I actually tried to order some of this but apparently the company doesn't ship to the United States. (??) I couldn't find that option in the drop down menu, at any rate. So, maybe later......

2022 Cutthroat, Warbirds Announced:

Salsa Cycles released the new colors and specifications for their 2022 Cutthroat, Warbird, and Warroad models. I won't bother with the Warroad bikes as they are not my cuppa tea and are not really all-road/gravel bikes. (They kind of are, but....they are a weird niche bike, in my opinion)

2022 Cutthroat GRX 600 (Image courtesy of Salsa Cycles)

Colors and specifications on bikes that have not fundamentally changed in what? Four years now, Five....? Not that it matters much. I mean by that to say this: The Warbird and Cutthroat don't really need to change much, if at all. The designs are pretty dialed and unless you are going in for some radical change, (and why would you?), these bikes seem to be pretty much at the pinnacle of their design evolution. 

Not that Salsa Cycles is not working on something. I am sure that they are, it's just that it would be hard to understand them dropping Class V VRS or carbon, or all the versatility in these bikes as they are set up. Refine the bikes? Maybe. Ground up redesign? Hmm...... If they can, I guess they will, but it would be hard to imagine what they would do. 

I have seen comments by folks pining for steel drop bar bikes, titanium drop bar bikes, and the same in MTB/bikepacking from Salsa. Here's the thing- they did that and you folks didn't buy them. Not in enough numbers to perpetuate bikes like the titanium models they used to make, like the Ti Vaya, (a KILLER gravel bike, by the way), or the Ti El Mariachi, a quintessential bike packing rig. And steel? Yeah, they dd that too, but you almost couldn't give them away. Only the venerable Fargo has really sold in any significant numbers for a Salsa model that is made from steel. And frankly, I am surprised that Salsa still offers that model in steel!

Finally, availability on the Shimano equipped 2022 models will be delayed until Fall, according to the information I received. That would probably be a good indication of what to expect from other brands as well, but what can be said for sure is that if you want a Warbird or Cutthroat now, it will be a SRAM equipped bike. 

Old Glory waves on a farm North of Waterloo.

Memorial Day Weekend:

This is a long weekend for many and the first holiday which is considered to 'kick-off' Summertime in the Mid-West. The weather, while not having been very Summer-like", has been okay of late and this weekend looks clear so far. 

Of course, it is a busy weekend for many of us as well. Graduations, vacations, and just recreating can eat into your time in a hurry. maybe we get so tied up in the fast-paced activities for three days that we tend to forget why we even have this holiday.

I suggest a slowing down, disconnect, and some introspection might be appropriate. Spend some quiet time considering this holiday, and consider showing some gratitude where appropriate. 

I'll maybe have time on Monday to do a bit of a ride. I hope that you all have a wonderful, safe, and meaningful weekend. Thanks for reading Guitar Ted Productions.