Friday News And Views

Moots new Routt CRD model. (Image courtesy of Moots)

 Moots Announces New Routt Version in the CRD:

Moots, who are best known for their US made titanium creations, has announced a new gravel bike called the Routt CRD. The bike has a lighter tube set and all internally routed cables with a tire size recommendation for 40-42mm tires, although it appears there is clearance for something bigger as well. 

Various packages with SRAM components are offered along with a frame/fork option. Moots also now is offering a line of MOD carbon fiber products which include a fork, handle bar, stem , but no seat post at this time. These MOD components are only available on Moots bikes for the time being.

Comments: I'll preface the following statements by saying that Moots has never been known to bring "bang for your buck" type value. In fact, it is fair to say that Moots demands a premium price for anything they put their name on. They are expensive bikes. Period. 

But when I saw the price for just a Routt CRD frame and fork at $8,888.00........ Okay, you get a carbon handle bar, stem, and a Chris King T-47 bottom bracket, but....WHAT?!! 

Recently N.Y. Roll and I recorded a podcast entitled "Cycling Is Too Expensive". This is what we were talking about there. Expensive brands have their place. I get that, but this seems ridiculously high priced, in my opinion. But again - Moots has never been a value oriented brand. I shouldn't be shocked. 

Speaking Of The Podcast.....

N.Y. Roll got back from RAGBRAI and shared a bit of his experiences with that in our most recent recording, which you can listen to  HERE or wherever you get your podcasts from. We'd appreciate it if you listened in.

Obviously, there is a bit of talk on this episode concerning hot weather riding. Might come in handy yet as Summer winds down. I also give you an "insider's look" at press releases which I get often and how one was messed up recently. In fact, I'll mention that in my next item below. But do listen in to the podcast for some details on that story. 

Oh, and the podcast has an Instagram page now as well, if you care to follow it. The account is under the name @GTD_podcast. Check that out if you want information on upcoming episodes and more.

 

Salsa Cycles Heyday! model (Image courtesy of Salsa Cycles)

Salsa Cycles Announces Fat Bikes For 2023/2024:

As previously mentioned, Salsa sent over a press release concerning what they were bringing out for this season's fat bike offerings. The line up will consist of the Beargrease and the renamed Mukluk model, the Heyday!. 

There are a few levels available for the Beargrease model and only two for the Heyday!. There is also a frame set for the Beargrease which you can order via a Salsa dealer. Otherwise the models are pretty much what you've come to know over the past eight years now. Just different colors and spec. 

Comments: After the social upheavals in 2020, Salsa's parent company, QBP, committed to a very comprehensive, third party investigation of their business practices and brand/model naming conventions as those things apply to diversity, equity, and inclusiveness. (DEI) Subsequently what you notice on the consumer side is that many names of QBP brand bikes have changed. 

Without getting into the weeds on the "why" of these decisions, (which QBP doesn't fully indulge us with anyway), the Beargrease name passed through the process but the Mukluk name did not, so the change was made to that model and it will be known as the Heyday! from now on. And because this change was made so late, some Heyday! bikes won't have a model name at all on them.

Otherwise, the only notable thing here is that a Heyday! model will be offered in 11 speed Shimano CUES. The first spec for that new group that I've seen.

New Additions;

There have been some new additions to the garage sale page on the blog here this past week. I will be adding even more as time goes on and clearing out more space in the Lab.

One of the things I have found over the last several years is that I rarely, if ever, go "mountain biking" here in this area anymore. There are several reasons for that, but suffice it to say that I have no reason at all to be hanging on to some of the stuff I have that maybe someone else could get some use out of. 

Besides, I also have found that my fat bikes can do single track around here just fine, and of course, I have that rare OS Bikes Blackbuck that I can ride if I truly want the MTB experience around here. Anyway, check out that page for some stuff and stay tuned for more coming soon. It won't all be MTB related either, just so you know. I actually don't have a whole lot of that anymore here.. 

That's a wrap for this week. Thank you for reading Guitar ted Productions.