Review: Velo Orange Burrito Supreme Handle Bar Bag

If you look closely you can see the Burrito Supreme on my bike here.

Note: The handle bar bag mentioned in this post has been paid for out-of-pocket by Guitar Ted. Velo Orange has no affiliation with Guitar Ted Productions, nor are they aware of this review. Hey! Maybe they will get tipped off to it later, but all I know is I am independently conducting these reviews and I will give you my honest thoughts and opinions throughout.

I recently gave a first impressions of this bag HERE, in case you missed that. Please check that out as I won't go over some things I wrote about there in this Final Review. 

I used the Burrito Supreme on two different bikes. The last ride before this review was done on my Honeman Flyer custom steel single speed gravel bike. The bag fit fine with just a little interference from the front brake cable. It wasn't a big deal, but it was there. This is something that comes up a lot with front handle bar bags that dangle off the bar and have no solid connection to the bike other than straps. I noted that the Burrito Supreme did sit without contact to the head tube though, which is important if you want to preserve your bike's finish.

The ride I used the bag for on this bike was a 52 mile gravel ride with some pavement thrown in here and there. The bag was stable and never caused me any concerns, The only time I knew it was there was when I had to bunny-hop a few transitions from asphalt to concrete due to the different levels of the two surfaces and then the contents of the bag would get rattled. But other than that, this bag was not a problem at all. 

Between using the Burrito Supreme on the Raleigh and now my custom bike, I have some "Good" and some "Not-so Good" to share about this accessory bag. 

The Good:

The Burrito Supreme sits under the handlebars in a way that makes sense. The opening is where it should be. The straps to attach a front light or other smaller bags is facing forward. These details are important and the Road Runner made bag is done correctly. 

Speaking of the construction, it is impressive and the bag should hold up for years if treated with a due amount of care and respect. The zipper is sewn in very well and the seam-work looks to be done at a high level of craftsmanship. 

I had my doubts about the plastic buckles, but so far those doubts have been unfounded. If the buckles were prone to opening or allowing the straps to loosen I would have experienced that by this point. I have noted none of that sort of thing here at all. 

I did also like the size of this bag. It is big enough to stuff an extra layer in but not so big that it gets to be in the way. As a for instance, if the Burrito Supreme were longer, it might be an issue for a person with narrower drop bars. If it were mounted to a bike with a short head tube and the bag was larger, it wouldn't be a good fit for smaller bikes. I think Velo Orange spec'ed a perfect size here that should accommodate most rider's needs and fitment situations. 

The Not-so Good:

The beefy zipper is a little difficult to operate one-handed while riding. Especially when trying to close the bag. I opted to not try opening it while riding because of this. The other things that were a bit of a negative here was that the opening of the bag was a bit tight for my average-sized hands. The stiff zipper and the double stitched border were not helping here either. That construction gets a big thumbs up from me, but it does become a bit of a hassle to get your hand in the bag to grab stuff because of that.

Finally, because the bag was made with a dark colored fabric in the interior, it is harder to see what you've got in there. I would have preferred a brighter and lighter colored fabric which would have contrasted the items I had in the bag in a better way for me to to be able to see what I had in there. 

Then there is always the issue with any bag that uses the "marsupial pouch" approach to carrying accessories and nutrition. You'll have to fish around to find what you want which may not be right where you thought it should be. Things in the interior of the Burrito Supreme are apt to shift around while riding, so it is simply something that is inherent in this sort of design. 

Final Verdict:

The Velo Orange Burrito Supreme is a fine bag, well-made, and should serve its owner well for years. The bag is designed well and does its job quietly and without any need for concern from the rider. I think it holds a good amount of stuff. Not too much, and the bag is neither too small or too big, in my opinion, for its intended purpose. 

But I don't think it is a bag you can access things from easily while riding due to the very well made zipper and how it is attached to this bag material. That and not being able to see in the bag from the saddle of the bike makes this more of a bag to stash stuff you'll only need to get at while stopped. That's okay, but if you wanted a handlebar bag that you can access while riding, I don't think the Burrito Supreme is 'that bag'.  

I think this bag is perfect for bikepacking and storage of nutrition or clothing which you might want along for the ride but won't need for the entire ride. Things like wind jackets, vests, and maybe lighter rain wear would go in here. Arm warmers, and that sort of thing, which comes on and off during rides in the mountains or during "shoulder season". 

You could use it to store anything that fits in it, of course, but keep in mind it is hard to see in the bag and smaller items could get lost in a sea of swirling accessories easily in the large, open interior space. I still feel it is really a good bag, but it isn't a bag for everybody, and the Burrito Supreme is better suited for some purposes than it would be for others. 

If it is "right" for your purposes, I don't think you'll be disappointed in this high-quality bar bag choice.

Friday News And Views

Coros Dura GPS computer. (Image courtesy of Coros)

Time to Navigate Through Another FN&V!

Coros Finally Unveils The Dura GPS Computer:

After teasing this GPS device since April the Coros Dura finally has been unveiled. This new entry in the GPS device market for bicycles has a big claim and looks to unseat your Garmin, Wahoo, and Hammerhead GPS devices from your handlebars. Is it really a contender? 

Well, Coros claims that with all systems on, and with no benefit from the solar charger, (more on that in a minute) you can squeeze 70 hours out of the device for run time. They claim that you can extend that to 120 hours, still without using the solar recharging function. Pretty impressive if true, and if you've already seen DC Rainmaker's review, it probably isn't quite there yet.

As stated, there is a solar recharging function. Coros claims that in full Sunlight, a rider going out for an hour will gain 2 hours of battery time. Again, very impressive. But that solar function comes at the cost of  space on your handlebar. (And the recharge rate hasn't been verified by independent reviewers yet.)

According to my quick measurements of my Hammerhead Karoo 2 and Wahoo Elemnt ROAM sitting here, the Dura is larger both in length and width than those two computers. The touch-screen of the Dura falls in between that of the Wahoo and Hammerhead with the Hammerhead edging out the Dura by just a hair. 

The Dura combines the touch-screen with a dial as well, so I'm not sure how the user interface will be here, (Again - not the greatest yet) but all this comes at a fairly reasonable price of $249.00 USD. Coros is taking pre-orders for July delivery now. By the way, the Dura has a lot more value if you also buy into the Coros smartwatch ecosystem. So, if you have not chosen a path in regard to a GPS device, this may alter your decision. Might want to wait until the bugs get worked out first though.

What do you think? Let me know in the comments. By the way, I'll have an update on my Wahoo experience coming soon. Stay tuned....

Gravel Worlds Announces Live Coverage Of 2024 event: 

From the press release:

"For the first time in the event’s 15-year history, the Garmin Gravel Worlds gravel road bicycle race will feature live-streamed video.

2024 Garmin Gravel Worlds event coverage will begin before the Men’s Pro 150-mile start Saturday, August 24, and end after the final rider has finished late into Saturday evening. The live coverage will include lead and follow motorcycles for both the Men’s and Women’s Pro fields, as well as a fifth camera focused on riders deeper in the pack. There will also be live commentating from beginning to end. The live stream video will be free for viewers worldwide.

Thanks to expanded sponsorship from Goodlife Brands, the event has also added $10,000 to its Women’s Pro prize purse, while adding a fresh twist to the racing. The first twenty Pro Women to arrive at the second race checkpoint ahead of riders from the general race field, which starts 25 minutes later, will receive $500, regardless of where they finish the race."

Gravel Worlds will employ staggered start times, much like Unbound has, for thge event which is scheduled to take place on August, 21 - 25, 2024 in Lincoln, Nebraska from their recently announced new starting area. 

Other recent Gravel Worlds news can be seen HERE and HERE.

Have You Heard About This?

I was sent an email on Wednesday informing me that some ultra-distance cyclists would be coming through the area soon. Like right down my local bike trail! 

Apparently it is all around a race called The Great American Wheel Race. Here's the description from the registration page for the event:

"The 2024 inaugural Great American Wheel Race is a 3,600 mile self-supported race that begins at the landmark Seattle Space Needle on June 9, 2024, and ends at the Washington Monument in Washington D.C. This fabulous and scenic route across the U.S. utilizes established Great American Rail-Trails across the U.S. while linking other bike trails and the safest less traveled roads possible. The route consists of gravel paths, paved paths, gravel and paved roadways, with a goal to be separated from vehicle traffic as much as possible with gentle grades. Come “Get Some” and enjoy this phenomenal race crossing the U.S. from the West Coast to the East Coast."

You can "dot watch" this event, but for whatever reason, the tracking page on the event site is not functioning. However; THIS ONE on Bikepacking.com does work. I'm going to try to see if I can intercept a racer or two on their way down through here. Stay tuned.... 

Image courtesy of Hope Tech.

Hope Tech Offers Durable Gravel Wheel Set:

Often times we all get caught up in the latest aero, carbon fiber, light weight wheel set for gravel and I even can forget about the riders that aren't looking for that. Thankfully companies like Hope Tech from the uK haven't forgotten that some folks would like a wheel set that they can actually ride on without having to worry about weight limits, durability, and still have some nice features. 

Hope offers up the RX24 wheel set for your consideration. I thought it was interesting that this wheel set can be ordered up with 32 spoke hubs and rims. That's getting rarer to find these days as what constitutes a "high spoke count" wheel in pre-builts now days is 28 holes, maybe, with 24 hole rims being the average anymore. 

The rims are 24mm inner width, great for most gravel tires. (Hope recommends up to a 60mm tire) Plus the total system weight (rider and gear) is 284lbs. That's not going to cover everybody, but it is better than a lot of the bling carbon wheels will allow. 

You also get the reliable, rebuildable Hope hub here, which I have ridden in the older Pro 4  form, and can vouch that they do well. But again, Hope does support their hubs with parts and even their legacy hubs are still supported. 

Prices are reasonable. Depending on spec you'll spend somewhere around $600.00 - $800.00 USD. Check them out here.
 

Guitar Ted Podcast Update:

We have a new podcasts up now and it is about the evolution of gravel bikes and how they are not really innovating anything. That one went up last week. You can listen to it HERE. Then N.Y. Roll and I decided to hit up another episode before he vacates the area for New York for a couple of weeks.

I may be putting out a solo podcast yet today at some point, so if you see another episode up, you'll know I decided to do that. Otherwise it may be a while before the next episode is out unless I can get an interview I've been thinking about doing. We will see.

That's a wrap for this week. Thanks for reading Guitar Ted Productions! Get out and ride those bikes! The days are getting shorter starting now!

Review: Ortlieb Fuel-Pack & Toptube-Bag

 Note: Ortleib sent over their Fuel-Pack and Toptube-Bag for test and review at no charge to Guitar Ted Productions. I am not being paid, nor bribed, for this review and I will always strive to give you my honest thoughts and opinions throughout. 

There are a lot of bag makers out there these days ranging from small, home-based makers all the way through to big factory-made products sold with other company's branding. What bag is best? Where do you go to find the best features and construction for a good value on the dollar spent? 

Maybe I am like you and I see all these bags and get kind of paralyzed by all the ways to go. A sort of Tyranny of Choice, as it were. I guess that is why I was a bit surprised that this press release I received recently spurred my attention and interest in Ortlieb's bags for touring and bikepacking. Of course, the Ortlieb brand is synonymous with high-quality, dependable touring gear. And as I wasn't really interested in panniers or the like, I wasn't expecting to find anything there that I would want to review, but these two top tube mounted bags I have in hand now did pique my interest. 

Ironically the press release wasn't about any specific Ortlieb product. It was a message pointing out the company's efforts in sustainability. Now, generally this can be a somewhat confusing subject and often claims are made that are not verified or even understandable. But Ortlieb owns their own manufacturing plants, and since that is the case, they can verify the carbon footprint of every one of their bags. So, if you go to any Ortlieb bag page on the Ortlieb website, you can see a little green box, (natch) down in the right hand lower corner and it tells you how far you'd have to cycle to offset the carbon footprint for that particular product. 

Now if you know Ortlieb, you know that their products are very durable, well designed, and even repairable, so from that standpoint you have a leg up on many company's bags that aren't made as well, repairable, or both. Another hallmark of Ortleib products is their waterproofness, and these two bags I have should be excellent in that regard. So, enough said about all the sustainability and whatnot. What do I have here anyway?

What It Is: These are two of Ortlieb's top-tube mounted bags from their Bikepacking collection. the first bag here will be the Fuel-Pack. This is a new bag in Ortlieb's Bike-packing range. This bag has a 1L capacity, a magnetic closure "flap" style lid, and attaches via either a top tube boss set, (if your bike is so equipped) or via a two-strap perforated rubber system. If your bike has the two-bolt bosses on the top tube, you can use the rubber straps and included plates to mount a water bottle to a frame member, or use the plates to offset the placement of the Fuel-Pack on a set of top tube bosses if necessary. 

The Fuel-Pack has PU-coated Nylon fabric construction with an outer mesh pocket. There is also an integrated cable port for the recharging of devices. 

The Fuel-Pack weighs in at 110gm for the bag alone and the hardware weighs in at 43gm (rubber straps are included in that) Dimensions of the bag are 8.3"L x 4.7"H x 3.3"W. The Fuel-Pack is available via Ortlieb's website for $75.00. 

The Toptube-Bag is similarly featured when it comes to pockets and the magnetic closure, but it is larger.  9.1"L x 4.7"H x 3.3"W. The weight of the Toptube-Bag with the clip-on rail attached is 194 grams while the hardware weighs in at 53 grams . The Toptube-Bag is $95.00USD.

The Toptube-Bag has a unique rail attachment which allows the Toptube-Bag to be clipped off the bike. More on that in a bit.

The Ortlieb Fuel-Pack

First Impressions: When talking with the representative for Ortlieb I was a bit torn between this Fuel-Pack and the following Top-Tube Bag for a choice. I was wondering if 1 liter was too small but 1.5L sounded huge. Fortunately, for you and I, Ortlieb was okay with sending both bags out for this review. This way we can compare and contrast easily, and hopefully you can be better informed as to which one is right for you. 

The two pockets that receive the magnets can clearly be seen here.

I do know that both are impeccably made and the quality of construction looks top-notch. There are two very strong, I assume neodymium, magnets inserted into the flap-style lids of both bags, which protrude from the lid. But unlike many other magnetic closures I have seen on bags, these have matching pockets to land in which are molded/held in place by the bag fabric. When the magnets land in these plastic pockets the resulting 'snap' heard is satisfyingly loud enough that I think you won't wonder if the bag is closed or not while riding. I have had instances with other magnetic closures where I thought the bag was closed but the wind had actually lifted the top up and everything inside was in danger of being lost. I don't see this as an issue with either of these two bags, but we will see. 

 Ortlieb says there is an "external mesh pocket" here on the Fuel-Pack, but it isn't really external. It is essentially between the flap on its "hinged side" and the reinforced inner space. There is also another inner pocket inside. Interestingly, Ortlieb cautions against putting a bank card in this bag unless it is in that "outer" mesh pocket, furthest away from the magnets. This is due to the detrimental effects that a magnet can have on a chip card or a magnetic strip card. The interior is a plush, fleeced type of fabric that should keep noise to a minimum but could prove to be an issue with gooey gel packets and melted chocolate covered energy bars. 

The Ortlieb Top-Tube Bag

The Top-Tube Bag is similar in design, but obviously larger. It also has a unique rail attachment that allows you to quick-release this bag from your bike. You don't have to use this feature, but it could be a handy way to turn your Top-Tube bag into a convenient carry-in bag for safe-keeping of valuables or just so you don't buy so much stuff that it won't fit in the bag!

A look at the interior of the Toptube-Bag

 I decided to go with the Fuel-Pack on my Honeman Flyer while the Noble GX5 is getting the Toptube-Bag. The Honeman Flyer is a steel framed bike with relatively small diameter tubing compared to most bikes seen today for gravel. Think "classic road bike" steel tubes and this bike is closer to that sort of tube diameter than not. Meanwhile the Noble has standard, for today, larger cross-section carbon fiber frame design. This is important to remember here as it pertains to the fit of these Ortlieb bags. 

Overall, the set up was easy using the included instructions. It's kind of "Ikea-like", but there are clear images and instructions to follow, so give it some patience and I think most folks can do this assembly with no problem. That said, a traditional hook and loop strapped-on top tube bag is pretty easy to mount. Much easier than these bags were to mount, so as far as installation goes, the Ortlieb's score low on the scale compared to the competition.

The Ortlieb Fuel-Pack

Note how the straps are forced into a very sharp angle over the buckle on this narrow steel tubing.

Fuel-Pack: I was a bit disappointed in the results I saw with the combination of the steel frame and the Fuel-Pack. The straps were forced into a sharper bend onto the hook which secures the bag to the bike because of the narrow steel tubing. This, in turn, allowed the strap to pop off easily if you touched the straps. So, a slight brush from a leg, let's say, while standing and pedaling could cause this. That was unacceptable. 

Furthermore; due to the narrow stance of the plastic standoffs for the attachment of the bag, it was most difficult to find the hook to attach the silicone rubber strap. I managed to do it, but a wider stance in regard to the mounts would have alleviated this frustration to a great degree. 

I think what I need to do next is to mount this bag to one of my bikes that has a wider cross-section top tube to see how it will go there. The way the Toptube-Bag mounted to the Noble bike gives me hope in that regard. But as for my steel framed gravel bikes? I am afraid this Fuel-Pack is no good as a match for them. 

The Ortlieb Toptube-Bag

Toptube Bag: This was a complete 180° experience. The removable Toptube-Bag mount is separate from the bag, so strapping it on was super-easy. Plus the bag is far more stable on a wider top tubed bike as well as being a good foundation for the base plate. This allows super-easy removal and replacement of the bag using the release on the base plate. 

The Toptube-Bag, while dimensionally only slightly bigger according to Ortlieb's specs, is far larger in reality than the Fuel-Pack. The Fuel-Pack tapers to the rear of the bike, is slimmer in the rear, and it also slopes to the rear in profile. The Toptube-Bag, in contrast, is much more a "box" and has copious amounts of room inside the bag. 

So Far... I am reserving any judgement on the Fuel-Pack until I try it on a different bike. Meanwhile, I am very impressed with the Toptube-Bag with its removable feature. However; there is also the function of its flap-style, magnetic closure top that is superior to the Fuel-Pack's, despite the similarities. The Fuel-Pack's lid has a weird fold in the front which sometimes does not allow the lid to fully close. A slight tap on the lid usually does the trick, but still.... 

Stay tuned for an update coming soon.

The Anatomy Of A Gravel Ultra

Since I got started in the gravel riding scene I've been fascinated by what motivates the riders. Ever since the very first Trans Iowa in 2005, I have been curious about seeing what it takes to participate in these events, not to mention the finishing of such events. 

I was anticipating the experience of just being around the ultra-distance legends of the day back in 2005. Mike Curiak, Steve "Doom" Fassibinder, Ira Ryan, the LaLonde brothers in 2006, and several other stalwarts of the 24hr racing scene who came and allowed me to mingle amongst them. I wanted to learn from them, but more than anything else, I just wanted to observe how they went about their business. 

I got to soak in that for fourteen years of Trans Iowas, and as a participant in other events, like Odin's Revenge, Gravel Worlds, and the Dirty Kanza 200. I came to an understanding of the "what it takes" to do these events, and I know a bit about what these events do to a person. But explaining that, well, that's a tall order. 

But recently a man who goes by the name of Bill Jeffery documented his ride at the 2024 Unbound XL, a 350 mile gravel event that happens the same weekend as the Unbound 200. I thought the 37 minute documentary was eye-opening with some very compelling content. 

I think Mr. Jeffrey does a really great job here because he was motivated to share his experience in a very transparent way. He didn't have to put this out into the World. Secondly, this isn't some sponsored content. It isn't done from an influencer's viewpoint to drive clicks to any money-making for him. I think that all is important here because it speaks to an authenticity that is pretty solid. 

Finally, if you ever were curious, like I have been for years, about how a person gets up for one of these events, how that effort unfolds over the course of more than one day, and what can happen to your mind and body while doing an ultra-distance gravel event, then check this documentary out. There is a TON of course views as well, so if you've never experienced the Flint Hills of Kansas, this documentary will bring you all the good stuff to see. 

Anyway, I was impressed by the work of Mr. Jefferey and I recommend this as a good way to see into the workings of one ultra-endurance racer. And maybe you might get what this whole "Spirit of Gravel" thing is really about as well. See the documentary HERE.

The Victory Ride Report: Experience 'Murca

Image by Rob Evans

One thing about rural Iowa that might be not so unique, but maybe not very well realized, is that it is a place where political leanings are typically far right of center. Funny thing is, if you can get past the veneer of that, people are genuinely very kind and giving. 

It's easy to lean on popular characterizations of people and judge the book by its cover. That's the cool thing about gravel riding. You might be rubbing shoulders with a conservatively leaning rider, and you may be a liberal in your views, but when we ride together, does any of that really matter? Generally speaking, it has been my experience that no- it does not matter. What does matter is treating each other with kindness and empathy. When we do that, and it seems to happen more naturally and commonly with gravel rides and people, it is a beautiful thing. 

I'll circle around back to this later....

We rode through the middle of Vinton's Farmer's Market!

Stopping to gather up the tribe.

While we were in Vinton the wind finally came up as advertised out of the Southwest. Good thing we were heading mostly Northward now! I was riding alongside Warren for much of this stretch and we had a nice chat. It also started spitting rain about this time. 

The skies were looking a tad bit less friendly for a bit there.

This section of the ride was less hilly, twisty, and was out in the open more. Much more like what I am used to than what we rode in the morning. I enjoyed rolling some miles with Warren and the rain drops, while intermittent, never materialized into an outright rain. 

The weather was actually about as good as we could have hoped for, and the wind was a bonus for the time being. I was feeling fine and rolling along at a steady pace. My gear (40T X 20T) was a bit lower than the others had, (Yes, there were more single speeders), and so my speed in the flats was not as high at my lazy cadence as theirs was. 

Then there was THIS hill!

Rolling into Brandon

There was one last brutal hill. Rob said he registered 17.5% for a grade on that one. All I know is that more than a few of us walked it. No shame when you are riding a single speed. Walking should be a part of your riding if the hills are steep and you have a single speed. 

Because you just have to, right?

The story

Of course, we all had fun with "Iowa's Largest Frying Pan" and we took several pictures there. Once that was done, I asked about refilling a water bottle for the last 10 - 12 miles of the route. I was told we should go to the CVNT trailhead in Brandon where there was a restroom. However; if that did not pan out, there was a bar in Brandon we could check out. 

Warren said just then that if all I needed was some water, he had that and to spare. So we filled my water bottle and when we were done I turned around and no one was there. I had no idea which way they may have gone either. 

It isn't a "real bar" in Iowa unless it has one of these in it.

 

'Murca: Part 2

Well, we wandered around a bit but we found the group and so that feeling of dread and of being left behind was but a fleeting memory. The shelter at the trailhead proved fruitless so we went to the bar. Several were quite ready for a libation. So we marched in.

Remember what I said at the top about how we judge each other too quickly based upon stuff that doesn't matter? Well, when we came in we saw two - what I assumed to be locals - sitting at a booth chatting up the female bartender. We definitely got the stink-eye. These two didn't stick around long after we came in. Well, we mostly, I think, were on our best behavior and were pleasant and spent money there. So, the bartender was cool with us. And in the end, we all ended up getting along just fine, wishing each other a good day when we left. 

Pounding out the final miles on the Cedar Valley Nature Trail

A final "Barns For Jason".

As we were getting ready to leave, it was apparent that we were going to be facing a strong headwind if we rode the planned route. It was suggested that we could take the CVNT instead, which was more direct and tree-shrouded for most of the run back to Brandon. There was a bit of debate and no one wanted to make a call, but it was apparent that the sentiment for going straight back on the CVNT was strong. So, I made the call. Everyone sighed a sigh of relief. Besides, it was almost raining at this point. 

The trail was being worked on. The construction was ongoing, but as it was a weekend, no work was being done. The trail surface varied from smooth, compressed dirt to asphalt freshly laid and was peppered with various concrete water crossings, or mini-bridges. These were often marked by their meeting with the asphalt by a 'step-up' or 'step-down' of an inch or more since the last layer of asphalt hadn't been laid yet. Every road crossing had two "Road Closed" signs to navigate around. There was caution tape across the trail in many spots as well. So in other words, there were plenty of obstacles in the way.

We saw a lot of cyclists for this more remote portion of the CVNT. I was impressed by this. Then we came upon a transition from a gravel road crossing, of which there were many, to the trail again and having to negotiate a "Road Closed" sign which was barring entrance to the trail. I dropped my wheels down into the softer dirt alongside some freshly paved asphalt, had my front wheel wash out to the left, and subsequently was dumped off my bicycle to the right, smashing my knee into the paved surface, and then rolling across to a stop. 

I had few strawberries on my knee but no other damage to body or bicycle. With a little assistance from the others, I was up and running again.

Making the post-event t-shirts in the parking lot.

A finished product

When we returned Warren got out his t-shirt making supplies and everyone that brought out a t-shirt to be spray painted got a t-shirt done up right there in the parking lot! By the way, I didn't have time to get myself a proper t-shirt for this black logo, so Warren sent the template home with me. 

Image by Rob Evans

We then walked over to the local coffee shop, which honestly rivals anything I've seen in any big town, and sat in the beautiful outdoor patio area. We chatted for a bit, and then around 4:00pm we said our good-byes and departed from each other back to our homes again. 

N.Y. Roll quipped as he dropped me off back in Waterloo, "I think that was a success", and he isn't wrong. It was great. I received many compliments on the area, the ride, and how the day went. We had requests to do that again. So, if you have that sort of feedback, yeah, I'd say we did good. We? Naw.... Not me! I just showed up and rode this. Warren Weibe and N.Y. Roll are the guys to thank here. 

Will we ever do this again? We will do something. We will hold a ride like this but maybe somewhere else, or maybe......I don't know. We did the "Hall of Fame Ride" in 2022. We did the "Victory Ride" this
year. I can't make any promises, but if something happens, I hope that it is like this ride, and I'll tell you about it here first. 

Stay tuned..

Victory Ride Report: A Lot To Be Thankful For

Image by Rob Evans

 The Victory Ride is over and this post will be part one of two that covers what happened Saturday. First, I wanted to thank everyone that came out for this ride. It meant a lot to me to have the group show up that did and I appreciated all the kind words about the event and the course that I heard or read later. 

Now, as we went into this ride I had no idea why Warren, who came up with the idea for the event, wanted it to be called what it was called. I promised that I would find out, and here is what Warren told me. He also shared what he wanted the ride to accomplish with this event.

Warren said that he feels that anytime he can get out for a ride that it represents a "victory" for him and he felt that the celebration of riding should be seen as such for us all. Of course, Warren isn't wrong here and I agree that we all should consider every ride - long or short - a victory and a blessing. 

Warren also wanted this event to not be a burden on me, or stress me out in any way. He had wanted to make it simple as could be and was willing to just come up and ride with me on one of my regular routes, if that was what I wanted. But considering that, I felt like there may be some folks that, if word got out that one person or two, (Warren was originally coming up with his nephew) got to ride with me, then some might wonder why the event wasn't opened up to them. So, to avoid any possible hurt feelings, I announced the ride on this blog. 

Finally, Warren wished that this ride would be a kind of "thank you" to me for all the things I have done for others in putting on rides throughout the years. He asked me a couple of times during the ride if my "cup was filled up" with the thanks and gratitude expressed from the riders and from just seeing who showed up. And I have to say, yes. Yes I was feeling that cup filled up. 

Getting ready to roll out.

N.Y. Roll stopped by my house at a little before 8:00am and we loaded up my Honeman Flyer onto his rack and settled in for the short trip to Urbana, Iowa to where the City Hall is at to meet up with whomever was showing up. I knew of a few folks that said they were coming from previous communications. 

Heading out on the Cedar Valley Nature Trail Southward.

First gravel

I was contacted by Rob Evans of Fairbury, Nebraska first. He and Jackie, plus another friend, Dave, would be coming over. Later on Rob mentioned an Omaha area transplant to Waterloo named Justin would be joining us as well. Of course, Warren from Lawrence, Kansas was coming up. Then N.Y. Roll and I from here, plus my old riding friend, Tony, who said he was to join us as well. Later on, a blog reader here named Nathanael, from Vinton, would be joining us for a part of the route. So, that was nine. Were there any 'surprise riders'? 

Well, not really. Kat, a mainly road and mtb riding local, had inquired about the ride via N.Y. Roll, and she did show up. The final rider was Robert, who used to join me on the 3GR group rides back in the day, had done Trans Iowa, and was one of my volunteers for that event. So, we started with a nice group of eleven riders. 

Ridgeline road views are always great in Iowa.

The scenery was great despite the pockmarked pavement here.

This was kind of a sandwich day between a Friday that was utterly perfect weather-wise and a Sunday which was soupy with humidity, rainy, and HOT. Previous forecasts for Saturday had periodic thundershowers, high winds, and temperate weather outside of that. What we got was overcast skies, decent temperatures, okay humidity, and a couple of times we were spit on with rain drops, but it never really rained. The morning wasn't even windy, but the afternoon? Different story. I'll get to that in Part 2. 

Oh yeah! It's Barns For Jason!

Our route took us over the Cedar River a few times.

I'm not really certain what this field is filled with. Box-like structures for...?

Now, I have to say that there were a couple of route-related things that bugged me a bit during the ride. One: Pavement.... I know that in the area we were riding in that pavement is hard to avoid. Fortunately we had some things to look at on a lot of the paved sections, but a few were really busy with traffic and that wasn't fun. (The run into Vinton stands out for me here.) 

The other thing was that N.Y. Roll had a different route loaded into his GPS than I, and a few others had. He was the 'ride leader' for the first half of this ride, then after lunch it was more every man for himself. Ha! At any rate, at one point early on, he went Left where our GPS units said to go straight. I know that for the majority of the first half of the route I had no idea where I was at times. That was 'fun', but I'm not sure what 'type' of fun it was! I might be wrong and it could have been just my computer that was glitched because the route file I got out of the Wahoo looked perfectly normal afterward. You know me and computers! We get along so well together. Ha!

Ooo! Rollercoaster!

You got it! Barns For Jason again.

There was a heinous, steep climb up to a rural cemetery we stopped at for a bit. The tree frogs in this section were LOUD! Then we headed onward to a killer 'roller coaster' section that ended up leading to another crazy steep climb. I have to say that there are some real gems of gravel hidden along the Cedar River between Center Point and Vinton. 

A long downhill section started up ahead here.

A woodshed covered in license plates.

I was super thankful that the route went in the direction we were going because there was a downhill section leading to the Cedar River that had to be way over a mile in length. It had twisty-turny roads and it was pretty steep in parts of this section. Not only that, but we were meeting cars and trucks which were kicking up dust and making it hard to see at times. I was glad my brakes worked as they were severely tested several times during this ride. 

This road ran hard along the Cedar River for a bit.

This row of vintage tractors was sitting alongside the road at the top of a long climb.

Up.....down....up again. The road turned this way and that. This was nothing like riding around Waterloo and Cedar Falls, that is for sure! We finally were getting close to Vinton and our run in to town where we had planned to stop at a Casey's convenience store. 

So far, this ride had been pretty spectacular. We stopped often, but we were making good time and got to Vinton in a little over two hours. Not bad for over 25 miles, (due to the route discrepancy, we rode extra miles than had been originally planned). 

This massive cement railway bridge is on a gravel road coming from the South to Vinton.

It seemed like we rode five miles through Vinton alone!

The convenience store hangout was fun and it provided a chance for the eleven riders to get to know each other a little better. I think we stayed there close to an hour, but we got going eventually and were back on the road by Noon. 

And that's just the first half of the ride! Part 2 will be posted tomorrow.