Last week on Friday (too late to make the cut here) Gravel Worlds announced that they had a new title sponsor in Lauf Cycles. Garmin, who had been the title sponsor of Gravel Worlds, is still backing Gravel Worlds but at a lesser level.
Lauf Cycles has sponsored Gravel Worlds since 2016, being that event's "official bicycle" since that time, but Gravel Worlds now will have Lauf as a title sponsor for at least the next three years.
Look for further announcements including new promotions for next year's Gravel Worlds to come. The 2025 dates are August 22nd - 24th. You can learn more about Gravel Worlds at their site HERE.
Legendary Cycling Media Journalist Goes Solo:
For years cycling media's James Huang has commanded respect and fans worldwide for his no-nonsense takes, technical news, and reviews of products. He has worked for many of the most well known cycling publications and websites over the years, most recently with the "Escape Collective". Huang left his post there in May of 2024 and now has announced that he has a Substack hosted site called "n - 1", a take on the famous saying cyclists use when looking at a new bike by saying "n + 1" is the formula for how many bikes you should own.
Maybe Mr. Huang's writings over the years have impressed and helped you out, or maybe you've never heard of the guy, but to me he is an industry icon. James Huang is "the standard" when it comes to technical cycling journalism and he knows what he is talking about. I have respected him for years, and I actually met him once during a Trek/Fisher press camp in Monterey, California. I'm pretty sure that Mr. Huang was not impressed by me and probably doesn't recall that meeting, but it is one of the highlights of my time in cycling media.
Give "n -1" a try and if you didn't know where Mr. Huang went now you do. I may have more to say on the state of cycling media in another post.
Update On The Cross Point Sock Review:
Some of you readers may recall my review of these Cross Point waterproof socks which I started looking at back in early September HERE. I promised an update "later in the Fall" and so here we are.
The thing is that since that introduction we have been bone dry and hot as far as the weather goes. While we just had a spate of colder weather, we're back into the 70's for a bit and wet weather is still a rarity here.
Due to these conditions, I just do not feel it is fair to conclude this review just yet. I am hopeful that colder and wetter weather will present itself and I'll be able to try out this product in proper weather soon. So, if you felt that you were left hanging concerning this review, this is what is going on with it.
Again, I hope to get this wrapped up soon.
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| Image courtesy of Enve Cycles |
Enve Cycles Shows New Hex Gravel Tires:
Another new gravel tread is out there called "Hex" and is offered up by Enve Cycles. Available in 40m and 44mm sizes, in tan wall only, the tires feature a nano particle enhanced compound that is claimed to reduce rolling resistance and increase grip.
Hexagonal knobs provide three-way flex edges for grip as well as providing for an enhanced ride feel. There is puncture protection under the tread and reinforced material around the bead chafer. The Hex is tubeless ready and claimed weight for the 40mm tire is 430 grams and the 44mm tires are claimed to weigh 450 grams each.
The Hex gravel tires are priced at $75.00 USD each. You can purchase them directly from Enve HERE.
Comments: Enve follows the "not much, if any, tread in the middle and low, laterally placed blocks on the shoulders" recipe for tread design which has been a staple design for gravel tread since the early twenty-teens. Interesting to read that Enve has their contract manufacturer using a "nano particle enhanced compound". This nano particle technology has been pretty much the sole domain of Vittoria tires for several years. Makes you wonder...
Also interesting is the somewhat conservative sizes available. 40mm is racy, but becoming less popular while anything closer to 50mm wide seems to be getting all the flowers from riders of late. Of course, Enve had to work with a factory, as they do not actually make these themselves, so it may be a case where the factory offered up these options and that was it. We may never know, but there you go.... Tires from Enve if you want them.
RAT 1000 For 2025 Announced:
The Spinistry is an event organizer based in Texas that has created a subset of gravel events that is just as iconic as anything you've heard of. While events like Unbound, Barry-Roubaix, and Gravel Worlds have been stalwart "classic" gravel events for years, I feel many people are unaware that The Spinistry is an organization that deserves to have its events seen in the same light.
Take, for instance, the Red River Riot, an event that has been ongoing since 2010. The Spinistry can boast of other regional events that have become staples in the area as well.
Their long distance, Tour Divide-like event is the RAT 1000, a stage event across the state of Texas from Texarkana on the Eastern border to Tucumcari, New Mexico just over the border in New Mexico. You can read all about it HERE. There are shorter options, you can 'tour' the route, or you can take on the ITT version and try to set a FKT. It looks like an amazing route and you can do this in October next year if you want to take up the challenge.
That's a wrap on this week! Thank you for reading Guitar Ted Productions! Get out and ride those bicycles!
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