People Of 2025

  In my travels and life during the year, I have been blessed to be supported, befriended, and on occasion visited by some pretty awesome folks. Sometimes I visited them. (Hopefully they were equally blessed!) I wanted to take some extra space to recognize and celebrate these people at the end of the year. I hope you gain some insight and appreciation for what these people mean to me this year and beyond. 

From the Tree In The Road Ride. Image by Jason Boucher

 
Last year I started a mew 'end-of-year' segment called "People of 2025". Things were a lot different from the standpoint of people in my life for 2025. Firstly, my giving my truck as a trade in piece to my son, Jacob in October of 2024 severely limited my abilities to go anywhere to be with people I know from cycling. This had an enormous effect on how many people I would see this year. 

But overshadowing this was my son's sudden and unexpected death in early August. This brought a flood of visitors to the memorial service we had in my son's honor. So, listing out each important person seems a bit uncouth and rude to me. Everyone had a part in the support for me and my family. And many people contributed to this in any of several ways beyond physically being here. Therefore, all who chose to even give a thought to myself and my family in these difficult days deserves a "People of 2025" recognition. 

I'll be doing a post looking back on Events and a special post regarding my son and our cycling journey, but singling out folks for recognition this year seems a bit of a miss and I do not feel right about it. So, in closing, I just want to thank each and every one of you who read along when I posted about my son, my feelings, and how I was working through this tragedy, and still am working through it. I appreciate all your thoughts and prayers. I appreciate the contributions, the comments, and the visits. I cherish the hugs and tears shed. 

Thank you all.

Bikes Of 2025: Black Mountain Cycles MCD

 It's another end-of-year period on the blog. You know what that means? Yep! Another round of my bikes I used in 2025. This round-up will not include some of the bikes I did not use this year much, or at all. I focus only on the bikes that played a big role in my riding during this year.  As always, any changes or future plans for any bike I feature will also be detailed. I hope that you enjoy this year's round-up.

 The Black Mountain Cycles MCD has been a part of the stable now since 2018. This is kind of a transitional model between the Monster Cross and the Mod Zero model currently offered by Black Mountain Cycles. So, this MCD has been discontinued, but a Mod Zero is a great alternative and better in some ways to the MCD. (In case you were wanting something like this bicycle.)

I always wanted a pink bicycle. I am maybe weird this way, but ever since "Captain Dondo" wrote about his pink Specialized mtb in "Dirt Rag" I have thought about owning a pink bicycle. Then I missed out on Mike Varley's offering of a pink BMC Monster Cross model and I was sure I missed the boat there. However; in 2018 Mike tipped me off about his offering a pink MCD model, one of the first of the run of this model, and I bought in immediately. 

I think of the MCD as my "skinny tire Fargo", or a Vaya-like bicycle. I've ridden both extensively on gravel and there are characteristics of both Salsa models in this MCD. That's a good thing. 

In fact, initially I set the MCD up to mimic exactly my then Fargo Gen I set up. It made this bike instantly comfortable and easy to get along with. 

I swap out wheels so much on this bicycle I never really get a chance to hone in on anything super-specific about the way it rides, but I'll just say it is very good. 

Changes? Well, maybe sticking to a single wheel set and tire combination for a season! I might switch out more components to GRX, or maybe a new group set at some point. I have enjoyed the carbon VentureMax handle bar on this bike, so this component will not change. 

My only big change I really want to see is riding more on this bicycle than I did in 2025. The MCD was minimally used this year, and I often wished it could have been out with me more than it was. This will be a goal for 2026. 

Bikes Of 2025: Raleigh Tamland Two

 It's another end-of-year period on the blog. You know what that means? Yep! Another round of my bikes I used in 2025. This round-up will not include some of the bikes I did not use this year much, or at all. I focus only on the bikes that played a big role in my riding during this year.  As always, any changes or future plans for any bike I feature will also be detailed. I hope that you enjoy this year's round-up.

 The Raleigh Tamland Two finishes out its 11th year here with minimal use. I had it out a couple of times this Spring, but on through Summer it sat mostly unused. The longest ride I did on it was the Labor Day Ride with N.Y. Roll, at least I think it was the longest ride I did on that bike for 2025.

I did figure out the rear wheel issue, which wasn't a rear wheel issue, and bought a new crank set for it in a 170mm length. I was hoping to put a lot more miles on this bike to see what I thought of the slightly shorter cranks, but alas! I just never got around to it. I think I like this shorter crank, but as of now, I cannot say until I get more time in on those. 

Since I gave away the Black Mountain Cycles MCD this is now my oldest purposed gravel bike. I'm definitely not getting rid of it, and if you have been a long-term reader here, you know all about the story which would explain why. 

As for changes I may build a chi-chi wheel set for this bike some day. Maybe a set of blue hubs with silver spokes on carbon rims of some sort. I mean, that'd be cool, but totally unnecessary. It's a good bike as is. So, I wouldn't count on much changing with this one. 

Happy Thanksgiving

 Happy Thanksgiving!

All the best from myself, Guitar Ted, to you and yours if you are celebrating on this day of thanks. 

I am thankful for my life.

I am thankful I can ride a bicycle.

I am thankful for my family. 

I am thankful for my friends. 

 

And I am thankful for so much more. I hope today you take a minute to think about what you are thankful for. I hope you take some time to say "I love you" to those who are important to you. You don't have to be celebrating a "thanksgiving" holiday to do any of these things.  

Finally, thank you for reading Guitar Ted Productions!

Now get out there and ride your bicycle! 

Bikes of 2025: The King Fabrications "Honeman Flyer"

 It's another end-of-year period on the blog. You know what that means? Yep! Another round of my bikes I used in 2025. This round-up will not include some of the bikes I did not use this year much, or at all. I focus only on the bikes that played a big role in my riding during this year.  As always, any changes or future plans for any bike I feature will also be detailed. I hope that you enjoy this year's round-up.

 The Honeman Flyer has quickly risen to become one of my favorite bicycles I've ever ridden. This purely based upon my feelings when I ride it. It's so good, thanks in no small part to Li King of King Fabrications. Li had a lot of latitude in this bicycle's details. Sure, the geometry was a lock due to my demand the design reflect all the angles and degrees the original Pop Warner design for Willie Honeman had going on. But Li picked the tubing, decided how to miter the tubes and join them, and Li was the painter as well. I let Li do whatever Li wanted with the paint, and Li knocked it out of the park, in my opinion. I just wanted to make a point of Li's choices in the tubing which contribute heavily to how this bicycle rides.

Still, I find it hard to believe the Honeman Flyer rides as well as it does. It could have been a disaster even though Li did such a great job. This is due to how weird the rear half of this bicycle was designed originally. I have nothing which even comes close to how this bicycle is designed. It makes zero sense, when you think about it, as to why I would even get along with such a radically different bicycle. 

The seat tube is super-slack. The chain stays are really long. The bottom bracket drop is pretty deep. By all accounts, when considering geometry for gravel bicycles in 2025, this should not work for anyone. 

But it works great for me!

The combination of the weird stuff I already mentioned and a somewhat slack 71° head tube angle all combines to make a bike which feels super-stable and accelerates with immediacy when I stomp on the pedals. It handles well enough that during the 2024 Mid-South I was able to navigate the single track section with ease. 

I have only one beef with the bike and it has to do with tire clearances. I wish I would have asked for clearance for up to a 50mm tire. But as it is, I can fit around a 44mm wide tire and I have adequate clearance, so I can live with that. 

Changes? Well, this bicycle is kind of an inside joke regarding seat posts. I think I've gone through a half a dozen trying to find "the one" which will stay on the bike. Currently it sports a straight, no offset, Thompson in silver.  This works great, and I love the look, but eventually I think I'm going back to a carbon post or a titanium post with zero offset. 

I love Ritchey VentureMax bars, which is what the bike has, but I could see myself going with a carbon version for a bit more compliance. I could upgrade the brakes to Paul Klampers as well, since this bike is so custom, and I like it so well, it deserves this level of parts.  

The current state of the King Fabrications Honeman Flyer

Another consideration is a new crank set. I like those Paul cranks which came out recently. I can see upgrading to something like those and doing a nicer bottom bracket as well. 

But I do not need to do anything. These are all just wants/desires. The bike is serviceable and rides so well. So, I am in no hurry to change it up at any point in the near future. 

Rear View 2025: End Of Winter

 Hello! it's time again to review the year on Guitar Ted Productions. The "Rear View" has been a staple of the blog since almost the very beginning. This year will feature  five Rear View posts looking back on   End of Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall, and  Beginning of Winter. I'll also have a post looking ahead at 2026. Enjoy the look back and thanks for reading Guitar Ted Productions!

Winter was missing in action when the calendar flipped to 2025. Sure, it was cold, but we were pretty much snow-free, and there were regular times when the temperatures were more like November than January. 

I started a review of the blog including major story lines and images due to the blog reaching the start of its 20th year. The date was actually May 15th, 2005 when the lights turned on here, so technically I am still in Year 20 of this thing called "Guitar Ted Productions". 

This review was fun for me as I was digging through old posts. But the most fun part for me was looking at the old headers when I started using my own images. There were a lot of those which spurred old memories. 

A foggy January ride

I have found the reviewing duties to be more self-chosen and less 'offered' as it was in the past.  So, now I typically am buying things and then reviewing them. I'm okay with this because it means I am reviewing things I have keen interest in versus doing someone a solid by taking on a review of a product I'm skeptical of, or one I feel isn't all that interesting to myself. 

Besides, with the arrangement I have now I don't have to review anything, and while this may be hard for you, the reader, to understand, it is something of a relief to me. Reviews are an obligation I do not take lightly. Whether or not I am "into" a product or bicycle or not, I give it my all to do the thing justice. It is a responsibility and a duty to you, the reader. Now, if I don't feel up to it, I just don't have to do anything, which is freeing. I guess I'll leave it at that. 

Anyway, I started reviewing a couple of items in January. The Good Grief Bikes "Nice Bar" and Bike Tubes TPU fat bike tubes. Both are great and I use them to this day happily. The TPU tubes are fairly impressive and a big upgrade for any fat biker using butyl rubber tubes, in my opinion. The weight difference is astounding, and this makes them worthwhile alone, but air retention is also really good. 

We didn't ever really get much snow in 2025

The Snow Dog. I'll have more to say about this bike in my year end bike review soon.

We did end up getting one fairly decent drop of snow, but it did not last long. I think I actually rode more in January and February out in the country than I had in a while. I'd have to double check this, but the weather was outstanding for country rides from a Winter standpoint. 

It had been a long time since Guitar Ted Headquarters had upgraded its computer, so back in late February there was some changes in the works to upgrade the ol' 'puter'. 

I know, it looks all cool and whatnot, but I have to say Windows 11 isn't my favorite. The search function is terminally slow, and things are displayed in a way which is not conducive to my style. Well, I guess I've gotten used to it, but sometimes so-called "advancements" are really not. 

Moving on! March brought warmer weather again and with this I was able to get outside some more. Then later in the month I was busy writing up stories about three main things: Gravel cycling trends, the bicycle industry slump, and the upcoming Gravel Cycling Hall of Fame class for 2025. The reviews on the TPU fat bike tubes and the Good Grief bar were wrapped up. Then with the close of March I was looking forward to maybe getting more rides out in the country. 

From a March ride to check out Marky-Mark trail. 

Riding out East of Waterloo here on the Honeman Flyer

In March I wrote up a "one-year" review on the Honemann Flyer. I'll have more to say about this bike in my year-end bike reviews, but suffice it to say that I really enjoy riding this bike. It has quickly become one of my favorite bicycles of all-time. 

Hmm.... 

Maybe I should write THAT post! 

More year-end stuff coming soon. The next Rear View will be after Thanksgiving in the first week or so of December, depending upon what happens with Virtual Turkey Burn Ride reports.  

Two Things

The Peregrine Mk4 with Schwalbe G-One Overlands.

Ride Quality vs Speed:

If I am not using my gravel bike for racing, then what am I using it for? This may sound like a ridiculous question, but the answer you give matters. 

Why? Well, the answer will tell you what is likely going to be a bigger influence on the success of your riding. If the answer is that you only really race, or are training to race, on the gravel bike, then your focus will be on speed and aero. If you don't really care about racing, then maybe you might want to think about comfort and ride quality. 

I like fun. Being beaten and made numb or sore because my bicycle rides like a hay rack is not fun. I will give you an example. The recently reviewed Schwalbe G-One Overland tires I tried were fast. They were some of the best I've tested in this category. However; they did not feel very good. 

I was a bit disappointed and fearful this may have been an issue with the Peregrine itself. Maybe the frame is just too stiff? Well, after the review was over, I swapped wheel sets and tires. The tires I used were older SOMA Cazadero 700 X 50mm tires and these were fitted with Rene Herse TPU tubes. I used the bike on the Veteran's Day ride with N.Y. Roll. 

Image by N.Y. Roll

The ride quality was better. No more harshness when hitting things like expansion cracks, potholes, or the like. Plus the Cazadero/TPU tube combo rolled nearly as fast as the Schwalbe tires did. 

Now had I run these tires tubeless I would imagine the ride quality would have been even a little bit better, at the least. So, this fit my purposes better than a tire which has speed but lacks in ride quality. 

My results were that I had more fun. Fun is good. 

Now had I been going racing? Had I been doing work in training for a race? Maybe I'd throw the Schwalbe tires back on. But I am not racing, and so I don't place speed above all else when it comes to riding gravel. 

I'm not saying racing is bad, or you should not ride for those purposes. However; many folks get caught up in the racing stuff due to those racing things seemingly being "the goal you should strive for". I think this is wrong thinking. I believe most riders want to have fun riding their bicycles and speed gains, power outputs, and GPS data - while cool - is not what the focus should be for most riders. It is not why most people ride. They typically ride for pleasure and fitness. So, maybe choose tires which fit why you are really riding. Just a thought.....

Big Wheels For Gravel:

Maybe 15 years ago, maybe a little more than that, you would have been fairly acquainted with the arguments for and against 29" wheels for mountain biking. 

29"ers were really the first wheel size which came along to break all the traditional thoughts and technical design behind mountain biking. Change is never easy, and a lot of people don't cotton to change. Resistance was high. However; eventually the results of using 29"ers convinced most people this was actually a better way to go.

Manufacturers made a few mistakes along the way. Technologies came along, which enhanced the positives of 29"ers to the point where 26" wheels, once the mainstay of MTB, were now deemed not all that great to use anymore. 

Now there is a new wheel size which is here to challenge 29"ers. It is 32" in diameter, and it sure looks as though the MTB world is going to be in line to see what shakes out from the trial usage of 32" wheels in XC racing. Technically manufacturers and designers all know what to expect, in theoretical terms, due to the previous experiments with 29"er wheels. Mistakes and failures should be mitigated to a great degree. If 32" wheels "work", it won't be because of luck. 

So, in the latest podcast we discuss this, 32"ers rumors and speculations which are afoot, and whether or not 32" is a good idea for gravel bikes. Give the show a listen. Let me know what you think in the comments. 

Thanks for reading Guitar Ted Productions

Well, It Looks Like THIS Is Going To Happen!

It will probably end up looking a lot like this.

 I have loved fixed gear riding ever since I first tried it out many years ago. However, I did not ever really have a dedicated fixed gear bike worth a hoot. That is, until a couple of years ago when I built up the Shogun I found at the Cedar Valley Bicycle Collective. 

Since I was able to build that bike up with a 'proper' fixed gear rear hub, I have ridden the Shogun consistently ever since. So much so that I was wishing for a fixed gear bike with bigger tires. 

I had such bikes fixed in the past. My Karate Monkey has been set up fixed gear a couple of times. The old Surly 1X1 I had was fixed gear most every Winter I rode the bike. Both bikes had proper wide tires in the 2.2" to 2.5" wide range. 

The Shogun has 28's on it and this is as wide a tire as I can squeeze into the frame and fork. In fact, the front tire is mere millimeters from rubbing the underside of the fork crown. Leaves get stuck under there all the time now, it is so close. 

I've dreamt of fat tires and fixed gears long enough now that I have finally found a solution. It sure looks like this is about to happen too, so I figured I may as well share it with all of you here. My old Standard Rando v2 is going to become my fixed gear sled in the near future. 

The Shogun will get donated, well most of it, to the Collective. So, it will be one bike in - one out. That is important to me. I do not need more bikes than I have already.  

Image courtesy of Paul Components

The key to it all will be the Paul Components Fixed Disc WORD rear hub. I was recently chatting with my friend Ari and was telling him my idea. He quickly pointed out this hub for its through-axle compatibility, which I was surprised by. Obviously, the Standard Rando v2 uses a 142mm through axle standard, and the hub here does also. Perfect!

I have two Velocity Blunt SS rims, brand new, sitting in the shop. Those will be laced up with an appropriate front hub and the wheels will be sussed. 

I have a black, 175mm TruVative single ring crank set which should work perfectly with my Wheels Manufacturing eccentric bottom bracket insert, which I used with my T-6 Standard Rando. I'll probably move the Whisky Parts Co. carbon mustache bars over from the Shogun. I may start out with only a front brake since I don't think I have a pair of mechanical flat mount brakes at the moment. 

A chain. seat post, saddle, and flat pedals. Boom! Done. Oh! And I will use some tires I already have. Probably some WTB Raddlers. So, what do you think? A fixed gear bike with a penchant for gravel travel? It all sounds good to me. 

End Of Year Plans For Guitar Ted Productions

 The end of another year is upon us and soon it will be 2026. Regular readers of this blog know I usually do a multi-faceted end -of-year series of posts here. This year will be no exception. However; there will be changes due to a few circumstances which occurred this year. This will make the end-of-year posts unique for 2025. 

First, and most obvious of all, the unexpected and unexplained death of my 22 year old son, Jacob has altered many things for me. This year I am going to do a special look back on our times together on bicycles. 

Secondly, the rise of artificial intelligence programs has severely affected my post views during a few segments of this past year. I usually would do a "Top Ten" list of most read posts for the year, but this will be impossible to do now with so many of my post numbers being so unrealistic as to be comical in terms of what the analytics are telling me. 

Instead, I am going to post my own "Top Ten" most important posts based upon impact to myself, from responses in the comments, or from outside of the blog feedback I received. This will be a different way of gauging what posts were important to you, the readers, but perhaps it will also be less analytical and more personal based. 

I may also gather up all the gravel cycling related posts and put together a list with links. This would serve as a "State of the Gravel Scene" overview from my perspective.  I am not going to post any more of those "SotGS" posts going forward, so this might be a good substitute for that. 

I will continue to do the "Bikes of 2025", the "Rear View", and "Top Images" posts for the year. 

With all the Virtual Turkey Burn Ride reports I had last year, and what I suspect will turn out to be as many, or perhaps even more coming in this year, I am going to kick in the end-of-year posts starting this coming week with a look at some bikes and a Rear View post.  Then Thanksgiving will see another bike post or two, and then the following week will, most likely, be all Virtual Turkey Burn related posts.  

I probably won't get back to end-of-year stuff again until December 8th at the earliest, so this will be a busy stretch here on the blog. Due to the amount of content I want to create, please be advised I will likely double-post on several days until the first of the year. 

Thanks again for reading Guitar Ted Productions! 

Friday News And Views

 Bicycle Sales Still Slumping:

You probably have noticed it. All the "Black Friday" sales stuff which kicked in right after Halloween was over here. We may as well call the month of November "Black Friday" and have no days other than Friday for 30 calendar days until December 1st.  

News coming out of all the trade publications are still showing sales numbers mostly down for the Summer. You can tell because some companies have been running ridiculous discounts for months already.  

There have been a few businesses shutting down, and many bicycle shops seem to be closing up across the world, not just here. I'm certain there are parts where shops are thriving and business is brisk, but this seems to be less common now. 

And there are "bicycle deserts" which are getting larger all the time. The city I live in currently has no bicycle shops at all. None. It's crazy to think about it. There are several places in Iowa which have no close local bicycle services at all. I'm sure nationwide it is commonplace. 

It will be interesting to see if 2026 brings any positive changes.  

Prototype known as "D62" Image courtesy of Brant Richards

Luxy Redux Update:

Last Friday I asked if anyone was interested in a Luxy Bar reissue. (IYKYK) I wanted to give those interested parties an update, as far as what I know. 

The Luxy Bar was sold through Chain Reactions Cycles, an online retailer which had many "in-house" brands. One of those brands was Ragley, and the main designer for Ragley Bikes at the time of the Luxy Bar's availability was Brant Richards. The Luxy was sold as a Ragley Bikes product. 

I do not know the particulars involved in a possible revival of a component which has a license through a company which went through financial distress and I do not know who owns the rights to the Luxy now. All I know is Brant is getting back into bicycle stuff again and asked if I thought the Luxy was a viable offering in 2025/26. 

I posted about this, as I stated, last Friday, and Brant has seen all of your comments. So, if those carry any weight, then .......maybe. Also, I did ask for a carbon version to which Brant replied to by saying, "You can ask. But I’m sticking with metal. Not plastic!"

You can read into this statement if you'd like. I am saying it still is a big "what if" until I see one for real. Stay tuned.....

Image courtesy of Ratio Tech

Ratio Mech Now Available:

Early in October I reported in another FN&V regarding Ratio Technologies stab at making a rear derailleur with an aim to be versatile enough to work with several different shifters. It appears now this component is now available from the U.K. based company and is called the "Mech".  

Riders can choose the correct Mech configuration for their preferred cassette and shifter right from the webpage.  The Mech can also be configured for traditional derailleur hangars or UDH style mounting. 

Comments: I think this sort of mechanical rear derailleur is really a thing filling a void. The major component makers have, for the most part, abandoned cable pull derailleurs. This Ratio offering fills a void in the marketplace for those who want 12 and 13 speed drive trains but do not want electronic shifting for whatever reasons they may have.  

The asking price of approximately $457.00 (based upon current exchange rates and no tariff or VAT) seems steep, but a SRAM AXS XPLR rear mech is only about one hundred bucks less. Given some competition in this space for high-end, cable pull rear mechs and some decent amount of demand, I could see this 457 number coming down. 

But who knows? Perhaps this will only be a niche offering for old-school, cable pull holdouts. Once the demand is met, and those folks age out, perhaps all we wil see is electronic rear mechs in the future.  Either way, it is nice to see a company offering an alternative to electronic shifting. 

Image courtesy of Ritchey Design

Ritchey Design Septimer Carbon Breakaway Frame:

Whoops! I had to redact this news last Friday because I didn't read the embargo date correctly, so if you've already seen this here, or thought you might have, you did!

My bad! Sorry Ritchey Design! 

So, anyway, the Septimer is a break-away frame design in carbon. Ritchey has its own design for travel frames which come apart and can be packed into a small travel bag which can be checked at airports as regular baggage, saving on shipping costs for folks who like to travel with a bicycle. 

If you are interested you can check out the Ritchey Septimer and all their other fine products HERE. 

More 32"er Watch Rumors:

I was pointed to a mtbr.com thread by fellow blogger Rich Dillen which detailed the latest in 32"er news. With Mike Curiak being the current "Central Scrutinizer" of all things 32" in the MTB world, at least here in the USA, it was enlightening.  

Apparently the scuttlebutt from Mike is that at least "5-6 new 32" tires " are due out next year. I would assume this would mostly become news around and at Sea Otter, given the MTB nature of the event in April. 

Chatting via text messenger with "Mr Vague Idea Racing", we both agreed gravel stands to be addressed with the 32" wand as well. What exactly becomes of this is anyone's guess as of now, but more companies than Maxxis will have to jump in to make this viable. My guess is the German based tire brands will not be included due to their notorious conservative natures, I'd look for brands like Kenda, (who could use a shot in the arm), Panaracer, or maybe WTB to be brands which come in with 32" offerings for tires in 2026. 

This 32 inch nonsense reminds me a LOT of the heady days of 29"ers, fat bikes, and early gravel bike tire threads online where certain individuals were looked to for breaking news and posters would theorize on stuff they had no idea about. Ah! I recall this sort of thing and I understand it is "fun", but I'm not going to press into this too hard myself. The rewards are ethereal and fleeting for the amount of "grind" one has to exert. But with this said, I will be keeping a close eye on things in relation to 32" wheels and gravel bikes. 

That is a wrap on this week! The FN&V will be taking a break next week (unless there is breaking news) for Thanksgiving. Look for the next FN&V to appear at the end of the first week of December. 

Now get out and ride those bicycles!  

Maintenance Of Fat Bike Tubeless Tire - A Pictorial

 CAUTION! If you are easily offended by gross images or scared of seeing "intestinal" type images, do not read further. You've been warned! 

Today I am going to share what it took to check and clean out the old sealant in my front wheel of my Ti Muk 2 fat bike. The detail most important to know here is the sealant has never been cleaned out of this tire since 2019. So, after around six years, I would imagine it would be time to do this job, wouldn't you think? Ha!

Secondly, you may wonder how I dealt with sealant for this tire, (and the rear, by the way). I simply added about 100ml of sealant every Fall for the past five years. yep! I never did anything else. Now, I will also add here the rear wheel was done several weeks ago, and due to the laborious, time consuming peeling of sealant, I wasn't in any big hurry to do the front wheel. So, this was why I waited a while longer, in case any of you regular readers were wondering. 

 

The front wheel of my Ti Muk 2 consistes of a SON dynamo hub laced to a carbon Whisky Co. rim. These were rims which came stock on Beargrease fat bikes circa 2016 or so. The previous owner had these wheels laced up, so as far as any other details of these wheels goes, I am unaware of those. I mounted the Terrene Cake Eater 26" x 4.0" tires in about 2019 or so. These wheels originally had 45NRTH Van Helga tires which I found to be too slow and clunky for my uses. 

Removal of the wheel requires careful disconnection of the two spade connectors near the drop out so the wiring for the dynamo hub can be separated to get the wheel out. Then the Maxle through axle is utilized to release the wheel from the fork. The next step is to break the tire bead from its place on the carbon rim. 

 The first order of business is to remove as much air as you can from the tire. I usually don't take the core out, and in fact, I close the valve when I am finished pushing out air. I cannot say this is an aid, or cool trick to use, but I've always done it this way with fat bike tires. 

To break the bead from its place on the rim I lay the rim against the bench at a slight angle, not allowing a lot of the rim to overhang the bench. This is important for leverage. You want the rim supported at two points closer together so you won't damage the rim. 

Next I use the butt of each hand to apply pressure right at the point where the tire meets the rim at the sidewall facing upward at me. (See where I have my thumb in the image. This is where you want to apply pressure)

Using a downward force at a right angle to the rim, (essentially pushing 'sideways' across the rim), I carefully apply pressure until the tire breaks free. I use my finger to grasp the tire in this process, but I am not really doing anything with force at the fingers. The force is concentrated at the butt end of my hands. Think of how an automobile tire machine works, if you are at all familiar with this type of machine. 

Once the bead breaks free the rest generally will come apart with little effort. When you have pushed the bead on one side all the way around away from the rim edge, flip the wheel and repeat the above process

Next, you will need a tire lever to peel off one bead from the rim. Now in my case, here is where I found a big surprise. The sealant had formed a sort of 'tube' which was acting much like a butyl rubber tube in that it wanted to come out in one piece. So, I went with this situation. 

Here you can see what this looked like. I simply started to look at this as I would a tube replacement. The sealant slipped right out of the tire with little effort. 

Now I know some of you will want to know what I used for sealant for the past five-plus years. The answer to this question is a little complicated and murky. 

I'm pretty sure most of the sealant was WTB sealant. Some of it was Finish Line sealant, because I could see the black additive particles they used as an extra measure to seal up punctures. I am certain the last sealant I put in was Orange Seal for cold weather, and I may have used my own home-brew sealant which is a recipe I have shared here several times and which I call "MG's Sealant". 

Yeah.... I realize many say do not mix sealants. But to my mind, most sealants are more similar than dissimilar, and in practice, mixing sealants has never caused me any negative effects. So, you probably should not do what I did, but also - I am not at all concerned about mixing sealants. So, take all this under advisement and consider what you do carefully in regard to your own sealant use practices. 

After peeling out the sealant I simply remounted the tire, introduced 300ml of new sealant, and aired up the tire again with no further issues. For the record, I used some mixed up sealants again. So, I cannot tell you exactly what I used because I don't even know for certain. But before I discarded the old sealant "tube" I thought I'd weigh it for fun. 

Not bad, eh? I think this is in the range of TPU fat bike tubes, maybe a touch heavier. But I thought it was interesting the sealant did not accumulate to a weight  which was more than it turned out to be. Obviously, this was still far less than a butyl tube would weigh in at for a 26" x 4.0" tire. 

So, there you have it. My maintenance of my front wheel is finished and I am ready for Winter. Also, this might be the bike I end up using for the Virtual Turkey Burn Ride, since we may be getting blasted with Arctic air right around that time. I'd rather ride this bike when, or if, it gets windy and cold. 

The Thirty-Two Watch

Image courtesy of Velocity USA

Evidence is mounting for an introduction of 32" wheels for mountain biking in 2026. As more niche brands are exploring the wheel size, it is becoming increasingly probable we will see the wheel size being offered from at least a few mid-tier brands in an effort to get a jump on the 'Big Four', (Trek, Cannondale, Giant, Specialized) before these big companies commit to selling something risky like 32"ers. 

While the benefits of a larger wheel size are straight out of what I've learned from the transition from 26"ers to 29"ers, many feel 32' is just a ruse by cycling insiders to make more money. Of course, capitalism is certainly a motivation, but there is actually good, researched reasoning behind the idea. See THIS YouTube video for the details. 

Meanwhile, all you have to do is pay attention to what is bubbling up to the surface regarding the necessary pieces to put together a 32" wheeled XC racing bike. Things like tires are already here. One of the next things to look for is a suspension fork, (rumors abound concerning big name suspension fork companies looking at 32" wheels) but for now, only Wren Sports is a 'real' option. Rims would be another issue to overcome, and just this week Velocity USA announced a 32" diameter Blunt with hole drilling from 28H - 40H available. 

While XC MTB is the focus now, gravel bikes will be seen soon enough sporting this wheel size, especially since a suspension fork is not necessary for success in the gravel market. I know of at least one niche manufacturer who is looking into this currently, but I would not be at all surprised to find out there are others developing bicycles for gravel and 32" wheels. I'd keep a keen lookout for something to pop up around Sea Otter time. 

Personally, I feel 32" wheels have a place in gravel cycling. I would certainly be all over trying a bike out fitted with 32" wheels and having the proper geometry. Maybe it is worth a custom frame. 

But I need a bicycle like I need another hole in my head, so..... 

Stay tuned.
 

Three Series: A Contrast & Comparison

2026 Gravel Earth Series Calendar: (Image courtesy of Gravel Earth Series)

 NOTE: Large doses of "my opinion" will be handed out in gloppy dollops today. You've been forewarned.....

 As we wind down 2025 many gravel events are ramping up marketing and registrations for 2026. I'll have a report on what trends in enetry fees I find and "value per mile" opinions coming up early next year. Right now I wanted to compare and contrast the three preeminent gravel racing series in the world now: The UCI World Championship Gravel Series, The Life Time Grand Prix, (Could be argued it isn't really a pure gravel series, but...), and the Gravel Earth Series of events. Let's start out with a look at what is in store for each series coming up. I'll kick it off with the Gravel Earth Series. 

Gravel Earth Series: 

This series is kind of the upstart of the three major world-wide series. Last year this organization, based out of Spain, had a confusing calendar with main series events and some events which were kind of satellite events, trial events, or something along those lines. These ancillary events weren't part of the main series, and this year some of those events do not appear on the calendar for 2026. Most notable of those is the Gravel Worlds event out of Lincoln, Nebraska. 

The streamlined calendar for 2026 does include three events on US soil. The Lost and Found, The Oregon Trail, and CORE4 here in Iowa. Gravel Earth organizers also have introduced age categories to "recognize performance across generations". Organizing company Klassmark, who are the event production company for the Gravel Earth Series, will kick things off in Spain and Italy with the first overseas venture being the Lost and Found in June. 

For more details see the Gravel Earth Series website.  

Comments: This series seems to be on the upswing with refinements and a streamlined calendar of events featuring mostly European and USA based events. There are two events outside this norm, with one in Iceland and the other in Kenya.  Last year this series covered more continents and featured a more international palette of choices than this year. I think this is a good thing from a focus standpoint. Obviously, having three US based events is outstanding. 

The pearl of this series is The Traka. Described by many as "Europe's Unbound Gravel", this event has quickly become a premier gravel event on the calendar. So much so that Klassmark is now marketing and producing events dubbed "By The Traka", to reflect how these other events are influenced by the way The Traka feels and is experienced by the riders. Five of the Gravel Earth Series events are now designated as "By The Traka" events.  

Life Time Grand Prix:

This event series is a six race series split evenly between MTN and gravel based courses. Some might argue this series really isn't a gravel or a mountain biking series, and while technically true, we have seen cross-over with regard to not only athletes, but equipment choices in this series in the past. This blurs the lines at times between MTB and gravel to make the Life Time Grand Prix a sort of hybrid event series which features some of gravel's top athletes in both the women's and men's fields. 

New for this season is a significant uptick in prize money. Now featuring $175,000.00 for Men and Women each across ten placings, this series has become the plumb racing series for top athletes in North America, if not world-wide, in gravel specifically. Each event will now have a prize purse in total for both men and women Pros in the series of $30,000.00 split evenly between genders and paid out to tenth place. Double the 30 grand to 60 grand total for Unbound and the Leadville 100. 

2026 will see four of the series six events have live, real-time coverage of the contest.  Most notable of these is Unbound, by far the World's most important gravel event. The series will also bring back the "Wild Card" entrants who are chosen based upon results up to and through Unbound Gravel in June. Those qualifying athletes are added to the limited roster of men and women in the series who are chosen via application/lottery by Life Time to participate. 

For more details see the Grand Prix website.  

Comments: There are two things which stand out to me concerning Life Time's Grand Prix series. One - This series would be background noise if it were not for (a) Unbound Gravel and (b) the amount of money set forth for prizing. Both these things are what bring the eyeballs to the Grand Prix. There is no question in my mind concerning the impact of the series if Unbound Gravel is taken out of the equation. Sure, Leadville has cache, and Chequamegon has tradition, but in terms of what makes cycling go 'round in 2026, it is gravel, and Unbound Gravel is king in terms of importance world-wide. 

Second, it is the exclusivity and discrimination exemplified by the selection of Life Time's organizers when the roster for the Grand Prix is considered. I'm not saying this is a bad thing, but it is not how gravel got its footing amongst cyclists. But then again, is the Grand Prix even a "gravel series"? This is a legitimate question, and again, without Unbound, who would even care? (Well, there is that money they are waving around, so....)

Image courtesy of the UCI Gravel Worlds Series

UCI Gravel World Series:

The UCI, (Union Cycliste Internationale) has had a gravel world series now for a few years with 2025 being their most ambitious effort to date with 33 events world-wide. 

2025 saw the first US-based UCI gravel events with the addition of California's Mammoth Tuff and the Highlands Classic in Arkansas.  The UCI has been criticized and kept at arm's length here in the USA due to its formulaic way of producing events with a disregard to how traditional gravel events have been produced here. 

Because of this, the UCI's gravel series hasn't been well covered or received here in the States. This is a series with much more import in Europe, where 23 of the 33 events are held. Of course, the UCI has promised more US-based gravel events will be coming online, and we've yet to see the 2026 calendar, so perhaps this stands to be changed in the near future. 

For details on the UCI Gravel World Series see their webpage.  

Comments: The UCI has been ambitiously chasing the gravel money-making machine for nearly ten years now. Slowly, the organization, which represents the pinnacle of sport in MTB and road racing, is gaining a foothold. However; even in 2025, it is difficult to name a top racer in their series here as a US citizen. The coverage and impact of the UCI's efforts is not all that great. With the lack of 'star power' (see Tadej Pogacar, et al) spectacle, or any real legacy/premier gravel event on the calendar, (see Unbound Gravel/The Traka), the UCI has quite an uphill battle on its hands to gain the sort of stranglehold it has currently on MTB and road racing.  

Image courtesy of Life Time Events

 Conclusions:

While gravel events have evolved in terms of professional participation and import on the industry and average cyclists, the foundational base of gravel in the USA remains strong and healthy going into 2026. How these three series actually affect anything regarding "gravel culture" is hard to gauge. It probably has more impact at the retail bicycle level than it does anywhere else. 

This is manifested in hardware which reflects the Pro. Wireless shifting, aerodynamics, and efficiencies which are really best for ultra-fit, high-end athletes seem to be getting all the attention inside the main brand's headquarter. Much like the bicycles and hardware from heyday of the 'Lance Era ' did which affected road bikers to a high degree. This is not only unnecessary, but detrimental to people coming into gravel for the first time. 

Besides the way companies fall into thinking "F-1" type bicycles and gear are what everyone wants, (it isn't what we want), and need, I'm not sure any of these gravel series really matters. In other words, these series tend to have far too much influence than they should have over certain aspects of cycling.  

Perhaps the Gravel Earth Series comes closest to keeping something of what gravel cycling was meant to be in its productions.Their concern for how the culture and local impact of an event is received by riders is to be commended. The UCI doesn't care, in reality, as their cookie-cutter approach to events completely ignores what made gravel "gravel" in the first place. Essentially, their events are produced like a Pro road event with only the surface raced on being different. Finally, the Grand Prix is spectacle and largely forgettable all in one series with a big, fat wallet being waved in front of a select few athletes. besides Unbound, it really has no relevance to gravel at all.  

In a "what 0f" world, it is fun to consider what the gravel racing landscape might be like in 2026 if the UCI could have somehow pried the Dirty Kanza 200 (which became Unbound) from Jim Cummings' hands. This one possibility probably would have catapulted the UCI to heights unheard of in the world of cycling. But then again, had they completely overhauled the format, and made it a "UCI event" in practice, would this event even exist anymore? My bet is the UCI would have totally mismanaged this possibility. It is a fascinating exercise in thought, but obviously, (and thankfully), nothing to sweat over.  

So, there you go. My thoughts and comments on the three preeminent gravel series in 2026.  

A Strange Fall

The weather has been odd

 It is mid-November and we broke a record for high temperature on Friday. What a weird Fall. It hasn't really ever felt like Fall here besides a few days here and there since September. Last weekend it was Winter-like, with brutal winds and low temperatures, but a week later and it was so hot I maybe could have worn a Summer kit there for about an hour or so. 

Of course, I had to go for a bit of a ride in the afternoon. No biggie, just a cruise over to what was once called the Mitchell Sandpits. It has been transformed into what is now called  the Riverview Recreation Area. There is an old sandpit dredged and filled with water to make Harold Getty Lake. It's not very big, but there is a dirt path around it for 3/4's of the way and paved bicycle path the remainder of the way. I like going over there to run the dirt and see what is going on in the lake. 

On this particular day, I wasn't the only one thinking this November weather is something to be taking advantage of. There were a few other cyclists, a fisherman or two, and several cars parked at teh boat landing. 

If you squint hard enough, you'll see the kayaker who scared all the Canadian geese away!

 

The path around the lake is mowed out pretty wide. 

When I reached the earthen dam on the Western side of the lake, my phone rang. It was N.Y. Roll and he wanted to chat. I stood on the beach and looked out over the now shallow lake. The drought conditions are creeping back in again. There was a lone kayak skimming across the water toward a flock of floating Canadian geese. The geese didn't cotton to having a human very close, so they burst forth with honking and took flight in a crash of wings on water. 

Yeah....I'm not sure what this person expected would happen. 

If I didn't know any better I'd say this looked like, and felt like, Spring.

Eventually I made my way back around the way I had come, exited the park, and went on my way to explore some alleys. I got home in one piece and then I sat on the porch, soaking up the last rays of Sun for the day. In fact, I did that Saturday as well. These days are gifts to be savored, I think. So, this is what I did. 

Now it has become much more Fall-like. I suspect this past week will be the last we see of the sort of warmth we had till next year. I'm happy I was able to get out there and enjoy it for a bit. 

Two Things

VTBR Update: 

I've been anxiously checking the long term forecast for Thanksgiving weekend about every day. I know.....it's not a very good thing to do. Forecasting this far out is always an exercise in futility. However; things should start to come into focus from here on out and my plans will as well.

Plans for my attempt at this year's VTBR, that is. My hope is I would get to bang out a metric century in one go and be done with it. However; I cannot be assured of anything at this point. 

We will have our own observance of Thanksgiving here at Guitar Ted Headquarters, of course. Perhaps on Friday due to my daughter's work schedule. I think Thursday looks like my most "open" day for the attempt. Here's hoping the weather is somewhat decent. 

If.....and it is a big 'if' now...I get to ride on Thanksgiving Day, my plan is to ride the "Ride for Jacob" route again. Maybe this time I'll get those roads I missed in! The route is a metric, plus some, so it would be perfect for the VTBR. 

Of course, I;ll need to choose a bicycle for this. Again, IF a big, one day ride is in the cards, I may go with the Fargo, Gryphon Mk4, or my Black Mountain Cycles MCD. But I am supposed to use a "forlorn" bike in the stable. This would point toward the Raleigh Tamland 2 or the Pofahl Signature single speed. Meh! 

First world problems.... 

GT giving his acceptance speech at the GCHoF in 2022.

A Project Begins:

In June of 2022 I was inducted into the Gravel Cycling Hall of Fame. What I did not talk about back then was a bit of an interview I gave for a special project headed up by a couple of guys who have connections to both gravel events and independent film work. They are putting together a documentary film, and I have been asked to help out. 

Without giving too much away, I can say this is about gravel cycling and there is a lot of work for me to do on the project which I have already begun to do. Wading through all the material gathered so far is quite a monumental task, but I have a plan.  

I hope to get through everything and then give my feedback soon. Once my feedback has been given, I'm not sure where my part in this project will end. Perhaps this will be all I contribute, or....? Hard to say. All I know is the goal is to get the finished product out next year. So I better get crackin'! 

Planning For The VTBC Ride

The Veteran's Day Ride was a great training ride for the VTBC.

In less than two weeks I will be challenging myself to do at least a metric century ride. Maybe I'll have to spread it over three days, maybe not, but I am well into preparing myself to get it done again this year. 

If you are not understanding what I am talking about here, this is all about the Virtual Turkey Burn Challenge (VTBC) ride  It isn't too late to consider joining us, so if you are interested, see THIS LINK for all the details. Essentially this is an excuse to use your bicycle at this time of the year when most cycling events have shut down for the season. 

The recent Veteran's Day Ride I did with N.Y. Roll was a great opening up on preparations for this challenge. We were out in "not very ideal conditions", I would say. Conditions which might just reflect what it will be like for the VTBC. It was quite windy, with consistent winds in the 20mph range with higher gusts. It was cold, with a starting temperature in the mid-30's and rising into the 40's as we went along. Thankfully it was mostly Sunny, but this is rare in November. So, I'm not banking on this to happen again. 

Last year I did the VTBC over four days on my fat bike due to the cold temperatures.

Last year was brutal here. It was very windy, and VERY cold. I ended up riding every day, on Thanksgiving through the following Sunday, to get a metric century in. I did this all within the confines of the local soft trails and bike paths, so it was definitely a big challenge to get all the miles in! 

My bicycle choice was pretty much forced upon me by the weather last year. This year I haven't seen enough evidence to make a definitive choice. I could easily end up on the Ti Muk 2 again, or a gravel bike! Some weather prognosticators are calling for a big storm to hit around Thanksgiving. So, no decisions on the bike just yet. 

I am getting out now though and pedaling as much as I can before Thanksgiving. It is difficult to prepare for a situation which remains fluid. Late November here can be tranquil, or very stormy. It can be warm, or very windy and cold, like last year. You just cannot predict it easily. Nothing like say, June, where you know you most likely can ride barring lightning being present or for some other severe weather which is pretty easy to predict ahead of time. (Relative to Winter forecasting)

So, I have ideas, but making any solid choices will have to wait for about a week.  

Friday News And Views

Image courtesy of Wilde Bicycle Co. 

Wilde Bicycle Co. Announces Heighliner Titanium Adventure Bike:

Due to a leak of information, Wilde Bicycle Co has decided to release the information and pre-orders on its newest model dubbed the Heighliner. 

Featuring clearance for 29" 2.25" tires, fully internal cable housing, and UDH compatibility, this new model is Wilde Bicycle Co. head Jeffrey Frane's favorite bike currently. In fact, he designed the geometry himself. 

The frame has double-butted titanium tubing with a T-47 bottom bracket. There are two water bottle mounts in the front triangle, one Three-Pack mount under the down tube, and a top tube bag accessory mount on the top tube. 

The frame is made at the ORA factory in Taiwan. Pre-orders for a June 2026 delivery are open now. Price for the frame and fork is $3,300.00. The details can be reviewed on the webpage for the Heighliner HERE. 

Image courtesy of Moots

Moots Announces Scrambler Adventure Bike:

Moots released information yesterday on a new model called the Scrambler. This drop-bar, wide tired bicycle is designed around a 100mm travel suspension fork.  

Available as a frame only or with a Rock Shox SID fork and Shimano GRX/XT build, the bike will only be available for  -according to the press release - "a limited time".  (End of January 2026, to be exact)

Tire clearance is stated at 20" x 2.4" maximum. The frame is a Boost spaced frame. Completes will ship with Chris King MTN30 AL29" wheels. Tires will be the WTB MACRO 29" X 2.4".  

For details see Moots page for this model HERE.  

A Gen 2 Fargo pictured in 2015.

The "OG" Would Like To Have A Word:

This trend to 29"er MTB sized rubber, drop bars, and a penchant for telescopic front forks in the realm of "Gravel™" these days reminds me of something....

I cannot quite put my finger on it now. Was it some bike back in 2008 or 2009 with a marketing tagline which went something like "Adventure by Bike"?

Anyway, you get my point by now, I am sure. It was inevitable we'd see all things garvel eventually reach a point where the lines were blurred and what we were looking at now became what we already have seen for sixteen years now.  

You'll note I did not write any "Comments" for the first two entries. This is the comment section on those two entries. Welcome to "Adventure by Bike" Moots and Wilde. There's plenty of room on the couch here and for the rest of you brands who think they have discovered something here.  

I'm not criticizing here, but unless you remind people of the past, they will make up their own stories. So, check the history and be informed.  

Image courtesy of Vittoria Tire

Vittoria Announces Future Availability Of Eco-Friendly Brown Hued Tires:

On the heels of my recent post concerning these tires (HERE), it has come to light recently that Vittoria Tire is indeed going to sell the eco-friendly, brown gravel tires. Tires which have been claimed to be faster than their carbon black infused siblings. 

The full range of Vittoria's PRO gravel catalog will eventually be available in this compound and casing made with 92% renewable, recyclable materials. 

Vittoria claims this brown-hued compound is 5% faster, has 19% more grip, and has 18% better puncture resistance than its current gravel tire range. 

All this performance and earth-friendliness comes at a price though.  Tires in the range are well over $100.00 each at $112.99. This compares to Vittoria's current range which runs at $81.99 for each tire. 

Comments: Wooo! That's a big jump in performance at a big jump in price. Would you be willing to slap on nearly $225.00 of tires, (before shipping and taxes), and have your bike seen with brown rubber? Yeah..... That's a big ask, but I'm willing to bet a lot of people are going to give this a go on their gravel bike. 

A comment left indicating the Luxy Bar redux is a possibility. 

Do You Really Want It? Then Say So!

Thursday (yesterday) an long ago memory was stirred when I saw "Brant Richards" pop up in my email.  

Brant Richards was heavily involved in UK MTB as a writer and parts designer up until about seven years ago when he and a partner opened up a boutique clothing business called HebTroCo. But before the trousers came into Brant's life, he designed a lot of cool stuff like the On One Inbred, some nice forks, steel frames for trail MTB, and this odd flared drop bar called the Luxy Bar. 

Now Brant seems as though he's back into bicycles, at least for a bit. He hit me up yesterday asking what I thought about a reissue Luxy Bar. So lokk, if you ever wanted one, wanted another one, or are "Luxy-Curious", give a shout. Hit the comments and say something. 

If you don't ask, you won't receive anything.  

That's it for this week! Get out and ride those bicycles!