Friday News And Views

Gravel Amplifier:  Farmhouse Classic

Many years ago gravel events were much more intimate and often reflected a very personal touch which was imprinted on the event by the organizer. It was not uncommon for the event to start at a home, for instance, or start at someone's private property.

Such was the case with the early Farmhouse Classic gravel event organized by Joe Fox, owner of Cycle City bicycle shop now in Kansas City, Missouri. Joe had the event start at a farm in Northwest Missouri, not far from Kansas City. While I never had the chance to ride the event then, it did have a high reputation as being one of those  events you thought of when thinking about "grassroots gravel".

Last year, on our way down to Mid-South, we stopped in at Cycle City and I had the chance to chat with Joe Fox. Joe has been a gravel rider in many events going way back, including Trans Iowa, the event I used to run. During our conversation, I mentioned the Farmhouse Classic and I told Joe he should consider bringing it back again. Joe quickly brushed the suggestion off and made a few remarks about it being a big commitment and how he was pretty tied up running a shop nowadays. Totally understandable stuff

But, for whatever reasons, I see now that Joe has indeed resurrected the Farmhouse Classic. (I'm sure my suggestion had little to do with this happening, by the way)  It is set up now to be a benefit for the Parkhill Bison Composite NICA Team. There are 68 mile, 35 mile, and 20 mile ride options. The event will occur on July 19th out of Lathrop, Missouri, which is located Northeast of Kansas City, Missouri.

Journeyer CUES 11 Image courtesy of Salsa Cycles

 Journeyer CUES 10 & 11 Speed Bikes:

Salsa Cycles announced this week the availability of Shimano CUES groups on their Journeyer gravel/adventure bike frames. CUES is Shimano's group set specifically made to work through several speed and set up types. So, there is a 9 speed, 10 speed, and 11 speed CUES all with cross compatibility using derailleurs, shifters, and crank sets across the range including drop bar and flat bar versions.  For a more detailed look at CUES see my article on the group HERE.

The drop bar CUES was a highly anticipated version of this mechanical shifted group as it was hoped that it would reduce costs and make a gravel bike more accessible to the masses. Salsa has dropped both 10 speed and 11 speed CUES equipped Journeyers now, so how do they stack up?

Journeyer CUES 10 (Image courtesy of Salsa Cycles)

Well, for context here a frame set is available foor the Journeyer which includes a carbon Waxwing v2 fork. The cost for the frame set is $799.00. The CUES 10 equipped version clocks in at $1,699.00 and the 11 speed CUES Journeyer is $1,999.00.

Okay, bicycle prices have increased by quite a bit. It used to be you could get an entry level road bike for under 1K. This Salsa model was called the Journeyman when it came out in the late twenty-teens and the base model was under 1K.

Comments: So, we're still talking base, entry level stuff here and now - just to get in on a Salsa, you are looking at over $500.00 more these days. This is if you want a Salsa Cycles bike. Plus, CUES is not getting rave reviews on the bicycle mechanic pages I scroll routinely. 

Of course, alternatives exist and one no6table choice in this category is State Bicycle Co.  Their All-Road 6061 gravel bike compares with the CUES 11 Journeyer. It has a 1X 11 speed "State Bicycle Co." drive train, (read: MicroShift Sensah derailleurs and shifters. Also a group set with mixed reviews), and a carbon fiber fork as well. It retails on State's site for $300 bucks less than the Salsa CUES 10 Journeyer. So, a pretty competitive price, but you do not get a dealer back-up, and all that might come with that. So, yeah..... Apples and oranges, but this is how the market stacks up these days on the entry level gravel bike end of things.

Image courtesy of TRP

Vistar/Classified Wireless Group Set Details Announced:

TRP sent out an email blast to its customer email list last week detailing its Vistar wireless group sets for gravel and road. Featuring wireless shifters and rear derailleur, the group is also paired with Classified's two speed internal geared rear hub. 

Users can leverage the TRP Vistar app to customize shifting, set up the system as a sequentially geared system, or use it manually as a 2 X 12/13. Cassettes are made from one block of metal and there are two ranges each for road and gravel to choose from. 

Comments: Since the system is app based, it probably will be upgradeable to future 13 and 14 speed systems. The Classified rear hub is kind of an acquired taste in that you need to buy into the limited range of Classified compatible wheel sets, although the choices are expanding all the time at this point. Still - none of your old wheel sets will work. Plus you have to buy a "Smart through axle" which acts as the receiver for the signal to make the rear internal gear switch. ($165.00) Plus a bar-end mounted controller unit as well. ($65.00)

If one could just use the system as a 1 X 12 and buy the derailleur, shifters, and controller unit, the price isn't so bad, but to get a two gear addition, equivalent to a front derailleur, which requires a special wheel and cassette? I still do not see the value in this way of doing things. 

NOTE: There is something you'll hear about next week which will really make Vistar/Classified look less attractive. Stay tuned.... 

Portrait of Charlie Farrow at Trans Iowa by Michael Roe

Tailwinds To Mr. Farrow On His Tour Divide Attempt:

Tour Divide starts today and one of the participants in this year's running is Charlie Farrow of Duluth, Minnesota.

You may not know Charlie, and I don't blame you. I know him from his participation in Trans Iowa for several years. Charlie has forged a legendary status just within the confines of Trans Iowa, but there is so much more to the man. Most people are completely unaware of his feats of cycling endurance. I wrote a bit about Charlie specifically in my Trans Iowa Stories series. This post gives you a taste of what Charlie's legacy is, and his story is still being written. 

As with many great figures in sports and elsewhere, Charlie Farrow would not like this being said of him. He would pass it off as his being just a guy living his life, most likely, if I know him at all. In my opinion, Charlie is a "cycling renaissance man", eschewing the electronic gadgets, latest gear, and instead he does things in his own, unique way. For instance, Charlie never used a cell phone during Trans Iowa, even though it was required equipment. Once, during Trans Iowa v8, he was so lost he had to wait until he reached a small town to use a phone so he could call me to get directions from where he was back to the course.

I have been told by my friend Ari Andonopoulos, a good friend of Charlie's, about Charlie's Summer rides where he takes off, with out connections to the World other than a sending of a post card occasionally from his route as he piled on the miles. I wouldn't be at all surprised if Charlie does Tour Divide without a GPS tracker and no cell phone. It's just the way he rolls.

Tailwinds, Charlie! I hope you reach your goal!

That's a wrap for this week! Get out there and ride those bicycles!