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| Image courtesy of Feedback Sports |
Feedback Sports (Formerly Ultimate Stands) announced a new workstand for consumers with air-lift capabilities. The stand is activated by a floor pump. The stand can lift any bicycle up to 100lbs. When the work has been completed, the foot pedal on one of the workstand legs can be depressed to gently let the bike back down again.
The Pro Air Lift will be available in late autumn for a price of $725.00 USD.
Also, the Pnuema CC floor pump is a new offering from Feedback Sports which can be pressurized to aid in mounting tubeless tires, or at the flip of a switch, be used as a standard high-pressure floor pump.
The new floor pump will also be available in late autumn at a price of $150.00 USD.
Comments: The workstand is a bit pricey, but for some context here, I have had an Ultimate repair stand, *Feedback Sports old name) for over two decades. I finally wore out the clamp mechanism, and Feedback still offers the part I need to get it back going, so when it becomes available, I will have my portable workstand back going again. So, I think the new workstand is certainly worth the money if you do your own repairs and maintenance on heavy bikes like cargo bikes, e-Bikes, full suspension bikes, and the like.
The latest Guitar Ted Podcast episode just dropped. In this one N.Y. Roll and I talk about the Continental Terra Adventure 700 X 45mm tires, the new Vittoria Peyote 29" X 2.4" tires, the new Maxxis Reiver, and more.
We discuss the Rene Herse TPU tubes, and talk a little about TPU tubes in general. Then we get on to discussing the new Shimano GRX wireless group.
That is about when things went sideways. See, Mabel the Rhodesian Ridgeback got rowdy and would not settle down. We tried talking more, but we finally had to shut the episode down because she was getting out of hand.
Give this one a listen, and you can find the episode on most any podcast platforms, but here is the Spotify link in case you want to hit this up now. Listen HERE.
If you would, please recommend the podcast to friends, leave reviews, if you can, and help us out with the channel. We appreciate it very much!
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| When it says "uncomfortably humid" Yeah... |
Tree In The Road Ride Tomorrow!
Tomorrow I will be doing the Tree In The Road Ride. It is a free to join, group ride, no one left behind type deal. If you've been reading here regularly you are aware of this ride, so I won't get to far in the weeds about it here.
The forecast is brutal. Of course it is! Any ride I am a part of in Summer features stupid amounts of humidity, no matter what Summer month I choose. So, yeah..... I expected no less.
Well, I'll just try to have fun no matter what. I expect the people who show up will be like-minded. Speaking of, I know of six others besides myself and N.Y. Roll who are planning to attend. I'm sure there will be a surprise or two.
Look for a full recounting of the sweat-filled, fun ride coming up Monday.
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| Image courtesy of Trek Bicycles |
The third generation of the Checkpoint in aluminum brings several new details to Trek's budget friendly gravel bike.
Now with tire clearance up to 700 X 50mm (without fenders, 42mm with fenders), and a T-47 bottom bracket, the Checkpoint ALR Gen 3 looks to be a good value for those who don't want carbon, or cannot afford it.
Trek has always had an interesting way of doing geometry for their bicycles. The new generation of the Checkpoint ALR is no different. Looking at the charts, the typical size Large/58cm choice I would generally choose is not correct, as Trek has inserted a "M/L" (Medium-Large) into the sizing which more closely reflects what I would fit on. Additionally, Trek varies the head tube angle across the sizing range, which is somewhat uncommon these days. Not that it is rare, but I do not see this being done as often as I used to see it.
Besides the geometry, the Checkpoint ALR features full internal routing, a full-carbon fork, triple-boss mounts on the seat tube, and a pair of those on the inner side of the down tube, while underneath the down tube is a standard pair of mounting points. The fork has triple bosses on either leg. There is also a bolt-on top tube bag mount with what looks like bolt-on top tube inner frame bag mounts as well. A chain guide, through axles, seat collar round out the offerings on the frame set. Of course, several build levels are offered as well ranging from about $1,400.00 to $2.500.00 USD. The frame only is $1,099.00.
Comments: I kind of like this. It has many carbon frame features without the stupid expensive price. If I were to get a M/L frame set, I would be a tiny bit disappointed in the slightly steep (for 2025 gravel bikes) 72.2° head angle. And does the chart say 72.8° for the seat tube angle? Why yes, it does. That's odd.
At any rate, this is a very interesting offering by Trek.
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| Image courtesy of SILCA |
I haven't had to deal with shock pumps for sevral years, but I used to note many of what was available for shock pumps back then were terrible. Some were "okay" and these often included top name brands like Fox or Rock Shox. The landscape for shock pumps was dismal. Apparently SILCA seems to think so as well
This new shock pump SILCA offers has several details and features I have never seen on a shock pump. Plus it is only $125.00 and is rebuildable. If it is also somewhat durable, well then.... Why buy anything else? I have no endorsement from SILCA nor do I get any benefit from mentioning their products, but more often than not, their stuff, especially within the pump field, is really nice.
I don't much have a need for a shock pump, but if I had a 7K full-sus MTB this would be the pump I would want for setting a bike like that up.
That's it for this week! Have a fantastic weekend and ride those bicycles!
6 comments:
Maybe Trek and other companies are starting to actually realize what the consumers are after. That ALR offering seems to be a good deal and would probably build up to a great bike. I still have my reservations about internal routing but that is a lost battle from a mechanic's standpoint. I wonder if it will be a tad twitchy with those angles?
@Ari - My guess would be that it would ride okay around here. My Raleigh Tamland has a 71.5° head angle, so I don't see it as a total negative, but my Raleigh was designed over a decade ago!
I think it is a nice option at a price which is okay. At least it has details which more expensive bikes have and it isn't just a stripped down model with not much going for it. Which is exactly what the first gen Checkpoint ALR was.
Correction on the podcast: AXS Gen 1 paddles are the only ones that not compatible with other SRAM AXS paddles.
Why buy anything else? No /s? "Only" $125? About a hundred reasons right there. The work stand is arguably a bit much for most at over 700, but those things, especially with lift assist are way more niche than even weird bikes, so yeah, it's going to cost more. But you can definitely get a shock pump that works fine for years, probably just as well, for $100 less.
@Steve H - You said " But you can definitely get a shock pump that works fine for years,..."
If "just fine" is all you want, or know, then yes, you are correct. Having worked with hand tools for most of my adult life, I would say that a finely made tool which works at a high level is "better" than "just fine". Your mileage may vary. I know which I'd rather grab from the tool box.
@Guitar Ted – I agree with your sentiment 100%. Silca products aren't inexpensive, but they're also far above "just fine". For many, myself included, there is significant value in a tool that works perfectly for a very long time.
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