Friday News And Views

 Image courtesy of the Rattlesnake Rumble social media:

Rattlesnake Rumble Gravel Race Announced:

On September 4th an announcement went out saying the Mississippi Gravel Cup Series would end after their series of 2025 events were over. This series had been in existence for eight years and had several events in Mississippi. 

But sad news leaving a void is sometimes followed by good news, and this is the case for those in the Southeastern USA now that a new event has been announced. 

This event, dubbed the Rattlesnake Rumble, takes place in the Desoto National Forest where one of the old Mississippi Gravel Cup events was based out of as well. This event features a few distances and costs only $50.00. If you are interested in this early April 2026 event, check out their BikeReg page HERE. 

Image courtesy of AERON/TPU

TPU Tubes Take Hold:

I've been experimenting with TPU tubes for a couple of years now and it seems many riders are taking the new technology and trusting it for their ride.  

Last weekend one of the C.O.G. 40 riders was using TPU tubes in his tires and seemed to be pretty happy with them. However; I also know at least one dissatisfied former TPU tube user. So, not everyone is onboard with TPU tubes. But more and more folks seem to be checking them out.  

Options are becoming available with more features. Last week I mentioned the SILCA TPU tubes, and I may be getting a set of the new AERON TPU tubes to test soon. One other thing I've noted is the recommended width offerings are becoming more wide-ranged. 

So, instead of a TPU tube being recommended for 35mm - 40mm, I'm seeing thing like recommendations from 32mm - 52mm ! I think the stretch-ability of TPU has been found to be more resilient and accommodating than once thought. But unlike butyl rubber tubes, TPU, once stretched, stays stretched. This may not matter, but it is worth noting. 

Look for more on TPU tubes here soon.  

Image courtesy of Bianchi Bicycles

Bianchi Announces New Aluminum Gravel Model:

Bianchi expanded their range of gravel/allroad bicycles by introducing the aluminum version of their Arcadex adventure/gravel bike. Called the Arcadex AL, this bike comes in three colors with a Shimano GRX 610 12 speed mechanical group set. 

Bianchi also states this bike has tire clearance for up to 50mm tires. There are rack and fender mounts, along with accessory mounts on the fork blades making this a good choice for bike packing and adventures.  

Comments: The geometry here is right in the pocket for what I would consider great handling and stability over most surfaces. The seat tube measurements are a tad on the short size for each size, but this is most likely in deference to the dropper post option this frame supports. I couldn't find an updated price, but I would assume this is a reasonably priced, enthusiasts level bike choice. 

Paris - Ancaster 2026 Registration Open:

The classic Canadian event,  Paris - Ancaster, is going to happen on Sunday, April 26th, 2026. Registration for this event is now open (Here) 

This event, which has been held annually since 1994, was on the UCI Gravel World Series calendar for 2025, but there is no indication yet this will be the case for 2026. 

The event is a point-to-point course with three distance options. The "Cento" is 100km, the "Classic" is the original 70km distance, and the "Brevet" is a 45km distance event. Since the event is point-to-point, the starting lines are different for each distance.  

Comments: The event features farm roads, muddy tracks, and difficult sections which have challenged riders for years. This event was one of the first featured on my "Gravel Grinder News" calendar back almost 20 years ago now. Since then I have heard varying takes on the event with some stating it isn't  really a "gravel" event, but it isn't your typical roadie event either, so....

Image courtesy of the Mid-South

2026 Mid-South Registration Opens:

The 2026 Mid-South will be a two-day event this coming year with dates set on  March 12 - 13th. There are several new changes to this event set to take place. 

First and most interesting is the separation of the Pro categories from the amateurs. This coming March the Pro categories will take the start on Friday. Even more interesting is the choice for the Pro's to do the "Double", a 50k run and the 100 mile bicycle event, on the same day.  

All other categories for cyclists will be contested on Saturday as this event has done since its inception. Amateur runners will compete on Friday as well. 

A new finish line area has been designated which will be set up near the new Stillwater Park and Amphitheater. 

The Mega-Mid-South, a 300 mile ultra-distance event, will take place tomorrow out of District Bicycles where the Mid-South registration party will also be happening. Participants can come down and send off the Mega Mid-South riders and stick around for fun and refreshments. Registration will be held online at the Mid-South's online site.  

Image courtesy of Campagnolo

New Super Record X 13 For Campy Brings Gravel An Italian Option:

Campagnolo has dabbled in the gravel category for several years with its groundbreaking, if not popular, Ekar 13 speed group. Now Campagnolo is putting forth an effort to compete at the highest levels of the gravel racing scene with a new 13 speed group called Super Record X. 

A 1X group, this new choice features two choices in cassettes with a 9 - 42T set or a 10 - 48T set. The jumps between gears are relatively small, and in fact, both cassettes are really similar with the only difference being at the extremes. One having a start at 9T and ending at 42T while the other cassette has the same gears minus the 9T and adding the 48T. 

The other important piece here is the crank set. The new Super Record X gets a power meter crank or a non-power metered crank with chain ring sizes ranging from 38T - 48T and the capability to upgrade to a 52T ring. The arms and ring are matched for best aero characteristics.  Lengths range from 165mm to 175mm. The cranks utilize Campy's longstanding Ultra Torque bottom bracket design. 

The rear derailleur is wireless and electronic, of course, with a removable battery which charges in 60 minutes or less. Campy also has made the cage out of carbon fiber with different sized pulleys. The Universal Mount will work with frames set up with the UDH standard or traditional mounts for derailleurs. Maximum tooth range is 48T. 

The levers are borrowed from the current Super record 13 group with the left lever being the only "new" piece seeing as it has only to activate the front brake. Otherwise the shifting is accomplished with a separate lever behind the brake lever on the right side with the return of the famous Campy "thumb lever" on the inside of the upper lever body. 

See more details at Campy's Super record X site HERE. 

That is a wrap for this week! get out and ride those bicycles!

C.O.G. 40 Gear Review

The Honeman Flyer by King Fabrications

 This post will conclude my C.O.G. 40 musings for the week. Here I will go over the specifics of my bicycle and what I wore for this ride. I then will go over what I would change if this ride were t happen again. 

The course was mostly rolling hills with a few monster grades thrown in for good measure. As a single speed rider, gearing is always of the utmost concern, so I will go over this first. 

The Bike: 

I used a 42T chain ring with a 20T rear freewheel. This results in a low 60's gear inch, which isn't all that 'fast' in terms of what people use for gravel racing, but I do not set up my single speed gravel bikes for racing. I set them up for adventure. 

The 42T/20T gearing leaves me spinning madly on the flats but it is an easy enough gear that I can manage most gradual grades or shorter hills. Consecutive steeps can grind my legs to paste, but one here or there is okay. 

One thing I tell anyone asking for advice on single speed gravel gearing is that you have to know you will never have a perfect gear. Never. If you are the type that is driven crazy by the mere thought of not having the right gear, I would suggest single speed is not for you.  

So, I really like where I am at with gearing and my crank set length also, which is 172.5mm. The big thing these days is to go shorter on cranks, but with single speed it has always been the move to put on a longer crank set than usual. 

There are a TON of theories and opinions as to why one would want to do this. I did it partially out of convenience. The cranks I was using for single speed gravel just so happened to be 172.5mm in length for each arm. I chose these partially out of the desire to go shorter on crank arm length but still give a nod to longer than normal crank arms for single speed usage. 

Because the crank set had a 42T chain ring already the Shimano 20T free wheel was a perfect match to get me into a gear inch range I wanted. So, it all sort of fell into place. It has all worked out very well also, so I do not see any major changes to sizes and types for my drive train. I would like upgrades though. 

My crank arms are chipped and beaten up by gravel. They are carbon, so I feel as though it is getting time to switch cranks. Then the Shimano freewheel, while being reliable and quiet, has been popping randomly now and again. I think a White Industries freewheel is in the cards soon. But all the specifics stay the same if and when those upgrades happen. 

I could get lighter wheels, but I don't need them. And besides, I cannot be more happy with what I have on the bike now. Blunt SS rims are perfectly durable, lightweight, and the specs are dead-on for modern gravel usage. The Paul hubs? I cannot say enough good things about these. They are so smooth and roll like crazy. So, I will be sticking with these wheels for a long time. 

I ran Ritchey SpeedMax tires and they are also highly recommended. I see no reasons to switch those out at any time until they wear out. 

The zero offset Thomson seat post is spot on, but I wonder if I couldn't find a bit more compliance in a carbon post, or a titanium one. I may look into this as well in the future.  

The Clothing:

Image courtesy of Twin Six

Last year about this time I wrote up a review on the Twin Six Thermal Cargo Bib Knickers. I wore these on the C.O.G. 40 ride where the temperatures were in the 50's with a pretty hefty wind for most of the day. 

These bib knickers worked great from the standpoints of comfort and warmth all day long. The chamois pad is perfect for me and there was no binding or pinching in the undercarriage area. The legs stay where you put them, but are not too tight or too loose. The grippers are nice, but they do not tear out hair or grab skin. I just find these to be great in cooler weather. 

I wore a Twin Six base layer under an old Bontrager Classic long sleeved wool jersey. Twin Six hasn't had a wool long sleeved jersey in a while, but they did announce a new piece this week which may bear looking into. (Note: It is only available for women at the moment)

Over the jersey I wore a Twin Six wind vest. I wore Hand-Up gloves for my hands. For socks I had a pair of 12" Sock Guy wool socks I have had for years now. Shoes were Shimano mid-range gravel shoes with plastic shopping bag vapor barriers to keep the toes warm. 

On my head I wore a red bandana and my Bontrager Circuit helmet. All this stuff worked to perfection and I had zero issues with any of it on the cool, brisk day out in the country. Had it been a touch colder or wet, or both, I would have went with warmer stuff. 

That's a wrap on my gear. I was pretty happy with everything. Overall, the bike was fantastic and the gear I wore is mostly tried and true stuff I know works for myself. I hope you all enjoyed the gear review, but if you have any questions about what I used and need to know something I did not cover, let me know in the comments. 

Barns For Jason: The C.O.G. 40 Edition

Barns For Jason #1

Many years ago my friend Jason Boucher challenged me to a photo contest. The rules were simple. The image had to be of a barn in a rural setting which you saw on a bicycle ride. No barns could be used twice. 

Who would post the most barns? Well, location has a lot to do with who gets images, and it soon became apparent Iowa was going to outpace Minnesota in this competition. Therefore, Jason capitulated to me early on, but I continued to post up barns even though there no longer was any competition involved. 

I love barns anyway. So for myself, it is a way to continue to look for barns and to post them here. Barns also are a relic of days gone by, with most of these structures having no purpose on many farms now. While "working barns" still exist, most are moldering away and disappearing due to lack of purpose. My intentions, therefore, are to preserve these barns in images here, in a way making them timeless and recorded for those who may care in the future. 

So, with all of this in mind, here is a "photo-dump" of all the barns I saw on the C.O.G. 100 which I was able to get a good image of to show here. I hope you enjoy these. 

Barns For Jason #2

Barns For Jason #3

Barns For Jason #4

Barns For Jason #5

Barns For Jason #6

Barns For Jason #7

Barns For Jason #8

C.O,G 40 Photo Dump

Image by C. David Ashton II

Today I have several images taken by a couple of the riders, David, and Tom, which were shared via a group text after the ride. I thought they were too good to pass on sharing them with you all, so this post will include the ones I thought were worth posting here. 

I will also point out I lightly edited these and some are cropped to bring out details. 

I also will try to credit each according to who took the image, but I may have a couple wrong. The texts were not clear as to who took what, so I had to guess on a couple which did not show all the other riders, thus making an attribution easy. 

This post and the "Barns For Jason" post following this one will be the last photo dumps from the ride. Tomorrow I am going to go over the gear I used, mostly focusing on the bicycle. I'll give a few thoughts about what worked and what I might do differently. 

For now, here are those images. Enjoy!
 

Image by Tom Claver

Image by C. David Ashton II

Image by C. David Ashton II

Image by C. David Ashton II

Image by Tom Claver

Image by C. David Ashton II

Image by Tom Claver

Image by Tom Claver

Image by Tom Claver

C.O.G. 40 Report: Part 2

Leaving The Park:

 With the lunch rest stop out of the way we were ready to head out East and finish off the ride. We'd stopped for maybe a half an hour or so. Not too bad, and I wasn't stiff or cold when we left, which was a good sign. 

My fears were allayed by my good form coming to Union Grove State Park, but how would the lunch and rest affect me?  When would my legs get tired and quit on me? I pushed all these questions down and kept my head up and pedaled onward. 

The wind wasn't too bad going East. No worse than it had been going South, that was for sure. Then we hit a short Northward section of the route, and it became readily apparent it was going to be far easier going North. We had a long stretch to go North, but I would have to wait a bit on this. First, we had about three or four miles to go East again, and it was hilly. 

We hit one particularly steep hill in this Eastward section which made me really work hard. My legs started to feel like they were asleep and I knew I was running out of gas at this rate. I had to stop and rest, just before the top of the hill. 

One of several cemeteries we rode by on the route. 

 

Beers At The Bridge: 

Oddly enough, I only had this one time on the road back where I felt I needed a rest. I ended up riding pretty well after this for a while. We had Ben and I and then a large gap back to David and Tom. At one point we had to stop when I noted Tom was missing, but he caught back on fairly quickly and we were back at it again as a group. 

Ben had told us about a cooler he had stashed near a bridge which we would com up on once we turned North again. It was at about Mile 35. We reached the wood plank bridge and stopped. Ben got off, scrambled down a ditch by the end of a guard rail on the bridge, and struggled up again with a blue cooler in his hands.  

Ben retrieving the cooler from its hiding place. 

Ben had cold Hamms beers and Pringles stashed away there. Those Pringles were gold! They hit the spot with their salty goodness! We chatted for a short bit here on the bridge, but I think the sense amongst us was to get going. We had seven miles to go to Reinbeck and David, in particular, had a long drive back home to accomplish. So, we didn't dally and before too long we were back climbing rollers and coasting down hills toward Reinbeck again. 

Finally the Sun came out. Kind of. 

 

At least there were some pretty Fall colors in Reinbeck!

 The Finish:

Ben led the way into town. He must have "smelled the barn", because he was way up the road on us. I tried to come back to him, but since he had a geared bicycle it was tough to do without some big downhills to bring me closer. 

We rolled up to our cars by about 1:40pm, so we smoked that last half of the course and made some good time.  Ben was excited about stopping at the Digg Inn, a bar/record shop right across from our cars. David bowed out, since he had to get home. Tom's girlfriend met him there and while they did not indicate what they might do, eventually they must have slipped away and went home as well. 

So, it was just myself and Ben at first until his wife joined us. Ben bought me a drink and we chatted for a bit. Then around 3:00pm I bade them farewell and headed home. The group started a chat before we all left and went our separate ways, and those guys have a ton of great images. I will share those tomorrow and also I will have a special "Barns For Jason" post from this ride. 

Epilogue:

The riders declared this a very fun and successful ride. While the group was small, it did allow for us to ride together at different points and get to know each other better. This was always a hallmark of a good gravel event back in the beginning of gravel grinding.  

As for myself, I was very happy I rode through the opening miles of funk and came out the other side with a decent ride. I was not totally exhausted, worn out, or lacking in power. Those hills in Tama County are no joke, and had the course been littered with them I would have been in big trouble on the single speed. But fortunately it wasn't too gnarly as far as big hills and I was happy with my ride. 

I'm glad we did this. N.Y. Roll and Kat knocked the pierogie stop out of the park, and Ben's contribution was a pleasant surprise. Yeah, it was a bit disappointing that we did not have a few more riders show up, but then again, it was small enough we had a chance to talk to each other over the miles. So, I'm not mad about it. 

I should mention that we may have had only four riders in attendance, but we had four others "in spirit". Near Lincoln, Nebraska, Matt Gersib, Matt Wills, and their friend Noah rode single track for 40 miles in solidarity with us. One other rider in the Black Hills, Craig Groseth, also did a ride on his single speed being inspired by the C.O.G. 40. So, it was kind of like the Virtual Turkey Burn ride. Hey!

Maybe we should open this up in that way in the future. Something to think about....  

Next? Probably the Virtual Turkey Burn ride in a month. (!!!) Then Winter and next season. Thanks for reading and remember to check the photo dumps tomorrow.  

C.O.G.40 Report Part 1

Your host, N.Y.Roll

 Welcome to the C.O.G. 40 ride report. I know...... I said I thought I'd have this done in one post. But there are so many images to share I cannot do the ride justice with just one post. So....

Getting There:

I started off on Sunday morning being awakened at about 3:00am by our cat, Minka, walking on my head.  I tried to go back to sleep but she was sitting on my back purring so loudly I don't know if I did really get anymore sleep. Anyway..

After I got up and got going I had some breakfast and a cup of coffee. I put on my kit, save for the cycling shoes, loaded up the 4Runner, (which needs a name, by the way), and took off a little after 8:00am in the morning.  N.Y. Roll texted me he was already there. I arrived at about 8:40am, and there were two riders there talking with N.Y. Roll already.  

David had pulled in a bit before I got there. He drove all the way over from the Chicago suburbs to do this ride!

Ben's custom made titanium gravel bike. 

David and Tom were there, and a bit later Ben rolled in and that was that for riders. So, after we had everything all together, and those guys had grabbed some C.O.G. 100 hats, we se4t out at just after 9:00am. 

David (L) and Tom riding behind me on the road out.

Getting Going:

We had a stretch of gravel once we got out of town and then two miles of pavement on County roads. The stretch of gravel headed Westward just out of Reinbeck had me really worried. 

I was blowing up. II could not catch my breath and I was working hard  just to keep up with those other three who were chatting casually as if they were on a recreational bike path. I was fearing the worst and thinking I may not have it in me on this day. I'd been under the weather with some weird muscular deal all week. In fact, Saturday evening was the best sleep I had gotten all week. 

Fortunately those two miles of pavement came next and this allowed me to not have to be at red line all the time, but I wasn't hopeful I'd recover enough to make it very far. The weather was supposed to have been breezy, but the wind was strong out of the Southeast and this made matters worse for me. Don't ask about the Sun. It was hiding. Even though it was forecast to have been Sunny. I was actually glad it wasn't because of the issues it would have caused for drivers and us as riders. 

I was able to find a groove on this paved section.

There were four miles of dirt road in the first 12 miles. 

Slowly I found a groove and my breathing became more controlled. Level B dirt roads came up and these were smooth and fast. This also allowed me to get settled in. Then we pulled over for a "nature break", which I was in dire need of after having had two cups of coffee earlier in the day! 

First stop of the day. It wasn't a long one. 

Harvesting isn't 100% finished yet. 

We stair-stepped South and West until we reached C Avenue and a long slog into the wind. Eleven miles of rollers. Somehow or another I more than found my groove on this section and was way off the front. I had to stop once and slow way down twice to let everyone else catch up with me. 

We skirted the West side of Gladbrook, crossed HWY 96, and kept on truckin'. Ben ended up keeping me company after the highway crossing and we both reached the turn off for Union Grove Park first. For about a mile and a third it would be all pavement from this point until we reached our halfway lunch stop.

I was a little surprised by the lack of Fall color and by how many trees are still green. By this time most years we are all done with Fall color and the leaves are blowing off the trees and all over the place. Not so this season. I'm glad we saw some Fall colors, and at least we had good tempreratures with no rain whatsoever. 

 

Just before the rest stop for lunch we had to climb this ridiculous hill. It was short, very steep, and right into the wind. I made it about 2/3rds of the way up before I bailed and walked. Ben said he saw 14% for a grade. I do not doubt it for one second. It was all of 14% or more. Oh, and Ben, Tom, and David made it all the way up. I think..... Anyway, Ben was cheating. He had a geared bike! 

We rolled off the backside of this hill right into a parking area by the dam for the impoundment where N.Y. Roll's Bluetooth speaker was blasting "Debaser" by The Pixies. I rolled in, dismounted, and prepared to delve into a plate full of freshly grilled parogies. Kat was there to help N.Y. Roll too, and there were other goodies to eat as well as the parogies. 

N.Y. Roll tending the grill. 

Yum! 

Next: The Lunch break ends and we head back North on a Southeast wind toward Reinbeck. 

Today Is The Day

The C.O.G. 40 happens today. I hope it goes well, and you'll find out tomorrow how it all went down in my ride report. Unless it is an epic day, I should be able to get it all out in one post. 

So, as I sit here writing this ahead of time, (obviously), I have a few thoughts to share concerning my feelings about this ride and riding in particular. 

The past three years have really taken a toll on my riding time. There was the fact of my son, Jacob, and his need to have a vehicle to get to school, and work, which meant he borrowed my old truck most days. This relegated me to riding from the house, which is fine, but limiting. 

Back three years ago I had come into a new job at the Cedar Valley Bicycle Collective which included being there on Saturday mornings. This effectively cut out doing any events for the past three seasons of riding. Combined with the fact of my not having access to a vehicle to go anywhere, this basically meant I wasn't doing a lot of what I used to do when it came to riding. There are other minor issues as well, which caused me problems with getting out to ride, but suffice it to say I was limited. 

Then came what happened to Jacob in early August and well, things got worse as far as riding went. I managed to get in a couple of bigger rides, but motivation is hard to come by. So, the C.O.G. 40 ride was something I have tried to get pumped up for, and I was truly excited about it. Then about a week ago I awoke to a bad pain in the lower back and stiffness all over. I think I got something, viral most likely, but it was all just muscle related. 

I've been feeling better, but this past week has been difficult, and I am hoping for a good outcome today. We will see, but besides the Turkey Burn in late November, this ride today will likely be my last longer ride of the year. Maybe not, but it very well could be. 

Here's hoping I have a good report tomorrow! Today is the day I could really use a good ride. 
 

The "ALSO" Seeks To Redefine What A Bicycle Is

Image courtesy of ALSO

 Recently a two-wheeled electrified vehicle has been introduced by a company called "ALSO". Backed by electric car company Rivian, it shares several design cues from the brand, most notably in its oval, head tube mounted LED light. 

However; unlike almost every other eBike, ALSO is a decoupled, software driven design which can amplify a rider's pedaling forces up to 10X, or be ridden like a motorcycle. 

Limited to 28mph, making it a Class 3 by law, the ALSO is perhaps the first eBike with no mechanical connection to the pedals. This is a grey area in that the pedals are not mechanically "assisted" by electric motor power. Rather, the rider's input is measured and software determines the amount of "assist" to the rear wheel  In a way, the cranks are really doing the same things a "throttle" on a typical throttle based eBike is doing. Namely, determining final output to the rear wheel. It is not the same, or even similar to, riding a 100% human powered bicycle. In fact, since it cannot be moved in a mechanical sense by pedaling, is it even a bicycle at this point? Maybe it is a high-tech scooter? 

Besides the odd drive train, the vehicle has 120mm of front and rear suspension with 24" wheels. The range can be up to 100 miles, even with heavy reliance on the battery. (Or less rider amplification?) The battery is unique in that it is its own separate module. It can be recharged outside the confines of the bike, and it can even double as a power brick for other devices. 

The ALSO features native "dashboard" computer  with read-outs for typical cycling information, built in navigation, just like a car would have, and it even has satellite radio capabilities with the typical Bluetooth connectivity to play your favorite music playlists or podcasts. The aforementioned lights make it night ride-ready with a powerful headlamp and tail light. It can carry up to 324lbs (including the rider), and the "upper frame" module can be changed to configure the ALSO into a baby hauler, grocery-getter, or trail MTB all with the same chassis. 

There is a LOT going on here, so hit this LINK to learn more, if you are interested in this $4,500.00 two wheeled contraption.  

Comments:  Besides the question over what this is, I find the concept totally intriguing. This further defines why traditional bicycle companies are not connecting with the changing expectations of consumers. The Rivian connection here also exemplifies why some "out-of-the-box" thinking might be advantageous for the Treks and Specializeds of the traditional cycling world. Their offerings in a similar price range cannot come close to matching the feature-laden and versatility laden design of the ALSO. 

But then again, the bicycle based efforts of the traditionalists are, well.....bicycles. You can ride them without the battery being on. However; this also begs the questions: Do these things have to be bicycles at all? Is this what consumers really want? 

Apparent ALSO feels the bicycle part is far less important than we might think.