As I was cruising social media earlier this week I came across an old name I hadn't seen much of in recent years. Airborne bikes were semi-famous in the early 2000's as a titanium brand with very inexpensive bikes. (For titanium, that is). Several models were available and Airborne was one of the first titanium 29"er bikes you could buy as a complete offering.
Airborne was then sold to Huffy Bicycles and they revived the company as a budget oriented brand for mountain biking. I actually tested a Goblin 29 model back around 2012 or so for the 29"er site I wrote for.
Then Airborne fell off my radar. Well, according to the comments made by "Airborne Bicycle Co." in the Facebook post I saw, the company was bought back by its original owner and since those days it has been quietly running with what appears to be only a couple MTB bikes. (See website HERE)
Supposedly there will be announcements in the coming weeks with new bikes. What these may be are hinted at in that Facebook post I saw. A dirt jumper, some MTB bikes, a return to titanium. But whether or no there will be gravel bikes, there was no hint given. I would bet there has to be something there. We will see.....
Thanks to www.bikiowa.com, a new study bill in the Iowa legislature has been exposed which could have several unintended consequences for Iowa cyclists and tourism based on cycling in Iowa.
Read the Bikeiowa article here and get all the details.
Comments: Instigated as a way to regulate "devices" on public roadways with speed limits over 25mph, this broad-swath approach to law making could have a detrimental effect on cycling in the state. Unfortunately, this includes gravel roads as well.
As of Wednesday morning the bill had been pulled. I would assume this is due to all the hub-bub created by Iowa cyclists. Postings about this bill were noted on several social media sites all expressing a negative take on the bill and its possible effects.
While things seem to have cooled down for now, this hasn't gone away 100%. Worst case scenario is the law passes with no modifications. In my opinion it is unenforceable. Black Hawk county has approximately 550 miles of gravel and dirt roads, and you think you would have time, resources, and technology available to cover just this part to enforce the law? Give me a break! There is no way that happens.
But Iowans, and you, dear readers, should be taking this seriously. Already we have seen New Jersey pull off a law making e-Bikes have to be licensed and registered as vehicles with insurance. Don't think for a minute your state isn't watching what happens and that your representatives aren't fiddling with similar ideas.
Surly Offers Midnight Special With Carbon Fork:
Surly Bikes revealed on Tuesday of this past week a new offering of the Midnight Special with a carbon fork.
The bike, dubbed an "endurance bike for backroads" by Surly, features a Waxwing carbon fork which Surly claims "has a knack for reducing road chatter"
The bike is also set up with Teravail's own carbon rims and tires. The drive train consists mostly of Shimano 105 12 speed parts. List price for this version of the Midnight Special is $3,499.00.
Comments: Surly continues to "un-Surly" its offerings with this introduction of carbon fiber into its line. My audible chuckle was heard when I read the bit about "reducing road chatter". I have the very same Waxwing fork on my Honemann Flyer. I can tell ya......it ain't all that great at reducing chatter". In fact, I slapped a Redshift Sports ShockStop stem on the bike to do what Surly says the fork does, but does not do.
And that geometry is pretty weird. 73° head tube angle matched with a 65mm bottom bracket drop? (Looking at a 58cm example) What is this? A Trek cyclo cross bike? I think the geometry is very similar. Anyway, it is about as far away from a "backroads bike" as I can think of for myself. Your mileage may vary.
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| Image courtesy of the Gravel Cycling Hall of fame |
Several hours after the news broke on Wednesday morning about the new class of 2026 inductees for the Gravel Cycling Hall of Fame, I checked several major cycling news sites. I noted no mention of the 2026 class for the GCHoF. Note: I did eventually find one well written story posted six hours after the announcement on Cycling Weekly by Anne-Marije Rook. HERE.
This is very interesting.
The cycling industry has benefited greatly due to the development of gravel events and the subsequent innovations the industry has made to accommodate gravel cyclists. It is arguable that gravel, as a category, has made the transition from post pandemic troubles a bit less burdensome on brands and other companies with gravel products.
There is no question that gravel events draw more participants than most other niches of cycle sport the mainstream sites froth over in their coverage. News on road cycling, MTB, or even such mundane things as the layoff situation at Campagnolo grabbed space in their news feeds.
How gravel history and its impact on the industry is so conveniently ignored by all of the mainstream news sites is not going unnoticed. Also, for the record, those sites were afforded the opportunity to mention the GCHoF's Class of 2026 by way of a press release I know they were sent. (I happen to know the PR guy, so there is that...)
I don't know, but the way mainstream cycling media pushes news like this to the back burner is rather curious.
Also, our take on the Guitar Ted Podcast can be heard on our latest podcast episode HERE.
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| Bobcat tracks I saw in 2006 |
Bobcats More Common In Iowa:
As a cyclist, I enjoy seeing wildlife on my gravel rides. I was pretty curious and thrilled then when back in 2006 I came across bob cat tracks near Hickory Hills on a gravel ride.
As I recall this was a ride in January which took me all the way down Ansborough Avenue Southward to the "T" intersection in Tama County where I stopped and refreshed myself with water and nutrition I had at the time. It was then when I spied those tracks in the snowy ditch.
Bobcats were rare animals then and I felt fortunate to have even found tracks. But according to State biologists, the species has rebounded in the last 20 years to the point of becoming observed in urban areas.
Mating season for the bobcat is now through March. So, males may be more on the move at this time. Keep an eye out for bobcats in fields along wooded areas or check for tracks when you stop. If you see one, don't panic. They are very wary of humans, and it would be a very chance occurrence if you did see one on a ride. But......there is a chance. A much better one than I had 20 years ago.
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| Image courtesy of State Bicycle Co. social media |
State Bicycle Co., purveyors of budget and value driven bicycles and components, recently showed a bike with a front wheel that is 32" in diameter. Sporting the now ubiquitous Maxxis Aspen 32" X 2.4" tire, State seems to be testing the waters here.
It is worth keeping an eye on if you are 32"er curious as anything State might put out there with a 32 inch wheel will likely be very competitively priced.
Will they do this? I'm thinking there is a very good chance they will, but if so, my bet is nothing shows up for sale until 2027. It would take at least this long to develop a bike, components, and if they are going to provide a budget suspension choice, this might tack on a bit more time to get into production as well.
That's a wrap on this week's FN&V. Thanks for reading Guitar ted Productions. Get out and ride a bicycle soon!
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