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| Image courtesy of Kona Bicycles |
Kona released news on Tuesday concerning a new steel framed drop bar mountain bike they are calling the "LBF" (Legend of Big Fork)
This new model sees Kona adopting a rather "Fargo-like" bicycle with several features like multiple bosses for bottles or bags, a Rock Shox SID XC suspension fork, and 2.4" tires on Race Face rims.
The drive train is from SRAM and features bits from their NX, GX, and Apex offerings. The brakes are SRAM four piston caliper/Apex lever units and the handlebar and stem are Ritchey Design models. With a slack head angle of 67° and a fork offset of 44mm this bike should be really stable on off-road trails.
Retail is set at $3,699.00 USD and more details can be seen at Kona's webpage for this bike HERE.
Comments: Again, another Fargo-like offering with a real focus on the MTB stuff. I'm all for this, but the tire choice seems narrow-ish and the price seems a bit steep. Is that just me, or is this bike pricey? I'm thinking it might be just me because I have an embargoed release set to go live next week with something sort of similar to this with a very similar price point.
Just a PSA concerning my work appearing on Substack. Right now I have only one article up, and it is something which appeared here already, so if you are a regular reader here, you've seen this before.
I may not be posting there on the daily, in fact, I can tell you I will not be doing that. But I will post over there and it probably will be a bit different content. Stuff not necessarily bicycle related. I won't be doing a regular schedule either. I am not going to tie myself down in that regard.
If you are interested in content from me which will likely range from the more personal side to maybe talk about other subjects I find interesting, such as guitar, music, and racing cars, well maybe this will be of interest to you.
If you want to get notifications of anything which may pop up there please subscribe on Substack and you will be notified when I publish something. No charge. No big commitment. Thanks for considering this.
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| Image courtesy of Wilde Bicycle Co, |
Wilde Bicycle Co. Announces One "Just For The Fun Of It"
Wilde Bicycle Co. is headed up by Jeffrey Frane, who was the head of All City Bikes for QBP, and a Minneapolis cyclist for quite some time. One of his favorite bikes to get around on is an old Surly 1 X 1. So, it may not come as much of a surprise then that Wilde Bicycles is offering a cruiser inspired 26"er.
The model, dubbed the "Moto Cruiser", will be offered as a frame/for/handlbar module or as a complete single speed or geared bike.
Pre-orders are open now at Wilde Bicycle's site HERE.
Comments: I loved my old Surly 1 X 1 cruiser when I had it even though it was a size too small for me. I could see this Wilde model being someones fun get-around urban bike in a similar way. The color of this bike is right up my alley too. But all this said, I have to keep calm and let it pass. I've just got too many bicycles already, and I need to cut down on the fleet as it is.
I probably could cut one, maybe two out to bring the Moto Cruiser in, but I'd rather do the first part without the Moto Cruiser. We shall see if I can manage to trim down this year.
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| Image courtesy of Wolf tooth Components |
Wolf Tooth just sent out news of an update to their tire pressure setting app. The app, which takes into account different specs and aspects of a rider's wheel/tire combo and riding style, helps riders to arrive at a recommended air pressure setting.
New updates include:
- Added MX/Mullet option for mountain
- Added 32” tire option for mountain and gravel
- Added radial tire casing option for mountain
- Added option to use casing width in inches for gravel
- Added tire width up to 3.3” for mountain
- Misc bug fixes
You can learn more about the Wolf Tooth Tire Pressure App HERE.
Comments: I've heard good things about this app, (and the SILCA one), so I should probably give them a try. Might make for an interesting review later on. If you've used one of these apps, or another I am unfamiliar with, let me know what you think of them in the comments. Thanks!
The challenge is a self-supported 12 or 24 hour ride on curated courses across the UK, Ireland, and Italy.
From the press release:
"Riders can select from a range of GRVL and Ambassador designed routes spanning iconic cycling regions including the Chilterns, Cornwall, North Scotland, Northern Ireland, the Peak District, Yorkshire, South Wales, Kent, and more."
Furthermore; the time when the challenge is attempted is optional (Editor's Note: I would imagine there are reasonable limits to the window for these challenges) The best times being Spring and Summer according to the press release.
The challenge is dubbed "Nychthemeron", a word derived from the Greek meaning "Night and Day", or a complete 24hr period. If you want to learn more see the site link HERE.
That is a wrap for this week! Thanks for reading Guitar Ted Productions. Now go ride a bicycle!
You are not wrong about the price being steep on that LBF. Even in Konas own lineup you can get a Process 134 CR full carbon frame with GX and Fox suspension for only $300 more. You can get the Ouroboros carbon for $600 less with the same drivetrain, a dropper, and a suspension fork.
ReplyDeleteYou are correct. $3700 for a mass market steel bike seems like highway robbery.
ReplyDeleteI am always surprised at how much variability there is in the recommendations generated across these different tire pressure calculators. I've used Silca, Wolftooth, and Rene Herse. My recommended PSIs are usually in the upper 20's for gravel but the calculators often differ by about 4 psi. This seems like a large margin of error if the goal of using the calculator is to truly optimize tire pressure. They can't all be right which means some (maybe all) of them are wrong.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of the Fargo...what do you think is going on with Salsa? They updated the Spearfish with more progessive geo that seemed to be well received by reviewers in the media. They launched that wild Wanderosa ebike. But they haven't done anything with their bread and butter gravel/adventure bikes like the Fargo, Warbird, and Cutthroat in what seems like forever.
@Scott - Thank you for the feedback on the pressure calculators. It sounds as if a comparison review is in order here.
DeleteOn Salsa: First off, I don't think it's telling tales out of school to say that Salsa (and all QBP brands) have been going through a period of name "sanitation" over the past several years. Mukluk became Heyday!. Beargrease stayed but only after permission was granted by the Beargrease family. Journeyman became Journeyer.
You get the point here.
Now it is also not a secret that a new gravel racing bike is going to drop March 12th from Salsa at Mid-South. The current gravel race bike is called "Warbird".
Make of this what you will..... ;>)
Fargo: BIG news on this bike is forthcoming. I'm not sure if Salsa is dropping this on March 12th, but keep your eyes peeled for something BIG concerning the Fargo. ;>) If the news isn't out by Mid-South then it will be shortly thereafter.
Thanks, GT! I am glad to know Salsa has something the works for those two bikes. I just needed to be a little more patient!
DeleteName "sanitation" is great way to describe what's going on. I guess it is a safe bet that the letters W A R will no longer be included in the name of the next race bike.
@GT - Not to beat a somewhat dead horse . I can understand some of the renaming that's occurred in races and products over the years. I don't understand the Mukluk rebrand at all. It's the first nations name for a winter boot, and not the name of a particular tribe, and I thought it was a perfect name for a winter bike. The Beargrease issue is interesting.
DeleteLooking forward to seeing what is coming on the Fargo.