The World's Premier Gravel Event Is....

Image courtesy of The Traka

 20 years ago there was a small group of riders who convened at a seedy, run down motel in a city in Kansas most people had never heard of to ride in the Flint Hills. A 200 mile trek across those rolling, rock infested roads around Emporia. 

At the time, no one cared. 

No one, that is, outside of the small cadre of enthusiasts who were the pioneers of what we now know as Gravel™. The biggest trend in cycling for decades. 

That event grew, and it grew, and it became known as "The World's Premier Gravel Event". And it was true for many years. 

But now? Now there is a contender. An event across the sea in Spain which has been around for eight editions now. Run by a series called Gravel Earth, The Traka, based in Girona Spain, has a little something to say now about who may have the world's top gravel event.  

The Traka isn't the richest Pro gravel event. It isn't even a pioneering gravel event in Europe. But it has taken on a vibe, and it has taken on an importance in Europe, and beyond. A place on the calendar which took Unbound far longer to achieve in terms of overall importance. Of course, the event formerly known as the Dirty Kanza 200 had to forge a path no other event had forged before it, unlike The Traka. But besides this point, it would seem to me, at any rate, that the Traka is poised to take over the crown of the World's Premier Gravel Event. 

Image courtesy of Unbound Gravel

Comparing these events we see that both draw about 5,000 riders across multiple distances. Both feature Pro level event categories. Both events draw heavy industry attention with brands choosing to debut new equipment and bicycles at these two events. Both events draw intense cycling media coverage on the internet and social media. 

So, why might The Traka overtake Unbound Gravel as the top world gravel event? In one word, I can give you a very compelling answer: Geography. 

The thing is that geography could take in what the courses are like at these two events, but that is not what I mean, necessarily. I think it has to do with something N.Y. Roll mentioned while we were discussing the two events. It is just easier to get to Girona Spain than it is to get to Emporia, Kansas. 

But cycling companies are making choices too, and one popular wheel brand has already stated that The Traka is the "benchmark" gravel event. We can see how many European based brands are making moves to be a part of The Traka as well. This has been the domain of Unbound up until recently, but with both events in May, and after Sea Otter, it seems to me that The Traka has drawn a lot more brand interest than Unbound seems to be getting. 

Now, it should be said that both events have had growing pains when it comes to Pro vs amateur field racers. Just this year at The Traka complaints were lodged by some Pro women riders concerning this. Now Unbound has further separated the Pro field from the amateur classes by giving the Pros exclusive feed zones. They also have separated finish chutes and timing for their respective classes. The Traka is still navigating some of these issues as well. How the ending of these stories is told may have a say in which event becomes the one at the top of the heap for all concerned. 

For now, in 2026, twenty years after a humble beginning in a seedy Kansas town, the Unbound Gravel event still holds the crown as being the World's Premier Gravel Event. But for how much longer will it retain this accolade is now in question. I wouldn't be surprised to see this crown move overseas.  

Two Things

 

 Testing 1,2,3....

 Just testing out this shiny new laptop I got Friday for this BRAN gig coming up in a couple of weeks. 

I need to be able to update the blog from the road, and well.....  Dragging a PC around isn't very practical. So this laptop was procured and it should provide me with the means to do some writin' on the road. 

I'm still testing this thing out and hopefully images won't be too hard to get the way I want them. You know, technology isn't my best area of expertise, although I will advocate for myself a little here and claim a bit of competency in dealing with new things. 

So, wish me well. 

And for the tech nerds out there I will head off any questions in the comments and let you know what device we ended up with. It is a Lenovo Yoga (I say "Yoda", but Mrs. Guitar Ted doesn't like that!)

So, there ya go. Stay tuned for more from the Yoda laptop soon. 

Note: The above part was posted on the laptop. Now back to the regular PC.... 

Joe Meiser with a Ti Fargo 32 (Image by Steve Fuller)

The 32" Watch: Ti Fargo 32 Completes Century Gravel Ride:

Have you, like me, been thinking a 32"er might be good for gravel road riding? Well, apparently Quality Bicycle Products' own Joe Meiser, a former Trans Iowa winner, thinks it does. He just used a 32"er Ti Fargo to complete the century distance at this past weekend's Heywood Ride. 

Thanks to volunteer Steve Fuller, we have this image and a few details. Apparently Joe chose Teravail Ciclos carbon rims and had these laced to Berd hubs with the Berd spokes which, I would imagine, results in a very lightweight wheel set. 

Those are the Teravail Cannonball 32" tires on there as well. Steve got a quick ride on it and said the bike felt pretty natural to him. It is an XL size, by the way. 

32" Fargos will be available in titanium and steel coming later this year. See your Salsa Cycles dealer for more details. 

And....

I have seen an image of another prototype 32"er which I have been told will work with drop bars or flat bars which will be offered "very soon." This will be coming from a company not known primarily as a bicycle company, by the way. 

Stay tuned..... 

BRAN Gravel: Bike Choice

In the run-up to the 44th BRAN ride, and specifically for the gravel route, I am writing up my suggestions and personal choices for bicycles and gear. I hope this will be enlightening and helpful to anyone deciding on gear for this ride or any gravel ride. 

The Bike Choice:

A "gravel bike"? What is that? You may find yourself asking those questions concerning gravel cycling. There is no definitive answer as gravel cycling varies from place to place greatly. Essentially, one could just say "A gravel bike is whatever bicycle you feel comfortable riding on gravel." It could be a mountain bike, a hybrid bike, or even a recumbent. 

Now, with this in mind, I will say there are "better tools for the job" and how one chooses, when there is a possibility for choices, can still vary greatly. Sandy, loose back roads? Maybe you have a lot more pavement than gravel? Or you ride a fair amount of single track connecting dirt roads. All these can change what "tool works best" for the job. But again, you can do a lot with several kinds of bicycles and still "grind the gravel" with anyone. 

In this article I am going to assume the reader has either knowledge of Nebraska gravel types or has listened to the podcasts about "Bran Gravel" (Here and Here) 

Black Mountain Cycles MCD

As I listened to the folks we interviewed who have either done BRAN on the gravel, or know about Nebraska gravel, it became apparent to me that there were going to be various types of surfaces to deal with. Pavement is an obvious one. However; there were sandy surfaces mentioned out in the (of all places) The Sand Hill Region of Nebraska. One person we interviewed mentioned "MMR" (dirt) roads. Then there will be a transition to "white rock" gravel, or in other words, the crushed rock you may think of when "gravel" is mentioned. 

Salsa Cycles Fargo

So, it might be a good idea to have something for a bicycle with wider tires than not, but not huge. One of the interviewed folks mentions this in the first podcast episode linked above. The trend in gravel bicycles of late is for wider tires, so if you have a late model gravel bike, you probably can fit tires with a width of 45mm or so easily. This was a recommendation on the podcast and one I would agree with. 

What would be "too skinny"? I'd say anything under 40mm, but it isn't that one could not do the ride on, say, 38mm tires. It might just be a little harder and not as much fun is all. Ratchet up the "Not Fun" and "Harder" categories as you get narrower than this with tires. 

What would be too wide/big? Well, as one person on the podcast said, a "fat bike" (any bike with 3.5" tires or wider) might be overkill. Again, you could use a fat bike, it just might not be the "best tool", that's all. 

"What are you gonna do, Guitar Ted?"

Well, I have many years of experience on different types of gravel and my choices are narrowed down to the two bicycles you see above. The Fargo has 2.25" MTB cross country racing tires on it and the pink Black Mountain Cycles MCD has 50mm wide Schwalbe gravel tires on it. Here's the difference, as I see it.....

The Fargo is a nod to comfort and a better handling bike in sketchy terrain. You might think about the sandy gravel and dirt roads that BRAN gravel may have on the course this year. The negatives would be that this bike, essentially a drop bar mountain bike, is heavier. The wheels and tires weigh more. So, this may factor into why you might not want to choose thusly.

The MCD has lighter wheels, but skinnier tires. 50mm is a LOT of rubber though, honestly, and this wide a tire should be more than enough while giving a nod to paved riding and a bit of grace in climbing. Negatives could be a less comfortable ride and not as much confidence in any sketchy, loose sections.

Sure, I have less wide tires, lighter wheels, and maybe I could go that route, but comfort over seven days of gravel kind of beats having a lightweight wheel set, in my opinion. My final choice? Well, I'm leaning toward the pink BMC now. 

 You might note I have spent a lot of time on tires and wheels because this makes the most difference in the way a bike handles and feels than anything else. The other consideration is comfort, and tires do a lot here as well. Air pressures chosen will determine a lot in this regard. I would wager most people think they need higher pressure in their tires than they actually do need. One way to find out is to use a tire pressure calculator online. 

There are two I will recommend here. The first one is from a company called SILCA. You can check theirs out HERE. The other is from another company called Wolf Tooth.  Their calculator can be seen HERE. Want one more choice? Component maker SRAM also has an online air pressure calculator HERE. 

Optimizing air pressure will help you go faster. longer, and with less fatigue while retaining a balance of good rolling resistance versus comfort and handling traits. 

As far as the rest of what makes your bicycle go, I would recommend a tubeless set up due to the reported goat heads and other pointy objects out in Western Nebraska. (Obviously, you could run tubes, but then risk the punctures.) Your bicycle should be in tip-top condition, shifting well, and braking well. Stopping is good! Besides this, overall you should choose a bicycle you are confident on and most importantly for a week long ride, comfortable on. There is nothing worse than a bicycle that hurts to sit on after a few days!

Need more beginner gravel tips? Read my series on Beginners On Gravel HERE.  

More information on the BRAN ride HERE.  Register for BRAN HERE.

Supporting The Cause

Bacon wrapped dill pickle anyone? 

 Ten years ago this weekend I was up in Cherry Grove Minnesota doing support for the original Almanzo 100 event when it was run out of Spring Valley, Minnesota. 

It wasn't "on my bingo card", as the saying goes, even a week beforehand to do this gig. It was all a last minute thing due to a sponsor pulling out at the 11th hour. 

At the time, I was partnered up in Riding Gravel and my partner in that effort had called me asking if I could join him in supporting this checkpoint/aid station, or whatever Cherry Grove was meant to be. 

My vision at the time was a spot in the road to grab more water and maybe we'd be handing out gel packets. What I didn't know was how this would end up becoming a sort of party/hang-out scene, not unlike what you might see at Mid-South, for instance. 

There was beer. There was whiskey. There was bacon wrapped dill pickles! It was a scene for sure, and it all went over really well, actually. So wel we were asked to come back for the next two years. But that first year was quite a wild time, especially since I had no idea what I was getting myself into. 

 I was really happy it turned out as well as it did. I was even more happy to have had some small part in helping with an iconic gravel event. So iconic it got its founder, Chris Skogen, installed into the Gravel Cycling Hall of Fame with me in 2022. 

Ten years ago...... Already? Wild to think this. What is even wilder is thinking about how some gravel riding racers and punters think gravel events started around this time. Or even afterward! That's mind blowing to me to even try to comprehend.  

So many good memories came out of those three years doing the Almanzo 100 support. This first year I went up with N.Y. Roll and his old dog, Ella, who is no longer with us. My son, Jacob came along and made a huge impression on the riders by refilling their water bottles. This was also the event where the infamous "Red Bull" incident involving my son, a can of Red Bull given to him by N.Y. Roll, and my son's passing out in N.Y. Roll's SUV happened. Jacob never let N.Y. Roll live that one down. And now he's gone as well..... 

Yeah, a bittersweet memory filled time for sure. Crazy how much things can change in ten years. Even this event is gone now. 

Just crazy.... 

Friday News And Views

Image courtesy of Stinner Bikes

The 32" Watch: Sinner Refugio 32"er: 

Yeah.....another 32"er! I don't think it is shocking to see another 32" wheeled bicycle anymore. Unless Trek, Specialized, Cannondale, or Giant come out with one, this is now not a head-turning deal these days. (If you are a bike nerd, that is) 

So, I think it is time to start paying attention to how this idea of a huge, wagon-wheeled bicycle is being refined. Especially in terms of geometry. 

Stinner presents the titanium Refugio model as a gravel bike. So we're going to start looking at where drop-bar 32" stuff is heading. I will do a bit of cross-comparison to the new Singular Pterodactyl, a drop bar 32"er I featured last week in the FN&V. 

While Singular is being a bit cagey about the geometry of the Pterodactyl, we know a few things from press releases sent out to various online media. The head tube angle is a steep 71° versus Stinner's Refugio 32"er's which ranges from 68° for the Medium, (What will be the smallest size for most 32'ers, the Fargo 32 notwithstanding), to a steep 71.5° on the XXL size. 

Sam Alison, of Singular Cycles, stated on a podcast interview we did with him, that 32"ers would necessarily have to go far greater with bottom bracket drop than with 29"ers. Bottom bracket drop, in case you are unfamiliar with the term, is the distance below a line drawn though both axles of the wheel, horizontal with the ground, that the center of your crank spindle sits. It determines how stable a bike feels and where in space your center of gravity sits in relationship to the wheels. 

Singular Pterodactyl Image courtesy of Singular Cycles

Sam thought something more than 100mm of drop would eventually be where 32"ers end up, and Stinner seems to agree with their bottom bracket drop on the Refugio 32 being 105mm. 

Chain stay lengths are obviously going to have to be longer, as Sam Alison showed us by saying the 32" wheel is roughly 10% larger in diameter than a 29"er wheel is. Stinner seems to have landed on a 455mm length on the Refugio. Typical gravel bikes range from 420mm to 435mm in 700c format.  This seems a tad bit shorter than what one might expect for a 32' wheel based upon Sam's estimates. So, I would look for a 455mm - 465mm range in a "good" design for 32" wheels. This is assuming we are going to stick with 32" x 2.25" - 2.5" tires for the 32" format. 

Stack height is another difficult thing to tackle with the tall 32" wheels.  Note the size small Fargo shown recently with handle bars above the saddle height as an example. Negative rise stems will likely be a thing with 32"ers, if they catch on, in the future. 

There is a long way to go with 32"ers, but I think we are in the "honing in" stages of geometry already with this format.  

Image courtesy of fizik

fizik Announces New Ergolace 2 Shoe Range:

I've been on the hunt for new shoes for gravel travel lately and I have a couple of things I know I like which I have not seen done in combination before. 

I am looking for a shoe which is not race-focused because those are typically too stiff and make my feet hurt, cramp, or both. 

I am looking for grippy soles for walking on things like sketchy dirt roads and up steeps that I cannot ride up, plus be reasonable to walk in for stops at convenience stores and the like. 

Finally, I wanted something lighter in color after speaking with Jeff Kerkove who told me white shoes on gravel rides keep his feet cooler. And yeah.....price matters as well. 

Image courtesy of fizik

Well, fizik just released the new Ergolace 2 range of shoes which have seemingly everything I want. While the white is really off-white, this might be better for gravel usage. 

I like the lightweight uppers with breathable characteristics. The soles look grippy. The upper has a foot entry which is like a cuff, which would keep stones out better. (And possibly make them a pain in the butt to put on?) 

I don't know much about fizik shoes. They said they made the toe box roomier. I don't need this as my feet are shaped like skis and are narrow, but I've had to put up with shoes which did not fit great most of my life due to this. 

At least the prices look reasonable. So, does anyone have any experience with fizik shoes? I'd be curious to read any comments you'd like to share. Typically I have worn Shimano footwear, so that is where I am coming from. You can see the Ergolace range HERE.

Image courtesy of Life Time Fitness

UNBOUND Gravel Features New Twists For Pro Riders: 

The information for the UNBOUND Gravel 200 course was sent out this week and there is a new twist to things which further separates the Pros from the "age groupers" in this event. 

Now instead of the Pro field being mixed into the same area for resupply as everyone else, there will be separated feed zones for the Pro fields at three different spots on the course. There will be no team vehicles or motos allowed in the Pro feed Areas.  

 The rest of the course looks like a mix of a Southern route and a Northern route. Essentially the route loops South, West, North, and back East to Emporia. One thing I noted which may be an issue is that the course looks to be on the Flint Hills Nature Trail coming out of Council Grove for several miles to the Southeast. Whether the trail will be closed to other users during the event is not known at this time, but if it is open, there is a chance for user conflicts. The Flint Hills Nature Trail is a rail way conversion trail and is at railroad grade with a narrow, pea gravel surface. 

A couple of other notable points on course, one of which is the near pass to Cottonwood Falls.  Riders will come within about a mile of the city. The other interesting bit comes not long after this where the course ends a long Northward push at Mile 137.9 and turns West. If a rider were to turn right here and go one mile they could cut off an almost 40 mile section of the Northern loop, but they would miss going through the third checkpoint at Council Grove. Cheaters exist, so this would be a tempting place to do this. (Note: You'd only have to go 20 miles and when you pass through Americus you could resupply.)

Anyway, I'll be interested to see how these bits and more play out in Kansas soon.  

Image courtesy of Enve Composites

Enve Announces New Wide, Aero Gravel Wheel Set:

Enve, the wheel and component brand from Ogden, Utah announced a new wide gravel wheel set with deep aero profiling called the G SES 6.7 Pro. 

Featuring an internal rim width of 35mm and a deep aero section of 60mm front/67 mm rear, this wheel set promises great aero results with tire from 44mm in width " and larger tires", according to the webpage for this product. (Up to 52mm listed in 'Features')

The wheel set weighs a claimed 1,580 grams. The G SES 6.5 Pro wheels are offered only in 700c and standard 12mm through axle dimensions of 100mm front, 142mm rear. Hubs are Enve's Innerdrive hubs with straight pull spokes. The brake rotor mounting is Center Lock standard.Maximum allowable tire pressure is 50psi. 

The price for a set of G SES 6.5 Pro wheels is $1,400.00 USD.  

Comments: That is a really wide internal rim width! I tested some 30.5mm internal rim width rims in 2021 with a couple of different gravel tires and was not all that impressed. So running what ENVE says will work at 44mm seems a bit dodgy to me.  

My assessment in 2021 was that such a wide width internally would work best on 700 x 50mm tires and wider. However; in 2021 there weren't really many gravel bikes with this sort of clearance. Now?

Well, an aero MTB wheel makes sense now with wider XC MTB tires. Let's be honest, this is what people are really doing. They can call it "gravel", but really? We know what's up here!  

New Guitar Ted Podcast Episode #107

Okay, here is another podcast drop to check out which started out innocently enough as a compare and contrast between two gravel racing bikes. Then....

Well we went off the rails a few times. Then I got into some esoteric changes in the upcoming Unbound 200. (See above) Nobody probably cares but me about those things, but I talked about it all anyway. 

Anywho... If you want to listen to this one, check it out HERE on our Spotify home page, or find the Guitar Ted Podcast on your favorite podcast provider's sites. 

That's a wrap for the week. Get out and ride those bicycles! 

How A Disaster Shaped My Future In Cycling

A post card depicting the aftermath of the 1968 tornado.

I sometimes get the question what it was that led me to being involved in cycling over the majority of my life. It is a good question, and the answer to it may be a lot different than you might have imagined it to be. 

May 15th, 1968. I was a seven year old elementary student at McKinley School in Charles City Iowa. My family had moved across town just three days prior and everything was new to me. Well, except my school. 

Instead of walking several blocks home, crossing busy Highway 14, and walking past the Southside Grocery store, I was now walking past the Texico station, crossing the Cedar River on a fairly new Brantingham Bridge, and walking along busy highway 18. 

It would be the last time I ever did that walk home from McKinley School. 

That very afternoon, at around 5:00pm, an EF-5 tornado ripped across Charles City, devastating homes, killing 13 people, and injuring hundreds more. Homes and businesses were destroyed. The city was never the same afterward. 

Of all the bad things which came out of this disaster, there were a few, a very few, good things. One of those was in regard to the youth, specifically the young boys, who lived then in Charles City. I was amongst a group of boys who scavenged bicycles which were strewn about the outskirts of town in woods, ditches, and wild areas. 

We would drag these bicycles back to our homes, tear them apart, and attempt to assemble them. Sometimes we'd make cross-bred contraptions bicycle designers had no intention for out of these free parts. 

Choppers were a big deal in the late 60's and early 70's, so we'd often make chopper bicycles out of the ones we'd dredge up from the flotsam and jetsam resulting from the tornado. It was part adventure, part mad scientist stuff which engaged us for days upon days. 

Over the Summers of 1968 through to around 1970 or 71, this scrapping of bicycles was going on. Of course, it eventually all went away, but the skills I gained in tire removal/installation, chain repair, and general knowledge of how a bicycle worked were all formed in those days of experimentation. 

I was able to maintain my single speed, coaster brake 20"er myself for the most part. My Dad had to step in a few times when I would break a rear axle doing jumps, but otherwise I was on my own for taking care of flats, new tires, and oiling the chain. 

And of course, a love of cycling and for bicyles in general was kindled then. It was the vehicle which took me around the city to witness the destruction of the "Charles City Tornado". Then other adventures came along. Eventually I outgrew the 20"er and was gifted a single speed Huffy lightweight coaster brake 26" x 1 3/8th" wheeled bike which I promptly tore the fenders off of and used as my city commuter and single track bike in the late 70's. 

McKinley School grounds, Brantingham Bridge

Of course, I left cycling for other worldly pursuits in my 20's, but it never went away completely. By the time I was in my late 20's I had purchased a mountain bike, started riding single track, and by 1993 circumstances led me to becoming a bicycle mechanic. 

Since then cycling has been pretty much at the forefront of my life. All due, in part, to a wicked, unfortunate natural disaster in the late 1960's. 

The anniversary date for the Charles City Tornado is tomorrow, May 15th. I will quietly mark the day. I will recall the scenes I saw with my own eyes and the screaming sirens I heard all night long that night in 1968 will replay in my mind again. I know most of you will have an ordinary day, but you all probably have a memory like this as well, so I am willing to bet some of you readers understand where I am coming from. 

So, if you've ever wondered what my start in cycling was, now you know.  

Issues Escalating

Image courtesy of Trek Bicycles

We used to joke about this years ago. Whenever anything became "a thing" in the Mid-West it was old news everywhere else. Well, that's one thing when it comes to fashion, music, or culture, but it isn't good in some cases. 

My hometown where I grew up, a city of around 7,000 souls, is now in the throes of an e-bike dilemma. 

A recent report of a youth running into a car and causing nearly $1,500.00 damage has stirred up debate amongst the small town's populace. This seems to be an epidemic which isn't going away any time soon across all communities in the USA. 

Years ago I predicted this might become a problem. What's the quote? "With great power comes great responsibility". (from Spider-Man circa 1962) Give cyclists more power outside of what they can generate on their own, and well...... We can see the results, and it is not all good. Not even close. 

I likened it to when mopeds were all the rage in the 1980's. Youth were out of control on those machines many times resulting in conflicts and crashes with automobile users. Eventually these were effectively banned by making operators of these devices get licensed and insured. Now we are seeing similar efforts to effectively ban the modern-day moped equivalent in e-bikes. 

Trouble is these devices are infused into our society at such a fine-grained level they are going to be tough to regulate without taking out some of the rights and privileges of ordinary cyclists. As an example, a recent city ordinance proposed in Waukee, Iowa would have banned any two-wheeled vehicle with pedals and/or an electric motor from any street with a speed limit over 20mph. (Which is basically any street.), and also from bike paths. Good riddance to those pesky e-motos! But in the process you throw the baby out with the bathwater. Not good! 

Fortunately that ordinance was tabled. For now..... This is a ticking time bomb though. New Jersey already has a draconian law in place and they are ticketing law-breakers now. Other states and municipalities, strapped in terms of budget, looking for answers, and not having patience, are probably going to be pressing for things which many of us cyclists are not going to be happy with. 

Just keep in mind any kind of ordinance or law passed will have to be backed up with real enforcement, consequences, and legal backing, or those ordinances and laws will be paper tigers. Lawmakers know this, and my feeling is there is going to be no appetite for nuance in their solutions. 

The future for cycling will probably get interesting very soon. Probably not in a good way....

Review: Stan's Sealant Injector & Universal Valves

 Note: Stan's Sent over several bicycle products for test/review to Guitar Ted Productions at no charge. Guitar Ted is not being paid, nor bribed, for these reviews. All opinions are Guitar Ted's. 

I used the Stan's products sent to review to set up these tires tubeless.

A couple of weeks ago I introduced a bunch of Stan's products. A couple of those were tubeless specific things like the Universal Valve Stems, the Sealant Injector, and the sealant, of course. 

I had decided to set up some different tires on my Fargo Gen I. Since I was going to do that it provided the perfect opportunity to use a few of the new Stan's products I have in. The wheels needed to be prepped first, so I cleaned up the inner rim well and laid down some new tubeless tape. Then I used the new Stan's Universal Valves. 

It should be noted that these wheels are not tubeless rated wheels. This did not seem to complicate things, but it could in certain cases. Unless you have extensive tubeless set up experience, I would not recommend doing what I have done. Best to stick to known tubeless ready certified items.  And of course, if you are not well versed in tubeless set up there are a lot of online tutorials and your local bike shop mechanic where you could possibly gain some wisdom. 

These Universal Valves have a base which sits proud of the inner rim well a fair amount, but there is a good reason for this. Instead of a single, outward facing bore, the base of the valve stem has two holes facing horizontally in alignment with rim well and two which are 90° to the rim well and face the rim's side on each side. There is also a fifth hole facing outward as a traditional tubeless valve would have. Ostensibly this should provide more air flow and an easier tubeless set up. 

The base also has an oval, and conical shaped rubber piece which sits above the very base of the stem.  This should seal off the valve stem hole. It's supposedly a one-size fits all solution, and I guess it is okay. As long as it seals up, (right?), it can be whatever shape they want to make it. 

The rest looks like standard fare, but there is one hidden feature in the valve stem nut. It has a 'o' ring installed in it which provides a bit of friction you can feel when installing it. This is there to prevent unintentional loosening of the nut. I cannot say I've ever had a valve nut loosen, but perhaps I am a lucky guy in this respect.  

The valve installed. The arrows are indicating two of the four air outlet holes in the valve base. 

 Alright, now let's talk about the Stan's Sealant Injector. I've tried various hacks and purpose built sealant injectors over the course of my nearly 20 years of setting up tires tubeless. The Stan's injector follows the form of a few of the other older injectors I have used but with a couple of notable differences. 

Lube bottles for size context.

First off, everything about the Stan's injector is bigger. The body, the bore of the nozzle, and the capacity are all much larger than any other purpose built injector I have seen or have used. 

The Stan's Injector also has this funky rubber end which is angled and fits over a standard tubeless valve stem. This is handy for times when you are adding sealant through a valve bore with the core removed. I was going to add my sealant before I finished mounting the tire, so I didn't think I'd need the funky black rubber end. (Stay tuned on this point)

The injector can hold up to 150ml of sealant. This reflects the trend for bigger tires on almost every tubeless set up these days. I think it is smart. The gradations are very clear and easy to read. They also are a separate applied film/sticker which I also like. Gradations printed directly onto the body of most injectors tend to fade away over time leaving you guessing. 

We'll see how the Stan;'s gradations hold up over time, but this is a feature which has been missing from products like this for a long time. A small thing maybe, but a detail I appreciate.  

Okay, back to that black nipple thing-a-majig I decided not to use. Big mistake. Generally speaking one can draw up sealant into an injector and it stays inside the injector until one depresses the plunger. Not so with this Stan's injector! The sealant practically runs right out as if you were pouring it from a pitcher. 

You'll want to use this. Trust me....

Back on with the rubber nipple! Ha! Seriously though, it stopped the free-running of sealant from the injector and everything went a lot better afterward. 

One more thing about the injector. Clean-up is a breeze. You can pull everything apart easily. Since the bore of the nipple, injector body, and tubes is larger over all, it makes for easier clean up. This will make the injector last longer. I appreciated this as well. 

A Word About How Inflation Went: 

The tires aired up pretty easily with my SILCA pump. I have to believe the air flow from the valve stem was a high enough volume that it made this set up go a lot better than it would have with a standard tubeless valve stem. 

Of course, tire/rim interface has a lot to do with this, but I do really feel the valve stems were a difference maker here as the tires I used were a bit looser on these rims than I typically find these days while setting up stuff tubeless. 

Overall Impressions: 

The valve stems are good. Those extra ports are good for some more push outward on the tires from the inside, making a tubeless set up a bit easier. The valves have press-on aluminum caps which are fine. They are functionally unnecessary, but they complete the look here and that is worth something, I guess. 

I'm most impressed with the sealant injector. Overall it is an improvement even if the black nipple is a bit weird, at least it keeps sealant where it should be while you are setting up a set of tires. The ease of clean-up is perhaps my best liked part of using this tool though. It means it should last in great shape for a longer period of time then the other dead injectors I have in a drawer in the shop.  

I'd give the nod to all three products used in this test. The sealant, injector, and the valve stems. So far so good. I may come back with a longer term look at these items if I find anything else notable to share.  

Making A List

Yesterday's announcement now has made this more real to me. This ride is actually going to happen, so I'd better be getting my ducks in a row. Actually, I already have been. This all starts with my mind racing in four different directions at once, so making a list of things I want to make sure I get gathered together for this week-long adventure helps me to get my head wrapped around things a bit better.. 

So, there are some categories I need to head up my list and then put things in those categories which should help me compartmentalize packing and getting all the gear and things in the truck so nothing is left behind. 

The Bike:

I know for some of you this would be the easiest category. Not for me! Too many choices exist and all would make sense to take for one reason or another. Here are the contenders so far. 

The 2018 Black Mountain Cycles MCD

Black Mountain Cycles MCD:

Listening to the folks I interviewed for the two BRAN Gravel podcasts, it was apparent I should take a bike with wider tires than not. This is because I am going to be tackling gravel roads in the Sand Hills region of Nebraska. Having a little experience with sandy gravel in Nebraska, (Odin's Revenge days), I know a wide tire handles the sandy gravel, or just outright sand in some cases, better than typical gravel tires would. Not that you cannot ride 700 X 40's, but if you have the option to go wider, and I do, those wider tires sure make the going easier. 

The Black Mountain Cycles MCD currently has a 29 X 2.25 on the front and a 700c X 47mm in the rear. Probably good enough for this ride. Water carrying capacity is also okay. Fit and function, okay also. It would likely get the job done. 

Next... 

Singular Gryphon Mk3

Singular Gryphon Mk3:

Speaking of wider tires, here ya go! 29 x 2.8"ers here! Sand? No problem! Weight? Yeah......there is that. However; this bike was the one I took out to Western Iowa to do the Tree In The Road Ride and there were some big hills out there to climb, which I was able to do. It wasn't easy though, but I attribute that to the brutal heat and humidity we suffered through on that day. Still.... 

Water carrying capacity is great. Fit is awesome. (Luxy Bar) Function.....good. The front derailleur function could be better. 

Next....  

Fargo Gen I

Salsa Cycles Fargo Gen I:

And here's the last contender, the Fargo Gen I. It can handle pretty wide tires, like the Surly Extraterrestrial 29 X 2.5"ers. Right now I have some Rene Herse tubed tires on it, but I also have a set of N.O.S. Vittoria Terreno Dry 29 x 2.25"ers ready to go on this wheel set. That would be a tubeless set up. So, then the tires would be definitely wide enough, but not too heavy either.  

Comfort level - Excellent! Water carrying capacity? Excellent! Function? Excellent! (The front derailleur really works well on this bike!) 

So, you can see I have choices, and all three have merit. I'm leaning toward the Fargo right now, but ask me again tomorrow and I'll have talked myself into the MCD, or the Gryphon. 

I actually have a couple more bikes I could talk myself into here, but I have to limit this!  I'll come up with a decision this week, then I'll get into all the fine details as to why I chose how I will choose. Or something like that....... Anyway... 

After the bike comes the Overnight Set-Up. This will encompass my tent, sleep system, what details this all encompasses, and more. Next will be Clothing. I need to consider how I will manage a week-long ride with no laundry and after ride clothing as well. Finally, Logistics. Food, water, travel. 

Look for more to come on my pre-ride choices soon. .  

BRAN Invites Guitar Ted To Ride BRAN Gravel 2026

 

BRAN Partners With Guitar Ted Productions:

Waterloo, Iowa. May 10th, 2026: The Bicycle Ride Across Nebraska (BRAN), a fully volunteer run organization which puts on a week-long ride across the state of Nebraska annually, has partnered with Guitar Ted Productions to help promote and bring awareness to this ride, and specifically to the gravel route portion of this year's ride. 

BRAN, now into its 44th edition, only added a gravel route to its offerings within the last few years. This week-long trek on beautiful Nebraska roads and gravel roads will start June 7th and end June 13th. Running from West to East, this year's route starts in Valentine, Nebraska and ends after seven days in Arlington, Nebraska. Registration is open now https://www.bikereg.com/bran44

Guitar Ted will be on the ride doing the gravel route, which is a little over 400 miles this year. He will be providing daily updates from the ride on his blog, Guitar Ted Productions, and on social media. There also will be a pre-ride set up and advice article, along with a post-ride review of the event, and a gear review. Two podcasts with interviews with four BRAN members have already been published on the Guitar Ted Podcast. 

Guitar Ted is a 2022 inductee of the Gravel Cycling Hall of Fame. He helped start the Modern Gravel Era with his Trans Iowa gravel event run from 2005 - 2018. Guitar Ted has also written for gravel based cycling sites, reviewed products, and has been influential in the development of both gravel bicycles and components. Guitar Ted Productions is Guitar Ted's daily blog which has covered the gravel scene since its start in 2005 and has been in continuous daily publication up to this day. Reviews, news, notes, adventure stories and more are a part of the site https://www.g-tedproductions.blogspot.com 

BRAN is an annual bicycle ride with paved and gravel options and features a new course each year. Now in its 44th edition, BRAN promises cyclists a fun, scenic challenge over the course of seven days. BRAN is a community-driven, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization with a mission: funding scholarships for high school students to pursue higher education at Nebraska trade schools, colleges, universities, and beyond. https://www.bran-inc.org

___________________________________________ 

Podcast #1 HERE

Comments: There you go. The "official" announcement of my plans for June. 

Full Disclosure: This came together over the past month when BRAN's volunteer Madeline Wiseman reached out to me about partnering with BRAN to help promote their gravel ride. My name came up in discussions with BRAN's board as a possible "authentic voice" who could help them tell the story about BRAN gravel and BRAN in general. 

My obligation is to provide BRAN with coverage and stories about the event. This is naturally what I would do anyway, if I were on the ride, as you long-time readers here can attest to. 

BRAN is comping me the ride and transportation of me, my stuff, and my bike from the end point of the route to the start. Then BRAN hauls my gear as I ride seven days on the route until the end on June 13 in Arlington, Nebraska where my vehicle will be waiting. Then I come home, do some reviews and a story later on in my year end reviewing.  

Otherwise I am receiving no compensation for these stories and images. All stories, images, and social media posts will be accessible to BRAN and available for their use now and in the future. BRAN takes care of me on the ride, all transportation to the event and from the event is on me along with extra food and beverages during the event.  

So, there you go. I think that is about as clear as I can make it. You know me, I don't hide the details here. But if something is unclear or if there is another question you may have which I did not answer here, fire away in the comments. 

Podcast #2 HERE

Looking Ahead:

Okay, so I have already been doing some training for this ride. I'll share gear and route details in upcoming posts, but the route is pretty cool, I think. 

Daily average mileage will be a tic over 58 miles a day. The longest day is 72 miles and the shortest day is just shy of 49 miles. There is one other day which is 49 miles on the nose. 

I'm excited about this for a few reasons. One: I may not ever get to do this again, so riding in a new-to-me area is looked forward to by me. I have ridden in different parts of Nebraska, and this ride actually will take me through a tiny part of a self-supported tour route I did back in 1995. So I am stoked about that. 

Two: BRAN as an organization approached me to do this. What an honor! I do not take that part lightly. It is kind of ironic that this Iowa boy would get approached by a Nebraska ride like BRAN to feature their gravel route. I cannot say I am surprised though. 

Finally, I am excited because this gives me some motivation after a ride I was scheduled to do fell through earlier this year. Things happen for a reason sometimes though, and maybe there is a reason this is happening instead of the other ride. We'll see.... 

Stay tuned for updates on what I am doing to get ready for BRAN Gravel. My gear choices, training rides, and all that will be right here and soon. This ride happens in less than a month! 

Review: Aeron TPU Tubes Update #2

  Note: Guitar Ted received Aeron TPU tubes and a patch kit at no charge for test and review from Aeron. Guitar Ted is not being paid, nor bribed for this review and all opinions are Guitar Ted's. 

The TPU tube as an alternative to tubeless and butyl tubes is a debate which still hasn't been settled quite yet. TPU tubes themselves are in a state of evolution. One of the latest brands to enter the TPU market is Aeron. I last updated this review about a month ago HERE. In that article I related how the installation went and my first impressions were given. I also shared with you here that I swapped bicycles due to clearance issues. 

So, here you see my pink Black Mountain Cycles MCD and the wheels are the same as the blue Noble GX5 from the previous post. I am considering changing the tires and the Aeron TPU tubes over to a different wheel set, just for testing sake, later on. But for now, here are my impressions of how these tubes ride and how "living with" these tubes has gone over the better part of a month now. 

There is plenty of length here for deep aero wheels.

First of all, I want to address the valve stem. With a butyl tube you can match your valve stem length to your rim depth. Same thing with tubeless valve stems. There are plenty of choices in stem length for those two standards which will satisfy most wheel rim depths. Not so with the TPU tube choices. Not quite yet. 

I imagine a day will come when one can better match stem lengths to  rim depths, but for now, and specifically for these Aeron TPU tubes, one has to go with the choice available, and this leaves a lot of stem sticking out of my rims. 

This is not a huge concern, but the possibility of a damaged valve stem due to a loose rock strike is greater with this much valve stem extension from the rim. That and these stems have no threading to allow for a sturdier valve/rim interface As I stated, this is not a really big deal, but it is a concern I have. Ideally I'd like to have about half as much stem extension, but Aeron is trying to cover as many bases as possible with this offering, so I understand why my valve stems are so long. And like I said, maybe in the future Aeron will offer various lengths of stem extensions. 

 As far as riding goes, these tubes don't seem to feel odd, nor do they have a rattle, as did the Rene Herse TPU tubes. At least not in this wheel set. I noted the Rene Herse TPU tubes felt.....different,when I was riding them. Not 'bad', buit not like a tubeless ride. Maybe this tire combination masks this with the Aeron tubes, or maybe it just isn't there with the Aeron tubes. The construction is a bit different with Aeron stating this TPU tube is a bit thicker material. Aeron calls it 'Multi-Layer' construction. I am thinking this is the difference in feel. 

It also manifests itself in air retention. TPU is already better than butyl and tubeless set ups when it comes to air retention over a period of time. I'll have some comparisons in my next update, but suffice it to say that if you forget to check your air pressure and you are using AeronTPU tubes, you probably are going to be just fine. 

Rolling resistance is a bit of a question because of my tire choice, and I have not used the WTB Nineline in years. So, I have no real way to say 'this' or 'that' in comparison to another tire. I will say that the tires are not rolling slow, nor do I feel any extra resistance in pedaling up long grades or steep hills. In fact, I am a bit surprised at how well the back tire feels. Typically Teravail Cannonball tires feel overly stiff. This one with the Aeron TPU tube feels pretty nice, actually. 

Okay, that is it for now. I'll be back in about a month, maybe a bit more, with a final review.  

Friday News And Views

Iowa Wrestles With E-Moto/E-Bike Regulation:

Another ban (effectively) on all bicycles on city streets was defeated for the short term recently as the city of Waukee. Iowa had a proposal in front of the city council to consider a new ordinance unfriendly to cyclists. 

It's just one example of many scenes in city government buildings across the nation which exemplify the issues with electrified bicycles and scooters which are proliferating in numbers and are popular with under age kids. 

While solutions remain in debate, and fairness to those who need assisted bicycles or are using bicycles from the "3 Class" system are considerations, my concern is how any of this will be enforced. 

Yes, putting laws on the books more clearly defining e-moto from assisted bikes is an admirable and actionable thing to do, my sense is there are no more means to enforce any ordinances or laws making effectiveness of such measures questionable. Resources for law enforcement, ways to monitor trails, and ways to enforce the uses of electric bicycles on streets is not being addressed. A law on the books means nothing without enforcement and real consequences. Do any of these municipalities have the appetite to budget more labor and resources for backing up such laws? No one seems to be thinking about these things. 

If the backing, resources, and consequences are not real, neither will be any bill or ordinance providing for clarity on e-moto/e-bike usage. Signs mean nothing. Social media promotion is hot air. These cities and towns need to consider reality when looking at this problem. 

Spanish component maker seeks investments to avoid bankruptcy

Industry Turmoil Continues Into 2026:

The woes of the cycling industry which were predicted to have been overcome by now are still hanging on. In some cases, brands are folding up shop. Lynskey, a titanium frame manufacturer based in Tennessee, recently filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy according to recent media reporting.  

Rotor, the Spanish component manufacturer, is seeking out investors to avoid bankruptcy. Giant and Shimano recently reported declines in sales over the first part of 2026. It seems as though the economic footing for many companies is still tenuous. 

It's been too many years now to blame this on the pandemic oversaturation in terms of inventory as most of the glut has been worked through by now. One has to wonder about what other things are holding consumers back from spending on cycling as more time goes by.  

Image courtesy of Assisting Force (Yes, that is really the name!)

China Cycle Show Promises Influx Of Gravel Frames/Forks/Components To USA:

Over the past several years I have started to pay more attention to shows like the China Cycle Show which has been going on this week. 

The trends in cycling are now being set, in part, by what is going on with China's cycling scene. There are many brands there, who have been making stuff you've ridden or heard about, under brand names you know. Now these companies are eyeing the foreign markets, (foreign to China) as places to make their own name directly. 

Take for instance the "Assisting Force" brand. The name may sound goofy, but the company is a serious one, having made frames, forks, and other components for other brands for 20 years now. Instead of selling to a company who slaps a brand name on the down tube and has to hike the price to make a profit (to support Western lifestyles and Pro teams, influencers, marketing, etc.), they now are seeking to sell direct. And since the profit necessary to make this work is only going through one set of hands, so to speak, the retail prices are lower. In some cases, alarmingly so. 

Frame sets, wheel, and even group sets are becoming better, more well known here, and are making inroads which the traditional brands are going to find hard to compete with. The future will be interesting to watch as consumers look at Chinese brands versus traditional brands. Which way this goes will determine a lot of people's futures.  

Image courtesy of Singular Cycles

Singular Offers New Drop Bar 32"er Pterodactyl Model:

At the recent Cycle Show in the UK, Sam Alison brought a new model which is now on offer in Singular Cycles range to show. It is a 32"er called the Pterodactyl which will slot alongside the already notable 32"er offering Singular has in the Albatross. 

The Pterodactyl is a drop bar design in titanium. Singular is offering it now on pre-order through this month only, for now. It features a Super Boost 157mm wide rear hub spacing for the best in wheel stability. A Columbus Futura full-carbon fork handles the front wheel holding job. The hubs spec'ed for now ar from Hope. The rims are a Willow branded aluminum tubeless ready design. Tires will be the Maxxis Ardent 32 X 2.4" although the claimed max clearance is rated at 2.5".  

Rolling chassis pre-orders are due by the end of May and are priced at $4,619.00USD. See more on the Pterodactyl HERE.  

Image courtesy of Otso Cycles

Otso Cycles' Fenrir Now In Steel:

Otso Cycles' entry in the "Fargo-eque" bikepacking range is the Fenrir. This bike was traditionally only available in titanium or stainless steel. Both materials which are nice, but on the pricey side. 

Otso has helped this situation out a little by making the Fenrir available in steel now. The Fenrir Steel is available as a frame set for $1,950.00 or in a few complete build configurations. 

The Fenrir Steel can handle both 650B and 29"er wheels with 650B X 2.8" or 29" x 2.6" tires being the maximum allowable. You can check out all the builds and finer details on Otso Cycles' website for the Fenrir Steel HERE. 

That will be a warp for this week. Thanks for reading Guitar Ted Productions! Now get out there and ride those bicycles!

Country Views: Headwinds - Three Kinds

Escape Route: Bike Trail to NW Passage Route

Sunday May 3rd. The weather was just about perfect. Very little wind, abundant Sunshine, little humidity. No one was waiting on me to do anything. Mrs. Guitar Ted was going to a movie, then to do some minor shopping. My daughter was at work. I had all afternoon to myself. Even Mrs. Guitar Ted said I should go out and ride. 

But I didn't. 

Monday was a busy morning with afternoon work and so I did not get out to ride until Tuesday. It looked perfect out, but it was only in the 50's and there was a breeze from the Northwest. I didn't let the wind stop me. I decided on doing the "Northwest Passage" route to minimize having to deal with the headwind. 

I took out the pink Black Mountain Cycles MCD. It was cool enough I could wear my long sleeved wool jersey, Twin Six wind vest, and wool socks. No gloves! My hands stay pretty warm. I had a bandana on the noggin underneath the Bontrager Circuit helmet. 

South Riverside Trail

The Cedar River at Downtown Cedar Falls

While the Northwest Passage route keeps me out of dealing with the physical headwinds, for the most part, there are other headwinds I'm dealing with. Headwinds which have been with me since last Summer. 

It is why I did not ride on the perfect day on Sunday. It is why I don't ride on other days. It is why I cannot get out of my chair sometimes. Or maybe it is why I have no motivation some days. Those headwinds, the mental and spiritual ones, have been pretty hard on me. There Is no "Northwest Passage" around that. 

 

These two dogs wanted to come out and play, if it weren't for that dratted invisible fence!

The mental headwinds are a bit easier to handle. The thoughts which I'd rather not think about raise their ugly little heads every day. I pray. I find distraction. It doesn't always work, but most of the time, it is okay. 

"I wish I didn't know now what I didn't know then"

"Against The Wind" Bob Seger

  

The spiritual headwinds, now those are devastating. When you feel empty. When that big hole looms larger and larger. 

I had an echo-cardiogram done recently at the request of my family practice doctor. He thought he heard something odd last time I saw him several months ago. The tests didn't show any abnormalities. I guess modern technology still can't detect a broken heart. 

A farmer and his rig appear as a smudge of dirt in the middle of this field.

The Northwest wind wasn't too bad on this ride. Maybe it was more West than North. I seemed to have an easy time going East on this ride. I had to put a little more pressure on the right side of the handle bar going South, so I'd say the wind was more West. 

The other headwinds don't respond to pressure. You cannot "pedal harder". You cannot handle it better by doing this or that all the time. Sometimes you just have to ask Jesus to hold your hand while you go right through the center of the windstorm. It isn't easy or fun. 

Sunday I went for a walk. It was good. It wasn't easy, but it was good. I didn't worry about missing a "perfect day"on my bicycle, because my day was far from "perfect"

  I rode a little over two hours on Tuesday. I had a moment or two during the ride which was tough. Different winds were dealt with. It'll be a long time before I have any sort of tailwinds, if ever. I understand this. 

I'll just keep moving forward.....