tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12831567.post7807170475353128915..comments2024-03-28T08:40:23.164-05:00Comments on Guitar Ted Productions: We've Been Here BeforeGuitar Tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10960580677548417562noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12831567.post-91275081963602129562021-05-18T17:32:04.162-05:002021-05-18T17:32:04.162-05:00@Jon BALER - It is an intriguing bike but it needs...@Jon BALER - It is an intriguing bike but it needs updating to through axles. Until Velo Orange does that I already have 'that' bike in the Gen I Fargo. If Velo Orange ever does pretty much exactly that geometry WITH through axles, well then.......Guitar Tedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10960580677548417562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12831567.post-68480239918144511082021-05-18T11:20:44.442-05:002021-05-18T11:20:44.442-05:00The current Velo Orange Piolet is designed for fla...The current Velo Orange Piolet is designed for flat or drop bars. The original version was designed for drop bars, and rides great IMO. Jon BALERhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14364303454514302128noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12831567.post-60518891090290789862021-05-17T23:38:06.431-05:002021-05-17T23:38:06.431-05:00I've felt for a long time the mountain biking ...I've felt for a long time the mountain biking has diverged from the rest of cycling so much that, that it's really a different sport. As ebikes take over mountain biking, this is only going to get worse.Barryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17828417839257554508noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12831567.post-33865078760575400602021-05-17T14:07:39.936-05:002021-05-17T14:07:39.936-05:00I am building up my Black Mtn Monstercross in just...I am building up my Black Mtn Monstercross in just this manner (I wanted cantis not disks). It is my modern take on an MB Zip. Instead of a Moustache I have a Ritchey Koyote ergon grips and tandem dummy hoods in the "aero" position. Drivetrain is a triple with a nice wide spread based on an old touring crank. If I want to ride any of our more technical trails I have a modern HT with a 5" fork, 275+ tires and drooper. As soon as I saw the La Cabre I started thinking of a future build to bridge these two bikes. Tmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05932060954855795047noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12831567.post-73956299670869874452021-05-17T09:50:07.493-05:002021-05-17T09:50:07.493-05:00I'm glad you mentioned the Ogre! I lucked into...I'm glad you mentioned the Ogre! I lucked into a L blue frame last summer; and paired with whiskey rims (tubeless nanos) and a triple ring up front - this whole post had me nodding right along - agreeing with what works (for me) on Iowa gravel. Rhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09878386978033507646noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12831567.post-89064146590461528632021-05-17T09:06:40.229-05:002021-05-17T09:06:40.229-05:00Still love my 2011 orange Vaya with 26/36/48 9 spe...Still love my 2011 orange Vaya with 26/36/48 9 speed for what you are describing. I've got fenders on it so I cant run as big of tire as I'd like, but I can ride MTB trails, just gotta go a lot slower than on a trail bike. I'm lucky to have an Ogre, too.rth009https://www.blogger.com/profile/06537399817809411362noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12831567.post-18800586477833841242021-05-17T08:14:19.073-05:002021-05-17T08:14:19.073-05:00@Tom - I think what Black Mountain Cycles is doing...@Tom - I think what Black Mountain Cycles is doing is very close to the mark. There are other small companies doing similar bikes and that is because Trek,(the 920 notwithstanding) Giant, Cannondale, and Specialized do not make them. So-called "second tier" brands like Marin, Kona, and others have something arguably close to what I am mentioning here as well. <br /><br />So, if you look- they are there, kind of..... But none of them are quite what I am saying they should be which is a versatile MTB hard tail. The kind you could turn into a "flat-bar Journeyman" or a drop bar "La Cabra" type rig. The same bike could be all those things and more. <br /><br />Surly used to have such bikes too, but with all the splintering off of their model lines into weirder niches, I think that they lost some of their focus. Think the Ogre, which is one of the types of versatile hard tails I am thinking of. That's a great example but you can hardly find one and that is not a pandemic-induced thing. Ogres were hard to find pre-pandemic too. The problem with a surly is that they are so over-built that the weight penalty is a bit much. Coupled with perhaps too much of a good thing in braze-ons and versatile drop outs, you get something a bit too odd for the masses. But the Ogre is about as close as it gets to what I am thinking. <br /><br />Make that same bike with more 'standardized' frame appointments, in aluminum, (lighter/cheaper) and in a way that flat bars or drops could be fitted, and then we're talking. Guitar Tedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10960580677548417562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12831567.post-36116318070364770502021-05-17T07:59:23.735-05:002021-05-17T07:59:23.735-05:00How 'bout the flat bar Journeyman or the new B...How 'bout the flat bar Journeyman or the new Black Mountain La Cabre or even the MCD serving as "that bike"?...I currently have 27.5x2.1 on my Wolverine but I don't think the frame is robust enough for some trail stuff.Tomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12668978307208390206noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12831567.post-84415296143741994242021-05-17T07:26:48.069-05:002021-05-17T07:26:48.069-05:00@MuddyMatt - Great insights and thoughts there! Th...@MuddyMatt - Great insights and thoughts there! Thank you for those comments. I think the crux of almost every issue we bike nerds have with niche marketing is summed up perfectly in your second paragraph, which I am taking the liberty of quoting again here:<br /><br />"The question is, are non-cyclists, or potential cyclists asking for ANY of this? No. Not at all. As always it looks like another way to sell more bikes to the same people."<br /><br />That pretty much dovetails into what you were talking about at the end of the article about motorized cycling. Making it 'easier' is appealing to those who thought that MTB was 'too hard' and maybe there is a bit of 'fun-factor' involved as well. <br /><br />Another thought: Is it easier for the industry to push motorized cycling in the off-road realm where there are no barriers (or very few) to use? Whereas HPC bikes for roads is a complex matter which can only be addressed by better infrastructure, enforceable, cyclist-friendly laws, and ant-car planning and legislation. Is that why eMTB is 'popular' vs pavement electrified bikes? <br /><br /> Guitar Tedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10960580677548417562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12831567.post-89444195857334418282021-05-17T03:13:13.805-05:002021-05-17T03:13:13.805-05:00Agreed there's a gap in the market, and agreed...Agreed there's a gap in the market, and agreed that Gravel is the wrong term for it. It seems to me the industry knows too about the gap, but not what to call it. I think if any of us knew we'd be thanked!<br /><br />The question is, are non-cyclists, or potential cyclists asking for ANY of this? No. Not at all. As always it looks like another way to sell more bikes to the same people.<br /><br />A few friends have been joining me and my gravel bike guys by dusting off their 26" MTBs of the mid-00s (when 26" bikes were reasonably sorted re. discs, short-travel forks and reliability). They have switched out to 650B wheels and put 40c and upwards tyres on them and the bikes work really well.<br /><br />BUT, their bikes can handle <i>juuust</i> a bit more than our rigid gravel bikes so when we hit the trails, they want something a bit more testing, whereas those of us on rigid gravel bikes are maxxed out and hurting. Flip to smooth trails and tarmac? We win. At some point on the ride, each of us is on the 'right' bike! Fun, but it does compromise each of our rides and people have to join them with an open mind.<br /><br />So there's the gap right there. An XC MTB that's not a race machine. Based on ease of use and in my experience superior reliability, definitely a 1x for that - just tweak the gearing range a little if needed. Maybe a 34T with an 11-42 or closer rear). <br /><br />Personally, for average speeds of 11mph or so on that sort of semi-testing terrain I don't mind a modern geo, 1x hardtail at all and will happily put in 15 miles on a road/gravel/trail mix, but I agree they are not the bike for that sort of ride really.<br /><br />What's also worth noting with modern MTB design is the trail pixies build trails to suit them. I've been riding the locale for years and we are lucky to have lots of woods, hills and great countryside access (development-protected land just outside London, UK). Over the past 3-5 years, the local builders have really ramped up the technical side of new trails - they are superb fun on 130mm travel MTBs but not for novices or non-technical riders.<br /><br />The trails have evolved with the bikes and I'm not sure that's a good thing for getting new people into MTB. Something that sits in that gap that gets people off-road and then surprises them at what their bike can do over smooth flowy trails, rocks and roots is definitely needed.<br /><br />A final thought. With short sharp hills and technical trails, the direction of travel is ALL e-MTB. Every week I see more and more e-MTB riders and they are not your traditional MTB or road rider. Most are carrying a few pounds and clearly new to the sport and (probably) exercise. Their etiquette just isn't there, blasting past other riders and trail users with little consideration and barely a hello while they are at it. And the trails? Getting ripped to bits. Talk about braking bumps! There is so much money in this the industry is pushing the e-MTB angle like crazy and they do look great fun.<br /><br />Not sure I have drawn any conclusions there or got anywhere, but food for thought!MuddyMatthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06774731534552286917noreply@blogger.com