tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-128315672024-03-19T08:48:31.608-05:00Guitar Ted ProductionsGuitar Tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10960580677548417562noreply@blogger.comBlogger13732125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12831567.post-36146682662849282252024-03-19T01:30:00.006-05:002024-03-19T08:39:34.260-05:00Mid South Report: Day 1<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWm8L1ZJPv4lUz2P_PMocLTx45Um2xUyXHJ7kf-xf-mrkbxt6Havag4HzbUGhaNNzuC-okJIylc9EvgeCLLao_apPkz4ZA6uVmW_hanGq9qgo-kwE5RJgiSIJ_x-Qtn6xPl1O-Y3w8hhueSkW5-asqXDPSwm4l5gxrKa1LWdIV31MxCpKvWreqpw/s1200/P3140005.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWm8L1ZJPv4lUz2P_PMocLTx45Um2xUyXHJ7kf-xf-mrkbxt6Havag4HzbUGhaNNzuC-okJIylc9EvgeCLLao_apPkz4ZA6uVmW_hanGq9qgo-kwE5RJgiSIJ_x-Qtn6xPl1O-Y3w8hhueSkW5-asqXDPSwm4l5gxrKa1LWdIV31MxCpKvWreqpw/s320/P3140005.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Early on Thursday morning a dark colored SUV pulled up in front of my house with Justin Michaels and Marty Larsen inside of it. I said to myself, "<i>Well, this trip is actually going to happen.</i>", and off I went.<p></p><p>The trip to an event I hadn't ever been to, but I had heard a lot about it. The event in question is run by Bobby Wintle and his wife, Crystal Wintle out of Stillwater, Oklahoma. </p><p>I was with the Northfield Crew: Ben Witt, Marty Larsen, Michael Lehmkuhl, and Justin Michaels. They had been down to ride the 50 mile course of the Mid South before a few times and they were stoked to have me along. </p><p>My mission was to ride the King Fabrications Honeman Flyer in the 50 mile event and then hook up with Erik Mathy who was part of the reason this whole deal went down. Erik was riding the 100 and then doing some side gig work projects, one of which was about my bike. </p><p>Ben's mission, along with his crew, was to spread the word about the Heywood Ride and bring people joy with his tall bike. I would say he nailed both assignments. But you will see in the images coming soon. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH-9bw2eFtHMOyQInLPOYe4MGcCJEXFn-oVsv-7aDSrzAveDjEt2D7D5zSK7YJm1VE_uaMjzWOHT7xMo2-5NDEGwPf2d2LUlNrq7fHIJr7nb3jbTQf303yZwtclAHsxYmBWMHiJuOp-J1T_aBlbKf7xeh3XeiaxG1Y5pSJf1NUCe0BzEKIs3yNpQ/s1166/MID%201.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1166" data-original-width="874" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH-9bw2eFtHMOyQInLPOYe4MGcCJEXFn-oVsv-7aDSrzAveDjEt2D7D5zSK7YJm1VE_uaMjzWOHT7xMo2-5NDEGwPf2d2LUlNrq7fHIJr7nb3jbTQf303yZwtclAHsxYmBWMHiJuOp-J1T_aBlbKf7xeh3XeiaxG1Y5pSJf1NUCe0BzEKIs3yNpQ/w480-h640/MID%201.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>The weather could not have been better. I maybe would have wished for lighter winds, just for the sake of fuel mileage. Other than that, it was Sunny and getting greener as we went South through Missouri and Kansas.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSKbTsfz6Zy3y1HcXPHzmzrQ_-c4ZcAyOXWlWCbfhSLjm_zO0W7l2Hz8GIRiG3o4uAEnbaR9WFvw70hDhAnSVzUl7HcyegElMFKJJEFAUOBCXj1QANiqDbbmMpjss_O4lCaQQrbvYu21KL9RGn48piA6NNAE6dhMwLLf8RTOA7P2p0nCpHxG1qjg/s960/MID%202.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSKbTsfz6Zy3y1HcXPHzmzrQ_-c4ZcAyOXWlWCbfhSLjm_zO0W7l2Hz8GIRiG3o4uAEnbaR9WFvw70hDhAnSVzUl7HcyegElMFKJJEFAUOBCXj1QANiqDbbmMpjss_O4lCaQQrbvYu21KL9RGn48piA6NNAE6dhMwLLf8RTOA7P2p0nCpHxG1qjg/w480-h640/MID%202.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><u>Apparently Kansans love their roller food. <br /></u></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p>We stopped in Kansas City at Cycle City downtown and I got to chat for a bit with an old gravel grinder named Joe Fox. He is an owner at the bike shop there and he has done Trans Iowa before. He also used to put on an event called the Farmhouse Classic back in the day. I tried to convince him to start it up again. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgljFbFWis-M5bugsx2OkHlNDVOPYn5IQSWVsffoiF1jY2PrNhNvZaBvy34QWNmaTc4uaur_dORN2iaTVNUpGuVYHguVDuRcyFeGnnNACxws8StoXjisdrNSA4FpXKzBcSs949p9umBOwfGhGXZ938dDBYnINfxqQB0Q470Y_ANyal6c9MCZInh5A/s1200/P3140001.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgljFbFWis-M5bugsx2OkHlNDVOPYn5IQSWVsffoiF1jY2PrNhNvZaBvy34QWNmaTc4uaur_dORN2iaTVNUpGuVYHguVDuRcyFeGnnNACxws8StoXjisdrNSA4FpXKzBcSs949p9umBOwfGhGXZ938dDBYnINfxqQB0Q470Y_ANyal6c9MCZInh5A/w640-h480/P3140001.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><u>The Starcross Party on Thursday evening<br /></u></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Ben had told me that after driving about 12 hours that we would immediately go to the Air BnB that they had procured for this trip, dump off some stuff, then we were to go directly to this party that, all I know is that you "<i>have to know someone to get into it</i>." Apparently it was sponsored by Cedaero Bags </p><p>We got there after all this travel, with one stop to eat, where I had a six inch sub, and maybe a handful of potato chips, and that was all for the day. I'm not blaming anyone but myself here, but I was really tired! I hung out in the darkened room with some wild bikes that Cedaero had made custom bags for and were showing them off. A couple were Ben's bikes. A tall bike, previously mentioned, and a 1939 Elgin cruiser. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizzNjv7HF-Yy83I0txfM6s1COYUrUQdV4fjgQv82NVdy3dcdoCu74m44D6le9qh-ts6Hi4qr14NiCBaWvywvYkhGg5ggau5AgveCzOxfy3VEfuWHtthQuRJfDtac62TVx_38MleNaXdRF2sMhjvc6GwwV876kbvrqzOGbZnZzeH_1g8YS8UomiMA/s1200/P3140006.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizzNjv7HF-Yy83I0txfM6s1COYUrUQdV4fjgQv82NVdy3dcdoCu74m44D6le9qh-ts6Hi4qr14NiCBaWvywvYkhGg5ggau5AgveCzOxfy3VEfuWHtthQuRJfDtac62TVx_38MleNaXdRF2sMhjvc6GwwV876kbvrqzOGbZnZzeH_1g8YS8UomiMA/w640-h480/P3140006.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><u>This is an Esker long-tail Hayduke with a custom bag that makes it look like the outfit is from a Harley bagger bike.<br /></u></i></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP7vhCB4BMLSpbM4btnPi8TFjxfjJ2ozYwDft0ioYAvaBO-p2ATykriZl-q4fKZ-IaA_H2SR_jRvz7ZP-pDZp-iLLz1RVI3q4978H7ssQ0Rc5Mw9r8TfLygYS-bEr-ltLOPyzQysb7-anLKTKx1lSigLelHWyH8p2al_VvUjmAdKriPhIjqeJ-bQ/s1200/P3140004.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP7vhCB4BMLSpbM4btnPi8TFjxfjJ2ozYwDft0ioYAvaBO-p2ATykriZl-q4fKZ-IaA_H2SR_jRvz7ZP-pDZp-iLLz1RVI3q4978H7ssQ0Rc5Mw9r8TfLygYS-bEr-ltLOPyzQysb7-anLKTKx1lSigLelHWyH8p2al_VvUjmAdKriPhIjqeJ-bQ/w640-h480/P3140004.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><u>This is a custom demonstration of Cedarero's capabilities. The bag is clear, filled with water, and set up to look like an aquarium.<br /></u></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p>There were shenanigans, bicycle riding, and a cool rendition of a Prince song done ala karaoke style. But nothing to eat! But wait! Someone said there was a pizza. I was able to grab a slice, which - better late than never - served as my second meal for the day. </p><p>There would be good fare straight out of the gate for Friday though. Bobby Wintle made us promise to meet him at a new restaurant called "Hatch" in Stillwater for breakfast at 6:00am. It was nearly mid-night at the party when this happened. Off to bed!</p><p>But not before Marty and Ben decided to pull over because of the following.....</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9ezoZwzkBYu7FhSGaE7F5ylgBpV8x2fa3-u6VwSho2fFLuOLgEoMJILeBomqrl5wOImRQdREadb2fHQ6Yiocvsr9oxoaUL8Q0k05Hr3QRTO2O7eUE-IeXO8snIsvjDgsHbTzG2-jolRTUXdYWB1Pj8GUHjJUGXtJZSXdb8atUJBhHwoscxp8X4Q/s1204/P3140008.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1204" data-original-width="1085" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9ezoZwzkBYu7FhSGaE7F5ylgBpV8x2fa3-u6VwSho2fFLuOLgEoMJILeBomqrl5wOImRQdREadb2fHQ6Yiocvsr9oxoaUL8Q0k05Hr3QRTO2O7eUE-IeXO8snIsvjDgsHbTzG2-jolRTUXdYWB1Pj8GUHjJUGXtJZSXdb8atUJBhHwoscxp8X4Q/w576-h640/P3140008.JPG" width="576" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><u>Transformers!</u></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsMpyMuxEljI72wqSPRWFLvCQ5aQ5js4ob2F53A7seSmLKvnfPVlbyw-YNB5VN8HGoX76gaId6OfBIQ01UVHXWb6J1PvToL5p6t9bSSzVc2T3Dv7gyZdpBmwSpCJN6ymtujfBPNYrVD6luXkFf9v81LZL7v-EGNqhMHU9Rt3O9l0yVusoBRCZDTA/s1206/P3140011.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1206" data-original-width="1063" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsMpyMuxEljI72wqSPRWFLvCQ5aQ5js4ob2F53A7seSmLKvnfPVlbyw-YNB5VN8HGoX76gaId6OfBIQ01UVHXWb6J1PvToL5p6t9bSSzVc2T3Dv7gyZdpBmwSpCJN6ymtujfBPNYrVD6luXkFf9v81LZL7v-EGNqhMHU9Rt3O9l0yVusoBRCZDTA/w564-h640/P3140011.JPG" width="564" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><u>And this! Ah.........yeah. Moving on!<br /></u></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p>We got back to the house which was a mile off a blacktop road outside of Stillwater a few miles on a gravel road. It was the <i>perfect</i> place as it was dark, quiet, and had almost zero traffic. We could hear coyotes yipping over the prairies and a big orange tabby was there to great us. </p><p>Then I hit the sack, I think by 1:00am, and a short night of sleep before we were off and running again. </p>Guitar Tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10960580677548417562noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12831567.post-74768884895088470302024-03-18T13:05:00.000-05:002024-03-18T13:05:07.562-05:00Mid South Report: Preface<p> As I write this I am still at the Air-B-n-B just outside of Stillwater Oklahoma. The trip has been great so far. The expo was fun. I got to meet a lot of new friends and saw many old friends as well. </p><p>The event itself was a success for me also. Lots of interesting things to share about Oklahoma back roads and even more about the event itself. </p><p>I’ve also taken plenty of photos which I plan to share. So sit back and enjoy the week as I unravel the tale of Mid South and what I learned about the event. Plus I’ll have a deeper review of the King Fabricatons Honeman Flyer. </p>Guitar Tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10960580677548417562noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12831567.post-28462095455873939832024-03-17T01:30:00.027-05:002024-03-17T01:30:00.131-05:00Review: One Year With The Singular Cycles Gryphon M3<p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjYqIfSWwro3v-8twUuJ1BxSj0etxoAd4Y3spCnw39W4gWX7NaoAAEmXLhT8Dp6aW11oL4B0_0HZIecoAZMkbuUTTkhWiZDNTqW2jkf4aXNn9dwtAW7KBD6YZAn92eYvme3dci50g50JoSSKjB0BJLaI-sEuX3avXgulSV52SccS6U9dYCMQMtFA/s1200/P1030002.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="739" data-original-width="1200" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjYqIfSWwro3v-8twUuJ1BxSj0etxoAd4Y3spCnw39W4gWX7NaoAAEmXLhT8Dp6aW11oL4B0_0HZIecoAZMkbuUTTkhWiZDNTqW2jkf4aXNn9dwtAW7KBD6YZAn92eYvme3dci50g50JoSSKjB0BJLaI-sEuX3avXgulSV52SccS6U9dYCMQMtFA/s320/P1030002.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><u>The current State of the Gryphon Mk3<br /></u></i></td></tr></tbody></table><i>Note: This review is of a bike that I paid for out of pocket. Singular Cycles has no idea that I am doing this and have no influence on my opinion. </i> <br /><p></p><p>While I was piecing together the Honeman Flyer it dawned on me that I had been doing a similar thing almost exactly one year ago. That was when I was putting together the new Singular Cycles Gryphon Mk3.</p><p>The new Mk3 Gryphon was the culmination of years of searching for the bike with "plus" sized wheels that I could use for deep gravel, loose fluff, sand, light snow duties, and general off-road cycling. The wheels and the frame and fork clearance were key to my wanting this bike. The Mk3 Gryphon can clear up to a 29" X 3" tire. I decided on 2.8"ers from Teravail. </p><p>A couple of notes on my particular build. First off, the Mk3 doesn't support a triple crank nor does it have cable routing for a front derailleur. I managed a workaround for that and mounted a 2000's era XT triple crankset with a bottom pull front derailleur. </p><p>The build was supposed to be a gravel bike+ kind of idea, but when opportunities popped up with Old Man Mountain, the bike became a defacto off-road tourer/bikepacking platform for most of last year. So, with those two things in mind here, I will give you my one year take on this bike.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8MSw0StbdcHlcS31mLBB4pQdUga3zzVzjLym-A-NzEe7zTSWNtVnU91zIFflCg2kGN5JEYBVv148jQ109OnH7Cilj-_25yDml8Jbk2RpzkgozUrsfNz_PLay6XZRcOg9zaA0Jcub-Kd3Gov0crkXI80R0ZVpuJtNL49EKgqHRQD6-rw5tbzm2Xw/s1200/P6130014.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8MSw0StbdcHlcS31mLBB4pQdUga3zzVzjLym-A-NzEe7zTSWNtVnU91zIFflCg2kGN5JEYBVv148jQ109OnH7Cilj-_25yDml8Jbk2RpzkgozUrsfNz_PLay6XZRcOg9zaA0Jcub-Kd3Gov0crkXI80R0ZVpuJtNL49EKgqHRQD6-rw5tbzm2Xw/w640-h480/P6130014.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><u>Before all the racks were installed, I did a gravel ride or two in on the Gryphon Mk3. <br /></u></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /> The Gryphon was all I dreamt about from the standpoint of a fat tire gravel cruiser. It flattens deep, chunky gravel and soaks up vibrations pretty well. This makes for what would be normally be a tough ride on a 700c X 45mm tire a "no big deal" ride. <p></p><p>Then all the racks came and I had the Gryphon loaded with a tent, sleep system, food, clothes, and spares. This is where the 9spd triple crankset came into its own. The Gryphon Mk3 handled "okay" with a load like I had on it. You could induce a fair amount of flex in the frame if you rode with a lack of skill and finesse. I think cycling requires a skill set, so this flex when loaded is no big deal in my opinion. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDlaVviadc7zTf1zp8er-l7LQdVAxJAKmFZ8TrjWUQgZ5zB8sgVhhoRwLejDM8KFSTDnAbZmbExgQtH1LrEEUPDCerpkn7h77jB4bDPErvTk-AaBEjVmi-ZiXRCsFmnFw2aJHFwpOd3-tlvZpR5Nf23PmRpo32KUSQGE2q551R40zdXvg9kTDxFQ/s1197/P7020007.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="767" data-original-width="1197" height="410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDlaVviadc7zTf1zp8er-l7LQdVAxJAKmFZ8TrjWUQgZ5zB8sgVhhoRwLejDM8KFSTDnAbZmbExgQtH1LrEEUPDCerpkn7h77jB4bDPErvTk-AaBEjVmi-ZiXRCsFmnFw2aJHFwpOd3-tlvZpR5Nf23PmRpo32KUSQGE2q551R40zdXvg9kTDxFQ/w640-h410/P7020007.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><u>The first loaded set up. <br /></u></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p>I have a trip planned over gravel for this bike but as of yet, I haven't been able to find time to get it done. This is still a trip on my radar for 2024 so perhaps, <i>hopefully</i>, I will get around to doing that. In the meantime I've done enough testing of the set up that I feel very confident in how the Gryphon will handle this. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSexy1acV-UHrK6pYP6jNuoQZ4Hw_0L2tP0GCMa6VA8VbnMmrl-9DC2yFC_pCYhckSZ-taPt0kHXbZJBzDfDudlcuFsvmpZdEZN2TA8StKmr7UJYOR83kMVIWb5E_Ov_8jV0wGyJsMLjqjD3pmB39gOYX6lsOD1hyphenhyphennDU67tmlf4-0GEnWwBlXGTw/s1200/PA100007.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSexy1acV-UHrK6pYP6jNuoQZ4Hw_0L2tP0GCMa6VA8VbnMmrl-9DC2yFC_pCYhckSZ-taPt0kHXbZJBzDfDudlcuFsvmpZdEZN2TA8StKmr7UJYOR83kMVIWb5E_Ov_8jV0wGyJsMLjqjD3pmB39gOYX6lsOD1hyphenhyphennDU67tmlf4-0GEnWwBlXGTw/w640-h480/PA100007.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><u>The final, and heavier, set up. <br /></u></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p>One thing about the Gryphon that I found was that those big, poofy 2.8" tires make for a nice, smooth ride if the bike is unloaded. So, you can kind of have your cake and eat it too with regard to ride quality. I don't doubt that this Gryphon is a lot stiffer overall than the original Gryphon model which I had as well. But that first Gryphon was limited to 2.4"ers and you could only squeeze so much compliance out of a tire set like that. Imagine a load like I was using, and the tube set of the original Gryphon probably wasn't stiff enough. So, unless all you wanted was a very niche, classic looking drop bar MTB, this Gryphon Mk3 is, in my opinion, a far better bike. And this version still carries over classic good looks. </p><p>I could recommend this to anyone who rides off road mountain bike trails that don't require 140mm of suspension and are DH oriented. Double-track, XC-ish paths, primitive roads, buff single track, and more are right up this bikes alley. Obviously the Gryphon Mk3 is a gravel cruise ship you could while away the days on with its great ride quality. You probably are not going to win any races on the Gryphon, but in my opinion, that's not a bad thing. </p><p>I believe the Gryphon is the bike for those who seek adventure at their own pace, unhindered by competitive barriers, and want to view the world at a "bicycle speed". Thanks to Sam Alison for making this machine a possibility for me to purchase. I highly recommend it as a drop bar MTB/gravel bike/bikepacking rig. <br /></p>Guitar Tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10960580677548417562noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12831567.post-89455013266655688942024-03-16T01:30:00.013-05:002024-03-16T01:30:00.125-05:00Review: WTB Max-Flow Tubeless Valves<p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8I7OwcJPNu_fU2sgtzVQH8Pdkg0LEEuGYK-9P_JJgaSnakLMHexccqlRSai3sgDGMGDiYX7CKC1GM8D2qtLLuz8_No9KWF267zRAIJIHhFsnLAoJ5E8ZrdTUpTsa7oiehcQQJCd8ExmyQF68sJ6Bf4_ldDxOyvsq_TlORtkR_AJ2vf89D_aObdA/s1197/P1300002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="902" data-original-width="1197" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8I7OwcJPNu_fU2sgtzVQH8Pdkg0LEEuGYK-9P_JJgaSnakLMHexccqlRSai3sgDGMGDiYX7CKC1GM8D2qtLLuz8_No9KWF267zRAIJIHhFsnLAoJ5E8ZrdTUpTsa7oiehcQQJCd8ExmyQF68sJ6Bf4_ldDxOyvsq_TlORtkR_AJ2vf89D_aObdA/s320/P1300002.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><u>The business end of a WTB Max-Flow tubeless valve stems.<br /></u></i></td></tr></tbody></table> <i>Note; WTB sent over the Max-Flow Tubeless Valve Stems at no charge to Guitar Ted Productions for test and review. I always strive to be honest when I share my thoughts and views</i>.</p><p>The suite of new WTB products I was sent to review, including the Max-Flow valve stems, were introduced <span style="color: #2b00fe;"><a href="https://g-tedproductions.blogspot.com/2024/03/gravel-grinder-news-wtb-nano-air-tpu.html" target="_blank">HERE</a></span> in case you missed that. This article will focus on the valve stems only. </p><p>Today's riders that use tubeless bicycle tires have different needs and expectations than they did ten years ago, or even five years ago. WTB has responded with a new tubeless valve design which addresses many of these new concerns. The Max-Flow Tubeless Valve Stem's name should give you one hint about this new design.</p><p>Things have changed with regard to tubeless tires for bicycles and now the expectation is becoming more and more that a rider should be able to inflate a tubeless tire on a tubeless rim with a floor pump alone. WTB's Max-Flow design has a claimed <i>84% more airflow than their previous valves</i>. Now, I cannot verify that, but as we will learn here, the valves did work nicely for me.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzlKOTqDklsK2wColIx0Ceku7T2SI6MJwwY839QHhDM8Ly2RNIjiK8RQ84Nq0oYTaG3SA-5GNtDaAjKU9tHkm4ilt6VqWUwQ2-yZVMWkLmQBrCcJWbQ6KtJJ5H3hZxb2GO449jTt6ajN4PEHC37sn1MaHaoZQtCSz4GT44-B1viHmc19fsJ7lYvA/s1200/P2230003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzlKOTqDklsK2wColIx0Ceku7T2SI6MJwwY839QHhDM8Ly2RNIjiK8RQ84Nq0oYTaG3SA-5GNtDaAjKU9tHkm4ilt6VqWUwQ2-yZVMWkLmQBrCcJWbQ6KtJJ5H3hZxb2GO449jTt6ajN4PEHC37sn1MaHaoZQtCSz4GT44-B1viHmc19fsJ7lYvA/w640-h480/P2230003.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><u>The Max-Flow valve, valve cap with integrated core remover, and the valve nut. <br /></u></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p>The Max-Flow also features a valve cap with an integrated core removal tool made in aluminum. This is great as a way to reduce weight and tools in your tool kit, if you aren't one to lose valve caps, that is! </p><p>Finally, the valve nut, (Presta valve nut), is designed in a squarish shape with a machined in grip texture which aids in not only tightening the nut against a rim, which also helps seal the rubber stopper of the stem on the inner rim, but also aids in the tooless removal of the stem in case of a catastrophic failure requiring a tube, tire boot, etc. </p><p>The length of the valve is a nice, but not overly long, 44mm. Enough to clear most average gravel rims. The core is removable, of course, and the Max-Flow design is also claimed to reduce clogging as well. The stopper is a sensible conical shape which should work in most tubeless rims. </p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSaja0B6JIRFCdzutKDkoCKlKeyY_jSdtORGCoQY4xAB9dLEwma_gZ7V5oX1l9JOOkU7GBIuknp2ztPQRf4So_xojplOfbmhfkiuLWjD2Yif3TkVL8xpGIItQnvKCc933E0YoZFa0QC5NpEOt-2V0P5gI036T-7ZkCM_xTVshTVt2LBnyDe6hvlQ/s1167/P2230004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="850" data-original-width="1167" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSaja0B6JIRFCdzutKDkoCKlKeyY_jSdtORGCoQY4xAB9dLEwma_gZ7V5oX1l9JOOkU7GBIuknp2ztPQRf4So_xojplOfbmhfkiuLWjD2Yif3TkVL8xpGIItQnvKCc933E0YoZFa0QC5NpEOt-2V0P5gI036T-7ZkCM_xTVshTVt2LBnyDe6hvlQ/w320-h233/P2230004.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><u>I liked the valve nut.<br /></u></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p><b>In Use</b>: The WTB Max-Flow valve was used on my new front wheel for my new King Fabrications Honeman Flyer. The rim is a Velocity Blunt SS which has a 26.6 mm inner rim width. </p><p>The tire I was trying to use is a Teravail 42mm wide Rutland model which had already been mounted once and ridden several hundred miles. <br /></p><p>The squarish valve nut really was nice for tightening the stem into the rim. I usually have to gently use a pliers to snug up valves good enough to prevent internal sealant seepage. </p><p>I was a bit concerned about the way the valve protruded into the inner rim well. The Max-Flow design is intended to work with those new-fangled rim inserts that are designed to help prevent tubeless tires from "burping" or pinch-flatting the tire against the rim when running lower air pressures. To enable the valve to clear these inserts, it sticks into the rim well area more. My thought is that without running an insert, you <i>could </i>hit something hard enough to contact the valve end and potentially break it off or damage it. Admittedly, the chances of it happening are slim, but....<i>there is that chance</i>. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIBYJ99i3pU15Goi9Lz5wDhNB_JjcgebSUBnsD9WmX-gIvm-VpVFjmNQIRKhkcPsSozaeMYHv6OrI7ogIl2hB2_dp-gT7rAf3c1twPDuuZnmVxmLNNTiK6Mw6LGZg6ZQ00qeCkiWetJOLGf46gM_Rw6MTHGe67Af5fZfG6ZcfU96nwZajMUV1SZg/s1200/P2230002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIBYJ99i3pU15Goi9Lz5wDhNB_JjcgebSUBnsD9WmX-gIvm-VpVFjmNQIRKhkcPsSozaeMYHv6OrI7ogIl2hB2_dp-gT7rAf3c1twPDuuZnmVxmLNNTiK6Mw6LGZg6ZQ00qeCkiWetJOLGf46gM_Rw6MTHGe67Af5fZfG6ZcfU96nwZajMUV1SZg/w640-h480/P2230002.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><u>While the Max-Flow valve end does flow more air, it does also stick out into the area of the inner tire more.<br /></u></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p>When I mounted my used Teravail Rutland, I did so by keeping the Presta valve core in the valve. Obviously, this restricted air flow, so I wasn't enjoying "max" air flow, but regardless, the tire was inflated easily with my old Topeak Joe Blow floor pump. So, I cannot say that the Max-Flow valve did anything there for me, but maybe it did. </p><p>I can say that since I have had the valve in that air retention has been excellent and that I have seen no issues with the valve stem at all. My sealant (WTB's own sealant in this case) hasn't caused any clogging either. That said, I am careful to always air up tires with the valve stem at around the 8:00 - 9:00 o'clock position which seems to keep all my valve stems clear of clogging. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJH9Zh2awdVl147jm1dFP5qJf4Vf2xB5-cnNhTLrcqq_kEf-EFFaTZ1SusVYyL967qjh-QA5LjCkwyU4uz4nTfYpn_An2QHN4g02npyGA145Fv7WeA-_mV4tzzLYV8U_stPRw6t-tClM-1WWjogdIGeRNyCF5KKCUeIEI0hY50csWEn1NAM3Vgnw/s1200/P2230001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJH9Zh2awdVl147jm1dFP5qJf4Vf2xB5-cnNhTLrcqq_kEf-EFFaTZ1SusVYyL967qjh-QA5LjCkwyU4uz4nTfYpn_An2QHN4g02npyGA145Fv7WeA-_mV4tzzLYV8U_stPRw6t-tClM-1WWjogdIGeRNyCF5KKCUeIEI0hY50csWEn1NAM3Vgnw/s320/P2230001.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><p><b>Conclusions</b>: The Max-Flow Tubeless Valve Stems have a unique, high airflow design which may come in handy when setting up a tubeless tire or while dealing with a tubeless tire in the field. The valve cap with the core remover is nice, albeit not unique to WTB, and I really liked the square valve nut which has tons of grip and better leverage than a standard Presta valve nut does. </p><p>The aluminum construction is well anodized to prevent the valve from corrosion from ammonia which is a common ingredient in sealants. The 44mm length is very good, but if you are running some of the newer aero profile gravel rims you may need to look elsewhere for valve stems. </p><p>My concern is for the protruding valve head in the rim area. Yes, if you run a tire insert, this is a good thing, but what if that is not necessary? Hmm.... As I stated, while potential for hitting the stem inside the tire while riding is there, it probably is a low percentage failure mode. That said, that potential does not exist with some other high-flow design valve stems. </p><p>So, I like the Max-Flow valves and the idea of the design from an airflow standpoint is sound. I would be reticent to use these without a tire liner in a gravel sized wheel/tire combination. I think anything 29"er sized would be fine. Bikepacking set-ups, and the like, with their larger volume tires are not going to be an issue. However; I would like to see a "low-profile" Max-Flow design which would address my concerns when using tires in narrower widths than two inches wide.</p>Guitar Tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10960580677548417562noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12831567.post-8342019203534291922024-03-15T01:30:00.154-05:002024-03-15T01:30:00.124-05:00Friday News And Views<p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBiNNsvWGpa42JsUZ24uCU6Y3JbnEBhxNnlCq-wDWuC-wri19DzI3G_aBrS8X0otraSSfnIpLi0uYcyvGRpCspIj-dzkY9pucrBC-nArJHvaimTB-oxR4ikX6UbS07euGkyoiemeKguBcq-Eoeg0tMR0WVqWYi9jUZrx7epCGZGDG4GEG5ult1zQ/s1402/I9%20SOLIX%201.PNG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="840" data-original-width="1402" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBiNNsvWGpa42JsUZ24uCU6Y3JbnEBhxNnlCq-wDWuC-wri19DzI3G_aBrS8X0otraSSfnIpLi0uYcyvGRpCspIj-dzkY9pucrBC-nArJHvaimTB-oxR4ikX6UbS07euGkyoiemeKguBcq-Eoeg0tMR0WVqWYi9jUZrx7epCGZGDG4GEG5ult1zQ/s320/I9%20SOLIX%201.PNG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><u>Image courtesy of Industry 9<br /></u></i></td></tr></tbody></table><b> I'm gone, but the FN&V rolls on!</b><br /><p></p><p><b>Industry 9 Announces SOLiX Wheel and Hub Range</b>:</p><p>Yesterday it was announced that a new range of wheels and hubs are now available from Industry 9. Dubbed "SOLiX", these wheels cover the needs of gravel, cyclo cross, and road riders. </p><p>The range comes in two flavors - SOLiX SL and SOLiX G. The SOLiX SL wheels feature the new SOLiX hub with straight-pull Sapim CX-Ray spokes. The range of SOLiX SL wheels includes carbon and alloy rims with weights starting as low as a claimed 1270 grams per set (carbon rims) to as much as nearly 1500 grams per set (alloy rims) and everything in between. Prices range from just shy of 1300 bucks to around 2200 bucks. </p><p>The SOLiX G wheels are the traditional aluminum Industry 9 spoked wheels you may associate with I9. Available in several anodized colors, these spokes make any bike 'pop' with their intensely colored aluminum spokes. These wheel sets range in price from around 1500 bucks to a little over 2500. Weights go from a claimed 1320 grams per set on up. There is also a 650B option in this series as well. </p><p>SOLiX hubs can also be purchased separately as the SOLiX Classic, which comes only in black and for "J" bend spokes. The new SOLiX hubs in all ranges are made with a new design that incorporates different pawl spring design, a new sealing design, and a new ratchet ring design which I9 claims makes the new SOLiX hubs quieter and better free-coasting than previous I9 hubs. <br /></p><p>Rim, hub, and wheel spec can be seen at the <span style="color: #2b00fe;"><a href="https://industrynine.com/" target="_blank">Industry 9 website</a></span>. </p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq3RNRmUBVvdIAvCNtmM2Go9rBG68P_2stMJqF5TxVzksYwApNXYFBg3aK9f_5H2OTwWnYfLBvqvAtsb2s_q4jvYavUgojJ_VLYZXn3c4VRsbEtfOH_b3VMXrjtcz-zweIqW8ZQcHWIxAOZuh6Nhabn1uJ2oF9XY22aMvVLLYc_BsN2v-aNB1bkQ/s600/TRIBUTARY.PNG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="598" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq3RNRmUBVvdIAvCNtmM2Go9rBG68P_2stMJqF5TxVzksYwApNXYFBg3aK9f_5H2OTwWnYfLBvqvAtsb2s_q4jvYavUgojJ_VLYZXn3c4VRsbEtfOH_b3VMXrjtcz-zweIqW8ZQcHWIxAOZuh6Nhabn1uJ2oF9XY22aMvVLLYc_BsN2v-aNB1bkQ/s320/TRIBUTARY.PNG" width="319" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><u>Image courtesy of Salsa Cycles<br /></u></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p><b>Salsa Cycles Tributary e-Bikepacking Bikes</b>:</p><p>Salsa announced the availability of its new Tributary models last week. Powered by Bosch mid-motor designs, the Tributary is an aluminum framed bike with 29" X 2.4" tires and is intended for gravel and bikepacking pursuits. </p><p>Two models are offered in the range. A GRX 600 equipped rigid fork bike which goes for $5,499.00 or a Apex 1 equipped bike with a Rock Shox 35 Gold fork with 120mm of travel. This one goes for $5,999.00.</p><p>Tributary models can be accessorized with a range-extender battery pack at an extra charge. Maximum tire clearance is 29" X 2.6". The frames are internal dropper post routing compatible and SRAM UDH compatible. </p><p><b>Comments</b>: The Salsa site lists a "Canada" version and a separate US version, but I did not see an obvious reason why. I would have guessed the prices would have been different but the spec sheet looks the same between both. Anyway.... </p><p>Definite Cutthroat vibes here. You are left to wonder "what if?" As in, "<i>What if an aluminum Cutthroat 100% human powered bike been offered?</i>" Gotta think that could maybe have been your entry level adventure bike, kind of like the Journeyer. Squint hard and imagine the Tributary as a 100% human powered bike and you might see what could have been. But now you have a 5K+ rig that needs a 5 hour rest to recharge when the battery gets depleted. </p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj118qg6qLF9ExNMsfUW0Tyy_pIJmjDSuE-cYxhNTH-vHb986Ehffk57nsvngu5_jncpRTaKl8ENApp-pWPf7UHCPKlt6fTsJBDzq2WTUrFav-ldfR9BN-LV2s2aJKiQ46Ka8fJq_1PnZfGS3C8DkbomwzwUFosqiI2KW8HgIdA6YYhBEsYDkWYYw/s707/GRAVEL%20WORLDS%20REG.PNG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="650" data-original-width="707" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj118qg6qLF9ExNMsfUW0Tyy_pIJmjDSuE-cYxhNTH-vHb986Ehffk57nsvngu5_jncpRTaKl8ENApp-pWPf7UHCPKlt6fTsJBDzq2WTUrFav-ldfR9BN-LV2s2aJKiQ46Ka8fJq_1PnZfGS3C8DkbomwzwUFosqiI2KW8HgIdA6YYhBEsYDkWYYw/w200-h184/GRAVEL%20WORLDS%20REG.PNG" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><u>Image courtesy of Gravel Worlds<br /></u></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p><b>Gravel Worlds Registration Opens</b>:</p><p>The Garmin Gravel Worlds registration announcement went out last Thursday and can be accessed <b><a href="https://www.bikereg.com/gravel-worlds-2024" target="_blank">HERE</a></b>. The event is run out of Lincoln Nebraska and will occur on August 23rd - 24th. </p><p>Many categories are available for contestants to choose from, and there are the Land Ho! running events also. The main fare consists of the traditional 150 miles of Nebraska rolling hills and gravel and will cost $165.00 to enter for 2024. The longer "Long Voyage" event of 300 miles will cost $180.00. </p><p>There are shorter distances as well including the 75 miler and a 50K. Extra chippy folks can enter to do the 25K run on Friday and the 150 mile ride Saturday. </p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga5PF2fjNL-6UtA3MUFRtj0PC-T7UazmHBZu9tq8vrzu7H4AB194N0_VvnAcVKcxRB1h0s07a2AQpNtG_-E4bBIvpxMAs04_P2aIx_KSwVNNfX2JVnb2VZOhMvFzgT-ap-0lLOueoXb8In2cGi9o-B6yvjDlmo_s8O2Sc2TTdlEN5bQPALPxOdKg/s682/HEYWOOD.PNG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="593" data-original-width="682" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga5PF2fjNL-6UtA3MUFRtj0PC-T7UazmHBZu9tq8vrzu7H4AB194N0_VvnAcVKcxRB1h0s07a2AQpNtG_-E4bBIvpxMAs04_P2aIx_KSwVNNfX2JVnb2VZOhMvFzgT-ap-0lLOueoXb8In2cGi9o-B6yvjDlmo_s8O2Sc2TTdlEN5bQPALPxOdKg/s320/HEYWOOD.PNG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><u>Image courtesy of The Heywood's social media.<br /></u></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p><b>The Heywood Ride Registration Is Open</b>: </p><p>If Garmin Gravel Worlds is a little too spendy and "processed gravel" for you, check out The Heywood. It's coming up soon, (May 18th) and offers the rider a gravel course in several lengths and a much more grassroots, laid-back attitude. Registration is $25.00 and you can reserve a spot <b><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-heywood-2024-registration-755941179417" target="_blank">HERE</a></span></b>. </p><p>The Heywood is the spiritual descendant of the former Almanzo 100 event. (Chris Skogen pretty much handed over the reins to the Heywood's organizers back in 2019.) </p><p>That should tell you that this event based out of Northfield Minnesota is not going to have the hoopla and high-competitive atmosphere of a Gravel Worlds. Not that you cannot race the Heywood, you can, but you don't have to, and honestly, you'd miss the point of the event if you did that. Anyone who rode the Almanzo could probably vouch for that. </p><p>I will be hanging with the organizers even as you read this at Mid-South. Look for some reports headed to this channel coming up on Tuesday next week.</p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiW5xjn5PE8fz7wKyv2GHmVt6_ya6lJELs2HS2lPv5of-KDfHfFtEa7RdlOX0VnF-fFhZ4IDEhyZjEE-k3q_t0cPxfAspjFVo9Y6EO6g2MLOfDVbklIAMT4K89mTBjpyrK5HYftWRdMbdo4xflAG-HS9tvNaRVX0kd17ZNdcrYgVzWP0SuA7H7yQ/s648/SRAM%20AXS%20RED.PNG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="368" data-original-width="648" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiW5xjn5PE8fz7wKyv2GHmVt6_ya6lJELs2HS2lPv5of-KDfHfFtEa7RdlOX0VnF-fFhZ4IDEhyZjEE-k3q_t0cPxfAspjFVo9Y6EO6g2MLOfDVbklIAMT4K89mTBjpyrK5HYftWRdMbdo4xflAG-HS9tvNaRVX0kd17ZNdcrYgVzWP0SuA7H7yQ/s320/SRAM%20AXS%20RED.PNG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><u>Leaked on Chinese social media.<br /></u></i></td></tr></tbody></table><b>Will SRAM Gravel Groups All Be "Transmission" Going Forward?</b>:<p></p><p>Leaked on Chinese social media this past week and seen around many YouTube channels, this image of what looks to be a SRAM Red XPLR group was being talked about a lot. </p><p>It is pretty obvious that it is a Transmission/UDH only compatible rear derailleur. This might be a sign that many new gravel bikes going forward will support this new standard. </p><p>It also is speculated that the new Red level group will be lighter than Dura Ace and cost just shy of 5G USD. Others speculated that the brakes will be mineral oil, which would be in line with SRAM's latest enduro/DH brake introduction recently. </p><p>Whatever it is, apparently all signs are pointing to a mid-May release date, so we won't have to wait long. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioQBvJLulL6RpGORI3o1ZKQleUuSvqrl9V2wECfHUkUixLcxN7OxLWqzFjooASXCXBMPBQgdRLGvQIMPR3J6Y5m16Vpe5k4bCpKIOSCWCK0IWYuovEESXAZmKOC2YVd3v27QtOd2hnXqdY_ma2nsHVzUF02P8onY5nPwonX6b3UfGuMK920IvMOA/s897/PODCAST%2041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="895" data-original-width="897" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioQBvJLulL6RpGORI3o1ZKQleUuSvqrl9V2wECfHUkUixLcxN7OxLWqzFjooASXCXBMPBQgdRLGvQIMPR3J6Y5m16Vpe5k4bCpKIOSCWCK0IWYuovEESXAZmKOC2YVd3v27QtOd2hnXqdY_ma2nsHVzUF02P8onY5nPwonX6b3UfGuMK920IvMOA/w200-h199/PODCAST%2041.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><p><b>New Podcast Is Up!</b></p><p>The Mid South trip gets talked up a bit but N.Y. Roll and I ramble on about several other topics as well. </p><p>We get on about why people ride gravel (Experience vs winning/podiums) We talk a bit about those WTB TPU tubes. We discuss an event that has a burrito bag as schwag and ask if a burrito should come with that. </p><p>Yes, <i>it gets weird in places</i>, but ya know..... This IS N.Y. Roll and myself we're talking about here. If you want to - or dare to - listen, here is <span style="color: #2b00fe;"><a href="https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mark-stevenson1/episodes/Heading-South-e2h2d7s" target="_blank">THE LINK</a></span>. <br /> </p><p><i>That's a wrap on this FN&V! Have an awesome weekend and thanks for reading Guitar Ted Productions!</i><br /></p>Guitar Tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10960580677548417562noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12831567.post-77846682167737821052024-03-14T01:30:00.072-05:002024-03-14T01:30:00.143-05:00Inspiration And Some History<p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfBZ-CrosU0kV_2Sp9DGseFCme9BeQ4oD4vBjtQfA6-ewl8IDFC_uuAIIHGc2ITzbucdgxHGwlCImJrWqf9gVQ9-VxSffGDHszrNmqHShZfTc2Sc01WWCCE0rOwJGmWydmIKpOrgDnPGlo2xM_m61-q5RuCpvidOLtMHxXYKtNf3iPQbNx9_3-UQ/s2048/Frame%20page%201946.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1586" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfBZ-CrosU0kV_2Sp9DGseFCme9BeQ4oD4vBjtQfA6-ewl8IDFC_uuAIIHGc2ITzbucdgxHGwlCImJrWqf9gVQ9-VxSffGDHszrNmqHShZfTc2Sc01WWCCE0rOwJGmWydmIKpOrgDnPGlo2xM_m61-q5RuCpvidOLtMHxXYKtNf3iPQbNx9_3-UQ/s320/Frame%20page%201946.jpg" width="248" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><u>The page posted on Facebook that started this journey.<br /></u></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p> The Honeman Flyer project has taken up a lot of space here on the blog of late. However; you may not have read what the reason for the project was, or how this all came to be a thing. So that's the point of this post. <br /></p><p>Today I am traveling to the Mid-South event mainly because of an idea that germinated last year when I saw a post by frame builder Steve Garro on Facebook. The image Steve posted was from an issue of "<i>Popular Mechanics</i>" from the mid-40's (1940's) which showed an advertisement from a frame builder by the name of Willie Honeman. (Image to left here)<br /></p><p></p><p>The name of the builder did not catch my attention, but what Steve said did. He essentially noted that the geometry of the frame drawing in the ad was eerily close to gravel bike geometry. He wondered what such a bike might ride like. So did I, along with other commenters on the image. </p><p>This prompted myself to go into research mode and I found a site that had a page on <span style="color: #2b00fe;"><a href="http://classiccycleus.com/home/bill-honeman/" target="_blank">Bill "Willie" Honeman</a></span>, a much decorated national champion track racer. The site, called <span style="color: #2b00fe;"><a href="https://www.classiccycleus.com" target="_blank">Classic Cycles</a></span>, has a wealth of obscure track cycling information from the turn of the 20th Century to the 1950's. Searching further, I found out that Iowa figured into track racing lore. </p><p>There was a racer who took up crafting racing bikes and running a shop out of Davenport, Iowa named <span style="color: #2b00fe;"><a href="http://classiccycleus.com/home/worth-mitten/" target="_blank">Worthington Mitten</a></span>. Worth, as he was known by, was himself a well accomplished six-day racer from the time when those contests were actually ridden for six consecutive days by one rider. Once he took up a torch, he made a small number of frames and forks out of his Davenport shop under the "Mitten" brand. One of his clients was an orphaned paper boy who made his rounds by bicycle named <span style="color: #2b00fe;"><a href="http://classiccycleus.com/home/vic-hopkins/" target="_blank">Victor Hopkins</a></span>. </p><p>Vic was an Iowa native, and his story is compelling. From a tough childhood he was eventually moved to try racing bicycles after he discovered Worth Mitten's Davenport cycling club. Vic immediately was successful. Some of his exploits were something which might resonate with ultra-distance, self-supported gravel riders today.</p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuRYc9a1aaV2a-6b-t8xkKFGO9W65bTGTEQXNo08oRJUQIgbA_7VD8vCl3m2RSI3E4usvHYJxyCZLHSfvICEQMg76kItViZ7cqtzKoPy_pAlcTjJzMJuuBvA39XPpVvTUCEO4VEpEa4KkIw1aVdE2ICwRznBdXIlQLPULuwgNMhmdg6xGWVwbIlQ/s1960/Honemans-Brennan.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1203" data-original-width="1960" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuRYc9a1aaV2a-6b-t8xkKFGO9W65bTGTEQXNo08oRJUQIgbA_7VD8vCl3m2RSI3E4usvHYJxyCZLHSfvICEQMg76kItViZ7cqtzKoPy_pAlcTjJzMJuuBvA39XPpVvTUCEO4VEpEa4KkIw1aVdE2ICwRznBdXIlQLPULuwgNMhmdg6xGWVwbIlQ/s320/Honemans-Brennan.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><u>Willie Honeman's track racer (Image courtesy of Classic Cycles)<br /></u></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Vic apparently went at least once to Chicago to race. He didn't take the train, nor did he drive a car. Instead he rode to the event and back. Then, in an effort to qualify for the 1924 Paris Olympics, he did a similar thing, only this time he rode over 1000 miles from Davenport. Most of the roads he used to get there were dirt. It turned out that he qualified for the Olympics since he won the event by 20 seconds. </p><p>I assume Vic did that self-supported as well. This got me to thinking - <i>these bicycles must have been pretty decent for rough roads</i>. </p><p>Examining the Honeman geometry, and then realizing that it was a design from the 1930's led me to Pop Brennan, who was the maker of Honeman's track bike. Reading further I found that Brennan's bikes were quite popular with the major star track racers on the circuit back then. Many of the other builder's bikes seemed to be of a similar geometry as well. Finally, the Mitten model built for Vic Hopkins was especially meant for rougher roads found in Iowa and Illinois at the time. </p><p>So, <i>how would a modernized version of these bikes do on gravel</i>? </p><p>Fast forward to 2024: The "Honeman Flyer" project came to life, as I have detailed here on these pages. The project culminates with this trip to Stillwater, Oklahoma as I will be riding (hopefully) on Oklahoma's red clay roads and getting to be a part of the story Erik Mathy is crafting around this idea, and more than that. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRgvqK_tb22ySYFF-5fAygxEBVLLTRGWkINxpbQu9fkEM_5o1nTtfN7En6I5L4m_2XoE4YuS38cxh1RwvQSTnYssCUk2VTZWBcp0K9VSs344zGz_Gir2C7sjt_J-aLJgIMUIYXUo8FI6hvOouPSnxpZ4jUyiN6QUT0QLIfRFGhoBnWX27TjHnwkw/s1194/HF%2012.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="751" data-original-width="1194" height="402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRgvqK_tb22ySYFF-5fAygxEBVLLTRGWkINxpbQu9fkEM_5o1nTtfN7En6I5L4m_2XoE4YuS38cxh1RwvQSTnYssCUk2VTZWBcp0K9VSs344zGz_Gir2C7sjt_J-aLJgIMUIYXUo8FI6hvOouPSnxpZ4jUyiN6QUT0QLIfRFGhoBnWX27TjHnwkw/w640-h402/HF%2012.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><u>The finished Honeman Flyer by King Fabrcations made to the geometry of a Brennan track bike from the 1930's.<br /></u></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p><b>Was It A Good Idea?</b> There was a huge risk involved in doing this project, that mainly being that my resources for this experiment were based on a paltry amount of evidence and a lot of my past experience and my own guesswork. There was a good chance that I paid out of pocket for a pretty wall hanging. </p><p>The price for admission to this deal was not cheap. Yes - there also was the chance that I would have "confirmation bias" and think it was a fine bike even though it might not be. But if you really knew me you'd know that I cannot stand a bike that handles poorly. Most bikes have "pretty decent" traits, but there are some that have some bad warts and I think that in the past I have been pretty honest about those things. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirFYTh5aEEJmoeLmoZFnLoaX8BMDy1yotkxptCciDRGDIOjz9xhz2b2HGYeDYgzXQZWV9cyJ1uTIqhH-RQ6adNHKjk5OuVxwLniPFyDLqjM0edYZ_uNJf2zT_sPwRWmQWK8sFpOfjnCAeRE0ep4JXDsD1FqHEq_Y1MdGW9aK2sb8tNRAacGQjm9A/s1200/P3070014.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirFYTh5aEEJmoeLmoZFnLoaX8BMDy1yotkxptCciDRGDIOjz9xhz2b2HGYeDYgzXQZWV9cyJ1uTIqhH-RQ6adNHKjk5OuVxwLniPFyDLqjM0edYZ_uNJf2zT_sPwRWmQWK8sFpOfjnCAeRE0ep4JXDsD1FqHEq_Y1MdGW9aK2sb8tNRAacGQjm9A/s320/P3070014.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p> The point of the experiment is to find if we, as a community of cyclists, can take anything from history and apply it to today. This is not easy to do. Today it would be difficult to ascertain "why" things were done the way they were done without direct evidence from builders and period riders, most of whom, if not all, are deceased. Then there is also the factor with materials technology. Certain things could not be done back then and have reliability. Things which we can do now and not worry about. </p><p>But did we, (cyclists, designers, brands) cross a line at some point and start doing things "because we could' or because "rules" disallowed certain aspects of design? I think fashion and marketing also have affected cycling design. Think about Worth Mitten. He probably wasn't as concerned about how his product made people feel when they looked at it as he was concerned about how his product worked for a cyclist training and racing. Mitten's designs were most assuredly executed accordingly. </p><p>We also have lost a lot of wisdom and information about cycling from days of yore. For example, I think it is fair to say that most of us unfamiliar with wooden rimmed wheels would be quick to say that today's carbon fiber rims are lighter. If the Classic Cycles site is to be believed, a claim is made there that they have examples of racing wheels from the 20's and 30's that rival the weights of today's carbon wheels. Maybe something along those lines goes for geometry also. Maybe our own assumptions about "what is old" affects our views of those old bicycles as well. </p><p>So, can we learn anything from the past by having a modernized version of what was raced and ridden on rough roads back then? <br /></p><p>So far I would say - <i>Yes</i>. I need to ride it more to really know if anything will crop up that bugs me. I need to get into various situations with the bike. I need more time to decide. But I don't think I wasted my money, if that is what you are wondering out there. I have wasted my money on custom design before, so I am not necessarily going to hold back judgement on the King Fab bike because it is "custom" or cool, or because the geometry is whatever. In fact, I have already pointed out a few things about the process with King Fab that weren't ideal and that I found a flaw in the paint job, if you were paying attention. </p><p>So, in the future I think you'll find an unvarnished take on the bike and the point of it being this experiment. Until then I'll point out again that back in the first half of the 20th Century there were a lot of bicycles like this and there were good reasons for their design. You'd have to be pretty blind to ignore those facts. There is <i>something to this</i>. The question is, should we be looking at this sort of design for gravel in the 21st Century? <br /></p><p>Anyway... <i>stay tuned.....</i><br /></p>Guitar Tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10960580677548417562noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12831567.post-29943821759224748682024-03-13T01:30:00.006-05:002024-03-13T01:30:00.139-05:00Headed South<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqyDmAuvzA0aaiKNysh_K1pviEuCwuNPHHUEGbFFJ5kNv5QIpho0nJ3ELKGq5t1JmKnOwYjQUJCIxoDWgT_RpKEknbLL26ZkwOH0QeMivRo0hZWThPl1iSRwdDsMdcNmkDhCOsykCj4hQ9ueKd9EsfFgmbagcJQULzKdiIDCaCcVU6H8jA7Egk-g/s579/MID%20SOUTH%20WINNER.PNG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="428" data-original-width="579" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqyDmAuvzA0aaiKNysh_K1pviEuCwuNPHHUEGbFFJ5kNv5QIpho0nJ3ELKGq5t1JmKnOwYjQUJCIxoDWgT_RpKEknbLL26ZkwOH0QeMivRo0hZWThPl1iSRwdDsMdcNmkDhCOsykCj4hQ9ueKd9EsfFgmbagcJQULzKdiIDCaCcVU6H8jA7Egk-g/w200-h148/MID%20SOUTH%20WINNER.PNG" width="200" /></a></div> The culmination of months of planning, spending, and gathering of parts will occur over the next few days as I am to head South on a trip. The point of it all will be two-fold: First will be the Honeman Flyer Project. I will be bringing that bike along and then Erik Mathy will photograph it, myself, and possibly the frame builder as well at the venue. Then I will be getting interviewed for a story about the bike and the idea behind it all. <p></p><p>Secondly, I will be exploring behind the scenes at the Mid-South event. I've never been to this event but I have met Bobby Wintle on several occasions. He has been said to be the "soul" of the Mid-South event (Formerly known as the Land Run 100 for you old school riders.)</p><p>I suspect I'll ride a bit, hang a bit, and talk to many folks. I plan on getting a lot of images and maybe an interview or two. I will be starting my reports on Mid-South on Tuesday of next week as Monday will be a travel home day. On Monday I may have a preliminary report with no images as I will be posting from an iPhone and I don't get on with the interface with Blogger on the iPhone. So, no promises there. If I can figure it out, you'll get an image. </p><p>There may even be a random post or two thrown in while I am down there. We will see. I plan to arrive in Stillwater sometime Thursday and will be there through Sunday. If you follow me on social media I am on Instagram and "X" (formerly Twitter) as "guitarted1961". </p><p>This will be the first multi-day trip I have taken since last year's GCHoF trip to Emporia, Kansas, which I am also supposed to be doing again this year. Woo! See ya later....<br /></p>Guitar Tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10960580677548417562noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12831567.post-49277345164095087652024-03-12T01:30:00.003-05:002024-03-12T01:30:00.134-05:00A Curious Case Concerning A Cancellation<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfSrguyBeQ3hXBW2fogRripG4BDNL4uKt9yyJarIL4qCh3CUNPkS8C-yonA4T1_GKvNdH9i03MkwsACb4bSXKaWXvqjLl7SC6qkcnrAT2zE8YrrbloYcWbpazyE5rmtqdo7llav_IPVxoNrw0t3uPV44RsTFfoEYhCEZbPLWPDl0F8M0GdKOCw-A/s204/Grinduro_white_logo_204.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="93" data-original-width="204" height="93" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfSrguyBeQ3hXBW2fogRripG4BDNL4uKt9yyJarIL4qCh3CUNPkS8C-yonA4T1_GKvNdH9i03MkwsACb4bSXKaWXvqjLl7SC6qkcnrAT2zE8YrrbloYcWbpazyE5rmtqdo7llav_IPVxoNrw0t3uPV44RsTFfoEYhCEZbPLWPDl0F8M0GdKOCw-A/s1600/Grinduro_white_logo_204.png" width="204" /></a></div>Grinduro!, a gravel event combining elements of gravel and enduro, has been a staple event in Northern California since 2015. This year their organizer, SORA, had to pull the plug on the event due to "<i><span style="color: #2b00fe;">... <a href="https://grinduro.com/grinduro-california-2024-cancelled/" target="_blank">rising costs, economic pressures on regional partners and sponsors and the challenging state of the bicycle industry in 2024</a></span></i><a href="https://grinduro.com/grinduro-california-2024-cancelled/" target="_blank">.</a>"<p></p><p>I've written on these pages and recorded podcasts on the state of things in cycling as a whole before. We (N.Y. Roll and I) theorized that financial stress on sponsorships would be affecting events and athletes. The cancellation of the 2024 Grinduro! would seem to be a casualty of this effect. </p><p>Along with this story, on March 4th<span style="color: #2b00fe;"><a href="https://www.bicycleretailer.com/industry-news/2024/03/04/grinduro-offers-free-entries-laid-industry-workers" target="_blank"> a story was published</a></span> in "<i>Bicycle Retailer and Industry News</i>" which stated that any person who had lost their job in the cycling industry recently was going to be offered a free entry to Grinduro!. Obviously, that won't be happening in California, where Grinduro! got its start. That said, the UK based Northern Consultancy company now runs Grinduro! events in Pennsylvania, Italy, Japan, Germany and France. So, I suppose the offer stands. </p><p>A messy affair, but this is indicative of what we will probably be witnessing over the course of 2024. While there are many factors that could have prevented Grinduro! from happening in California this year, a major one has to be the cutting back on sponsorships throughout the cycling industry. This won't be the last time we hear about something like this. <br /></p>Guitar Tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10960580677548417562noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12831567.post-16281733893449744272024-03-11T01:30:00.010-05:002024-03-11T01:30:00.236-05:00WTB Nano Air TPU Tubes Reviewed<p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjftnHfHy8on1i6hKO7X9v2kEXry0Ey0DdHPbZVgRDhQE5kqQ7JXcGB6vX0qzcb2iuc9MaaYVNjONXTPgGqYcaAh4i59_kPqwy1L35y-RzvUSLSkNZIhM1YJXYT2_c-o_YCVlZlqiFY7U2f9-kM5suerCEFsad5Umi1JVtckExXWGRKK9DhcvYu8Q/s1183/WTB%203.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1097" data-original-width="1183" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjftnHfHy8on1i6hKO7X9v2kEXry0Ey0DdHPbZVgRDhQE5kqQ7JXcGB6vX0qzcb2iuc9MaaYVNjONXTPgGqYcaAh4i59_kPqwy1L35y-RzvUSLSkNZIhM1YJXYT2_c-o_YCVlZlqiFY7U2f9-kM5suerCEFsad5Umi1JVtckExXWGRKK9DhcvYu8Q/s320/WTB%203.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><u>A WTB Nano Air tube in 29"er size next to its butyl equivalent.<br /></u></i></td></tr></tbody></table> <i>Note: WTB sent a few Nano Air tubes to Guitar
Ted Productions at no charge for review. I was not paid, nor bribed for
this review, and I always strive to give my honest thoughts and opinions
throughout</i><p></p><p><i> </i>This review is going to focus on the Nano Air TPU tubes from WTB exclusively as the product is going to see a lot more use than a tubeless repair kit for most cyclists. That said, I will be posting a separate look at the Rocket Repair Kit later on. The introduction to the tubes can be seen <span style="color: #2b00fe;"><a href="https://g-tedproductions.blogspot.com/2024/03/gravel-grinder-news-wtb-nano-air-tpu.html" target="_blank">HERE</a></span>. </p><p>Those not familiar with TPU tubes should know that they have had a slightly marred introduction to cyclists as the first brand to widely distribute these types of tubes suffered a rash of failures which colored a lot of people's opinions about these products for use as inner tubes. That said, subsequent improvements have come along and I think that these deserve a second look if you happen to be one of those who has a negative opinion on TPU for inner tubes. </p><p><b>What The Heck Is It?</b> TPU stands for "Thermoplastic Polyurethane", a flexible plastic with an inherently low weight. This material is fashioned into a "hose" shape and the bonded at the ends together to form a hoop which can then be fitted with a valve and used as an inner tube in a bicycle tire. It is very durable, can last for years, and is 100% recyclable. The TPU also resists rolling resistance issues and has very similar characteristics to a latex tube, only TPU holds air pressure far better. In fact, I have experienced better air retention with TPU tubes than with many butyl rubber tubes. <br /></p><p>Downsides are that it doesn't stretch all that much, so you must fit the tube a bit more precisely than you can get away with using a butyl rubber tube, which can stretch seemingly infinitely. The cost of TPU tubes can be as much as 3 times that of a butyl rubber tube as well. Although budget TPU tubes can be had from Amazon, I cannot vouch for their quality.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDzTijIZMGhOPvrJpQ93WYlDpSn-e_gU7-8MGt5i_VBP48QWxgIZ9A-F9hwJoYU1xFdFJuGC9J-ifuUQa18e5hpBix2EWTsTC-0dvpMBgEwr9Fm5jJobzFL-92wHwDUkzEs_kTZdxvkAXGtbW9TLlhX9sXIPKSuaQ5vympy7EZVnjvPBYff09tIg/s1189/WTB%205.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1189" data-original-width="892" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDzTijIZMGhOPvrJpQ93WYlDpSn-e_gU7-8MGt5i_VBP48QWxgIZ9A-F9hwJoYU1xFdFJuGC9J-ifuUQa18e5hpBix2EWTsTC-0dvpMBgEwr9Fm5jJobzFL-92wHwDUkzEs_kTZdxvkAXGtbW9TLlhX9sXIPKSuaQ5vympy7EZVnjvPBYff09tIg/w480-h640/WTB%205.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEire2NXNmeoTFSgxZqX9Uuzt0uT_VJAmck9SLqmPu2fmhyphenhyphenvYwhoqbsEA51KazQGANVwUL3Xke0atBghv9AeE0PC3zR3MUfU4i2fPTRbZNtDsxRl9soWDhZ62hAmQdQhF6O7e6Hh5l8w22PlB3hQGQpfwKDtRs5yolhI5017w4DCtl9c6vDelFguzQ/s1210/WTB%206.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1210" data-original-width="907" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEire2NXNmeoTFSgxZqX9Uuzt0uT_VJAmck9SLqmPu2fmhyphenhyphenvYwhoqbsEA51KazQGANVwUL3Xke0atBghv9AeE0PC3zR3MUfU4i2fPTRbZNtDsxRl9soWDhZ62hAmQdQhF6O7e6Hh5l8w22PlB3hQGQpfwKDtRs5yolhI5017w4DCtl9c6vDelFguzQ/w480-h640/WTB%206.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><u>The weight savings is no joke. This alone may be the best reason to go TPU.<br /></u></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p><b>WTB Nano Air: </b>TPU can be made to be about any color and can even be "clear", but why on the Earth did WTB choose this tan color? Blecch! Good thing I don't have to look at this once it is installed! I received three TPU Nano Air tubes. One each for 29"er, gravel, and road. Currently I have more bikes set up with traditional tubes that are 29"ers so I decided to A-B the 29"er Nano Air tube against the traditional butyl rubber tube. I chose my Karate Monkey as the test bike. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiwdpEmso_vILTZndbT4jA_B_U6yNd9wz-XoW8ITj1Qx-mrPiFW9F_JyXSmETgTeVrfui1vo9OT4DDvlYQQYZtN1pgG5rX_sA7o-QBx1CljI569nIMEZsKp6OZcYD4bI3SFkvWSw-qw9xD01KTnZSjqwuMU7vDlI-Ckv5kg_7wvULLogus9h-IeQ/s1211/WTB%207.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="904" data-original-width="1211" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiwdpEmso_vILTZndbT4jA_B_U6yNd9wz-XoW8ITj1Qx-mrPiFW9F_JyXSmETgTeVrfui1vo9OT4DDvlYQQYZtN1pgG5rX_sA7o-QBx1CljI569nIMEZsKp6OZcYD4bI3SFkvWSw-qw9xD01KTnZSjqwuMU7vDlI-Ckv5kg_7wvULLogus9h-IeQ/w640-h478/WTB%207.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><u>I installed the Nano Air tube in this Maxxis Ardent tire with a rim brake set up. <br /></u></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvx0IY4a2hMSnxTMTUdWMonpkdJUXYYJ3i2tw0Oyi8Nn1KxgeEnv7hqAIaYgx1LfaIq59GyVdRE9wzHZsb2a1sJ13nspaTyi97fy2Mbo-QC441HDHSf1H9_YIO_hMOPb5jdfZTGMtvtM4hda9_1nGEwBizf-eW83fiZzMrOZnYXtNSNqiePqwyFw/s1194/WTB%202.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1098" data-original-width="1194" height="588" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvx0IY4a2hMSnxTMTUdWMonpkdJUXYYJ3i2tw0Oyi8Nn1KxgeEnv7hqAIaYgx1LfaIq59GyVdRE9wzHZsb2a1sJ13nspaTyi97fy2Mbo-QC441HDHSf1H9_YIO_hMOPb5jdfZTGMtvtM4hda9_1nGEwBizf-eW83fiZzMrOZnYXtNSNqiePqwyFw/w640-h588/WTB%202.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><u>You can see how the tube is joined here in this image. <br /></u></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p>The tube already had a thin film of talc on it out of the box, but I would definitely recommend talcing the inside of your tire if you can. This will make for a tube that doesn't get snagged or stuck on the casing and should provide a longer lifespan of the tube. Any tube, really. </p><p>In the case of the Karate Monkey, I was a bit disappointed when I initially set up the bike with the Maxxis Ardent tires because they felt dead and "draggy", as if they had a higher rolling resistance. Once I installed the Nano Air tube in the rear tire I realized that it was not the tires so much as it was that tube. The lighter weight TPU and the way it can move against the casing made for a much livelier and enjoyable ride feel. </p><p>Incredible air retention allowed me to ride for an entire month without checking the air pressure and when I did it was only down a few pounds. That could be attributed to the opening of the Presta valve and putting the pump head on the valve stem. At any rate, these Nano Air tubes hold air like a champ. I used the gravel sized one in a static air pressure retention test in the shop and found similar results. The road sized Nano Air went to N.Y. Roll, as he has road bikes. He decided to keep it in his repair kit as a lightweight repair option. </p><p>With all the glass around here this Spring I never encountered a flat with the Nano Air tube, but had I gotten one there are two glueless patches which come with each Nano Air tube with which I could make a repair with. </p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLN04ChwzY9ljFZdDwpfbVE3GtUXPoCb1iQAo4KTFBBF6I6Bl3_bGVbKco45PM_WACAs600zDcRHmSUDFqErFTZrOxytYsYuoLIJ3N2CA77UbABX5zQgZ8fTkpC72sa4vbqwPVG3no247BG9TjtaxeWTBy1x29o6x4-4x_XawpzNv-HC3JUlWxhQ/s1202/KARATE%20MONKEY.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="737" data-original-width="1202" height="392" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLN04ChwzY9ljFZdDwpfbVE3GtUXPoCb1iQAo4KTFBBF6I6Bl3_bGVbKco45PM_WACAs600zDcRHmSUDFqErFTZrOxytYsYuoLIJ3N2CA77UbABX5zQgZ8fTkpC72sa4vbqwPVG3no247BG9TjtaxeWTBy1x29o6x4-4x_XawpzNv-HC3JUlWxhQ/w640-h392/KARATE%20MONKEY.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><u>The Karate Monkey which I installed the WTB Nano Air tube in the rear tire.<br /></u></i></td></tr></tbody></table></p><p><b>Conclusions</b>: I see no reason not to use a TPU tube like the Nano Air for daily use, and with similar performance gains to latex, this beats those types of tubes hands down simply on air retention alone. Tubeless has a legitimate competitor now in the TPU tubes and I would suggest that if you have a bike that doesn't get a lot of attention, these TPU Nano Air tubes could give you near-tubeless benefits and no messy sealant to re-up or clogged valve stems to deal with. </p><p>Obviously, a Nano Air tube would also be a prime candidate as a bail-out option for a tubeless set up due to the small pack size and super light weight. However; I think these TPU tubes, and in particular, the Nano Air tubes, are a perfect fit for many cyclists that don't want to deal with tubeless tires, yet want to upgrade from traditional butyl tubes. The TPU tubes like these Nano Air tubes are pricey, but if they last for years, unlike sealant does, they would have to be considered "better" at that point. Of course, "better" is a term best defined by the end user, but I do feel that the TPU tube has a place now in the cyclist's kit. <br /></p>Guitar Tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10960580677548417562noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12831567.post-33865704257305025682024-03-10T02:30:00.001-05:002024-03-10T02:30:00.151-05:00Has A Wealth Of Technology, Choices, And Exit From A Pandemic Made Us Cycling Poor?<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE44KbtdSXrIgNAvckiHrSLUfdBDygOEXdrornz7Y22_IwF8LloBoOITlrEvYYZhNuvIO1kjyrPgvothKduXJ90t3FsYjtWuady3jATu7v57oHeQY-9zLRZLXr5tXtLPbj_KrO24phj_3lJ-lSFHG19kseO2X1XKQil-5Bad13XU5XECIyy58ndw/s3000/g-tedproductionlogo%202024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE44KbtdSXrIgNAvckiHrSLUfdBDygOEXdrornz7Y22_IwF8LloBoOITlrEvYYZhNuvIO1kjyrPgvothKduXJ90t3FsYjtWuady3jATu7v57oHeQY-9zLRZLXr5tXtLPbj_KrO24phj_3lJ-lSFHG19kseO2X1XKQil-5Bad13XU5XECIyy58ndw/s320/g-tedproductionlogo%202024.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><b><i>A unique set of circumstances with a paradoxical twist has created new challenges for cycling.</i></b><p></p><p><b> </b><b></b><b>NOTE: Large doses of "<i>my opinion</i>" will be handed out in gloppy dollops today. <u>You've been forewarned.....</u></b></p><p></p><p> N.Y. Roll suggested an idea in the comments to this past Friday's "<i>FN&V</i>" which prompted me to respond in the comments. While I enjoy the comments on this blog, most of the time, most of you dear readers don't ever see them. Especially those who read the post before the comments were made. </p><p>So, I decided to make a post showing those two comments in their entirety here for you to consider. I'll have some comments after that. But first, some context:</p><p>Our most recent "<i>Guitar Ted Podcast</i>" was covering this issue with the recent depressed bicycle marketplace. I also posted a bit on Friday telling you all that an inter-office communication from Trek Bicycles President, John Burke, revealed that the company was going to "right size" its operations by cutting back 10% overall. Furthermore; its offerings would be trimmed by 2026 (because that is as early as they can do this), by 40%. </p><p>Later it was suggested that this inter-office communique was not "leaked" by accident. Now you can debate that, but it would be plausible since it was also revealed after the fact that the cuts to employees already were happening before the article was released by "<i>Bicycle Retailer and Industry News</i>", who were the ones who supposedly "obtained the information". Again, whatever.... The fact remains that Trek did not publicly deny or refute any of what was "leaked". You can decide how that all actually went down if you want to. </p><p>Now, here are the comments I referred to earlier in their entirety edited for spelling/clarity: First up, N.Y. Roll - </p><p><img alt="Blogger" class="comment-icon blogger-comment" src="https://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif" /><b>"</b>
<span dir="ltr">NY Roll</span> said...</p><p><i>not a fully fleshed out thought but maybe the bike industry and
the fast changing standards on BBs, Axles, Thru Axle, Hubs, gear ranges
and disc brakes 6 bolt vs ISO has created customer fatigue on Durable
goods, and the market has forgotten that. In fact they are treating
their products as expendable? But the customer is (</i>in a<i>) complete opposite
area? Why would they want to keep buying when the perception and
current thought is constant change? Customer fatigue may have set in?
Amongst other things.</i></p><p><i>thoughts?</i><b>"</b></p><p><img alt="Blogger" class="comment-icon blogger-comment" src="https://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif" />
<span dir="ltr">Guitar Ted</span> said...</p><p><b>"</b><i>@ N.Y. Roll - File under: "We should be podcasting this!"<br /><br />You
definitely have a good point. As I read more and more about this
inventory/soft sales epidemic affecting the bicycle industry, I also
feel like the entire industry is a sort of Ponzi scheme where brands
keep changing colors and styles slightly to entice new-to-the-market
buyers so that they can create these halo products like 12K MTB's and
gravel bikes for the nerds of cycling to drool over. <br /><br />COVID
prompted an unprecedented number of the lower end consumers to buy into
cycling. They now do not *need* new product and likely will not for
years. This has clogged up the supply chain which, in the past, required
a certain number of these return sales or new sales to occur on a
yearly basis. (See flat sales numbers all throughout the twenty-teens)
Now that the "supply of buyers" has been spent all at once (COVID), we
won't likely see anything close to the entry level purchasing we were
used to seeing for many years. And even then, will those people ever
come back?<br /><br />Youth are not into outdoor activities. News and
information is available now to everyone that tells us that we should be
wary of business after COVID. And yes- that "fatigue" of the vicious
cycle of more gears, new standards, and new designs is wearing quite
thin now. <br /><br />Added to this is the mechanic who is online grousing
about how poorly the latest gear is from SRAM and to some extent,
Shimano. I just now finished reading a mechanic's thread before posting
this comment that had several mechanics explaining that SRAM 12spd NX
did not work right out of the box and that GX worked, but was marginal.
This is a world where as a company you cannot afford that sort of detail
to be leaked out to the general public, but this is also not the
1980's. Companies need to adjust accordingly.<br /><br />Take John Burke's
internal memo to his minions that was - planned, or unplanned - a
defacto public statement that Trek was laying off employees. (which has
been confirmed by social media postings from recent fired employees.) <br /><br />It's a mess out there!</i><b>"</b></p><p><b>Comments</b>: I often have lamented the fact that the cycling industry has taken the simple bicycle and tried to turn it into a "device" full of technology, batteries, and with a resulting increase in complexity, prices, and failure modes. Shouldn't cycling be seen as the antidote to rampant technology and complexity? Why should we buy bicycles with batteries that may burn down the house, adding anxiety to an already anxious existence? </p><p>Why should we keep making all these things that cost more and more, getting service harder to come by, and increasing frustrations in a world that is rife with frustrations? Why should we keep ramming new product into a marketplace with mountains of product sitting around unused? Isn't that a waste of resources? <br /></p><p>A simple, reliable form of transportation which, with proper infrastructure, can be a way to alleviate a multitude of modern maladies. But we are hell-bent on a path to make bicycles something they were never meant to be. <br /></p>Guitar Tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10960580677548417562noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12831567.post-42157989385950644522024-03-09T02:30:00.015-05:002024-03-09T02:30:00.138-05:00Brown Season: Honeman Flyer Maiden Gravel Voyage<p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7mKGzupCnoU9Ej0nxC6pX7cPY_v39B8K3d7QOplvcTQowBOcOxhKe4aJuXbou7SpLQEpC3f6KC8cvJ152zLvg_dhfU-mjjdECqalJG97CDWpYYp2t5R6yjpSj6FyQaLvkWEQn6IKA22ClH2H-PBBW5kzATZh30mF05MeJ6bbi7T4TqQ47MhOP3g/s1183/P3070001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="968" data-original-width="1183" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7mKGzupCnoU9Ej0nxC6pX7cPY_v39B8K3d7QOplvcTQowBOcOxhKe4aJuXbou7SpLQEpC3f6KC8cvJ152zLvg_dhfU-mjjdECqalJG97CDWpYYp2t5R6yjpSj6FyQaLvkWEQn6IKA22ClH2H-PBBW5kzATZh30mF05MeJ6bbi7T4TqQ47MhOP3g/s320/P3070001.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><u>Escape Route: North Side alleys<br /></u></i></td></tr></tbody></table> After a couple of test rides and a commute back and forth to work, the Honeman Flyer had gained enough of my trust to go for a brief ride out in the country. The goal was simple: Go to the Big Rock and back home again. </p><p>I chose this route because that is where I rode my Black Mountain Cycles MCD on its maiden gravel voyage in 2018. It is also where I first rode on gravel with my Twin Six Standard Rando v2 in 2020. So, keeping the them alive with another test ride two years later to the Big Rock just seemed appropriate. </p><p>It was a nice day, a little hazy with high clouds creeping in which heralded a rain event we experienced Friday. It was warm, about 57°F and hardly any wind, but what there was seemed to be out of the Southeast. I wore 3/4's pants, a bib short for a liner, a base layer, and my long sleeved wool jersey with the Twin Six wind vest. I stuck some plastic shopping bags on my feet and wore my Shimano gravel shoes. Wool socks.....<i>but of course</i>!</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3rYIR3hrrEbi8tVpQoUHo0FLevXLi1jc2i-B6LRw02ZSxbXawR0QUxTjannaiESiMCnwXKD0893gmjaCRlDcWyoUcTRco8SCJqDLSPQLOfPcHK6bZwx9VLgmvn9CkXz5C1yDWzPxoDJHl0BNIhq7nLyO6198Lb1eg_90wc0_lg9ahJKbwMeX2eQ/s1202/P3070002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="633" data-original-width="1202" height="338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3rYIR3hrrEbi8tVpQoUHo0FLevXLi1jc2i-B6LRw02ZSxbXawR0QUxTjannaiESiMCnwXKD0893gmjaCRlDcWyoUcTRco8SCJqDLSPQLOfPcHK6bZwx9VLgmvn9CkXz5C1yDWzPxoDJHl0BNIhq7nLyO6198Lb1eg_90wc0_lg9ahJKbwMeX2eQ/w640-h338/P3070002.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><u>Hitting first gravel here. This was about as Sunny as it ever was during the ride. <br /></u></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAijS3gZRGhZNMDpf-m2IfMjV4_PA3ZhvgKTb9IYmY7fZGytypnc2HwTTeRgbDKq2Bh_rRzuTAvJK_9nwUaZYhdnc9f_eLF8wu0IqnrqjHz-jG8qgyTNx6YZLnQBw-COHm9d1AW-8USnLtoHhoA8HOfrVSygbm6Wn_Pz_rcwVXGKMVtZ4qll2vaQ/s1200/P3070005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAijS3gZRGhZNMDpf-m2IfMjV4_PA3ZhvgKTb9IYmY7fZGytypnc2HwTTeRgbDKq2Bh_rRzuTAvJK_9nwUaZYhdnc9f_eLF8wu0IqnrqjHz-jG8qgyTNx6YZLnQBw-COHm9d1AW-8USnLtoHhoA8HOfrVSygbm6Wn_Pz_rcwVXGKMVtZ4qll2vaQ/w640-h480/P3070005.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><u>That's Big Rock Road in the distance. <br /></u></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p>I wound my way through town casually. The road out to Moline Road wasn't too busy, which was nice. People drive 55 mph on that section which is signed at 45mph, so it can get a little hairy if the traffic is bad. There are no shoulders to speak of either. That lasts about a mile, but it really sucks to ride that stretch. </p><p>I hit first gravel and thought to myself, "<i>Well, it rides like a bike</i>!" Which is a good thing. The Honeman design isn't all that far off from modern day gravel machines, so things like the front end geometry and the bottom bracket drop are not all that weird at all. In fact, a lot of gravel bikes are where this geometry is at. The outlier here is the rear of the bike which features a very different set of numbers. It all starts with that slack, 70° seat tube, which in reality measured out for me at a half a degree slacker than that! </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm8lez4KWkbqGIKYX7lLp7mF8UoBQcdRfPPRAIfkcASp7vnsvKXd1TRIkyo_vfJ49S-hYHkZsWYf7Ep6V5JZHAL6I2sVKYTi9ElCFYayhCbh2IeNcmmOHU265K1bSey4Mg-TzvHXKUxJC7qWeDn9PaP8QIpRXsl-E9QfStA2ljRlGKKQlM3MUO0g/s1200/P3070008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm8lez4KWkbqGIKYX7lLp7mF8UoBQcdRfPPRAIfkcASp7vnsvKXd1TRIkyo_vfJ49S-hYHkZsWYf7Ep6V5JZHAL6I2sVKYTi9ElCFYayhCbh2IeNcmmOHU265K1bSey4Mg-TzvHXKUxJC7qWeDn9PaP8QIpRXsl-E9QfStA2ljRlGKKQlM3MUO0g/w640-h480/P3070008.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><u>It's a keeper!<br /></u></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p>I'll likely have a deeper dive into the historical aspects of this idea, but as for now, I'll just say that the entire design seems to be a very relevant one to gravel riding. As I said, the front end is, for all intents and purposes, "<i>standard gravel geometry fare</i>". The rear is the old married back to what was old, and the entire package just really shines for me on gravel. I'll also say that the fact that the bike is a steel bike makes this even hit home more precisely. </p><p>The slack seat tube angle "works" that seat post more, and perhaps the angles of the rear triangle help here as well. All I can say is that this is a very, <i>very </i>smooth riding bike. The thin gauge steel tubing helps a lot too, but whenever a builder chooses thin gauged steel, you have to start riding more calmly and smoothly. This would not be the bike for a person that pedaled in squares, but not because of the geometry, but because of the frame tubing. </p><p>I had a Tomassini road bike built out of Columbus SL tubing and you HAD to ride that bike with excellent form or it would hate you. This bike is not that bad, but I can tell it rewards a smoother, more efficient pedaler. I'm fine with that. If you <i>wrassle </i>your bike, you should err on the side of heavier gauge steel, in my opinion. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8YZkbLepAO1tceqfe7_QxS_JUDiINTU2yof4iANbdyH1D555rY4FQTWaT-22EBkLg89s3jgNSrkqsda0iYhfXx7E3giCqw-oC4LF9CipwVgJXuWn09E4cQTTBMTmobj49i4kqlrD41XuHikJ3awDy9X6mbJt-EtCaw0pP4fsNgGFo7C54OJXq3g/s1199/P3070009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="791" data-original-width="1199" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8YZkbLepAO1tceqfe7_QxS_JUDiINTU2yof4iANbdyH1D555rY4FQTWaT-22EBkLg89s3jgNSrkqsda0iYhfXx7E3giCqw-oC4LF9CipwVgJXuWn09E4cQTTBMTmobj49i4kqlrD41XuHikJ3awDy9X6mbJt-EtCaw0pP4fsNgGFo7C54OJXq3g/w640-h422/P3070009.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><u>The rural beer drinkers must have been kickin' it old school recently. <br /></u></i></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzRcVp3pxbAwBUkgQl0wHh99PZO68HlEyAo3xdqCfajGUB3F7kkL7AB8JSAm-mWgS3_N153lvsbvbdsg9l7riD6RQvDxsYftXjYgrX7zFT-xcWlvTUQ90tzhw66x1S3Ef7pibLr0rQbMYYn1rERqlfxx1zhyphenhyphenqSIEtyd473wJj8HPe_um0Vdn_rZQ/s1199/P3070010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="791" data-original-width="1199" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzRcVp3pxbAwBUkgQl0wHh99PZO68HlEyAo3xdqCfajGUB3F7kkL7AB8JSAm-mWgS3_N153lvsbvbdsg9l7riD6RQvDxsYftXjYgrX7zFT-xcWlvTUQ90tzhw66x1S3Ef7pibLr0rQbMYYn1rERqlfxx1zhyphenhyphenqSIEtyd473wJj8HPe_um0Vdn_rZQ/w640-h422/P3070010.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><u>That little grouping of trees off to the left here on Big Rock Road held some new arrivals from the South. <br /></u></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p>As I rode along Big Rock Road I was ruminating on how I had not yet seen, nor heard, any Robins yet this year. And then it dawned on me that the Red Winged Blackbirds should also be back by now. But I had seen no signs of either. I looked across a field and then a small group of trees was coming up on my left. I saw movement, I heard sounds. Both Red Winged Blackbirds <i>and </i>Robins in the same trees! </p><p>Check and check! </p><p>Well, I suppose the Robins will be heard outside the house any morning now then. Up until now though, they haven't been heard singing their random, warbly song. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZJ7e3lCc6C06LK0ySirZPcoblJnrUAC9OuLiKFI__ZoUzuQXzjsH3kR0C3DnPb20Zp93ifMlnAJAhzv6VmpObJB3u2mEnndb6zmhdJO08bj63EqlJYcLzrDT6phzxtE3_LaTAWoyGL1wCWFJmBkGJB_26Rn8xnvtdpZvEfeYBDOMJCIhQB9LZbA/s1200/P3070014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZJ7e3lCc6C06LK0ySirZPcoblJnrUAC9OuLiKFI__ZoUzuQXzjsH3kR0C3DnPb20Zp93ifMlnAJAhzv6VmpObJB3u2mEnndb6zmhdJO08bj63EqlJYcLzrDT6phzxtE3_LaTAWoyGL1wCWFJmBkGJB_26Rn8xnvtdpZvEfeYBDOMJCIhQB9LZbA/w640-h480/P3070014.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><u>What?! "Normal" gravel conditions? Weird.....<br /></u></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p>It is still insanely dry and dusty out in the country. At least the roads aren't ditch-to-ditch crushed rock three inches deep. I don't know what sort of rain we got, but we're going to need a whole lot more of that before we are out of the woods with regard to the drought here. </p><p>As for the Honeman Flyer, I have to await the incoming through axle (should be today) and then all will be done with it and then it will be on to more riding. Until then.....<br /></p>Guitar Tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10960580677548417562noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12831567.post-44092150178181748682024-03-08T02:30:00.108-05:002024-03-08T02:30:00.126-05:00Friday News And Views<p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaIOz1_PNYW-PsZ-xviOX61eumsN5b8yD7ml2Yo4fZ6L0TLZRZfyHDdmADqVT9a6-PKGPuOHa35Ov_gJMJ7Te3dVBQ8DiaR6JmCdopWnMLDRmp7JHQQImhWIpKm0ihnqdVe0XhJuGGNZNFS9AjWOLxLUp3cBKfo8xlDvB0X9VQ4f7vKSiVfJkGAQ/s701/LOOK%20X%20Trac.PNG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="570" data-original-width="701" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaIOz1_PNYW-PsZ-xviOX61eumsN5b8yD7ml2Yo4fZ6L0TLZRZfyHDdmADqVT9a6-PKGPuOHa35Ov_gJMJ7Te3dVBQ8DiaR6JmCdopWnMLDRmp7JHQQImhWIpKm0ihnqdVe0XhJuGGNZNFS9AjWOLxLUp3cBKfo8xlDvB0X9VQ4f7vKSiVfJkGAQ/s320/LOOK%20X%20Trac.PNG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><u>Image courtesy of LOOK.<br /></u></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p><b>A Marketplace Blues edition of the FN&V <br /></b></p><p><b>All-New LOOK X-Trac Power Meter Pedals</b>:</p><p></p><p>LOOK announced on Tuesday of this week that they had all-new Keo and X-Trac power meter pedals. Since I'm all about gravel and a bit of off-road here, I'm focusing in on the X-Trac Power meter pedals, but many of the features cross over to the Keo road pedal as well. </p><p>The X-Trac Power Meter pedals can be purchased as a single-side or dual-side pedal read-out. This gives folks flexibility to choose the price point that is right for them. Obviously the ideal set up would be to have the two pedals both read out power. </p><p>LOOK promises easy set-up and calibration using the companion app from LOOK. Riders can also register their pedals with LOOK via the app. The app also breaks down the data for the rider giving you several parameters to consider from your ride. </p><p>The battery lasts for up to 60 hours and is recharged via USB with a magnetic charger connection to both pedals simultaneously, (in the case of dual-sided pedals) All electronics are sealed within the pedal axle. Look offers a robust warranty and an extended, graduated three year crash replacement warranty on the pedals as well. </p><p>The X-Trac Power Meter Pedals weigh 404 grams per pair and are $759.00 USD for the single-sided version and $1.099.00 USD for the dual-sided version. (<i>NOTE: Information from LOOK"s press release</i>)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJdw4xHV7NMfVSkz7ogj2k15mMUHkSiQcoh7HYvZ0UnNIhyaKprun91NOzyRwqXVYRjng0WZozfPbGukEPeOe5J6IXSZ-7BnguXUrcY-Rnolv9lK4WDNkl-rmfRd1_-Sz4NHzl54-eAesbk3jPdzF2W3rdgctxgw8X01X1bcRizVIEZf4-UD4PYw/s523/PODCAST%2040.PNG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="523" data-original-width="523" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJdw4xHV7NMfVSkz7ogj2k15mMUHkSiQcoh7HYvZ0UnNIhyaKprun91NOzyRwqXVYRjng0WZozfPbGukEPeOe5J6IXSZ-7BnguXUrcY-Rnolv9lK4WDNkl-rmfRd1_-Sz4NHzl54-eAesbk3jPdzF2W3rdgctxgw8X01X1bcRizVIEZf4-UD4PYw/s320/PODCAST%2040.PNG" width="320" /></a></div><p><b>New Podcast Alert: Episode #40 "Marketplace Blues"</b>:</p><p>The Guitar Ted Podcast is back again with another episode. This time N.Y. Roll and I cover the woes facing the bicycle retail trade and what effects we are noting in regard to that.</p><p>The lack of consumer interest in deep discounting and the desire, on some folks part, for the industry to fail are puzzling factors which may lead to dire consequences for both businesses and consumers down the road. </p><p>However it all shakes out, this will be an ongoing issue facing all of us throughout 2024 and possibly beyond. </p><p>If you want to check out the episode, where I had to edit out five minutes of the recording due to N.Y. Roll dropping two F-bombs, you can check that out <span style="color: #2b00fe;"><a href="https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mark-stevenson1" target="_blank">HERE</a></span> or wherever you listen to podcasts from. Just search for "<i>The Guitar Ted Podcast</i>". </p><p>If you go to the Spotify podcast page for The Guitar Ted Podcast, there is an interactive poll and question where you can leave feedback. Check it out. Or as always, you can comment here or leave me a message on email at g.ted.productions@gmail.com. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJtRLsl6Httuc80fYza_0zUfmjR81pfbWY6E5KhysSWgAWNnfrpXvhjaQZgdARHCMVQ7_YDEs-XQDzJhy0khxe4OE1XEBR3UfHi0IjTKg50EV_1ZXYaLia5rnXbkyKWDfktRubIAHZ0c1WSz77CpTq8B_CCCrU2FjRBdT6kn93E8oCsy8xUayhzA/s155/TREK%20LOGO.PNG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="62" data-original-width="155" height="62" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJtRLsl6Httuc80fYza_0zUfmjR81pfbWY6E5KhysSWgAWNnfrpXvhjaQZgdARHCMVQ7_YDEs-XQDzJhy0khxe4OE1XEBR3UfHi0IjTKg50EV_1ZXYaLia5rnXbkyKWDfktRubIAHZ0c1WSz77CpTq8B_CCCrU2FjRBdT6kn93E8oCsy8xUayhzA/s1600/TREK%20LOGO.PNG" width="155" /></a></div><p><b>Trek To Announce 10% Company-wide Cuts</b>:</p><p>In <span style="color: #2b00fe;">an article</span> posted late Tuesday evening on "<i>Bicycle Retailer and Industry</i> <i>News</i>", it was revealed that the news outlet had obtained a private inner-office communication from Trek's President, John Burke which is claimed to have stated that the big retailer is set to cut spending across the board by 10%. Furthermore, inventory stock levels are to be trimmed by 40% by 2026 over what they are now. </p><p>In the communique, it is claimed that Burke mentions that Trek has not met any of its sales goals for the past 15 months. Apparently cuts will be made in spending and in positions by today, so I would expect to hear something today or over the weekend. </p><p>This tracks with what we said in the podcast (link above) and furthermore, Trek is planning on reducing choices in its catalog, another point we mentioned as well. </p><p><b>Comments</b>: When Trek announced a sale last year about this time and never ended it, I figured that they were quietly suffering some negative numbers. Now it would seem that they can no longer suffer the bad marketplace and economy without tightening their belts. This is a big deal. Trek is a bellwether company in terms of the US market and if they are not doing well you can bet no one is doing well. </p><p>It would also seem , by what is claimed in the article, that we might have to expect this poor market through 2025, or most of it. Also, I would submit that new introductions will be minimal until the market clears up, and as we mentioned in the podcast, sponsorships will surely dry up across the board. </p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Z9q8aDat64TKiFsQ-3FiJMK-KJtSlYx5Jy3TjktR9YtfAY9oIgkUgUWBlgH4hKU0jK8Jmrrnr4CdC6vmZ4LSf6gjtalMLdo3bheiSVdp7169f7eTxBXVsK9AJUyAFF7z18GiY3bt3__fWN3sjSpYnNyXH-jeTW05SNdaBR0z7Y9FcJYWRB-Yhw/s547/WOLF%20TOOTH%20RAW%20SILVER.PNG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="479" data-original-width="547" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Z9q8aDat64TKiFsQ-3FiJMK-KJtSlYx5Jy3TjktR9YtfAY9oIgkUgUWBlgH4hKU0jK8Jmrrnr4CdC6vmZ4LSf6gjtalMLdo3bheiSVdp7169f7eTxBXVsK9AJUyAFF7z18GiY3bt3__fWN3sjSpYnNyXH-jeTW05SNdaBR0z7Y9FcJYWRB-Yhw/w200-h175/WOLF%20TOOTH%20RAW%20SILVER.PNG" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><u>Image courtesy of Wolf Tooth.<br /></u></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p><b>Wolf Tooth Announces "Raw Silver" Components</b>:</p><p>Wolf Tooth Components, who are seemingly always coming out with some new finish for their stuff, now has this "Raw Silver" finish you can choose. </p><p>Wolf Tooth says it is a "<i>clean, bright silver tone that looks like polished, un-anodized aluminum.</i>" The finish should compliment many builds and look right at home on a classic bike or build that seeks to get that vibe.</p><p><b>Comments:</b> Silver ano or this? I'd have to see this side-by-side with silver anodized stuff to know. Or is this like Ritchey Design's "Classic" components? Those are really shiny and silver. Hard to say, but renderings and images coming out of Wolf Tooth make me think more "matte silver" than anything polished. </p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYnLFCPeeY3yKAw-wVC8zZe5c8cyJCLs9UewdYrLytQZ3NDLDDOgYG3jOBoAD9lehzsfsKkhmLb6ShUJhiCrIVgV5Umskqrm5CUY8FOwy4R21dgZ_kw3-H2creHF9PDl2sPBU5jb2HSypm-RMPlgvhALdk55SJ5BKVZ51cQJlNbn-YWiACEsEaZw/s565/RITCHEY%20COMP%20BUZZARD.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="224" data-original-width="565" height="127" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYnLFCPeeY3yKAw-wVC8zZe5c8cyJCLs9UewdYrLytQZ3NDLDDOgYG3jOBoAD9lehzsfsKkhmLb6ShUJhiCrIVgV5Umskqrm5CUY8FOwy4R21dgZ_kw3-H2creHF9PDl2sPBU5jb2HSypm-RMPlgvhALdk55SJ5BKVZ51cQJlNbn-YWiACEsEaZw/s320/RITCHEY%20COMP%20BUZZARD.PNG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><u>Image courtesy of Ritchey Design.<br /></u></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p><b>Ritchey Design Announces Comp Buzzard Bar</b>:</p><p>Speaking of Ritchey Design... The component and frame manufacturer now offers a bikepacking/commuter/off-road bar with ergonomic features and a really wide width. </p><p>The bar is crafted out of 6061 aluminum alloy and has a 70mm rise with a 27.5° backsweep. The bar measures a wide 820mm. The <span style="color: #2b00fe;"><a href="https://ritcheylogic.com/bike/handlebars/comp-buzzard-handlebar" target="_blank">Comp Buzzard</a></span> is also compatible with bar ends. The price is an affordable $49.95 and is available now. </p><p><b>Comments</b>: Another excelent choice in a bar for more relaxed, fun riding. The Comp Buzzard should feel awesome as that angle of sweep is in the pocket for the best comfort and control, in my opinion. The width is.....<i>crazy</i>! I'd likely cut them back a bit for my uses, but if you need the room for a front bag, it should accommodate you well at 820mm. </p><p>To my mind I see this as a fat bike bar, since big leverage is good in snow and helps you relax while trying to get the balance between control and letting the bike go where it wants to a bit more easily. That said, I will not put a bar on my fat bike unless it is carbon due to my experiences in cold weather where carbon is superior to metal. Give me a carbon Buzzard and I'd seriously consider it for my fat bike. </p><p><i>That's a wrap on this week's FN&V. Thank you for reading Guitar Ted Productions! I hope that you get a ride or three in this weekend!</i><br /></p>Guitar Tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10960580677548417562noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12831567.post-68558563593167527802024-03-07T02:30:00.017-05:002024-03-07T02:30:00.127-05:00Honeman Flyer Update: Finished & Test Ride Impressions<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2E8-5cixmaj5cD5c38xa4JBAF4TMJXI3ThzV3zIG_x77cb0YsK0jk6EkjIgVBksmrTjHgo-m4Z8CgY7MU8BGoljMMXUDvVagPjYN_oFaaQEAHapIn4v8h6ehyAYrWou7BtEvMkEi3GjGZbKSwsBumj1A967wzhu7uhHBjAC5WB1FJ8g3-CTLjUA/s1200/P3050004.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2E8-5cixmaj5cD5c38xa4JBAF4TMJXI3ThzV3zIG_x77cb0YsK0jk6EkjIgVBksmrTjHgo-m4Z8CgY7MU8BGoljMMXUDvVagPjYN_oFaaQEAHapIn4v8h6ehyAYrWou7BtEvMkEi3GjGZbKSwsBumj1A967wzhu7uhHBjAC5WB1FJ8g3-CTLjUA/s320/P3050004.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> Okay, today y'all get to see this thing. I have to say that the build process for this was fraught with difficulties. More so than I thought it might be. While the bike is complete and rideable there will be some adjustments and probably a couple of changes as well. <p></p><p>The seat collar I borrowed from Carl, my coworker, is one thing. While it works well, the red anodized color sticks out like a sore thumb. The incoming Wolf Tooth collar in black should calm that down a bit.</p><p>I also will have a Wolf Tooth through axle coming in so I can return the current through axle to the Standard Rando v2. I am still adjusting the stem/saddle set up also. </p><p>But besides those things I think this bike is a go and I am pretty happy with how it all turned out. ironically that super-slack seat tube angle turned out to be not a big deal, in terms of set-up. I feared that I would be so far out of whack in terms of my relationship to the bottom bracket that it would be a negative, but as you will soon learn, that is not the case at all. First up, let's take a look at this thing, shall we?</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFNZFmqxBXZa_d_dHaRaDxdOUpJH7xftJYrwBSDkxm_nBHJozS3cE-Zb4HLZAf2bYe_tctbawNr63rCyscmVHkot2ojQvJFmXCP7ZriBZYOUNU6o83bwrdPLUZAXvRYs-WxF_AzASrXi6rr2olFO7F5NrH5GiClJW2G2XZQoDrZ5REMw58tn05MA/s1200/P3050001.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFNZFmqxBXZa_d_dHaRaDxdOUpJH7xftJYrwBSDkxm_nBHJozS3cE-Zb4HLZAf2bYe_tctbawNr63rCyscmVHkot2ojQvJFmXCP7ZriBZYOUNU6o83bwrdPLUZAXvRYs-WxF_AzASrXi6rr2olFO7F5NrH5GiClJW2G2XZQoDrZ5REMw58tn05MA/w640-h480/P3050001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG9isFkB47DVjfL2AbMtLIvBorVnJ8989UVJn26zyNImsFF2yAA4w8ZJxaXf3_-IUOSHyv5DJzPd5zfW0FS9C86U8zGJeoB5QsRh-yY8eEQlYF0PNgn8zUKOdrFUdBjkzLJu2i4WSFmZCc4mzGzaGkwSJNEDs_KwiLtKlUYN8B1P7RVCn3buxHig/s1090/P3050011.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="830" data-original-width="1090" height="488" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG9isFkB47DVjfL2AbMtLIvBorVnJ8989UVJn26zyNImsFF2yAA4w8ZJxaXf3_-IUOSHyv5DJzPd5zfW0FS9C86U8zGJeoB5QsRh-yY8eEQlYF0PNgn8zUKOdrFUdBjkzLJu2i4WSFmZCc4mzGzaGkwSJNEDs_KwiLtKlUYN8B1P7RVCn3buxHig/w640-h488/P3050011.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p>A couple more notes first before I get into my impressions of the build and looks. These are Teravail Rutland 700 X 42mm tires on Velocity Blunt SS rims laced to Paul WORD Disc hubs. The inner rim width on these is nearly 27mm at 26.6mm. That's spreading out the Rutlands to look like more than their 42mm width. In fact, the rear tire measures out at 44.1mm at sub-40psi. With that there is adequate rear tire clearance all around, but a larger tire would not be advisable if I were to ride in wet or muddy conditions. That's fine, because I have a single speed with 29"er tires in the Pofahl Signature and I did not want another bike that did what I already have. </p><p>The gear on the bike is exactly the same as I ran on the Twin Six when I had it single speed, so that is very familiar and a perfectly good gear for rolling hill terrain, such as I expect to ride with this bike. At some point I'd like to buy a White Industries 20T freewheel and replace the Shimano one, but for the time being it is good to go. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhphRB3csOVzSoa3vnbxCwvKeuPQCO4Sy6Lpcss0ooy6sTvWyh82BlEX497BqGytyPNasD3j3RW1GUh2PnHrjGDvSFVJWfohaW9XfsbsXZrsEmM-tVfjugnAdLsax657lvCkufZw-1NY_n-4u1_kRu-b2vyDYXviP0rv9xtOU8o9PYUd2X-Ve3f0A/s1200/P3050005.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhphRB3csOVzSoa3vnbxCwvKeuPQCO4Sy6Lpcss0ooy6sTvWyh82BlEX497BqGytyPNasD3j3RW1GUh2PnHrjGDvSFVJWfohaW9XfsbsXZrsEmM-tVfjugnAdLsax657lvCkufZw-1NY_n-4u1_kRu-b2vyDYXviP0rv9xtOU8o9PYUd2X-Ve3f0A/w640-h480/P3050005.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p>Finally, some of you may have noticed that there is a rear derailleur hangar on this bike. I <i>could run an AXS SRAM </i>1 X set up, since there would not have to be any cables, but that was not the plan going in. It's just a "happy" accident since Paragon Machine Works doesn't offer a single speed only insert. </p><p><b>The Looks</b>: Overall, I am pleased. This is the best paint job on a bike I've ever had. Runners up include the 1992 Klein Attitude in Sunset Linear Fade and my old orange Badger which was painted by Joe Bell. This Honeman Flyer takes the cake though. I'm not riding this anywhere and going unnoticed, that's for sure! </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuJHLJ_IP5i4PbgxNpOpNO6xG6mj9U_1EmArMVY8gMIpNqQifOlFr_6zBTUXv5kEnItpJbIERzJVKCVHpX4ac26vSU0f4h-BNIe2VwD3mflWeb7IgcOCXuu_tI3g3p04Q4xroodSvt8vgHJNmfvuCFDKZvrfroWpiykAFoInZZlZDxWMAbQVqoTQ/s1200/P3050003.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuJHLJ_IP5i4PbgxNpOpNO6xG6mj9U_1EmArMVY8gMIpNqQifOlFr_6zBTUXv5kEnItpJbIERzJVKCVHpX4ac26vSU0f4h-BNIe2VwD3mflWeb7IgcOCXuu_tI3g3p04Q4xroodSvt8vgHJNmfvuCFDKZvrfroWpiykAFoInZZlZDxWMAbQVqoTQ/w640-h480/P3050003.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /> The logos in raw steel are super-rad. It almost looks like a part of the design of the paint since the font is so weird. You can see the tooling marks on the steel which is kind of neat as well. The colors are great. Remember, I let Li King do whatever he wanted as long as it was the signature crackle style paint, and this is what Li chose to do. I am very happy with the outcome. <p></p><p>Overall the bike looks modern and rakish, not too old or stuffy, even though it is based upon a 1930's era track bike. You do see the super-slack seat tube angle if it is pointed out, but otherwise I think it looks pretty much like a "gravel bike" looks these day, only in steel with a mind-bending paint job. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizp30-adVF5YxkxCysNNid_rhcol0R_HAJ1MXzRejz_xduCH3YjLwHtZe8ffaL5Bu8zuVfRBCRIkrgsIHGVwHC0RPlGd1WaSpjU2dEXlcvUQooImO7sQ9y2n2olsHOfjQkEnOeGf4UpYH5_25UzPhyKy9tpHm0VrRi5R9fcajffOWdnS46CLY-WA/s1200/P3050006.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizp30-adVF5YxkxCysNNid_rhcol0R_HAJ1MXzRejz_xduCH3YjLwHtZe8ffaL5Bu8zuVfRBCRIkrgsIHGVwHC0RPlGd1WaSpjU2dEXlcvUQooImO7sQ9y2n2olsHOfjQkEnOeGf4UpYH5_25UzPhyKy9tpHm0VrRi5R9fcajffOWdnS46CLY-WA/w640-h480/P3050006.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><u>Of course, I had to put a Trans Iowa sticker on there!<br /></u></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p><b>The Ride</b>: I was a bit afraid of the thin gauged steel tubing and the wispy stays, but strangely enough, this bike is pretty solid and I don't have to baby it when climbing a steep hill in a low, high-torque way. Nor did I notice much, if any, bottom bracket side-to-side motion. So, I think that, while it is definitely not the tankish, solid feeling of a Standard Rando, it will hold up fine to single speed usage. </p><p>The whole set-back to the saddle position in relation to the crank set is fascinating to me. I felt no real big difference in seated pedaling or climbing other than that I knew I was "folded up" on the bike a bit more, which you could tell while pedaling. But getting up out of the saddle is no big deal, and cresting a climb while standing felt totally normal. </p><p>I did notice that in cornering I could set my outside pedal at the six o'clock position and plant the bike in a much more solidly felt way than on any of my other bikes. That was a big surprise and I quite like this new feeling. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlAWk8fAEWy2QbyGPKs69gdsPgYaznX3Rk6KP1uOkKBG96trBioqNXx1toaUtOmlDYTdo_YQeLCXO4k11yWYp5BViTmQ1ggaz_EkeL_py5EykquMW_-b1J0sOMitBUr40-wiakOwaqh60QRRKFSrWEgWsK1HWprHzaFu12rrz4FFus7NA5Y4S4iA/s1200/P3050012.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlAWk8fAEWy2QbyGPKs69gdsPgYaznX3Rk6KP1uOkKBG96trBioqNXx1toaUtOmlDYTdo_YQeLCXO4k11yWYp5BViTmQ1ggaz_EkeL_py5EykquMW_-b1J0sOMitBUr40-wiakOwaqh60QRRKFSrWEgWsK1HWprHzaFu12rrz4FFus7NA5Y4S4iA/w640-h480/P3050012.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p>The slack head tube (71°) did not wander on climbs or cause me to have to work harder when turning to resist any sort of wheel flop. The bike turns like a bike at slow speeds, so this was nice to find out. Surprisingly, I clipped my sole of my ginormous Giant mtb shoes in a tight corner. But I do have the cleats set <i>waaaay</i> back on these shoes, and they are bulky. I may not have any issues at all with "normal" gravel shoes, and this was barely a scrape as it was. </p><p>The bottom bracket drop on this is 76mm, which is 1mm deeper than my Twin Six Standard Rando v2, and I like this a lot. It's definitely noticeable and it helps keep the saddle to bar drop a little more in check. This ain't no cyclo cross design! It feels very stable at speed and I can let go of the bars and it feels pretty rock solid. </p><p>Of course, it has a springy ride feel. It definitely scores that "steel feel" in spades, but it doesn't feel like a noodle and it accelerates fine for me. I cannot complain about anything here. One more note: I feel more "draped over the bike" on this Honeman Flyer than I do on most any other bike I own save the Fargo Gen I. So, this is very encouraging. <br /></p><p><b>So Far</b>... I've got to do some country riding on this before I can give it my 100% seal of approval, and of course, there are some tweaks to be made which will affect the outcome overall. But the Honeman Flyer is very, <i>very </i>promising so far. I am planning on a final take on the bike and how it relates to today's gravel rigs in the near future. </p><p><b>Thank You</b>: I want to kick off this by thanking <b>Erik Mathy</b> up front. Without him this bike would never have happened, and that is not hyperbole. It was he that put the idea together with a story idea, the builder, and a trip plan for me and he was definitely the "glue" behind the scenes. Otherwise this would have been nothing more than another one of my blog postings and I probably would never have had the chance I have now to try this idea out. So, THANKS Erik!</p><p>Of course, you need a frame builder and <b>Li King of King Fabrications</b> was that frame builder. The frame and the paint job are all done at a very high level of talent and expertise, and Li translated the geometry idea perfectly, which was key to this being a success. Thanks!</p><p>Then I have to thank my friend of many years, <b>Ben Witt of Heath Creek Cycles </b>for his building the front wheel and making a way for me to get the fork and send it direct to King Fabrications, which saved a lot of time. Thank you, Ben!<br /></p>Guitar Tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10960580677548417562noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12831567.post-65693979178633802872024-03-06T10:00:00.004-05:002024-03-07T09:49:16.008-05:00Gravel Grinder News: WTB Nano Air TPU Tubes, Valves, Plug Kit<p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNNEVPVbNhYHQpYZF8u-travkJGMVqxSDql0jtjLqroowFI9acG0uk_W9i_Aec4PfKNO6MghdV5IrolHxeAFjt6ktW_c_Ecd_56fKpK6EW6CGskcZDJhMors1VSX_e64jAJY3o1lLUKVHixh8Ysst7tBgFihSXicJXDrhTGfUQgaDJvV4RjQN5Tw/s1200/P1300001.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNNEVPVbNhYHQpYZF8u-travkJGMVqxSDql0jtjLqroowFI9acG0uk_W9i_Aec4PfKNO6MghdV5IrolHxeAFjt6ktW_c_Ecd_56fKpK6EW6CGskcZDJhMors1VSX_e64jAJY3o1lLUKVHixh8Ysst7tBgFihSXicJXDrhTGfUQgaDJvV4RjQN5Tw/s320/P1300001.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><u>WTB announces new tubeless accessories and TPU tubes<br /></u></i></td></tr></tbody></table><b>WTB Nano Air TPU Tubes, TCS Rocket Tire Plug Kit, TCS Max-Flow Tubeless Valve Stems Announced</b>.<p></p><p>Today WTB has released news of new tubeless accessories and a TPU tube for cyclists. The TPU tube is dubbed the Nano Air, and like other TPU tubes, it has a minimal pack size and they are very lightweight compared to standard butyl rubber tubes. </p><p>Along with this TPU tube offering WTB also has a tubeless plug kit called the TCS Rocket Plug Kit and there is an accessory to this called the "Plug Pack" which extends the usefulness of the TCS Rocket Plug Kit by offering more plugs to use with the Plug Kit. </p><p>Finally, the TCS Max-Flow tubeless stems have a design which is tire-insert compatible and has a higher air-flow rate to accommodate easier tubeless set-ups using a floor pump. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi41xR7e3Shbi2vRw5KPQ_qcQ6VlBpQyQWhLZtl1D4Kv8Ge83ifECicso_avGq1Yfis9OX8G2yZvvctGwSxI5jTXRxNN0ahRb8dvuwIiU3G7Bu_WE1m0DGagcuo6KwiGIIKzfzpcPbhnAqYLYQcY34Ipp8mChzBHZtPmooFgvsvbh8aOxY4QZsysw/s1200/P1300008.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1200" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi41xR7e3Shbi2vRw5KPQ_qcQ6VlBpQyQWhLZtl1D4Kv8Ge83ifECicso_avGq1Yfis9OX8G2yZvvctGwSxI5jTXRxNN0ahRb8dvuwIiU3G7Bu_WE1m0DGagcuo6KwiGIIKzfzpcPbhnAqYLYQcY34Ipp8mChzBHZtPmooFgvsvbh8aOxY4QZsysw/w640-h356/P1300008.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /> The<b> Nano Air</b> tubes come in three sizes in a tan color only. These sizes cover a range of tire sizes. They are: 29" X 1.9" -2.5" - 700c X 32mm-47mm - 700c X 18mm - 32mm. All have 48mm length valve stems with removable cores. Cost are $32.95 for the two 700c sizes and $34.95 for the 29"er size. Each tube comes with two glueless patches for repairs. <p></p><p>As with most TPU tubes, the Nano Air packs down to about a third of the size of its butyl rubber counterparts while weighing in at about a third of a butyl tube's weight. Nano Air tubes are available now. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_HM9birTElbmw1jBFF_ibnDQkhTl9sQfnCNz8Ey4Oh8mUJfal3ryEDt0gzyS6qUZQlleHSjUKIOjQhcbLjHjG85KLQcuQkoT6jtojukCxE8EOUYrmrcj9VFX-UD2T8FVkU7v1nRGoeqwj_IqF8R9j4-JHE-ZY074rJ7EO04Bu1qq3Sdytb6iWxg/s1197/P1300002.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="902" data-original-width="1197" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_HM9birTElbmw1jBFF_ibnDQkhTl9sQfnCNz8Ey4Oh8mUJfal3ryEDt0gzyS6qUZQlleHSjUKIOjQhcbLjHjG85KLQcuQkoT6jtojukCxE8EOUYrmrcj9VFX-UD2T8FVkU7v1nRGoeqwj_IqF8R9j4-JHE-ZY074rJ7EO04Bu1qq3Sdytb6iWxg/w640-h482/P1300002.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /> The <b>TCS Max-Flow </b>valves have a 44mm length and are made from aluminum. They have a tire insert compatible design which stands proud of any insert for maximum air flow while inflating a tire for initial set up. In fact, WTB claims this valve has an 84% increase in air flow and a larger bore diameter which reduces the clogging factor significantly. <p></p><p>The valve also features an ergonomically designed nut to secure the valve stem to the rim. Finally, the valve cap features an integrated core remover. Prices for the TCS Max-Flow valves are $24.95/pair.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1z6ggv8m7PAbIrb5xVzUHr_riFGtFi-a5HnMOcqImkFQzEkprRryTgKfO1VNSmr5LFCxyyauTklUOJHbx2_hmgGCqu88AKbozkTTw_2adYGdLlKokBaG-5Jlvzr5EC77rBjIVtzr5gTZFV09UV1_XnvaelYAN1uYx8vFDVKwYj6GHawsuSKyF6A/s2920/P1300005.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2515" data-original-width="2920" height="552" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1z6ggv8m7PAbIrb5xVzUHr_riFGtFi-a5HnMOcqImkFQzEkprRryTgKfO1VNSmr5LFCxyyauTklUOJHbx2_hmgGCqu88AKbozkTTw_2adYGdLlKokBaG-5Jlvzr5EC77rBjIVtzr5gTZFV09UV1_XnvaelYAN1uYx8vFDVKwYj6GHawsuSKyF6A/w640-h552/P1300005.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /> The <b>Rocket Plug Kit</b> is a tool for in-the-field tire repair. This tool features an aluminum canister which conceals a plunger and several "bacon strips" to plug a tire with. The Rocket Plug Kit also features separate aluminum insert bits which are reusable and help to seal bigger punctures. <p></p><p>The aforementioned "<b>Plug Pack</b>" has more plug strips and four "Rocket Anchors" (insert tips) in two sizes. </p><p>The price for the Rocket Plug Kit is $44.95 and the Plug Pack refill kit is $17.95</p><p><b>Comments</b>: WTB sells tires so this should not be a big surprise, but I was not expecting WTB to jump into the TPU tube market. That they have hit with three sizes right out of the gate is impressive and shows that WTB means business here. </p><p>I'll reserve comments for my reviews of all three products. I was afforded the opportunity to try these items out ahead of the release today. I already have the three products in hand and I have already ridden the Nano Air tube for about a month or so now. Stay tuned for the review coming up shortly here. </p><p><i>Note: All images by Guitar Ted Productions. Information used in this post was provided by WTB. </i><br /></p>Guitar Tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10960580677548417562noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12831567.post-86733680755688695732024-03-06T02:30:00.006-05:002024-03-06T02:30:00.133-05:00Honeman Flyer Update: Overcoming Until The End<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjcI4-7yQfhW18B5l5FumWI0a2VcJE0-Ll76VE1OV35bGqf95qp6y7awDl6i4omvgW4wXPEBbpbcR9vDsuopzWdfm5lXsHeY0Ytkf8r8mTegzxQjzKTDilr7wSZKNA0reu1dA-sMTPNq7uOcMV71EVqi5iMqk4aNp1MlkYP4wd7zm5CxLL2ZpcLw/s1210/HF%2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1210" data-original-width="907" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjcI4-7yQfhW18B5l5FumWI0a2VcJE0-Ll76VE1OV35bGqf95qp6y7awDl6i4omvgW4wXPEBbpbcR9vDsuopzWdfm5lXsHeY0Ytkf8r8mTegzxQjzKTDilr7wSZKNA0reu1dA-sMTPNq7uOcMV71EVqi5iMqk4aNp1MlkYP4wd7zm5CxLL2ZpcLw/s320/HF%2011.jpg" width="240" /></a></div> A new day. More challenges to meet with the Honeman Flyer build. The first task on this day was to measure once, twice, and three times. Mock up the stem and spacer stack. Measure some more just to confirm. Then..... <i>The Cutting</i>!<p></p><p>You know, whenever you cut a steer tube, that is a great metaphor for commitment. There is no going back once the saw bites that steer tube, so you'd better be damn sure what you want is really <i>what you want</i>. </p><p>Then the carbon factor was there also. I know what to do there, and if I may brag on myself a moment, I think this was the finest cut on a carbon steer tube I've ever made. It looked factory fresh when I was finished, just like you'd want it to.</p><p>That fork install went well, and the trick there is to use some carbon paste on the plug for the steer tube so it doesn't pull up when you try to adjust the head set. That and greasing the parts of the plug that slide against each other, which also aids in the smooth operation of the plug. Preparation is 9/10's of the job, ya know? </p><p>That front through axle thing bugged me and I ended up getting the Salsa Dead Bolt to go through the Paul hub with a little coercing. Man! How can two things be off so much from each other that they are nearly incompatible? At least the correct through axle is being used on the fork now. Warranty recovered!<br /></p><p>The next step was to get my new front wheel ready. I knew that I had a stack-o-rotors.......<i>somewhere....</i>but where?! I could not find them in the swirling vortex of parts and boxes and whatnot. Dang it! Another hitch in the process. But I did find a matching rotor on a wheel set I had hanging up that I am not using now. So, off it came, and on it went. Well, <i>after cleaning</i>, it went on. A little isopropyl bath does wonders. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfbi3KFzf6Tkwv4F9I7Gerhn2qPo1WVKylqYEhXXC0ngmIGYNcpo5x13bhr0lkljt0xvlAsWbuw4mVmONK9WzZ_qxVfBEasRQns_iv9G1dRKNZx3eieQNxv7qG630_PDCs7FTmKgZ63i5Znm-CHcHmqOE9b5_0Kt2V-57z2kPZ11h_6s4uTS08cw/s1179/HF%2010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1179" data-original-width="944" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfbi3KFzf6Tkwv4F9I7Gerhn2qPo1WVKylqYEhXXC0ngmIGYNcpo5x13bhr0lkljt0xvlAsWbuw4mVmONK9WzZ_qxVfBEasRQns_iv9G1dRKNZx3eieQNxv7qG630_PDCs7FTmKgZ63i5Znm-CHcHmqOE9b5_0Kt2V-57z2kPZ11h_6s4uTS08cw/s320/HF%2010.jpg" width="256" /></a></div><p>Then it was on to getting the brakes on the bike. I tell ya! That weird all-the-way through bolt set up on the Waxwing fork is both weird and ugly. But....<i>it's the fork I have</i>. So, since these bolts are really odd-ball, and - <i>of course</i> - Salsa does not provide you with any, the search was on. I was digging through everything I had for bolts and found only one. For the curious out there, the bolts that fit are typical "water bottle" bolt threaded and sized, but longer. A lot longer! </p><p>Fortunately I have run fenders for so long that I have accumulated many longer M-5 bolts in my time as a rider and mechanic. That is why I found one stainless steel one. I had another, but it was way too long. In the end, I had to bust out my Dremel and saw off the longer bolt to fit. After a little careful dressing with a file, it was good to go. Another hurdle overcome.</p><p>But it didn't stop there. The rear brake takes extra short bolts, because - <i>why not</i>? So, I had to scrounge those up as well. Fortunately I have tons of shorter M-5 bolts laying about. But the difficulty level in getting these bolts to go into the calipers through the rear axle insert is about as hard as dealing with the rear-most bolt for a caliper on Gen I Fargo. In fact, you are best off removing the rear wheel for access. I'll get to the actual brake set up later where you have to have the rear wheel installed.....</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0FyYaPIqILXggjGN0Idm2-dEN43ke4YbI3IgXzRS-kfeHhMok-2_spXPaQw9QOX8OLg5MpQftJNDTZC0KoYm9sHBJcOo5H5o8qDC8QL1by795oPXR0uFSEkHthBZ3r0NAAihgNYNKG76pPMI-tKkf7xaW_Zd7qOQYecCHUeeQr82YU2BBZSUiug/s2016/HF%208.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0FyYaPIqILXggjGN0Idm2-dEN43ke4YbI3IgXzRS-kfeHhMok-2_spXPaQw9QOX8OLg5MpQftJNDTZC0KoYm9sHBJcOo5H5o8qDC8QL1by795oPXR0uFSEkHthBZ3r0NAAihgNYNKG76pPMI-tKkf7xaW_Zd7qOQYecCHUeeQr82YU2BBZSUiug/s320/HF%208.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p>So, on to the handle bar and stem. I measured, as I said before, and determined that I really needed a longer stem. I had a 90mm one that is off a Raleigh, maybe even the OG Tamland one, not sure, but it would do. Then a handle bar.... </p><p>I dove into the pile of ancient flared drop bars I have and found my old Ritchey Venturemax bar. Those are the bars with that weird, bump in the drops, as you might recall. I always kind of liked those, so they went on the bike. </p><p>After that, those gifted TRP levers went on there and I positioned those and tightened up the clamps. I have used a lot of Tektro/TRP stuff over the years so I was pretty sure I'd like these levers despite never having tried them before. </p><p>Then it was on to installing the wheels and setting up the brake housings and cables. I decided on using an inline brake adjuster for the rear brake only. I don't use the rear brake a ton, but having an adjuster on the front end of the bike is nice when you have an adjuster at the caliper for the front brake as well. Just a weird preference I have. </p><p>I then taped and zip-tied the housing for the rear down and taped and routed the front through the fork, as the Waxwing features a through-hole route for the front brake. These are cool and all, but if you run a hydraulic set up, they are a pain in the butt because you then have to bleed the front brake. </p><p>Now it was time to set the brakes up. Man! having to reinvent the wheel, as it were, to set up brakes on this bike was a total pain, and then with the rear caliper bolt placement. <i>gah</i>! I had to check into the Paragon Machine works site to see how the rear caliper was to be mounted and learned that it did not need an adapter for the 160mm rotor. So, after about a half an hour of fiddling around with that I finally started making some forward progress again. </p><p>Since you <i>have to have the rear wheel in</i> to set up the calipers in relation to the rotors, you have to be a very patient and flexible person to manipulate the hex key to get in there to loosen and tighten the bolts until you finally get that caliper where it needs to be. VERY fiddly! Not a fan of that design for that reason, but hopefully I don't have to get in there again any time soon. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT9VMPfGMmEOvnJD08tKnZyf6BT_1sKnCVzRN1xnWAuUnvd5wNkdgl9ZwVGZk61jFLvNT3Z-fhwMObCk9qlZ20RBrkzkSbjxTR-qbsEYa3nqB6kHi0Y2EkOabgC-tbevuFuguTfCQvi-AkDrGb6-QMbjIKh3W5kOlKD-tCiePidiXwtkoyDSl0Tw/s1215/HF%207.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1215" data-original-width="659" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT9VMPfGMmEOvnJD08tKnZyf6BT_1sKnCVzRN1xnWAuUnvd5wNkdgl9ZwVGZk61jFLvNT3Z-fhwMObCk9qlZ20RBrkzkSbjxTR-qbsEYa3nqB6kHi0Y2EkOabgC-tbevuFuguTfCQvi-AkDrGb6-QMbjIKh3W5kOlKD-tCiePidiXwtkoyDSl0Tw/s320/HF%207.jpg" width="174" /></a></div><p>After the brakes were all set up I then wrapped the bars. I had thought about using this magenta colored tape I have, but just as I was about to put it on I decided that it clashed with the pink color of the paint job. Too close and not contrasting enough. So, I removed the old (well - <i>not very used</i>) tape I had on that last gravel mutt Schwinn project and used it over. It was in almost-new condition, and I carefully wrapped it in the same direction and on the same sides as it was installed in before. </p><p>Now I was on the home stretch. My thoughts turned to test riding, but..... <i>I did not have the correct through axle for the rear wheel</i>. But hey! I have several bikes. I wondered if one of them might have a through axle I could "borrow" for the time being. </p><p>The Black Mountain Cycles through axle was no good. Different thread pitch. However; the one in the Standard Rando v2 did work. Cool! Now I had a chance to ride yet! I just needed to install bottle cages, set up the chain, and give everything the once-over. </p><p>I ended up going with my tried and true chain choice for single speed - the ubiquitous and lowly SRAM PC-830. Not a "sexy" choice at all, but serviceable and I have a few spares which I could choose from. I selected a near-new one and popped it on. Then I adjusted the Paragon Machine Works sliding rear drop outs. If you have never used these, they are bomber and easy to adjust. But - <i>you need an 8mm box end, a 5mm hex key, and a 4mm hex key to adjust them</i>. So, not very "in-the-field" friendly to adjust, but if you remember a tool kit, make sure you have those three wrenches! </p><p>Final adjustments were made and a recheck of all the fasteners was done. This thing was almost ready to go. Pedals installed, (old, beat to hell Shimano SPD's), and air in the tires. Test ride forthcoming....</p><p><i>Stay tuned for the final reveal tomorrow..... </i><br /></p>Guitar Tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10960580677548417562noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12831567.post-26690693026263868762024-03-05T02:30:00.018-05:002024-03-05T02:30:00.127-05:00Honeman Flyer Update: The Frame Arrives - Problems Begin!<p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkLQ4GY4KQxrwwXns6e0iNQ7Rnx4lNuAkFeCwV2d6OKOG8wRgdiNI67-bA70iHp7IDLsMaDJlTdI9KHwGFB618tdqL1AuhXERlziiBOwbM49hwXr0z4GTfwmHkGu4zL7wxEh9vDI6qVYCn2k6AxEv9NjF1D2VAy-B-0lkfL3vAU2_8Bto-wVKL9w/s1145/P3040001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="771" data-original-width="1145" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkLQ4GY4KQxrwwXns6e0iNQ7Rnx4lNuAkFeCwV2d6OKOG8wRgdiNI67-bA70iHp7IDLsMaDJlTdI9KHwGFB618tdqL1AuhXERlziiBOwbM49hwXr0z4GTfwmHkGu4zL7wxEh9vDI6qVYCn2k6AxEv9NjF1D2VAy-B-0lkfL3vAU2_8Bto-wVKL9w/s320/P3040001.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><u>What's in the box?<br /></u></i></td></tr></tbody></table> Well, <i>finally</i> the Honeman Flyer is in my hands. Now to get to building it up, but as I have stated several times when doing frame/fork builds, there are always hiccups. This would be the case right out of the box with this frame. </p><p>My main worry ahead of getting this was whether or not the Salsa Cycles Waxwing fork would show up with a steer tube plug which is the piece that takes the place of a star nut in an aluminum steer tube. Carbon fiber steer tubes are not a place where a star nut should be used, although I have heard of it being done before. Whatever... <i>You go on with yer bad self</i>!</p><p>I would never consider doing such a thing, so it was paramount that the steer tube plug come with the fork. I knew that most carbon fiber forks are supplied with this part, but I had the Waxwing fork sent directly to King Fabrications to save time, so I did not have the chance to see if there was a plug nor did I have the chance to squirrel it away. I was trusting that King Fab would send it. </p><p>Once I opened the box I found that the plug had been inserted into the steer tube so that was good! Now on to the Lab and parts installation. But first......<i>let's weigh the thing</i>, shall we? Yes, let us do that... </p><p>And it weighed in at 4.10lbs. That's without the fork, by the way. That's pretty dang light, and the frame tubing sounds pretty thin gauged when I ping it. Woo! This was maybe pushing the limits for a single speed design and a guy my weight. But let's go!</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMK197DSgYGO2NLSsBmt-dXqfAW7-prfeTK1hM6h2Pw4FzL5PIbpFs2H3wMO1fCigMoN392yAI56Tp-nflff0UlgpekweQ17cUxv_4DkTilCeHKs1HU9M3uukXXLJUiBZmdWr3DlJVGwIvBYKkMkHQ0bqlH2eKuufeGLLABuvwau1iCia_Je_d5Q/s1200/P3040002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMK197DSgYGO2NLSsBmt-dXqfAW7-prfeTK1hM6h2Pw4FzL5PIbpFs2H3wMO1fCigMoN392yAI56Tp-nflff0UlgpekweQ17cUxv_4DkTilCeHKs1HU9M3uukXXLJUiBZmdWr3DlJVGwIvBYKkMkHQ0bqlH2eKuufeGLLABuvwau1iCia_Je_d5Q/w640-h480/P3040002.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The contents of the box unwrapped.<br /></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p><b>First Impressions</b>: Well, to be honest, I've seen so many images of this bike there wasn't much to leave to the imagination. The aforementioned weight was what impressed me the most. The fork weighs next to nothing as well, but we all would expect that these days with carbon fiber. One thing about the Paragon sliding through axle drop outs was a bit of a surprise and that was that the non-driveside drop out (is it a "drop out" if it is a through axle plate?) has the place for the flat mount brake as part of the drop out. In other words, there is no direct connection of the brake to the frame itself. </p><p>This means that the non-driveside chain stay has a full-length run from the bottom bracket shell to the connection to the seat stay. I once heard Joe Breeze theorize that longer frame members have a more comfortable (flexier) ride quality. We will see how this plays out on this bike. A single speed and a flexy rear end? Might not work well. This is something to look into later. </p><p>As I suspected the logos are masked off and clear-coated over to show the raw steel. The head badge is brass brazing material, as is the serial number plate which is stamped "CG001". I assume that to mean "Custom Gravel 001". The paint is pretty cool. It isn't as thick as I thought it would be. In fact, I think it is actually pretty thin. There is one place on the top tube, near the seat tube, over toward the drive side, where there is raw steel showing, as if the paint wasn't applied in that small patch. Odd..... I may do something there to make it look intentional. </p><p><b>Problems Crop Up</b>: The first thing I wanted to do was to find a seat collar, and I had a black Salsa one identified as a candidate. It was a typical-for-steel frames 30.0mm size, but the frame tubing on the Honeman Flyer is so thin that this was too big! And so was anything else I had. Dang it! Right out of the box I was thwarted. </p><p>I gently clamped the frame by the seat tube with a terry cloth rag in the stand's jaws. Then I tried the through axle I guessed the length of and yep! Too long! Batting a thousand so far. I then tried to fit the crown race on the Waxwing fork and <i>what the..... </i>Oh! I was dealing with an integrated crown race. Cool....<i>cool</i>. that head set would work then. Okay.... There is something going right here at least. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ0v281XD3X2zWqMH_uJRUsoS6zxhdWiJjJJo5QYhxt_OxkwDfT2XfYG-VP2DWYnkdMzuxGeOmrXf6V_nJ2HAKSzIs15FTKsDrl_YmWCyXshODi7QFXpVK3o-mx8o7AsplQemN9BBOz-8bOw91vqosxRPJ8njl9jFMOLAcKD1ePzBDf4TTXlFpWQ/s1200/P3040004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ0v281XD3X2zWqMH_uJRUsoS6zxhdWiJjJJo5QYhxt_OxkwDfT2XfYG-VP2DWYnkdMzuxGeOmrXf6V_nJ2HAKSzIs15FTKsDrl_YmWCyXshODi7QFXpVK3o-mx8o7AsplQemN9BBOz-8bOw91vqosxRPJ8njl9jFMOLAcKD1ePzBDf4TTXlFpWQ/w640-h480/P3040004.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Borrowed from a coworker</i>.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>I left for work and asked my coworker Carl if he had any nicer seat collars squirreled away and he did. One was a 28.6mm AC Components anodized red collar, probably for a BMX bike. But he let me take it home and it actually worked, which was a good thing since I just ordered a Wolf Tooth black anodized one in the same size from Jenson USA along with the correct through axle, also Wolf Tooth. </p><p>Later on I mocked up the build with a stubby stem, Cowbell bar, my Tamer seat post, WTB Volt saddle, and I sat on this thing for the first time. (Oh! Both wheels were temp fitted with the rear using the too-long through axle) Amazingly, I think I may need a 90mm stem on this thing! I should also mention that the stock Dead Bolt through axle from Salsa <i>would not fit the brand new Paul Components front hub</i>! Yeah... Weird. Fortunately I had a spare Paragon Machine works axle that fit perfectly in the fork <i>and the hub</i>. I suppose this voids the Salsa warranty..... <br /></p><p>Checking angles with the wheels fitted I found that the seat tube, which was supposed to be a 70° is reading out at a bit steeper than 69° and the head tube, which was supposed to be 71° is dead on. This was measured with an app on my iPhone. So, this will be pretty true to the design manifest for a modernized 1930's track bike. </p><p>More soon.... <br /></p>Guitar Tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10960580677548417562noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12831567.post-66053991068647207602024-03-04T02:30:00.022-05:002024-03-04T02:30:00.126-05:00Honeman Flyer: Parts<p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDkusmwb2VkVTQpjJ6L2qpNKz42BqV6fV1OFgVZVkBIbU-TRLIEpbcplhJdnEXESysmJ2nz0hL4zs-pkpDhuFEGsakrlycsOqNHtvnyOIcNSYOpPpmKnozBAHz6wR3ZO-r3bQM_f2OP_b5ZqqUhtIU4bW4_fXpFAvKSOKmaNoswAFZ6yeUc-hiwA/s797/HF%201.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="797" data-original-width="582" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDkusmwb2VkVTQpjJ6L2qpNKz42BqV6fV1OFgVZVkBIbU-TRLIEpbcplhJdnEXESysmJ2nz0hL4zs-pkpDhuFEGsakrlycsOqNHtvnyOIcNSYOpPpmKnozBAHz6wR3ZO-r3bQM_f2OP_b5ZqqUhtIU4bW4_fXpFAvKSOKmaNoswAFZ6yeUc-hiwA/s320/HF%201.PNG" width="234" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><u>Image courtesy of Erik Mathy<br /></u></i></td></tr></tbody></table>I <i>thought </i>Friday would be the day I got my mitts on my King Fabrications Honeman Flyer, but that was delayed until today. In fact, it was tracked in town on Saturday, at the UPS distribution center, but it won't show up at the delivery spot until this afternoon. (Maybe by the time that you read this.) </p><p>So, while I thought I might be sharing images of the completed build today, I instead will be building it today. The bike, that is, and until that finishes up, I thought I'd share some of the parts that are going into this. </p><p>My personal build procession goes something like this: Fit the seat collar, insert the seat post, hang the frame by the post in the work stand. Then I fit the head set and put the fork on with a stand-in set of spacers and a stem. </p><p>Next is getting the threads chased in the bottom bracket shell, (if needed), and then fitting the bottom bracket and crankset. On a single speed I would then fit the wheels, brake calipers, and turn my attention to the cockpit with a lot of measuring and finally cutting down of the steer tube. Then I would fit the saddle, the final stem, handle bar, brake levers, and set up the brakes. I then would wrap the bars. I don't know why, but the chain is almost always the last thing I put on a bike I build. </p><p>Weird, but maybe that's just me. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilxByq5XUZqoF-TBxf9Et9s_PgmyQ5N9vcJt3_slQ52KYGM3Q6CYO1brrL6Pu8W-GGw1-iO6m2ivZ6yOfB1WO6Hh7PKS6QDqpGSuDpTSzXIQnvn67ohAvbPdMkJJP4HepYNGiFqeMyfzz7q641oAtlKiiiIWP_O4vqJm-N4XMX1Qs_X-eKiNFEfQ/s1176/P3010007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="623" data-original-width="1176" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilxByq5XUZqoF-TBxf9Et9s_PgmyQ5N9vcJt3_slQ52KYGM3Q6CYO1brrL6Pu8W-GGw1-iO6m2ivZ6yOfB1WO6Hh7PKS6QDqpGSuDpTSzXIQnvn67ohAvbPdMkJJP4HepYNGiFqeMyfzz7q641oAtlKiiiIWP_O4vqJm-N4XMX1Qs_X-eKiNFEfQ/s320/P3010007.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p>I chose a Cane Creek head set for this build. I think black anodized parts work best to highlight this wild paint job on the bike. I just so happened to have had a Cane Creek 40 head set for a 44mm head tube on hand that was new. </p><p>Honestly, the brand of head set doesn't matter that much to me. Cane Creek is good. Wolf Tooth is great, especially if you want color. Chris King is bling, but again, <i>only if you want anodized colors</i>. Black? Heck..... At that point a Cane Creek is hard to beat. So, I think it will likely stay in there as long as I have this bike, and I doubt I'll ever have to service it or do anything but clean the outside once in a while. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2PfvBYEZtix_IB5sYL8PGjUYf5ZUshXuo_qKLAwWT2n4iWba5laQMf5AH5vqWFTK-ZVPFyC3XcAXvGWKtd2VQe76Zgv82c_A_0Juy_dV9oz3XoAw9SO5Mg3K1m0Q3ByDd30iOcx6Do03Zk8MurZHjWu9h_kO5ZccGjViPaED0-w61S_Qf5xCBYA/s1205/P3010006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1205" data-original-width="595" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2PfvBYEZtix_IB5sYL8PGjUYf5ZUshXuo_qKLAwWT2n4iWba5laQMf5AH5vqWFTK-ZVPFyC3XcAXvGWKtd2VQe76Zgv82c_A_0Juy_dV9oz3XoAw9SO5Mg3K1m0Q3ByDd30iOcx6Do03Zk8MurZHjWu9h_kO5ZccGjViPaED0-w61S_Qf5xCBYA/s320/P3010006.JPG" width="158" /></a></div><p>The Honeman Flyer was built to accept a 27.2mm seat post by King Fabrications. That's the "standard" size for gravel these days, and there are a TON of choices I could have gone with. </p><p>My conundrum with the Honeman Flyer was with the design. It's based on a 1930's track bike design, which back in those days used a seat post with a brazed forward extension and a very slack seat tube angle. This set up had the appearance of a stem for a handle bar. The extension would be fitted with a clamp. That clamp could slide fore and aft to allow for different positions for different riders. During my research on 1900's to mid-century track bikes, I learned that these forward extended seat posts and stems were done because many times racing bicycles were so expensive that sometimes several riders would use the same machine. The sliding saddle and handle bar set ups allowed for the precise fitment of different riders. </p><p>Okay, so back to 2024. The Honeman Flyer has a slack, 70° seat tube. Generally I ride 73° seat tube angled bikes and a fair amount of saddle set-back using set-back seat posts. To get in approximately the same position on the Honeman Flyer as I would on my other gravel bikes, I would necessarily need a 0 degree set back post to have any chance of getting the angle right. </p><p>That led me to an old friend in the parts bin. A carbon fiber Tamer seat post from the late 1990's/early 00's. When I last used this, oh....<i>maybe 12 -15 years ago</i>, I remember it being pretty flexy and comfortable. The Honeman Flyer will have less exposed seat post than almost any bike I have other than maybe the Twin Six Standard Rando v2, so this Tamer post should do the trick for me. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT6QRIZYuTLzgTbihrJnme0fxUDnhfVxCjgrw06855otCQLNPUPlkAqNqeiGQh7omVqqcC4_iM4gKYQyGNjB0dP8LDjEJDEJZOtXmbtydIpHmJl1WWFCCnmDtg6QgbzqdSXTU-rKek0YojQpdON6cme4lrbp8WTzrETTWtVo4iAfk-zJXHILud3A/s1200/P3010004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="761" data-original-width="1200" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT6QRIZYuTLzgTbihrJnme0fxUDnhfVxCjgrw06855otCQLNPUPlkAqNqeiGQh7omVqqcC4_iM4gKYQyGNjB0dP8LDjEJDEJZOtXmbtydIpHmJl1WWFCCnmDtg6QgbzqdSXTU-rKek0YojQpdON6cme4lrbp8WTzrETTWtVo4iAfk-zJXHILud3A/s320/P3010004.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p>Wolf Tooth is represented on the build by their Morse Cages and rear through axle. I love Wolf Tooth's B-Rad rails that allow me to move water bottle mounting points around on my various bikes, but the Morse Cage also allows for several mounting options as well. </p><p>I've never used the stainless steel Morse Cages so I am curious to see how they will handle the rigors of gravel riding. They look pretty well thought out and the construction looks top-notch. I'll be reviewing them in the future so stay tuned for my thoughts on them coming in the following weeks and months. </p><p>The rear through axle should work well, as long as I picked the right length one! I had to take a stab in the dark since I don't have the frame in front of me to measure things and King Fab didn't give me those precise dimensions when I asked either. So......<i>we will see</i>. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5PKVmEgjAbDH2dm067K07MJe_pAFnbZWUph8yzNazAkCGcMxbZO9NOrujDUhz9pfRmacZhS7N2yhCUFmA6_k6dC53pQA0Kis_C9r15_jz1uWL1RmQU5gs-0Afaa72fK7xr8H-dsyNApN0x_bf69L6j3GwdPvVCFV1XqNha4buC4812Yy_4vKzNQ/s1200/P3010008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="682" data-original-width="1200" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5PKVmEgjAbDH2dm067K07MJe_pAFnbZWUph8yzNazAkCGcMxbZO9NOrujDUhz9pfRmacZhS7N2yhCUFmA6_k6dC53pQA0Kis_C9r15_jz1uWL1RmQU5gs-0Afaa72fK7xr8H-dsyNApN0x_bf69L6j3GwdPvVCFV1XqNha4buC4812Yy_4vKzNQ/s320/P3010008.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p>Wheels Manufacturing got the nod for the SRAM compatible bottom bracket. (Not DUB! <i>yecch</i>!) This particular version they sell has Enduro bearings, (GOOD!), and a double-row bearing on the drive side cup. Plus these are angular contact bearings, which should be better for the rigors that a bottom bracket will see. </p><p>It was spendy but I think it will be worth it. Yes......<i>it is not black</i>! That wasn't an option, and anyway - <i>who looks at bottom brackets</i>? They are hidden behind crank sets and covered in dust. It'll be fine. Don't worry about it!</p><p>I'll be inserting my SRAM Rival crank with a 40T ring on it, so this is why I chose this particular bottom bracket. I gave some thought to doing a full-on Enduro Max-Hit bottom bracket, but those are even <i>more expensive</i> and maybe when this wears out, well, we will see.... I suspect this one will last quite some time. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOWJzryEnG3nFNe2r2gtbZEKTt6Jvo3CRKnJEGSKCuMPFpIavkcqVqc3ssKdjtAT_JSIsKf571z__0iUv710XkJv69UTOLh_FGDtgX2n34zSvf-53uhr7U1pNPPeMlk62UA9aVp-2jVoXHrrppC9eyPEnPS0aep31KB6LV-9CUmewcm6kMOS-5Kg/s1200/P3020009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOWJzryEnG3nFNe2r2gtbZEKTt6Jvo3CRKnJEGSKCuMPFpIavkcqVqc3ssKdjtAT_JSIsKf571z__0iUv710XkJv69UTOLh_FGDtgX2n34zSvf-53uhr7U1pNPPeMlk62UA9aVp-2jVoXHrrppC9eyPEnPS0aep31KB6LV-9CUmewcm6kMOS-5Kg/s320/P3020009.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><p>How could I not include these sleek, black levers I received from "Charlie", a blog reader here, who gifted these like-new levers for the build. (Maybe they are new? Don't know)</p><p>The TRP design is the very same that I was thinking of using anyway, and these fit the design manifesto like a hand in glove. All black and shiny!</p><p>These will be pulling cable in Jagwire black housing which in turn will work against the flat mount TRP Spyre calipers, so it all makes for a fitting system. </p><p>Rotors will be six bolt SRAM affairs due to the WORD Disc not having Center Lock capabilities. Otherwise I might have used TRP rotors here as well. </p><p>Okay, that's a big part of the build right there and hopefully by tomorrow I should have some build images to share. I was afeard that this all would come down to a short time span before Mid-South, and this is about as minimal, in terms of time, as I would feel comfortable with. I sure hope it all falls into place as planned, because if it doesn't, I think it will be time to push the panic button. Especially if I have to order in more parts. </p><p>Stay tuned......<br /></p>Guitar Tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10960580677548417562noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12831567.post-15876557822300071192024-03-03T02:30:00.002-05:002024-03-03T02:30:00.125-05:00The "Gravel Influence"<p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv1cTqk58oaBN78ci670_LmCwsdbgbZAdjwxyHLg3ilD_U_ix1V7WpHYNlp2bHyRkKMilYZD68nQCaouyWpcgYL9vwWT-Tw0leQl_MIav1M9nxM9DS_K32waDZL9PYskvHO9XrWLXZixYfgU6iWhfAknv_3kgOKHIop7DADqDnEBaEMuOm0_zaEg/s960/26%20wheel%20gravel%20conversion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="569" data-original-width="960" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv1cTqk58oaBN78ci670_LmCwsdbgbZAdjwxyHLg3ilD_U_ix1V7WpHYNlp2bHyRkKMilYZD68nQCaouyWpcgYL9vwWT-Tw0leQl_MIav1M9nxM9DS_K32waDZL9PYskvHO9XrWLXZixYfgU6iWhfAknv_3kgOKHIop7DADqDnEBaEMuOm0_zaEg/s320/26%20wheel%20gravel%20conversion.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><u>A "gravel bike" is any bike (you want to sell)<br /></u></i></td></tr></tbody></table> Long ago, when I first got involved in riding regularly on gravel roads (2004/2005) we did not have "gravel" anything specific to cycling. We used cross bikes, mountain bikes, and hybrid bikes. Converted hybrids, cruisers, and old 27 X 1 1/4" tired 70's road bikes. Anything, really, was a possibility for your gravel bike as long as you got along with it. </p><p>This spawned the "<i>any bike is a gravel bike</i>' generalizing amongst cycling punters back in the day when gravel specific bikes started showing up in the early twenty-teens. "<i>You don't need a gravel bike! Any bike is a gravel bike! They </i>(The cycling brands) <i>are just coming up with excuses for you to buy something. You don't need a gravel specific bike!</i></p><p>We all know now how that went. Now we have "gravel everything" and the cycling brands have gone gaga over the category which is about the only positive category in cycling now. Is it silly? Is it nonsense? In several ways, <i>yes</i>, it is completely marketing hooha and should be seen as such. Not that we don't need tires, bicycles, and some accessories geared for the gravel enthusiast. We do, but you probably know what I mean here. </p><p>What I have seen recently are a lot of bicycles being fitted with drop bars and being offered on used sites like Facebook Marketplace where the sellers say this is a "gravel bike". I find this trend interesting to observe. Obviously what is going on here is two-fold. On the one hand you have folks tinkering around with relatively cheap, inexpensive used 90's era hard tail MTB's. Cool. I get that this might be kind of a fun past time, sort of akin to the guitar people who assemble Fender-like "partscasters" out of aftermarket parts. There is a feeling of accomplishment and satisfaction in the sense that "<i>I built this</i>". </p><p>But I also think that there are a certain number of these bikes that are being spiffed up with a drop bar, being tagged as a "gravel bike", and posted in the hopes that what was once a $75.00 used bike could bring in $150.00 - $250.00. Because "gravel". <br /></p><p>In that sense it would seem that the term "gravel" has become a currency of sorts. Not only for legitimate brands in the cycling industry, but for the individual who is hoping to turn a buck on a 30 year old bicycle. Not that this is a "bad" thing. The marketplace will vote with their dollars, as always. I just find it intriguing. <br /> </p>Guitar Tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10960580677548417562noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12831567.post-56622285625243777702024-03-02T02:30:00.003-05:002024-03-03T00:00:57.710-05:00Gravel Grinder News: Wilde Waypoint Fork, Panaracer X1 Tire<p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjukZQAt3cYPSnzoQYP797fYYT06CjGUhQKYijUkNh0c006r3mNmFDyutNXFV5HebnDlMpudEsbsrYL2gwIQWa2fzi93e_2_uKPpls0Ww9III-TOMWKdNAXpMfu_Nnipail6YhAVCWM2mOSJMpDvIajn7u5_XBad5GecfGRsFNybyia1n6srRox7Q/s1001/WILDE%20WAYPOINT.PNG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="769" data-original-width="1001" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjukZQAt3cYPSnzoQYP797fYYT06CjGUhQKYijUkNh0c006r3mNmFDyutNXFV5HebnDlMpudEsbsrYL2gwIQWa2fzi93e_2_uKPpls0Ww9III-TOMWKdNAXpMfu_Nnipail6YhAVCWM2mOSJMpDvIajn7u5_XBad5GecfGRsFNybyia1n6srRox7Q/s320/WILDE%20WAYPOINT.PNG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><u>Image courtesy of Wilde Bicycle Co.<br /></u></i></td></tr></tbody></table> <b>Wilde Bicycle Co. Announces Waypoint Carbon Fork</b>:<p></p><p>One of the complaints about carbon gravel forks is that they are too stiff. Wilde Bicycle Company's Jeffrey Frane set out to tackle this issue and now Wilde offers the new Waypoint Carbon Gravel Fork.</p><p>Designed to be more vibration absorbing and lighter than most other carbon gravel forks, yet still retaining the versatility which has become a hallmark of gravel adventuring, the Waypoint comes in at an incredibly low weight. </p><p>The fork features internal brake and dynamo routing, fender mounts, and Three-Pack bosses on each leg. Here are the features and specs for the Waypoint as provided by Wilde Bicycle Co. </p><p><b>Features</b><br />Three Pack Mounts<br />Flat Mount Brake<br />Thru Axle - 12x100mm<br />Internal Brake Routing<br />Internal Dynamo Routing<br />Fender Mounts<br />Fully Threaded Center Mount</p><p><b>Specs</b><br />Fork Weight: 478g with uncut steerer<br />Tire Clearance: 700c X 2.1 or 27.5 X 2.3 <br />Axle to Crown - 398mm<br />Rake - 49mm<br />Steerer - 350mm length, Taper 1.125 to 1.5 <br />Spacing - 100mm<br />Axle Length - 130mm 12 x 1.5<br />Compatible Rotor Size - 140mm and 160mm</p><p><b>Capacity</b><br />Three Pack Mount - 6 lbs per side<br />Rack - 20 lbs</p><p> Total System Rider/gear weight limit: 250lbs</p><p>The price for the Waypoint is $525.00 USD and special pricing is offered to frame builders who want to use this fork on their builds for customers. See the website here: <span style="color: #2b00fe;"><a href="https://www.wildebikes.com/collections/frontpage/products/waypoint-carbon-fork-tapered">https://www.wildebikes.com/collections/frontpage/products/waypoint-carbon-fork-tapered</a></span></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe;"></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlhSqCxBHfbwT1nQe8sHi0iEdleRB55xTPI1M_nOYbZJyASaC8XC-pTHxHrCPpIhrO5lrX-iAZh_2rdggvNusDqS1fgcLk_I21XvNq4qFLn6-aN4R-DdNiVwu9tplmKngDpAv4avubGK36bIeCThF-wvzZPF4Nm3WbHEJthX_pu0IIexmiJm4AmA/s624/GRAVEL%20KING%20X1.PNG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="373" data-original-width="624" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlhSqCxBHfbwT1nQe8sHi0iEdleRB55xTPI1M_nOYbZJyASaC8XC-pTHxHrCPpIhrO5lrX-iAZh_2rdggvNusDqS1fgcLk_I21XvNq4qFLn6-aN4R-DdNiVwu9tplmKngDpAv4avubGK36bIeCThF-wvzZPF4Nm3WbHEJthX_pu0IIexmiJm4AmA/s320/GRAVEL%20KING%20X1.PNG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><u>Image courtesy of Panaracer<br /></u></i></td></tr></tbody></table><b>Panaracer Revamps Gravel King Line, Adds X1 Model</b>:<p></p><p>Panaracer celebrates 10 years of the Gravel King line by revamping the entire Gravel King line up of tires. New to the line is a <strike>compound</strike> casing Called "R" and a new model called "X1".</p><p>The new X1 is a lower tread design with a centerline of alternating "T" shaped blocks and squares. Taller, thicker lugs appear on the shoulders. </p><p>The X1 looks to be available in 35mm, 40mm, and 45mm. The only option<span style="color: #2b00fe;"><a href="https://www.panaracerusa.com/collections/2024-gravelkings/products/gravelking-x1-r-2024-folding-gravel-tire?variant=44625400004843" target="_blank"> on their site </a></span>now is the black with tan sidewalls. Prices are $79.99 each for any of the sizes offered.</p><p><b>Comments</b>: This looks to be a great all-arounder gravel tread design. Unfortunately it is not offered in a larger size than a 45mm.It would have been nice to have 50mm and even a 55mm would have been well accepted, I think. </p><p>It's also nice to see brands leaning in on their history in the gravel market. Many riders think this is a "new" idea when in fact it is definitely not. Especially when you stop to consider that individuals born when the first Trans Iowa happened are now graduated from high school. (Feel old yet?) <br /><br /> <i>Images and information used in this post provided by the brands mentioned in this post.</i><br /></p>Guitar Tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10960580677548417562noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12831567.post-11532505425525776172024-03-01T02:30:00.133-05:002024-03-01T09:36:38.027-05:00Friday News And Views<p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI-XMNL70qwFNp00J5KQma5rJvTy4cECZvtu8dQKg83eAM82kpExxOCe2aXFfbTtqcMdPx9bKgiD9yUPfdc6cSEATPU5flH6Gj4B7EN9V8khaYV95z4Q6zeDaSRCyhKlZXxY2ecX9XDESd2AV7GQ5AvuJXZa_7yn-O5nzZtA_Wc_KUDjSol84c7Q/s696/Party%20Shirts.PNG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="366" data-original-width="696" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI-XMNL70qwFNp00J5KQma5rJvTy4cECZvtu8dQKg83eAM82kpExxOCe2aXFfbTtqcMdPx9bKgiD9yUPfdc6cSEATPU5flH6Gj4B7EN9V8khaYV95z4Q6zeDaSRCyhKlZXxY2ecX9XDESd2AV7GQ5AvuJXZa_7yn-O5nzZtA_Wc_KUDjSol84c7Q/s320/Party%20Shirts.PNG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><u>Image courtesy of Salsa Cycles social media.<br /></u></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p><b> "Salsa Cycles is the Bread" of this" FN&V Sandwich!<br /></b></p><p><b>Salsa Cycles To Offer "Party Shirts" At Mid-South</b>:</p><p></p><p>The Mid-South event and Salsa Cycles have had a working relationship for many years with bike introductions and the Chaise Lounge appearing on course. </p><p>This year Salsa Cycles is bringing something a bit different as well as a newly recovered in purple velvet Chaise Lounge. They are bringing 'party shirts'. </p><p>There will be a very limited number of these available only at the vendor demo area before the Mid-South event in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Salsa is celebrating the Chaise Lounge being inducted into the "Icon" category at the Gravel Cycling Hall of Fame ceremonies last year. The shirts, in two colors, will feature the now purple Chaise Lounge printed all over a Hawaiian style short-sleeved shirt. </p><p>Salsa has no plans to offer these via distributors or dealers but they are not saying it couldn't happen either. So, the best bet is to find someone that is going to Mid-South and grease their palms liberally if you have the itch to get one of these shirts. <br /></p><p>I'll (hopefully) be seeing these in-person as I am to attend the festivities in a couple of weeks or so. Stay tuned for a report on this and all the goings on at Mid-South coming up here soon. </p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9J4ePdk3FfVATlKWKGQoHLAGgRzBkRb0Ba1My0LbfUDItm33paQoVdNz9EpvW-xtUUOtyra8WwmkaOrzJvIjSXcroiIn0Kex3gx9mrrBaNqeCYEej9etUEG_xoGBShFd8rpgEwoVPcVPyU97bGf7EwaZEPuBip8d8Ggsa2mkuygwuWChBVhmDRA/s1039/HF%204.PNG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="791" data-original-width="1039" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9J4ePdk3FfVATlKWKGQoHLAGgRzBkRb0Ba1My0LbfUDItm33paQoVdNz9EpvW-xtUUOtyra8WwmkaOrzJvIjSXcroiIn0Kex3gx9mrrBaNqeCYEej9etUEG_xoGBShFd8rpgEwoVPcVPyU97bGf7EwaZEPuBip8d8Ggsa2mkuygwuWChBVhmDRA/s320/HF%204.PNG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><u>Image courtesy of Erik Mathy<br /></u></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p><b>A (Brief) Honeman Flyer Update</b>:</p><p>Today is supposed to be the day that the Honeman Flyer frame and fork arrive at the illustrious Guitar Ted Productions headquarters. I have been in 'parts acquisition mode' for the entire week and I have parts coming in today as well for this.</p><p>I already have received the bottom bracket, the rear through axle, and two stainless steel water bottle cages. I am to see a pair of brake levers show up which were graciously donated to this build by a blog reader named "Charlie". (Thanks again!!!)</p><p>There will be a massive scramble tonight and tomorrow afternoon and evening to see if I can get this rig together. As of now, the first outing for the Honeman Flyer is to be a bike swap that the Cedar Valley Bicycle Collective is putting on Sunday at Second State Brewery in downtown Cedar Falls, Iowa at 1:00pm till 4:00pm. So, if you are a local, you might be able to peep this frame and fork in the flesh there. Assuming all goes well. </p><p>And that's a BIG assumption! You never know what tiddly bits I might need and don't have, or surprises about the geometry or build that I was unaware of. I will say that I am pretty sure this bike will be somewhat analogous to the Twin Six Standard Rando v2 with a couple of important variations. I'll get into the weeds about all of that later on. Stay tuned.....<b>UPDATE: 8:35am Friday Shipment delayed until Monday.</b> Dang it! Oh well......<br /></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXGnCCqynNyMyOET9icuTXoOiPUSb6cSjvXyMBAUB9MownDUaczpuVM8Bz9j0rYfMbZtX066KHDvNwyINoqBoG2DkZ4HKGyN34FwY2xCXLg6ww_XVoZlGlpRPx7ON4fiHTZHVZ3vXXUe1RTPWURh_tdWSVaXeSIfK4js8f2OmV34A0deYsy_WX2g/s858/BALVINDAR%20SINGH%20TIv12.PNG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="641" data-original-width="858" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXGnCCqynNyMyOET9icuTXoOiPUSb6cSjvXyMBAUB9MownDUaczpuVM8Bz9j0rYfMbZtX066KHDvNwyINoqBoG2DkZ4HKGyN34FwY2xCXLg6ww_XVoZlGlpRPx7ON4fiHTZHVZ3vXXUe1RTPWURh_tdWSVaXeSIfK4js8f2OmV34A0deYsy_WX2g/s320/BALVINDAR%20SINGH%20TIv12.PNG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><u>Balvindar Singh at the finish of T.I.v12 Tell me this isn't "winning".<br /></u></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p><b>Reaction To Cycling Weekly "Spirit of Gravel" Post</b>:</p><p>Maybe you have seen a post making the rounds on social media written by a man named Josh Ross for "<i>Cycling Weekly</i>". The post is getting run because, well.....<i>to be honest it is clickbait</i>. Which is why I won't honor the post with a link here. Search out the thing if you must. </p><p>But clickbait usually kicks off with a controversial statement, and this one has a doozy which has stirred up the gravel folk. What do you expect from an article that starts out by saying that the "<i>Spirit of Gravel is dead and that's for the best</i>".</p><p>First off, most people don't know what "spirit" even means, nor do they believe in it, or that spirits may even exist. So right off the top this gets messy when we speak of the "spirit of gravel". I'll leave my thoughts on that for another time. Other than being a mechanism for gaining attention for the author's post, it has no bearing on the message Mr. Ross is proclaiming. </p><p>The real point here is that the author thinks gravel events should have categories so more people can stand on a podium. The author states, and I'm not making this up, that" <i>"I don't participate in gravel events because I can't win.</i>"</p><p>Yep..... Amazing. If this statement doesn't tell you that the author doesn't understand gravel events nothing else will. Question: If the author doesn't participate in gravel events then what makes him any kind of an authority on what the events on gravel should be? I guess the author is looking out for our well-being. I mean, I guess we aren't "winning" so <i>something</i> <i>must change! </i>Gosh! I had no idea! (sarcasm alert)<br /></p><p><i> </i>"Winning" doesn't limit itself to standing on a podium. That's such a narrow and well....<i>ignorant </i>way of looking at competition and gravel events. Besides, <i>there already are gravel events that have categories and podiums for classes.</i> Obviously this author has not done his research. Gravel Worlds anyone? And plenty more besides that event. <br /></p><p>And finally, if the author of that post thinks this sort of event doesn't exist, he should start one that suits him. Which is also a thing we did to get gravel going. Until this person does that, this post is pretty much just hot air. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ygPmhqGMOwgQOonFHL-oUoWmQJU-ngivdo9y1hVnXL7EeU-98mabpb7Ml0FvY7gp2r2JmFg7J6xKBuUsFBLntUa_eB5vVZBBbENKQRYGBLoxNQ0L2zBq5O8SgmMrTivmJ1f5Q5ooftWkd-aTS7V2ykOimJ1JJ6gf2Ec06-oYmPjQChKsrMZd1Q/s2016/CON%209.JPEG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ygPmhqGMOwgQOonFHL-oUoWmQJU-ngivdo9y1hVnXL7EeU-98mabpb7Ml0FvY7gp2r2JmFg7J6xKBuUsFBLntUa_eB5vVZBBbENKQRYGBLoxNQ0L2zBq5O8SgmMrTivmJ1f5Q5ooftWkd-aTS7V2ykOimJ1JJ6gf2Ec06-oYmPjQChKsrMZd1Q/s320/CON%209.JPEG" width="320" /></a></div><p><b>Salsa Cycles Goes Electric</b>:</p><p>Sea Otter 2023 had a big, unexpected surprise from Salsa Cycles. Their booth at the expo there was festooned with banners proclaiming that "Salsa Electric" had debuted with the first model being the Confluence gravel bike. This was a hub motor design and was very strangely not reported on by any mainstream cycling outlet. </p><p>After Sea Otter there was <i>no mention</i> of the electric Salsa bikes at all. It was as if they never existed. Weird. Not at all like Salsa had been marketed previously, but you had to believe that at some point that Salsa would be coming out with motorized bikes. </p><p>That point would appear to be now. The Confluence being the first up, but mid-motored off-road, gravel, and MTB product is following soon. There will be the Tributary, a "Fargo/Cutthroat" type electrified adventure/bikepacking bike. Then you will see the Moraine and the Notch FS bikes as well. </p><p><b>Comments</b>: Obviously this was a direction Salsa had to take with most companies having electrified bikes in their line-ups in the 2020's already. The question is, how will these late-comers to market be accepted and is this the right direction for Salsa Cycles to go? </p><p><i>Okay, that's a wrap for this week! I hope that you het out and ride this weekend!</i><br /></p>Guitar Tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10960580677548417562noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12831567.post-69491611952205501062024-02-29T02:30:00.011-05:002024-02-29T02:30:00.129-05:00Review: Old Man Mountain Axle Pack: The Riding<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuBurIKKA_oSwc5k_KK0uzICywn2nBngmp_tXr0exYMFSuA2nL3fBBfA6p32sBcVhORN0ls7D6CBtxyy8zq4njuwI0SMpyOGavpURqqfPJ0Sqk9FIk-SrHFcdXQruhiMbI2oulCGrgwuP1JENq0UQOjkvBzLfB8R1wT34uLwFT5kTSOT6Mdl_RDw/s1195/PC250012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1195" data-original-width="1024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuBurIKKA_oSwc5k_KK0uzICywn2nBngmp_tXr0exYMFSuA2nL3fBBfA6p32sBcVhORN0ls7D6CBtxyy8zq4njuwI0SMpyOGavpURqqfPJ0Sqk9FIk-SrHFcdXQruhiMbI2oulCGrgwuP1JENq0UQOjkvBzLfB8R1wT34uLwFT5kTSOT6Mdl_RDw/s320/PC250012.JPG" width="274" /></a></div> <i>NOTE: Old Man Mountain sent over the Axle Pack kit, a fit kit, and
through axle from the Robert Axle Project to Guitar Ted Productions for
test and review. I am not being bribed, nor paid for this review and I
always strive to give my honest thoughts and opinions throughout.</i><p></p><p>The Old Man Mountain Axle Pack was mounted a while back and with this wild and weird Winter I was off the bike it was installed on until recently. Hit <a href="https://g-tedproductions.blogspot.com/2024/01/review-old-man-mountain-axle-pack.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">this LINK</span></a> for a look at the install, or read on further for my take on how the Axle Pack works with my riding and how I carry stuff. </p><p>I chose the Noble Bikes GX5 carbon gravel racer as my test bike because it has no provisions for cargo or bottle cages on the fork. The Axle Pack allows me to carry a water bottle or a cargo cage on the fork now. I chose one of each. Why not?! </p><p>For the riding test, I was curious as to whether or not the weight on the fork would adversely affect the handling of this light carbon gravel bike. I also purposefully used the different loads to see how an imbalance there might affect the handling. Finally, the question abut the front wheel removal with this rack on there needed to be answered, and I'll get to that in this review as well.</p><p>Rides were completed on various surfaces and terrain. I almost always kept a full load in both racks but I did also leave the cargo cage empty and used a full water bottle on one side as well. This will be a mid-term look at the Axle Pack and a final review will appear later this Spring. With that, let's get to the good stuff. <br /> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXSWpN4-cubv5b-QsXE_et9_Baoo1eo0r0Rf_KaoRFlDaa5YoM-gkQ5s7UR5wXLjKnGqwE3_CLxoC9qD50vntTFn5jBScVUxUtdEjtXjfGOfzX5JaN9RArQN-0P4x56o7iHSNETs_WDJCXoYsTDJ69ZVG8KKgmNWAd7ZqmeijvT3eTqS5fuvxm7Q/s1197/P2270003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="842" data-original-width="1197" height="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXSWpN4-cubv5b-QsXE_et9_Baoo1eo0r0Rf_KaoRFlDaa5YoM-gkQ5s7UR5wXLjKnGqwE3_CLxoC9qD50vntTFn5jBScVUxUtdEjtXjfGOfzX5JaN9RArQN-0P4x56o7iHSNETs_WDJCXoYsTDJ69ZVG8KKgmNWAd7ZqmeijvT3eTqS5fuvxm7Q/w640-h450/P2270003.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p>The Axle Pack is, first and foremost, essentially like having a fork built with Three-Pack bosses. At least functionally as you ride, it feels that way. You'd never know without looking that you have an add-on accessory rack. Bottle cages and cargo racks attach seamlessly, and even loaded the Axle Pack is rock-solid and steady on the bike. </p><p>In terms of handling uneven loads and the effect of loads on the bike's handling, I saw no real issues there either. Yes, you will notice a little more inertia to steering inputs, but you most likely will adapt to this easily, as I did. After a few miles, it seems all normal. </p><p>I did a steep descent with a need for very precise, controlled braking and also did not notice any detrimental effects to handling. Overall, this cargo carrier caused me no grief at all. Obviously, if you put a heavy enough load on the Axle Pack, it would begin to degrade handling, but most folks, hopefully, will have better sense than to put very heavy things on a fork that most likely was not rated to carry such a load. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Dhtpi94C4IsNAXvBlor19RTKhM9PlXr552x79KZfP2Oy_vHTW25kNG1b9vqnWeRzfE93n8a472aPAmpitjM48iyddKgvPRl13TN56g5TJg5dJLkqQbUXEIXX0Qo1YI_CtWA7rnqdEb4JmlUv95-n5pkxofDS8oWgA4BwTkpPSZOf9jXmInD64w/s1200/P2270005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Dhtpi94C4IsNAXvBlor19RTKhM9PlXr552x79KZfP2Oy_vHTW25kNG1b9vqnWeRzfE93n8a472aPAmpitjM48iyddKgvPRl13TN56g5TJg5dJLkqQbUXEIXX0Qo1YI_CtWA7rnqdEb4JmlUv95-n5pkxofDS8oWgA4BwTkpPSZOf9jXmInD64w/s320/P2270005.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p>And furthermore; most racing gravel bikes don't make for great bikepacking bikes, but with Old Man Mountain's products, I suppose you could turn your race-rocket into an adventure bike of sorts if the need arose. </p><p>The Axle Pack can be installed on many different bikes, obviously, but from a gravel riding standpoint, if we are limiting this to gravel bikes, the Axle Pack does come in handy for those events with long enough distances that you might require more water than your bike would normally carry, or gear that would make an over-night stay easier. </p><p>There is one thing that is a bit of an annoyance with the Axle Pack and that is if you want to, or when you need to, remove the front wheel. Since the Axle Pack relies on the through axle, in this case, to attach the rails, you have to go through a couple more steps to get the wheel out. </p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEoETHHkVMCOu6aITJ4tn8MksXoG_gJ2HqGtcsuNTYCvuK1y1CLmkc-axYNxOT4VKJ0PCnLhUj5rU8ILmbVDVBJmwWLKew9JvP8OVxU9ik5yuLoKk9Tp_jWp8D68CgmwuHjwniizWZKATrDBIHaNaYUjQIeXuPRpDfwoCBHwm6JWy6dLziOuh5aw/s1191/AXLE%20PACK%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1191" data-original-width="1055" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEoETHHkVMCOu6aITJ4tn8MksXoG_gJ2HqGtcsuNTYCvuK1y1CLmkc-axYNxOT4VKJ0PCnLhUj5rU8ILmbVDVBJmwWLKew9JvP8OVxU9ik5yuLoKk9Tp_jWp8D68CgmwuHjwniizWZKATrDBIHaNaYUjQIeXuPRpDfwoCBHwm6JWy6dLziOuh5aw/s320/AXLE%20PACK%202.jpg" width="283" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><u>Remove three bolts to get a wheel out vs one.<br /></u></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p>There are the two attaching bolts that require a 4mm hex wrench and then you can get at the 6mm through axle bolt's hex pocket to remove the through axle and then the wheel comes out. You have to push aside the rails of the Axle Pack while doing this, and this also is another good reason not to put heavy cargo on the Axle Pack, unless you are okay with removing that cargo first. </p><p>But besides this, there are no real negatives to using the Axle Pack that I have experienced. The wheel removal thing is a compromise for making your bike more versatile. I think it is worth the trade-off. </p><p>Now as for temporary use of the Axle Pack, it may become a bit of a hassle if you go through a lot of those special Panduit cable ties because they are not cheap. Old Man Mountain does sell spares, so you always have those available, but this may be a hindrance to using the Axle Pack on and off for special occasions. My tendency would be to just leave it on there for extended periods of time, but not everyone will think like I do about this. <br /></p><p><b>So Far</b>... I think the Axle Pack is a well thought-out design that can make a bike without fork mounts a more versatile machine. Handling seems to be minimally affected in my case with the Axle Pack attached and with loads on it the stability of my bike was not adversely affected. </p><p>There are a couple of compromises to the Axle Pack. Wheel removal being one. The special cable ties that are a bit hard to go through due to their expense, hindering, perhaps, off-and-on usage of the Axle Pack being the other. However; these are minor compromises in light of how effective the Axle Pack is and looking at how versatile this can make a bike. </p><p>See the webpage for the Axle Pack <span style="color: #2b00fe;"><a href="https://g-tedproductions.blogspot.com/2024/01/review-old-man-mountain-axle-pack.html" target="_blank">HERE</a></span> <br /></p><p>Next up: A Long-Term Review.<br /></p>Guitar Tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10960580677548417562noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12831567.post-33927748197043563212024-02-28T02:30:00.022-05:002024-02-28T02:30:00.140-05:00Brown Season: Sometimes Things Just Work Out<p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXxpMjC-cuadpkKWjDbCMyKpjXXfRGIbvpVVnZ3ZhN_F18t_79oYVZQXpmdfU26-uIk0rqDg55cOUHkA_sGUvfiFKmy_cvMT7eIoGgWVkdtPtg-QN-hycHJfwjjUOLHigHL0N5lUVWDSWl0NWcfMWvGCmGBz3T7ymhi9NwhQgoRHcml8wKxqBSCQ/s1199/P2270001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="646" data-original-width="1199" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXxpMjC-cuadpkKWjDbCMyKpjXXfRGIbvpVVnZ3ZhN_F18t_79oYVZQXpmdfU26-uIk0rqDg55cOUHkA_sGUvfiFKmy_cvMT7eIoGgWVkdtPtg-QN-hycHJfwjjUOLHigHL0N5lUVWDSWl0NWcfMWvGCmGBz3T7ymhi9NwhQgoRHcml8wKxqBSCQ/s320/P2270001.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><u>Things look pretty sad at Harold Getty Lake<br /></u></i></td></tr></tbody></table>February and shirt sleeves and shorts are not things you associate together in Iowa. Mexico? South America? Maybe there you might be thinking that is a normal association, but not in the Mid-West. </p><p>That said, I rode on the 26th and the 27th in shorts and a t-shirt. That just ain't right, in my opinion. Cool? sure, but it is rather concerning. That and the lack of moisture. I've thought we were in for a doozy of a year in terms of a drought last year, but this year came in and said, "<i>Hold my beer....</i>" </p><p>Things could turn around this Spring, and I sure hope that they do, or all I will be writing about all year is "<i>Brown Season</i>". Okay....maybe <i>"Dust Season</i>", that might actually work better. Again, I sure hope that I am wrong, but as of now, things look pretty dire out there. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKNeiLepb787lF-1wmbAZBBUe2-by1djHUIFCF6U_cKyP1DUg91uzGX19VUaXb1AwOCEo8jD0_kN50X9BCFtWtd9rhRafGYHISpuvl7JyWhiklEbbQDMv1tRjLUqKE-8c0ZRwz8QUWbD7ydecCaRiup22vZL-YGu7w1RzVZ3clhTcxtlBNpGxLkA/s921/P2270002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="757" data-original-width="921" height="526" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKNeiLepb787lF-1wmbAZBBUe2-by1djHUIFCF6U_cKyP1DUg91uzGX19VUaXb1AwOCEo8jD0_kN50X9BCFtWtd9rhRafGYHISpuvl7JyWhiklEbbQDMv1tRjLUqKE-8c0ZRwz8QUWbD7ydecCaRiup22vZL-YGu7w1RzVZ3clhTcxtlBNpGxLkA/w640-h526/P2270002.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><u>While this may look like a pile of dirt, it is actually melting snow underneath that duff.<br /></u></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p>I really did not feel like riding Tuesday at all. But I also could not live with myself and let this unprecedented weather pass without some sort of bicycle ride. Today it will struggle to get into the 30's, which, is about normal anyway for February, but Monday it was 74°F here and yesterday it was about 65°F before the winds came up around 2:00pm and the long slide downward overnight happened. We ended up being in the single digits!</p><p>Anyway, so I did not feel like riding, but I got kitted up anyway and headed over East thinking maybe I'd hit those B Roads over by Washburn. Maybe I'd feel better then and ride more gravel. I had time. I left the house by 8:30am. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb6k2YSc8d1HiMZkRLfvjkauQB9XjRF2o0L5jLLVgAmXbBI5h2INMAe0BDJ5vH1OCJyMkpLh9ruSR-zXe90Ue1FhxX1ErzhwHhuiabO9v7ClYid3mhLvzkQFDhiiYf5VrhITwbZ-D7QkcbhbsewAlx_8xvCaakYmsyMCW2-6PY8kD8E-nmBdB92w/s1200/P2270004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb6k2YSc8d1HiMZkRLfvjkauQB9XjRF2o0L5jLLVgAmXbBI5h2INMAe0BDJ5vH1OCJyMkpLh9ruSR-zXe90Ue1FhxX1ErzhwHhuiabO9v7ClYid3mhLvzkQFDhiiYf5VrhITwbZ-D7QkcbhbsewAlx_8xvCaakYmsyMCW2-6PY8kD8E-nmBdB92w/w640-h480/P2270004.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><u>I had a special cargo in that dry bag attached to the OMM Axle Pack.<br /></u></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p>I decided to bring along a canister of coffee for a stop later on. I slid that into a dry bag and that attached to the cargo carrier which was attached to the <span style="color: #2b00fe;"><a href="https://g-tedproductions.blogspot.com/2024/01/review-old-man-mountain-axle-pack.html" target="_blank">Old Man Mountain Axle Pack</a></span>. I figured on finding a bridge or somewhere suitable for a sit-down coffee break that morning.</p><p>The roads around here are already a mess with the bridges being repaired and replaced downtown. I was going to use the riverside bicycle trail, but I got shunted off onto an alley parallel to the Cedar River. Then I ended up on a street that led me to the Riverview Recreation Area which used to be a wild area called Mitchell Sand Pits. </p><p>I was just fine with a ride around Harold Getty Lake and then heading back home. Plus there were lots of lakeside benches strewn along the shoreline that might make for a good coffee sipping spot. Or even better, that shelter house with picnic tables. So, I headed down the dike and onto the double-track path around the lake. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzF5Y09F6dZ2LWkgSKy3fOJ7KhJAxzYMDHwnCgX-gsMS8KnFKncsRbWT9XKNzJ2fIaQC_-DyXNr6aXBGP32IIjlX-g4ubydtHOXZFXhw-DXLg89gZu2rGaZBlgBGq9ocZISX2kBeaqDKTYRHql7a7f4iIOU5vZWdPx_gWD7N2LS6x_scV5PR98yA/s1200/P2270006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzF5Y09F6dZ2LWkgSKy3fOJ7KhJAxzYMDHwnCgX-gsMS8KnFKncsRbWT9XKNzJ2fIaQC_-DyXNr6aXBGP32IIjlX-g4ubydtHOXZFXhw-DXLg89gZu2rGaZBlgBGq9ocZISX2kBeaqDKTYRHql7a7f4iIOU5vZWdPx_gWD7N2LS6x_scV5PR98yA/w640-h480/P2270006.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><u>Before there were Yeti's, there was the Thermos. <br /></u></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p>I knew that the shelter with picnic tables was located at the point where I would be leaving the lake. That was quite a ways around from where I was starting at. I was in no hurry to stop before then, but this certain bench near a fishing jetty called out to me somehow. I stopped and sat down on a wobbly bench with my ancient but functional one-pint Thermos. It was relatively calm so the water was like glass. The sky was blue and there were a few clouds. The breeze was light. I found myself in a nice, peaceful state......</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfwyS-bLOuvXcfq9uA50LKhK0LfBR__7xABnM8OFHJT1FN9mSNRC5k9M8f0x8zvDVJmXWJ1hL1cWdSc7CbUU19L_ixDuQ5k3M1vUdRaLuTLPO_f5B67ZeKTq-y_DbblJeCzC13N4j7vx4a8zB1Ck_GmWzfcksshqSVKs-hUh4F706UNtoFFUMaYg/s1200/P2270007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfwyS-bLOuvXcfq9uA50LKhK0LfBR__7xABnM8OFHJT1FN9mSNRC5k9M8f0x8zvDVJmXWJ1hL1cWdSc7CbUU19L_ixDuQ5k3M1vUdRaLuTLPO_f5B67ZeKTq-y_DbblJeCzC13N4j7vx4a8zB1Ck_GmWzfcksshqSVKs-hUh4F706UNtoFFUMaYg/w640-h480/P2270007.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><u>Does it really get any better than this?<br /></u></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p>I sat for, oh.....<i>I don't know</i>, a long time it was, for sure. It was great with very little to distract me and I meditated on a few things while I sipped my coffee in the Sunshine. Finally, I drained the last of it and was about to leave when suddenly to my right I saw movement on the lake.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilgBFee8ll0WlOdKESRDYqot9N0Oh1lFHTKBPg9aZANcjar0AlwGQ2MV2F74gwzTLBwhlqPoxtB9e1QZRKh9Th6Px2RHntB9qGT8fwqEPBxelFyEmFLpY7IW4fqsBO6Pe2U51yAETr3uw-Odi3DP58xbdcAwPBKE6BS75LdpfXwiqixoqbKhmniA/s1200/P2270008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilgBFee8ll0WlOdKESRDYqot9N0Oh1lFHTKBPg9aZANcjar0AlwGQ2MV2F74gwzTLBwhlqPoxtB9e1QZRKh9Th6Px2RHntB9qGT8fwqEPBxelFyEmFLpY7IW4fqsBO6Pe2U51yAETr3uw-Odi3DP58xbdcAwPBKE6BS75LdpfXwiqixoqbKhmniA/w640-h480/P2270008.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><u>Two ducks and a large, white swan (?) glide across Harold Getty Lake.<br /></u></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p>This large white bird was gliding across the surface of the water. At first I thought it was alone but then I noticed the two ducks in front of it. They made for a strange procession across the lake until the ducks disappeared and the white bird turned and headed back to the middle of the lake. </p><p>I watched in silence and took a couple images. Then I decided it was time to head back to the house. On my way past the shelter, I realized why the bench by the jetty had attracted me. There were two pairs of men chatting away there and another cyclist. I would have found no peace had I went straight to the shelter for coffee. </p><p>Right about this time I noticed something going on with my rear tire. A <i>whomp-whomp-whomp</i>! with every rear wheel revolution. Hmm...... I stopped to investigate it.....</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY1kpwvroELiPnpFmPQNKiDIvO1enLO_ByIDtOQDQWk5u5S4llAUhIR4OrHm2VBNORr-tOZJYRmeVTpjcasVG_VJjexRW4Z4zPvegq0iRDZ00PIx-vzFfxW-4E5Yt2_J0pY_Dp-Nv4BPEsxDh776u-pTB_9Phj6l-sGIiygi352PHpPAitUA3e0g/s937/BULGED%20TIRE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="906" data-original-width="937" height="618" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY1kpwvroELiPnpFmPQNKiDIvO1enLO_ByIDtOQDQWk5u5S4llAUhIR4OrHm2VBNORr-tOZJYRmeVTpjcasVG_VJjexRW4Z4zPvegq0iRDZ00PIx-vzFfxW-4E5Yt2_J0pY_Dp-Nv4BPEsxDh776u-pTB_9Phj6l-sGIiygi352PHpPAitUA3e0g/w640-h618/BULGED%20TIRE.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><u>My WTB Resolute developed a tread separation.<br /></u></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p>I noticed a bump in the tread and a distortion of the casing. Oh! This was bad! My tire casing and tread were separating and air was getting in between the casing and the tread, causing a bulge. This tire was about to blow up and when that happens? You're pretty much done. </p><p>I had this very thing happen when I was down at the DK200 one year during a course pre-ride with my friend Tony and a few others. Between us all, I was able to boot the tire, put in a tube, and we taped the tire to the rim with black electrical tape! It worked long enough to get me home. This time I had no boot or tape, so if the Resolute failed, I would be walking. </p><p>I managed to get about half way home at a snails pace, not wanting to risk a rear blow-out at any significant speed. Then I felt like the bulge was getting worse, so I dismounted, let out some air, and walked the remainder of the way home. </p><p>Just think if I had decided I needed to go all the way out into the country and then have this happen? Things kind of have a way of working out for the best sometimes.... <br /></p>Guitar Tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10960580677548417562noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12831567.post-44574185490956464062024-02-27T02:30:00.018-05:002024-02-27T02:30:00.127-05:00Honeman Flyer Project: Update<p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKbZ68BMgyEzYL6HHxooHN_kr0xSGxLJTYFOaR4MV4N5tKP6x1LfDqKkIY2ao4juCh9j2roHQZouuR1OSD6vrI9GupLpdr8JnlE1zYzkwxEkAdNxUHn3trXtqNfvKChALcCm2u5dRxzvNpOlBqCoRJ7H84y7nBD4_P7cCpkSObjZ01NRpDZNZEZQ/s844/HF%205.PNG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="631" data-original-width="844" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKbZ68BMgyEzYL6HHxooHN_kr0xSGxLJTYFOaR4MV4N5tKP6x1LfDqKkIY2ao4juCh9j2roHQZouuR1OSD6vrI9GupLpdr8JnlE1zYzkwxEkAdNxUHn3trXtqNfvKChALcCm2u5dRxzvNpOlBqCoRJ7H84y7nBD4_P7cCpkSObjZ01NRpDZNZEZQ/s320/HF%205.PNG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><u>Image courtesy of King Fabrications<br /></u></i></td></tr></tbody></table>This update on the Honeman Flyer is going to cover the potential build for the bike. If you are seeing this for the first time and don't know what this is about, the introduction can be found <b><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><a href="https://g-tedproductions.blogspot.com/2024/02/introducing-honeman-flyer.html" target="_blank">HERE</a></span></b>. <p></p><p>So, I have a back-stock of parts which is pretty crazy. Even <i>I cannot remember what I have</i>! So, it didn't come to me until Monday (yesterday) that I had a carbon crank for this bike. Anyway.....</p><p>As of now, I can go either with a silver based component look or I can go black. Within those colors I have options as well. It's dizzying with all the choices. But, I have come to a preliminary decision as of now. </p><p>The goal is to build this up in a way which allows me to use mostly parts I already have on hand. Right now, where I am at with this, I think I can get away with only having to purchase a bottom bracket. Well, as far a <i>major parts </i>go, that is it. I did have to order a rear through axle. I also bought two new water bottle cages for it as well. I probably will have to buy the housings for the brakes also. I may even have to buy an extra long rear brake cable, but we'll see. Maybe not.... </p><p>Otherwise things like a head set, brakes, rotors, handle bars, and a stem all are here to get going on the build. The wheels are all set up and ready now as well. If you missed the post on the wheels it can be seen <b><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><a href="https://g-tedproductions.blogspot.com/2024/02/two-things.html" target="_blank">HERE</a></span></b>. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYoTlGtvl0Sgoh0wxFbO3-5Z8AvA2-WUmIATYvdoopG-1ecnLFlu3CdijsOslXOzjhExzCOPsAGYIlZVPNL6PD-B_YAEu3imL-qpgl-2Ljmr7yG0kYftTjseJF-Dbj_JTDpaDA8hi4kzb32q66BB5P6_2g8E8wEG1a_NY7cyv5b_OIe8zP9aafPQ/s1200/P2260005.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYoTlGtvl0Sgoh0wxFbO3-5Z8AvA2-WUmIATYvdoopG-1ecnLFlu3CdijsOslXOzjhExzCOPsAGYIlZVPNL6PD-B_YAEu3imL-qpgl-2Ljmr7yG0kYftTjseJF-Dbj_JTDpaDA8hi4kzb32q66BB5P6_2g8E8wEG1a_NY7cyv5b_OIe8zP9aafPQ/w640-h480/P2260005.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><u>A pile of parts I am wading through to find the build for the Honeman Flyer.<br /></u></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p>I am pretty sure, at least as of this writing, that the theme will be black ano for the build. The bike has a lot of black all over with that crackle design to that paint job and I feel as though this calls for a black parts build. Plus the hubs are black on the wheel set as well. </p><p>Factoring into this is that I have a black seat collar and a black head set, neither of which I have in silver. So a silver build would require more parts to be ordered. With that, here is a list for the parts. Keep in mind any of this could change once I get the frame and fork in.</p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Crank: SRAM Rival carbon with a 40T ring (Previously used on the Standard Rando v2 SS build)</li><li>Head set: Cane Creek 40</li><li>Stem: (Depends on fit)</li><li>Seat Post: Likely an FSA zero offset post I have, but I also have an old Tamer carbon post that might work with zero offset. </li><li>Seat Collar: Salsa Cycles black ano</li><li>Brake Levers: Tektro RL's (I have ones in all black or black hoods with drilled silver levers)</li><li>Brake Calipers; TRP Spyre</li><li>Rotors: 6 Bolt SRAM</li><li>Bottom Bracket: Needs to be purchased.</li><li>Pedals: Shimano SPD</li><li>Saddle: WTB Volt</li><li>Chain; TBD</li><li>Bar Tape: Magenta MSD brand. (In image above)</li><li>Wheels: Paul Components WORD Disc hubs, black, laced to Velocity Blunt SS rims in black with half of the spokes silver, half black. 20T Shimano freewheel cog attached. </li><li>Tires: Teravail Rutland 700 X 42m set up tubeless.</li></ul><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiBLV1NYJHjcVSEoQV0AAVBRFBdZ8tWhA4JiDyDwo2m5MQzP0G-qyN8QaROI-DWWMVCZ1oSutV1w3t-vg4ojqHlPCUJcBYn8tkdZzY6W2tfVJt8JxdHB7dcULgE_NDHUlBUwHYFuB0J2_75nZZnldFaxO3WVgtul4vNT1fyM5nYTW1xY6N-Da5zQ/s1043/HF%203.PNG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="782" data-original-width="1043" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiBLV1NYJHjcVSEoQV0AAVBRFBdZ8tWhA4JiDyDwo2m5MQzP0G-qyN8QaROI-DWWMVCZ1oSutV1w3t-vg4ojqHlPCUJcBYn8tkdZzY6W2tfVJt8JxdHB7dcULgE_NDHUlBUwHYFuB0J2_75nZZnldFaxO3WVgtul4vNT1fyM5nYTW1xY6N-Da5zQ/w640-h480/HF%203.PNG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><u>Image courtesy of Erik Mathy<br /></u></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Okay, I think that about covers everything. I may have missed a bauble here or there. But again, this all may change. I hope it doesn't because I have a very limited amount of time to get this together and test ride it. </p><p>This was compounded by the time it took to let the paint cure, which was all of last week, and the frame and fork did not get shipped until yesterday. Coming from California to Iowa will take all the rest of this week. That means I won't probably get my grubby hands on the thing until <i>maybe Friday</i>, (that's the shipper's target date), but it could be Monday or Tuesday of next week, knowing how shipping usually goes. </p><p>That means that I will have about <i>nine days </i>to spare before I leave for Mid-South. Everything had better go according to plan because if it does not, well...... </p><p><u>It will go according to plan</u>. <i>Right? </i></p><p>Stay tuned. <br /></p>Guitar Tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10960580677548417562noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12831567.post-67434687816152189492024-02-26T02:30:00.010-05:002024-02-26T02:30:00.247-05:00Change In Plans<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvoxp64Qn18M4vbtY4yVALcwSBnEblgZaFQE-bY4eKeAPQmjoh8k01KPb8akhOZCM1vAF053jMBuD0JIBBaQPLQcIVCUGFY9NpyZhH2DKMiqM1nESYq3cjpM2ix6CwYhBbrid6kA729lknG4VS9YuirMwzDV60sa87kuF2Dg6B3G3m5yIex1x9Eg/s500/GENTS%20RACE.PNG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="500" height="128" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvoxp64Qn18M4vbtY4yVALcwSBnEblgZaFQE-bY4eKeAPQmjoh8k01KPb8akhOZCM1vAF053jMBuD0JIBBaQPLQcIVCUGFY9NpyZhH2DKMiqM1nESYq3cjpM2ix6CwYhBbrid6kA729lknG4VS9YuirMwzDV60sa87kuF2Dg6B3G3m5yIex1x9Eg/s320/GENTS%20RACE.PNG" width="320" /></a></div> <b>And Some More Detail On "The Plan"</b>:<p></p><p>Things don't always turn out the way you think that they might. Everyone knows this. I thought I would be doing a few events in 2024, and I will still be doing a few, but just not the same few I thought would be the few. </p><p>I know....<i>it's crazy</i>. </p><p>First off, the event I absolutely adore and have attended for years is one <i>that I will not be attending this year</i>. Conflicts with myself and another on the team have scuppered our plans to make the event. This will be the first year that the team has not appeared in the Gents Race in 13 years. That's a pretty good run. Nothing to sneeze at, and if we never go back, well, it was a good run. </p><p>Have fun at the Gents Race if you go. I highly recommend this one.</p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSpJgMfrt1wW2ML9AjpxkeYt6iZbWG0xMPvD3G4GWepTNiio5gFu0c0Sy5lfZZIR6-nqz0ZTnVhxrvbf9IDMb-HlM-e4um-xxdJ4mPzrYpyJ7jkP1lPTs-lIR9bYuCrXJCx_la3Nrkgfn9H4TeumTB81bWmpJjq59GQ9FYYZj5KWqOJhQPXCz0gA/s797/HF%201.PNG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="797" data-original-width="582" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSpJgMfrt1wW2ML9AjpxkeYt6iZbWG0xMPvD3G4GWepTNiio5gFu0c0Sy5lfZZIR6-nqz0ZTnVhxrvbf9IDMb-HlM-e4um-xxdJ4mPzrYpyJ7jkP1lPTs-lIR9bYuCrXJCx_la3Nrkgfn9H4TeumTB81bWmpJjq59GQ9FYYZj5KWqOJhQPXCz0gA/s320/HF%201.PNG" width="234" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><u>Image courtesy of Erik Mathy.<br /></u></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p>The next event I will be attending is coming up very soon. That would be Mid-South. I've never been to this event, and I am excited to witness it first hand. I do have to credit several people for making this happen though. This was <i>not on my radar even two months ago</i>!</p><p>This all started with that idea for the Honeman Flyer single speed gravel bike based on a 1930's design. Erik Mathy, a photographer and cyclist out of San Francisco, California, pitched an idea to me that required my buying in, literally and figuratively, to participate in bringing the Honeman Flyer to life. Erik connected me with a local to him frame builder named Liam King of King Fabrications. Li agreed to take on the project, but there were some fits and starts to our communications, and at one point I just figured Li wasn't interested and that was that.</p><p>No bike, no Mid-South, and I would have had to have arranged for transportation, housing, get a deferral from Bobby to enter, yada, yada, <i>yada</i>. </p><p>It was all looking insurmountable and I gave up on it by the end of 2023. Meanwhile, Erik thought about the project and realized that he hadn't heard anything about it for a while. Erik's stake in this was that he was going to write up a story and take imagery of the completed bike at Mid-South to pitch to magazines or websites, as he is a free-lance writer as well. He contacted me and when he heard my tale he said he'd get the ball rolling again on his end. As for my logistics issues, Erik said that I needed to contact Ben Witt who was planning on taking several folks with him to Mid-South again as he has done for a few years now. </p><p>Well, Ben was beyond stoked about the entire "Plan", and so he detailed out the finer points for me which included lodging, transportation, and more. Okay, logistically things looked great. Now about getting this bike done, and then I needed to arrange to get the time off at the Collective. This was still not a done deal. </p><p>With Erik's prompting of Li, things got hot on the bicycle front again and the frame and fork were in progress. I went to the Board meeting and got the time off. So.... Game on. As long as this bike turns out well "The Plan" put in place for me will be activated and well..... You'll get the full report afterward. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgILjlC1JePY3RXjM3AmPeisWiIWjr9roLN_Lw3oVPSIKWpqOXomY6c8tpXwkJIra4Gh-CWVBRbJOjC_R46kbznTJvXDr4ZRr-N17YQgh5NaL1yjg45LdeLDR_VcFVsSUL0Oi5zaeUywEZ_KTfbnGir04UslP-Ibzfpo7IHEYre4ZdBl5PwKTX9cQ/s1192/P5310025.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="584" data-original-width="1192" height="157" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgILjlC1JePY3RXjM3AmPeisWiIWjr9roLN_Lw3oVPSIKWpqOXomY6c8tpXwkJIra4Gh-CWVBRbJOjC_R46kbznTJvXDr4ZRr-N17YQgh5NaL1yjg45LdeLDR_VcFVsSUL0Oi5zaeUywEZ_KTfbnGir04UslP-Ibzfpo7IHEYre4ZdBl5PwKTX9cQ/s320/P5310025.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p>The final event I am scheduling for 2024 is my appearance at the Gravel Cycling Hall of Fame Induction ceremonies on May 29th, 2024 in Emporia, Kansas. </p><p>The GCHoF board wants me to be a presenter, so I will be up on stage at some point doing "a thing" for the GCHoF. Can't say what that is now. Stay tuned on that.....</p><p>I can say that I will arrive in Emporia the afternoon of the 29th and be staying overnight. Oddly enough my room will be in the same facility where the first DK200's were run out of. I may or may not bring a bike. If I do it will be the Honeman Flyer so I can test it out on some terrain I know fairly well. </p><p>And that is my plan for events in 2024. Again, I cannot take off willy-nilly and do weekend events since I work Saturdays and to boot, my son relies on The Truck With No Name now to get to his job. So, I really don't have much access to a vehicle anymore at this time and that doesn't look to change for a while.<br /></p><p>Stay tuned for further updates as the become necessary. You know how things can change......<br /></p>Guitar Tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10960580677548417562noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12831567.post-16253715774940680282024-02-25T02:30:00.029-05:002024-02-25T02:30:00.258-05:00Two Things<p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-BQttVSKocTQlQnF2jdQFxCHZAd_1xzi9WtIpvjb0aWzmF8O3ZV78Lj3DU-3M0fUNuYZIOITYAtIjvGhHIqhZFP8c_SWVQ-CvVDR-YNayCMKD3KTUCs0zjAdWiZqY4mEhfccgg1HdMpFaboW9w-niBjGVHHFLzbM8kwwr2dSCC_BWF5XBVMVOcQ/s586/MAVEN%20BRAKES.PNG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="342" data-original-width="586" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-BQttVSKocTQlQnF2jdQFxCHZAd_1xzi9WtIpvjb0aWzmF8O3ZV78Lj3DU-3M0fUNuYZIOITYAtIjvGhHIqhZFP8c_SWVQ-CvVDR-YNayCMKD3KTUCs0zjAdWiZqY4mEhfccgg1HdMpFaboW9w-niBjGVHHFLzbM8kwwr2dSCC_BWF5XBVMVOcQ/s320/MAVEN%20BRAKES.PNG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><u>Image from SRAM promo video<br /></u></i></td></tr></tbody></table><b>SRAM's New Maven Brakes</b>:<p></p><p>Checked the calendar and yes - <i>it is not April 1st</i>! SRAM really did just make a new brake with mineral oil as the fluid instead of DOT brake fluid. (To be fair, they had an obscure brake ahead of this that was also mineral oil based)</p><p>Maven, the new design from SRAM for their DH, Enduro, and Trail categories, is a four piston brake with a huge, chunky looking caliper and a claim of a 50% increase in power over their previous Code R brakes. </p><p>Obviously the main talking point will undoubtedly be that SRAM has used a Maxima made mineral oil for this brake and have forsaken DOT fluid. (Older models are still offered in DOT fluid, by the way) This fluid is very Jello green in color and is claimed to be the only mineral oil that will work with these brakes due to a special proprietary piston seal material SRAM is using on the Maven brakes. </p><p>SRAM's promotions for this brake seems to poke a finger at Shimano with verbiage to the effect that "heat isn't a bad thing" for brakes. (Shimano has for years used "Ice Tech" and other cold-type nomenclature for their brake systems) Maybe I'm wrong, but I don't know that Shimano ever said "<i>heat was bad for brakes</i>". They wanted to reduce heat and control it, but they were never trying to get rid of all heat. That is silly. Maybe SRAM was poking fun at another brand's messaging. I don't know. </p><p>SRAM is saying that they have an optimal temperature range for this brake. They kind of dance around how cold weather affects these brakes, and they infer that you'll need to get these brakes hot, or they won't be what they are supposed to be. How that translates to rides that have longer intervals off the brakes is a question unanswered as of now. </p><p>The Maven comes in an Ultimate, Silver, and Bronze level. The Ultimate and Silver brakes are fully-featured, the difference is that the Ultimate has titanium hardware in the caliper body. The Bronze level drops the bite adjustment feature, but otherwise is similar. Prices are Ultimate - $300.00/brake, Silver - $265.00/brake, and Bronze - $185.00/brake. </p><p><b>Comments</b>: Ever since SRAM has made hydraulic brakes, mechanics have groused about their bleeding procedures and laughed at their various brake fails in terms of designs. But above all, mechanics <i>hated </i>working with DOT fluid. The move to mineral oil will be welcomed in that sense. However; as anyone with any kind of bike shop experience would tell you, it is no surprise that the mineral oil is proprietary and that the equipment to service these brakes will all have to be purchased by shops for their mechanics. That's been the same since SRAM has made brakes, pretty much. Always with something else you HAD to buy to work on their latest brake. </p><p>But one thing that has not changed, apparently, is how difficult it is to bleed these and set them up initially. That's been a SRAM hallmark for their hydraulic brakes since forever. <br /></p><p>But consumers will likely dig these brakes and they will be spec'ed on TONS of new mountain bikes, (as long as SRAM doesn't get a recall ding with this new brake). Oh! And E-MTB's will definitely see this brake spec often as well. Hope SRAM has a hit on their hands here because I would love to see them ditch DOT fluid for their entire hydraulic brake line up. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIGJuldRvW0_M7soOUQZBbIxd16g7JGoq70KdWcnFNHmn-ujXJMVXSJ8juWB33HcztLufwWqX4CcBmVSeh3-3iq9BlebKzXL0SIJyXyG1YQSeVWHHJKuvhBQz9ryOaof4oeovelQW8J9NMiqqmeZ7uqPESpAnnyJAn6hKFxrANUQixqExFJwCbag/s1200/P2220001.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIGJuldRvW0_M7soOUQZBbIxd16g7JGoq70KdWcnFNHmn-ujXJMVXSJ8juWB33HcztLufwWqX4CcBmVSeh3-3iq9BlebKzXL0SIJyXyG1YQSeVWHHJKuvhBQz9ryOaof4oeovelQW8J9NMiqqmeZ7uqPESpAnnyJAn6hKFxrANUQixqExFJwCbag/s320/P2220001.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p><b>Honeman Flyer Update:</b></p><p>My front wheel to match my rear wheel has landed at G-Ted Headquarters for the new single speed gravel bike build. This might just be the oddest wheel set I have as it was built by two different people nearly two years apart from each other.</p><p>See, back in 2020, parts were <i>hard to come by</i> as the pandemic made cycling ultra-popular. I had <i>one </i>Velocity USA Blunt SS, and that was all we could get. I wanted to score a new Paul Components WORD Disc hub with a 12mm through axle though, but they weren't available. So I put one on back order. Then, finally, in January of 2022, I got an email asking if I still wanted the hub, and I did, so by March of 2022, two years ago, I built a rear wheel for my Twin Six Standard Rando v2. </p><p>I kludged a front wheel out of the original front wheel that came with my Nobel GX5 bike. It looked similar enough that it was hard to notice the difference, and I probably would have kept things that way for a long, long time, but then....</p><p>I got that GRX Limited Edition group set and used it on the Standard Rando v2. That sent the single speed, mismatched wheel set off in the corner of the G-Ted Lab. When the chance to get the Honeman Flyer bike became a reality, that old rear was pegged for the project, but now I felt I may as well finally get the front wheel to match.</p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioXcOwkeeDjkEX9r75bk2ByODGTuU5OOFoVOh6wYfLLE90jflKmFbGwq7SKZ7FzOFMvMqDOHEY_UsJGg0sWdIVFMREkS4vAmpVh3BzbAqpIVu__I5BUkSjF_XGR6IRLXYkIxeTZ77Df-REm97vEzkiT51yULkih4YzFDHl1Z-t1NP0xnRpPoamyA/s1200/P2220002.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioXcOwkeeDjkEX9r75bk2ByODGTuU5OOFoVOh6wYfLLE90jflKmFbGwq7SKZ7FzOFMvMqDOHEY_UsJGg0sWdIVFMREkS4vAmpVh3BzbAqpIVu__I5BUkSjF_XGR6IRLXYkIxeTZ77Df-REm97vEzkiT51yULkih4YzFDHl1Z-t1NP0xnRpPoamyA/s320/P2220002.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><u>Signed by the builder.<br /></u></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>I contacted my friend and wheel-building professional, Ben Witt of <span style="color: #2b00fe;"><a href="https://www.heathcreekcycles.com/" target="_blank">Heath Creek Cycles</a></span>, to consult him on a possible front wheel build to match the older Paul rear. Ben mentioned that he could order me the parts and I could build it, but he also offered me the option of having him build it up. </p><p>The thought of having my friend build up my front wheel was appealing to me. It will allow me to have a bit of Ben along with me on every ride of that bike. But it is odd to think that the complete, matched wheel set has taken this long to accomplish and was done by two different wheel builders. </p><p>And we even managed to get the "Guitar Ted Special" spoke pattern down tight. Alternating sides with black and silver spokes with each color spoke featuring an opposite colored nipple in brass. I was stoked that Ben would accommodate me in that way. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7XPP9N5Aoxm0n3Qv52SDuYnzxRPMzovKd7lcvoANcjffl3845znDqPcH6Puv5voeowaT-4TSCACu2HhhQ0ZQ4RL2mv4luua4u7CbK7Qf7l4fkHxGllxG7QnaGed08uMdslDCft8v0UhAhdnrSK5KAjl5-uKMnLc4kdJqvN_sdPQk4EgmNSIDTRg/s1200/P2220003.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7XPP9N5Aoxm0n3Qv52SDuYnzxRPMzovKd7lcvoANcjffl3845znDqPcH6Puv5voeowaT-4TSCACu2HhhQ0ZQ4RL2mv4luua4u7CbK7Qf7l4fkHxGllxG7QnaGed08uMdslDCft8v0UhAhdnrSK5KAjl5-uKMnLc4kdJqvN_sdPQk4EgmNSIDTRg/w640-h480/P2220003.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /> So, another piece of the puzzle has landed. I think I have a crankset I can use, at least two options would look okay here. I have a head set. I have brakes. I have the levers. I have seat posts and stems. I <i>probably will go with a Luxy Bar</i>. I have one in silver. So, yeah.... I have a bunch of what I need to build the bike up once the frame and fork arrive. <p></p><p>The waiting game begins...... <br /></p>Guitar Tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10960580677548417562noreply@blogger.com3