(Still) Learning To Get Along With It

Several years ago Shimano North America sent me a GRX Limited group set. I was not expected to review it, nor was I paid to say anything about it. But to be completely transparent up front, I wanted everyone to understand where I got the parts. 

This group is unique in the fact that it has several polished aluminum bits compared to a standard GRX group. It is 11 speed mechanical with hydraulic brakes, of course. 

The group set has been flawless since I have had it. One thing about it though had bothered me a bit and this has to do with the chain rings on the crank set. It is a 2X crank, which I really prefer over a 1X, but the ring choices were not the ones I'd have made. Typically I go for a 46/36 spread, like a classic cyclo cross set up would have. The GRX Limited crank set has 48/31 chain wheel set. Whoa! Quite a difference from what I was used to, and predictably, I wasn't fond of it to start out with.

The GRX Limited Edition on the T-6 Standard Rando v2

I first mounted the GRX Limited components on the Twin Six Standard Rando v2 I have. The process of understanding how to make this 2X work for myself was a long, drawn out affair. I started out with big cadence jumps whenever I'd shift from the 48T to the 31T or vice versa. It was annoying. 

Along the way I learned to make compensating shifts in the rear which helped me and I lived in this world for quite a while. However; something happened on the Veterans Day ride which I wrote about earlier this week, 

I found myself in the big ring going up another roller and  then I figured I'd better shift or I was going to burn my legs up. So, 'bang!, down into that 31 and you know what? I was right where I needed to be cadence-wise. 

So, here is what has ended up working for me. I am in the big ring, like above, and grinding. I use up most of the cassette at the low end, (speaking of the bigger cogs out back, for clarity), and then your muscles are getting angry, right? You need to spin a little. Well, hitting that low gear on the front, (again, the inner 31T chain wheel for clarity), I then allow myself to spin out that burn and maybe I compensate one shift to a higher gear out back, (slightly smaller sized cassette cog), and I'm somehow getting along with it now. 

I used to kind of avoid riding this group set at first, but now I'm starting to see how I can adapt to it, finally. I'm still not there quite yet, but this is making more sense now. In fact, I'd take this group set to a hillier event now over my standard 46/36 set ups. 

I still like triple cranks, so I'm not saying I'd get 2X wider range cranks for the other bikes. 1X is okay, but I feel the inefficiencies of the 1X and I'm not a fan. Yes......many love 1X. Great. You do you. I'm not a believer. (Yes, I have a 1X gravel bike) 

But this 2X GRX has grown on me. I still have more learning to do. Which is great. It means I have to ride more. Who doesn't like riding a bicycle more?  

Friday News And Views

Image courtesy of SRAM

 Zipp Wheels "Revised For Gravel Compatibility"

On Tuesday of this past week, Zipp (SRAM) announced the "revised for gravel compatibility" 303 SW and 353 NSW wheels.  

Essentially, SRAM is saying you can use up to a 49mm tire on the 353 NSW and up to a 55mm tire on the 303 SW..

Both come with the integrated air pressure sensors allowing monitoring of air pressure in real time.  

Comments: The wheel sets are still really best used with road tires as SRAM freely admits the aero optimization is best with narrower tires than anyone runs on gravel nowadays.  

And of course, these wheels are quite pricey. So, this may not be of much import to many of you. But it is worth noting that SRAM is trying to capitalize on the popularity, (real or perceived) of gravel racing in 2026-2027.  

Virtual Turkey Burn Reminder:

In ten days you can start your Virtual Turkey Burn Challenge rides! I can hardly believe I'm writing these words. That came up quickly! I know I've been looking at the extended forecasts with anticipation. 

Oh....I'm sorry. You are not aware of this challenge? Well, the outline for participation can be seen by clicking HERE. It is a free to enter challenge and there is no reward but a sense of accomplishment and seeing your words and images here afterward. 

The weather looks to be iffy here. The prognosticators cannot decide on whether it will be frigid cold or warmer than normal I'll go ahead and help them out by saying that it will, of course,  be horribly cold, windy, and unpleasant. Why wouldn't it be that? This is about the time of year when Winter makes an announcement of its coming and it has been quite impactful here the last few years. 

So, I'm guessing it will be a chore here to log a metric century and I'll be hard pressed to get it done. But then, why would we want it any other way?  Good luck to any of you taking this challenge on for 2026! 

Image courtesy of The Traka website

CORE4 Moves To Traka World Series Events:

CORE4, which had been a part of the Gravel Earth Series is now being shown as an addition to the Traka World Series. The Traka and a couple of the other events in the Gravel Earth Series are also now a part of The Traka World Series. According to a post on the Gravel Earth Series home page, it appears the Gravel Earth Series is no longer going to occur. 

The Traka, based out of Girona, Spain, has become the "Unbound of Europe", bringing more competition and attendance than most any other gravel event in Europe. The Traka started adding events a couple of years ago, but now will have a "World Series" event schedule featuring one event per month starting in February of 2027 with the only exception being June.and July.  (June is when Unbound happens)

The event series will consist of  seven events so far. The last being held in October. The April and October events have yet to be announced. Most events are based in Spain while as of now, CORE4 is the only one based out of the USA.  Another event, "The River", is based out of Belgium.

Image courtesy of Life Time Events

Life Time Ups The Ante For Grand Prix Series:

In other series news, Life Time Events revealed this week that they have raised the prize pool for the Grand Prix events significantly. 

The overall series purse has been raised from $350,000 to $400,000 and the events will now pay to tenth place over paying down to 5th this season. 

Here is a breakdown, provided by Life Time Events:

"Overall Series (top 10): 1st $40,000 · 2nd $30,000 · 3rd $24,000 · 4th $21,000 · 5th $19,000 · 6th $17,000 · 7th $15,000 · 8th $13,000 · 9th $11,000 · 10th $10,000

UNBOUND Gravel, Leadville Trail 100 MTB and Life Time Big Sugar Classic (top 10): 1st $10,000 · 2nd $7,000 · 3rd $6,000 · 4th $5,000 · 5th $4,000 · 6th $3,000 · 7th $2,000 · 8th $1,500 · 9th $1,000 · 10th $500

Sea Otter Classic, Chequamegon MTB Festival, The Rad Dirt Fest and Little Sugar MTB (top 10): 1st $5,000 · 2nd $3,500 · 3rd $3,000 · 4th $2,500 · 5th $2,000 · 6th $1,500 · 7th $1,000 · 8th $750 · 9th $500 · 10th $250"

Comments: That's a lot of 'moolah' right there. Obviously Life Time is trying to set itself apart from the UCI Gravel World Series and series like The Traka World Series. Life Time speaks of an effort to"...support a wider pool of elite talent.", which can be translated as "more of the existing elite talents will choose our series." Trying to make it seem as though this will grow gravel events, or interest in gravel events is hollow as far less than 1% of the overall gravel event participation is going to be represented by Life Time Grand Prix athletes. 

Their inferred references to growing the sport doesn't add up. My observations are that most gravel folk could barely tell you who is even doing these "elite events" anyway. so, mostly this seems to be a clanging gong. 

The thing is that this tiny part of the gravel riding populace garners most of the attention from media and drives product development which affects everyone. Adding more money to this only fuels that fire. My opinion is this only ends up affecting most gravel riders negatively. Both in terms of what is relevant to gravel riders as a whole and in terms of what is offered at retail for average people out on gravel rides who do not need all-out racing bikes or the accessories that accompany this discipline. It's what ended up tanking XC MTB and road categories/events, which have taken years to recover from, and some facets have never recovered from that all-out racing influence

That's it for this week! Get out there and ride those bicycles, folks. And as always, thanks for reading Guitar Ted Productions. 

Veterans Day Ride

Escape Route: Park Avenue North

N.Y. Roll called me up the other day and part of the conversation went like this: "So...... We're doing a ride on Veterans Day, right?"

Before this question nothing had been said about a Veterans Day Ride, at least not in a concrete sense. I answered him that we were doing a ride anyway. However; I informed him that this ride would need to be done in the morning. 

A little later he texted me to say he wanted to do the original 3GR route. I had actually been wanting to do this route after not having been on it for years. So, it was set. N.Y. Roll would swing by the house and we'd go off on a gravel grinder at 8:00am. 

Now, it is nearly mid-November and the Sun doesn't come up all that early now. So it was a bit dark in spots as we got going through downtown Waterloo. It also was chilly. 42°F to start out with a light Northerly breeze in our faces. I was glad I brought my Summer weight Hand Up gloves. I was wearing a Twin Six Thermo Cargo bib knickers with that old Bontrager wool jersey I have and the Twin Six wind vest over the top. I used the old shopping bag trick for my feet and wore my regular gravel shoes. On my head I had a bandana and my Bontrager Circuit helmet. It all worked to perfection. 

The Sun cam out in fits and Spurts. This is Moline Road

 

N.Y. Roll had to stop to get some real estate info here. 

The old 3GR route went out from Gates Park swimming pool parking lot (no longer there), went a mile East on Donald Street, and then turned Left onto Moline Road which turns to gravel in about a half mile. Then it is straight North until you get just to the East of Denver, Iowa. 

We were going at a decent clip, but Moline Road was covered in deep loose gravel all across the roadway making going up hill or on the flats a real chore. Fortunately the roads were just the opposite once we crossed over into Bremer County. Smooth and fast dirt due to the gravel having been pushed down into the road base.  

Still in Black Hawk County here.

 

And here in Bremer County. Notice the lack of loose gravel. 

A little over ten years ago houses were being built along the gravel road on the East side of Denver. There was a street next to the gravel, but I was telling anyone who'd listen back then that this was going to end up getting paved. Well, now, ten years later, it is chip seal, as is the next mile North across the blacktop. 

Hate to see it, but not surprised. 

We were nearing a left turn to go West and Northwest on my favorite part of this route. It is a road off-grid called Ivanhoe Road. I believe it was a stage coach/wagon road from Denver Iowa to Waverly, but I could have that wrong. At any rate, I believe it is the most scenic, fun bit of gravel around. 

 

Ivanhoe Road meanders off to the Northwest over rolling hills. 

This section was why I wanted to do the 3GR rides. I thought this bit of road was inspiring, beautiful, and unique. There really is not much around like it. Hopefully those folks who get to ride it now are appreciating how special this road is. 

 Ivanhoe eventually ends and you head West over to Hilton Avenue to go back South again. The road was still buttery smooth but now we had to traverse those rollers heading down past Camp Ingawanis. If you hit this section just right, you can roll several of these hills without pedaling. It's fun, and the descents are fast. 

On the way down we came across two other riders heading North. Neither N.Y. Roll or I recognized them, but they did wave back. 

Headed South on Hilton.

Hilton near Camp Ingawanis (right)

Hilton ends at a "T" intersection where the 3GR routes split off. When the ride was being held out of Cedar Falls, we stair-stepped North from Garden Avenue.and then went past the South section of Camp Ingawanis. We turned onto Hilton at that "T" intersection. That 3GR route went clockwise and the second, Waterloo based 3GR was anticlockwise. However; the Waterloo 3GR turned left at the "T" intersection, went past a rock quarry, and turned South on Ivory Road. 

We were doing the Ivory Road bit, so we were now heading East and South. There wasn't much wind, but what there was of it blew against our backs now so were were feeling fast, despite my now feeling tired. I hadn't ridden this far in quite some time!

There was still some harvesting going on. 

Now Ivory turns into Streeter Road in Black Hawk County. We were headed South on it until we reached Bennington Road where we went Left. This would have been the road back to Moline Road and the eventual end of the Waterloo based 3GR, but N.Y. Roll and I decided to come back on Burton Avenue instead..

Back in Waterloo heading through Exchange Park

 

We utilized the bike path along the Cedar River to Park Avenue and then back home. 

Eventually we made it back to Waterloo, and I got back home again. I had 40 miles and done in 3.5 hours total time. I was toast when I got back home and then I had to work as well.But spending time with my friend was worth it all, and what a great day! We may not see a day like this until next year. 

Winterizing: Ti Muk 2 - Part 2

You might remember my post on maintenance a week or so ago on the Ti Muk 2. It's HERE in case you need a refresher. I was awaiting a chain to replace the severely rusted chain which was on the bike from last year. 

My good friend Ari sent over a couple of those zinc-coated Rustbuster chains and I used one to get the Ti Muk 2 going again. After measuring the old chain (48 outer links), I cut the new chain and used the included snap link to secure it on the Ti Muk's drive train. 

Then I stripped the chain with Finishline degreaser, dried it as best I could, and applied Stan's BioBased Wet Lube. I figured I'd give that a try since this bike is set to get me through the worst of Winter conditions. Sloppy slush being the worst as it usually is infused with the latest chemical sauce the City can afford to splooge onto our streets. 

Sheesh.... I remember sand and rock salt for Winter road treatments. Guess those were "the good old days", Ha!But this newer stew kills steel and chains are made of steel, so I went with the Rustbuster and wet lube hoping I'll get some mileage out of this chain before it to succumbs to the rust disease. 

After the chain had been installed and oiled up I went ahead and stuck some more sealant in the tires. Then I aired those up to around 8psi and left the bike to sit while the chain marinated in its Stan's Wet Lube. 

The next day I got out for a short test ride

Got that fancy Coroplast splash guard and a new chain giving the bike a new look.

I did some deep sand, I splooshed through a few water crossings, and I climbed the dike. Good test run! The chain pops with its zinc coating. The bike looks different with the Coroplast splash guard I made. Overall I am pleased with the bike again and it is good to go for another Winter of commuting

Review: Ergon SR Allroad Pro Saddle & BT Orthocell Road Tape: Final Verdicts

  Note: Ergon sent the SR Allroad saddle and the BT OrthoCell Road handle bar tape to Guitar Ted Productions at no cost for test and review. Ergon has not paid for, nor bribed Guitar Ted for these reviews. All opinions and images, unless noted, belong to Guitar Ted/Guitar Ted Productions.

 Catching Up:

A long overdue review verdict comes at you today. This started back in February of this year!  And when other life happenings pushed this aside, I was lax in getting back to finishing up with the reviews of the handle bar tape and this saddle. My apologies to anyone I left hanging for the conclusion of these reviews!

With that mea culpa out of the way, let's remind ourselves where we've already been. The introductory article can be read HERE. This article will tell you all the specs, pricing, and other features of the SR Allroad Saddle and the BT Orthocell Road Tape. 

The initial impressions article on both items can be seen HERE. I had an update on the handle bar tape which you can read HERE. Since then I have been doing rides of shorter distances and over varied terrain. I have a few country gravel rides on this set up since that last update as well. 

Okay, with all of that covered and with the links back for you to catch up to where I am at today, let's dive intoeach item separately. I will give final verdicts on each item as well. First up, let's look at how the SR Allroad Saddle fared since Spring. 

SR Allroad Saddle:

As I would have guessed, I ended up being very happy with this saddle. It really is the only short-nosed design I get on with, along with Ergon's very similar SR PRO Men's saddle.  

I've spoken to how saddles are very personal choices because human anatomy varies so greatly. The Ergon SR series is a home run with me. I am not you, but you very well may love this saddle. Maybe you'll hate it. Maybe you will not be impressed either way. Hard for me to say here. 

I will let you know I've tried a couple of WTB's short-nosed saddles and haven't found them to be more comfortable riding than the Ergon saddles I've tried in the SR range. So, if you haven't gotten along with WTB's short-nosed range, maybe the Ergon will hit you right. 

I can say the padding on the SR Allroad Pro saddle is very nice. It is supportive, it doesn't allow your body weight to compress it in a way that you get soreness/bruising, and  it holds up well. The cover is grippy, but if you want to move, sliding back and forth is not a chore either. I do not notice the cut-out but I also do not get numbness with this saddle and that is telling, I think. 

Another interesting point, in my opinion, is that I can ride this saddle with no chamois padded shorts/bibs and I am comfortable. I cannot say this about other saddles with the exception of my Brooks B-17's. 

Final Words: Finding a saddle can be depressing and you may go through several before finding "The One" for you. I think the SR Allroad is quickly becoming "The One" for me, and perhaps my posterior has found some version of bicycle saddle Nirvana for the time being. Perhaps it will please you in a similar manner. 

BT Orthocell Road Tape:

Here is a product I was ready to love at first. Then I came to loathe it. Later? I came back around to loving it again. 

Why?

Well, it all has to do with perspiration. Sweat. Slippery grip. Not good! See, I have the unenviable trait of sweating profusely down my forearms while cycling in hot, humid weather. A time when I am not wanting to wear gloves, or much of anything, really. 

That perspiration runs into the palms of my hands while riding drop bars and then it soaks into the handle bar tape. Some handle bar tapes resist getting slippery. Unfortunately the BT Orthocell Tape is not one of those handle bar tapes that resists getting slimy and slippery. 

So, I avoided riding this bicycle during our humid months as a result. When things are cooler and drier though, this tape is so comfortable and easy on my hands that I want to ride this bike and have relief from numbness and pain in my hands. 

I guess I need to wear those sweat bands around my wrists like tennis players did at one time. This is really my only issue with the BT Orthocell Tape. I imagine rainy, wet weather is also an issue with this handlebar tape, but I never tried it in the rain or snow. Obviously, if you are a full-time gove wearer this may not even be an issue for you. 

Final Words: The BT OrthoCell Tape is a winner when it comes to grip, vibration reduction, and pain relief. As I stated in a previous update, this handle bar tape won't eliminate vibrations, but it will greatly reduce them, and that is worth a lot, in my opinion. Besides getting slippery when soaked with perspiration, I can find no fault with this tape. It holds up very well and I suspect I'd get a lot of mileage out of the tape before having to replace it. 

You can find these products and all of Ergon's grips, saddles, and more at www.ergonbike.com

30.5 Inch Wheels: A Developing Story

 Early in October I saw a few rumblings concerning 30.5" wheels, a wheel size slightly larger in diameter than 29" wheels. This diameter sits at an ISO measurement of 654, which is exactly halfway between 29" (622ISO) and the new 32" wheel size (686ISO) 

Some may remember WTB's 750D effort and think it is the same thing as 30.5". In effect it probably is, but technically 750D is an ISO660, so not the same fit, and would not work on a 30.5" platform. I know the difference looks minimal, but such is the (fickle) way of the bicycle industry. Instead of working on a size already baked into existence, they start all over again. 

This does not play well in Peoria. (Meaning with the masses for those unfamiliar with the saying) The whole thing comes off as a 'money grab' to many, but there are reasons for this which do make sense. From a racer's viewpoint, 30.5" gains an advantage but fits more people better. Larger diameter wheels are proven to be faster and more stable. Mountain bikers benefit most. This is where you are going to see the development take place first. 

There is a great post on PinkBike.com which gives a few takes on this from some manufacturers and brand viewpoint. (See it HERE). It is plain to see from the reading of the post that 30.5" wheels will happen, and already are. Racers are already testing and racing this wheel size.  

So, will you be ditching all your 29"er MTB stuff for 30.5"ers soon? I would not get too excited now about this. There is a lot of ground to cover before consumers need to be moving on from 29"ers, if they ever do. 30.5" wheels may find a home in some garages, but until the UCI weighs in, and until the bicycle industry decides upon where they are going to go, I would sit on my credit card. 

In my opinion, a world where there is 29", 30.5", and 32" is an unsustainable one which will probably not happen. If it does, it won't be for very long. Think about when we had 27.5", 26", 29" all coexisting at the same time in the early 2010's. Or when 27.5" 29", and Plus sized tires were all being pushed as "The New Thing". In gravel we had two wheel sizes (27.5"/650B and 700c) and one fell out of favor there. 

It's historically been shown consumers will whittle choices in wheels and tires down to just a few offerings and businesses are not wanting more SKU's in inventory, wondering which wheels and tires to stock and which not to stock. Less choice is ideal for business. So, in my opinion, at least one of these sizes will go away in MTB, and I think you have to look at the extreme end as the most likely to be eliminated.  

I could be wrong, but I really believe this situation with three or four wheel diameters for MTB is unsustainable in the marketplace,  

The Freedom To Roam Free

 The latest "Guitar Ted Podcast" is a typically rambling affair, but towards the end of this episode N.Y. Roll and I got into a discussion concerning being lost, taking chances, and going "off-script" during a ride. 

I have seen a few things lately which made me think about this more. One was Jay Petervary's recent experience at an ultra-distance bike packing event where the event was called off due to weather and maybe some other circumstances. Another was a comment, which I reference in the podcast episode, about a rider wishing to explore a road off the group's GPS route files and the group not wanting to veer off their prescribed course. 

There are a couple of other examples I've seen lately making me feel as though we are losing our will to risk a little bit for adventure, exploration, and to stretch ourselves both mentally and physically. For myself, I find it all disappointing and disheartening. 

Of course, safety is a thing we are all concerned with. Unreasonable risks are to be avoided. However; at what point do we say that tying our ride strictly to a GPS route, (not a race event) with no other options to - you know - have some fun, is a bad thing? Is dealing with adversity in weather, equipment, or mental/physical states to be avoided at all costs, or do we explore the fringes of those areas to stretch ourselves a bit past our "Comfort Zones"?

And questions. What about asking questions? It means you have to "engage your brain" and maybe people are just too lazy to think things through anymore. It seems that way when some folks won't even think to go somewhere to ride without a "route" that has been sanitized and made so popular that there are "heat maps" guiding you to choosing those routes. 

Personally I get excited when I am not quite sure where I am at. I kind of like having to think through my next moves. I don't mind taking a road if it is something I've (a) never been on before or (b) something that looks interesting.  Yes- I've ended up in places which were not ideal, but then you get to solve more puzzles, and afterward I have a great feeling of having been 'alive' and having to work through things mentally and physically is a blessing, in my opinion. 

Following a beeping gps file is about as vanilla as it gets, if you want to know my opinion on gps routes. But I get it. You don't have to think about the next turn. Your waypoints lead you to resupplies without having to consider much. Easy. 

Easy but not very challenging. 

But you do you. This all is just my take on how I like rides to go.   

Three Decades Ago

Advantage Cyclery, October 1996

Thirty years ago I was looking into a Winter of uncertainty. The bicycle shop, where I learned how to be a bicycle mechanic, was obviously going to cease to exist soon. I had only been there since late 1993, and that after being let go from a decade long career in the jewelry business. 

I had been divorced the year before, and I was alone, I had no good leads on a new job, and it wasn't like I could move and get a new bike shop gig, because I was in the midst of buying a house. 

On top of it all, my truck was out of commission with a broken transfer case and my old station wagon wasn't running either. I was borrowing the shop's van to get to work and back at the time, or riding my bike on nicer days. 

The shop's owner was MIA. He felt so bad about things he couldn't face me anymore. I literally spent the last three plus months working there six days a week with no one else to tell me what to do. It was a very dark time in my life and I am thankful I was pulled through it all. 

God is good, and I was leaning on Him hard. I sure do not ever want to experience those kinds of days again. I never felt so badly as I did that Winter. 

Anyway, no apologies for the dark tone of today's post. Just was reminded of this as it has been 30 years now since those times. Things got a lot better after this, but it wasn't easy. Don't forget that there are folks all around us struggling. A smile, a kind word, anything positive could be all it takes to keep someone rolling through the valleys. 

Negativity abounds these days. Be different. Be a human being that cares. 

My fate turned when a former bike shop mechanic came in Advantage Cyclery late in January of 1997 and told me about a job opening at a car repair shop. He didn't have to do that. He barely knew me. But he did it, and that is what mattered. 

 I got the job. I then worked there for five and half years, was able to pay off the house, and I got a good, reliable car within months of working there that was such a screaming deal I couldn't believe it. 

All it takes is one person sometimes to turn a life around. 

Thanks Vance! I'll never forget what you did for me. 

Friday News And Views

Courtesy of Grasshopper Adventure Series 

Grasshopper Adventure Series Announces 2027 Dates:

Long ago, back when I was trying to gather all the events off-pavement that I could into a "gravel calendar", (the first of its kind anywhere), I was contacted by an ex-patriot Mid-Westerner living in San Francisco about this "adventure series" and how I should think about getting out there to try an event out. 

I am sorry, but the original emails are lost to the digital nethersphere, so I forget the person's name, but I have to say, those events sounded awesome. At any rate, events like Low Gap and King Ridge figured into my early gravel calendar compilations. 

Now going into its 30th season, and still led by Gravel Cycling Hall of Famer, Miguel Crawford, this series will offer five events in all. Miguel, or "Mig" as he is known as, has a great philosophy on events which I find very much aligns with my sensibilities on gravel overall. He is all about the experiences one can gain from participation, and not "the numbers" of events. Meaning it is not about how many people attend, how much money is made, how many hits the Hoppers get on social media. Those numbers. 

I'm sure Mig would be all about the numbers of awesome connections with other humans you have at his events. Those are the numbers that matter. Anyway, if any of this sounds interesting hit up the site for the series HERE. 

Image courtesy of Bianchi Bicycles

Industry Woes Surface While Indicators In Other Areas Point Up:

  News in the cycling world has been mixed of late. Some good, some bad. There seems to be no total recovery from the pandemic bump yet. 

Recent reports are that Bianchi Bicycles is seeking help with financial headwinds. The company is a historically road oriented brand but reports claim the company has delved into too many categories and the results are not sustainable.  

Meanwhile Shimano has posted modest gains in sales as have a few other companies in the industry. However; retail is a mess currently and several commentators are at a loss as to how the business will look going forward. 

If what I see on social media is any indication, and from my experiences with consumers at the Collective seem to bear this out, most folks think bicycles are far too expensive yet. But when you gauge retailers they all say the profit margins are so slim it doesn't seem to make sense to sell new bicycles at all. Meanwhile you are stating to see companies like X-Lab, a Chinese base company, undercut the market on prices. 

It is not by just a little bit either. So, this new disruption coming from Chinese based companies is going to further muddy the waters in retail here. I'm already seeing local retailers pushing X-Lab over their current legacy brands. Especially on social media platforms like Facebook Marketplace which traditional bicycle brands would likely frown upon being represented there.  

Image courtesy of podcast listener "JT"

Hey GT! Check This Out!

On the home page for the "Guitar Ted Podcast" we ask for comments, question, or submissions from our listeners. Well, recently one submission came in which I thought looked too awesome not to share with you all here. 

This is Mosaic's 32"er, the GT-1 i55 32" bike.  That's kind of an odd model name. Almost like a password. Anyway... 

It is a cool 32"er, and I do like this one a lot. However; it is very expensive and far away from my ability to purchase. So, I appreciate the suggestion, but that is certainly a dream bike. It would fit right in with what we were talking about in the latest episode though, so I get it.  

At any rate, nice rig. I'll keep looking.... 

Advertisement in the a recent Bicycle Retailer and Industry News publication

Ironic, Isn't It?

While cities, towns, and villages all across the USA try to decipher what is and what is not a "bicycle" or how to regulate electrified two-wheeled vehicles, a recent ad in a trade publication seems to come off a little tone deaf. 

This advertisement, in the most recent "Bicycle Retailer and Industry News" publication, is for a company in partnership with the San Antonio Spurs NBA team, for what appears to be e-moto bikes. 

The industry publication has, in the past, advocated for strict ordinances and laws to separate e-moto from e-bikes and their editorial tone has always been one of being down on e-moto products. So, seeing this advertisement in their publication was a bit shocking and seems to be dismissive of issues with these devices which abound in American cities recently. Issues causing deaths, injuries, and property damage all leading to great concerns for local governments and bicycle advocacy groups nationwide. 

Comments: Yeah.... I'm not sure why BRAIN would choose to overlook how this comes off to people trying to help promote cycling and keep e-moto usage from impacting access and impacting safety of e-bikers and the people using normal human powered bicycles. I feel it was in poor taste. Maybe I'm over-reacting? Perhaps this is not a big deal? Let me know in the comments. 
 

That's all for this week. Now it is getting cold, but you know what the saying is: "There is no bad weather - just bad clothing choices!" Get out and ride those bicycles!

Review: Redshift Sports SPD SL Mousetrap Pedal Adapter

 Redshift Sports sent over a pair of Mousetrap SPD-SL Pedal Adapters at no charge to Guitar Ted Productions. Guitar Ted was not bribed, nor paid, for this review. All images and opinions are Guitar Ted's unless otherwise noted. 

Earlier this year I reviewed a set of Mousetrap Pedal Adapters for Shimano SPD pedals. (HERE) Redshift Sports promised other adapters for pedals, other than the ubiquitous Shimano SPD, would be produced. Well, today Redshift Sports has released Mousetrap Pedal Adapters for LOOK Keo and Shimano SPD-SL road pedals. 

I have a set of the SPD-SL adapters, and this is what this article will focus on. My set came in around a month ago now and I have been using the SPD-SL Mousetraps for several weeks. 

What They Are: The Mousetrap Pedal Adapter is an accessory which turns your clipless pedals into flat pedals. This allows you to ride any bicycle fitted with either the SPD, SPD-SL, or LOOK Keo pedals without having to wear specific cycling shoes. 

The Mousetrap Pedal Adapter is a Nylon composite device with a magnet which attaches to the interface of your SPD-SL type pedal, giving it a flat platform which you then can safely and comfortably pedal on. 

Measuring a healthy 80mm x 105mm, there is plenty of space for most feet. The surface is textured to provide some grip for street shoes. Stack height is a low 10mm, so they don't add much to the pedal. 

Turn this into...........

 

This! A pedal you can use without special shoes.

Specifications:

Material: Glass-filled Nylon (Composite)

Weight: 170 gm SPD-SL (Tested), 160 gm LOOK Keo,  176 gm SPD (All weights for a pair of Mousetraps)

Dimensions: 80mm x  105mm x 10mm. 

Colors: Black/Grey,  Purple/Black,  Teal/Pink,  Blue/Orange

Compatibility: SPD-SL is compatible with Shimano SPD-SL road pedals and most SPD-SL compatible road pedals including Garmin and Favero. LOOK Keo compatible with LOOK Keo pedals. SPD compatible with Shimano SPD and most SPD compatible pedals. NOTE: Crank Brothers Mousetraps are coming in 2027.  

Retail Pricing*  $59.99 USD | £49.99 GPB | €59.99 EUR | $79.99 CAD | $99.99 AUD

* 25% Off at Launch as part of Redshift’s Early Black Friday Sale

Ride Review: 

Normally I get into a set up/installation portion in a review before I start into the riding bits. I feel the Mousetrap Pedal Adapter is so easy to install it is not really worth time to cover. It takes very little time to snap one into a clipless pedal. It takes very little time to remove the adapter. Easy-peasy. 

So, the riding part.... Well, it is simple, really. The Mousetrap just does the thing and you do not notice it. I will say that I have hours and hours of riding time on the SPD version. I did not stop riding with them when the review came out. I'll get into why that was in a bit. I just wanted to point out that I have a very good idea of what is possible on the Mousetrap Pedal Adapters. 

They are not going to be very good at mountain biking, for instance. They wouldn't likely work great in mud. Snow? Maybe... No, these are really great on paved roads, great for urban riding, casual rides, and commuting. I did do a long gravel ride on these once and....yeah. They were fine. I would just say leave out any aggressive riding and these pedal adapters will most likely do well in drier situations. 

There is a bit of a learning curve to getting rolling with the Mousetrap Pedal Adapters. Since they 'hang' upside down, you have to flip them to get rolling. Obviously your first pedal stroke is easy. Getting the second foot on the platform is a bit of a trick. I found by dragging my toe at just the right point behind the pedal I was able to flip the adapter upright and I could slide my foot on and pedal away.  

In regard to the SPD-SL Mousetraps, I did notice the adapter platform had a very small bit of "float" in the pedal. I asked Redshift about this and they said they noted it as well in the Keo version. Some of this can be 'dialed out' by increasing the tension on the pedal retention mechanism, but I would not worry about this. It is very minimal and I hardly noticed any movement unless I focused on it intently. The SPD version does not have this 'float', by the way. 

Final Word: 

Here is the thing I find so notable about the Mousetrap Pedal Adapter range- The things are just so darn useful. I use them all the time. Now, when I first looked at the Mousetrap idea I was a little dismissive. "Neat idea, Redshift, but I don't know how useful it is". 

Well, I learned a lot over the past months using the SPD version. I used them a lot while setting up a new component on a bike. Gotta do a test ride? Slap in the Mousetrap and get it done. No need to work on your bike in your clipless shoes. No need to hope you don't slip off your SPD-SL's while wearing your Crocs. Not that I have Crocs..... I don't. Just saying.... 

I can see the value in having the Mousetraps along for a trip to an event. They would allow you to ride your bike to an event expo, registration/packet pickup, a pre-ride meeting, or post ride beers. All without having to clank around in your clipless shoes. Wear your sandals, PF Flyers, cow boy boots.....whatever. 

Personally, I found the most use for the Mousetraps as a commuter/errand device allowing me to ride any bike I have. This worked great since I am an SPD pedal junkie. In fact, I had to borrow the SPD-SL's for this test since I do not own a road bike, and if I did I'd probably put SPD's on it! But regardless, the fact I could enjoy any of my bikes for commuting, bombing around the neighborhood, or whatever, at any time I wanted without having to put on cycling-specific shoes, was liberating. It doesn't matter if you have SPD-SL's, LOOK Keo pedals, or SPDS, the Mousetraps open up your bike for spontaneous uses, purposeful casual rides, or whenever you are not wanting to wear cycling shoes. 

So, why not just put flat pedals on all your bikes. Well.....then you wouldn't have clipless pedals and their advantages. (I'll let you decide what those advantages might be) Meanwhile, get some Mousetrap Pedal Adapters. You won't be sorry you did. 

The Redshift Mousetrap Pedal Adapter range can be seen on Redshift Sports site HERE.  

The Guitar Ted Lube-Off: The Final Word

  NOTICE:  The Guitar Ted 'Lube-Off' is a comparison of different lubrication products for bicycle chains that is undertaken in 'real world' conditions in a set way. Then I compare and contrast the results with past 'Lube-Off' products to see "which one is best for me". This is done for entertainment purposes and the reader should apply their own reasoning and discernment while reading my 'Lube-Off' entries. What works for me may not work for you at all. 

Dusty gravel roads are my absolute favorite riding surface and fortunately for me, we have a lot of miles of that sort of road around here. So, I have been focusing on what sort of gear works best for m those roads. Part of that is my search for the perfect lubricant for my uses. 

So, this all may not be for you. It may make zero sense to you. You can disagree all you want to. But, if you find yourself on similar roads, well then, you might be interested in what I found. 

This year, the contenders were made up of one previous winner, one remake of the previous winner, and two new entrants. The top lube going into 2026 for me was SILCA's Super-Secret v1 formula. This year, SILCA revised that formula, upgraded it, and now offer a v2 of Super-Secret that they claim is longer lasting and just better overall than v1. Two new drip-wax lubes came into this round. Stan's Polar Drip Wax and Triboflux. 

So, which one did I think was the best? 

Winner, winner...something something Door Dash.

If you caught yesterdays post, you probably have already guessed that Triboflux is not the top lube this time around. (Scroll back to the previous post to see that entry) Yes, Triboflux is decent enough, but not "best". Then we have the curious case of the other new entrant, Stan's Polar Drip Wax. I think it is a contender, but it isn't as good as the top lube in this test. 

Obviously this leaves the two versions of Super-Secret. The v2 test is shown above. I saw very similar results with v1. SILCA says v2 will last longer and resists washing off from water exposure better than v1 did. If you take them for their word, then the newer version wins. I cannot separate v1 from v2 at this point. Those two Super-Secret lubes are still neck and neck for me on my roads. 

I have a giant bottle of the v1 Super-Secret to get through yet, and I'll happily do so. The v2 can wait. But if you are in the market for a chain lube with a very good performance which doesn't attract gunk or very much dust at all, get Super-Secret v2. I do not think v1 is available anymore, but if it is, you cannot go wrong with it either. 

And with that, the Lube-Off for 2026 comes to a close.  

The Guitar Ted Lube-Off: Triboflux Update & Conclusions

 NOTICE:  The Guitar Ted 'Lube-Off' is a comparison of different lubrication products for bicycle chains that is undertaken in 'real world' conditions in a set way. Then I compare and contrast the results with past 'Lube-Off' products to see "which one is best for me". This is done for entertainment purposes and the reader should apply their own reasoning and discernment while reading my 'Lube-Off' entries. What works for me may not work for you at all. Also, I did not receive this from the company but I did pay for it with my own money. 

I introduced the next contender in this year's Lube-Off, Triboflux, back in September. If you missed that, click HERE. There you will learn all the tech details behind this wax based drip lube.

The first Triboflux update can be seen HERE. The last update on the Stan's and SILCA products can be seen HERE. 

In this final update on the Triboflux lubricant I will discuss my impressions of the lube, show the chain/cassette dust/grunge build up, if any, and then share my take on this drip-wax lubricant. 

The Triboflux made it into that segment of Fall where we had some fine, ultra-dusty days and so I feel I did finally get a good read on how this lubricant would do for me in a complete riding season. 

Essentially Triboflux seems to be a decent contender. I thought the shifting quality while using this lube was very good. In fact, it was quieter than the other drip wax lubes in this session of the Lube-Off. Perhaps the thickness of the lubricant upon application left a slightly thicker layer of wax on side plates which damped noises. This would be my guess. 

I did not feel the need to reapply the lube at any point and I did not get any squeaky chain noises later into this run. So all in all, these things would seem to point to a good choice for dry gravel road usage. 

Just a little bit more dirt/dust accumulation than I'd like to see here. 

 The chain looked pretty good, but there was more residue coming off the rollers than I am comfortable with. This chain is a little dirty, and that is not great. Sure, I could knock off a lot of the dust and dirt with a microfiber cloth, but that stuff coming off the rollers concerns me. I just do not see that with the other contenders in the test round. 

Conclusions: Triboflux is a decent lubricant, don't get it twisted, but it just doesn't measure up to what I see with others in the field in my Lube-Off tests. I can think of a half a dozen lubes I've tried which I would turn to before using Triboflux. At least at this stage of the riding. 

Perhaps a brand new, prepped chain would fare a bit better, but the other lubricants I am using in this round are all on used chains as well, and I see better results. Hard to say now.  But at this point, I am afraid Triboflux is just not as impressive as I was hoping for it to be. Again, Triboflux is good. Just not great. 

A final Lube-Off post will appear here tomorrow.  

Come Join The Party

From IWAR's Facebook page

All things we know on Earth have a beginning and an ending. Such is the case with Iowa Wind and Rock, which will hold its final event this coming April on 300-plus miles of gravel roads. 

I do not need to go into great detail on why this matters to me. However; if you are unaware, I wrote this post in September of this year when IWAR made its announcement that the 2027 event would be its last. 

In terms of gravel events, IWAR, and Trans Iowa before it, were, and are, acquired tastes. I'd liken these events to being the Jagermeister amongst the Southern Comforts of the gravel event world. People say they liked Trans Iowa and IWAR, but mostly they did not. Those who truly do, and did, are the nutjobs of gravel riding. They are very few and far between. 

So, my message to those of you out there who understood these events, and truly were fans, participants, or dreamers who wished they "could have", is that you should show up this one last time. Be that as a rider, volunteer, or just to hang out and share in what will likely be the last time a gravel event of this sort ever happens. I highly doubt anyone will take on this hard and heavy a responsibility in the future. Perhaps I will be proven wrong on this point. I doubt it though. 

So, be that as it may, I am now planning on being there. Probably just to hang out, but you never know. And speaking of riding, you have until the end of this month to decide to do this. Registration is HERE.

It is now or never.....

Two Things

A Patenet Application Image seen on Pink Bike

Novel Suspension Idea For Bicycles:

As seen in this article from "Pink Bike", a new design has been submitted for patent by Yeti. The design, a rotary type, centers around the axle and frame attachment, which is very different than traditional through axle drop outs you may be familiar with. 

Of course, as with any non-traditional idea, this may never see the light of day. So, any speculation further than the mere existence of the idea is quite possibly unnecessary. 

But the article linked above did mention this was an idea which could be made to work for a gravel bike. This is my only reason for even bringing this up here today. See, a mountain bike company is proposing something to radically change what really is a type of road bike. 

Now, mountain bikes have typically been the realm of the weird, wonderfully over-engineered, and sometimes game-changing ideas which have left this category of bicycle with no archetype. At least not from a mass-produced, large scale mountain biking company. The original "all-terrain bike" is somewhat preserved in some company's bike packing bikes, but even then, the MTB hardtail is so far removed from the roots of mountain biking it is not comparable. 

Radical suspension designs for front and rear sent our minds on a wild fantasy ride back in the early 1990's (See this example ) Meanwhile, road bikes kept to a fairly distilled design language which had been proven over decades and was simple, elegant, and lightweight. There was not much to improve on the road biking side. 

See, the thing is, this entire "gravel bike" thing is being co-opted by mountain bikers because the bikes are fast, light, and pseudo-capable MTB/single track machines which brings the lightweight, simple design language back to off-road which has been missing. Now these off-roaders are applying their creativity to make something more MTB-like, and retain the things road bikes have, if this idea is truly going to end up on a gravel bike. Maybe it will, but probably? It won't and all this is but hot air. 

But I'll sum up by saying this idea is stupid because it makes a frame propriety and useless if the suspension fails. Keep gravel bike simple. They are, after all, really road bikes anyway. 

Riki Don't Lose That (LT Pro) Number:

Life Time Events has mandated a new qualifying system to enter in any Life Time Pro event for the off-road and gravel events it holds. The move should distill the field down to the most elite level athletes in the gravel and MTB disciplines. 

Life Time reviews applicants and/or considers top results in their events or outside events as factors which will allow an athlete to obtain a "LT Pro Number", as Life Time is calling it. These LT Pro Numbers expire at the end of the 2027 calendar year and then the application process opens up again for the following year. 

Past champions and series winners are automatically entered in the LT Pro Number ranks. There are more details to this idea, but this is the gist of the thing. 

 Hmm.... Let's make gravel more exclusive! That's the idea, guys! Nicely done. They say they are making things "more professional", and I say, "Well, it's BS like this which provoked us to create our gravel events in the first place." So, perhaps this will eventually be the spur to the loins to get some more grassroots action happening. Who knows?

Next thing I think of is how this language Life Time is using avoids the term "License" and at the same time the idea will kind of force top athletes to commit to Life Time or forsake Life Time and head on over to the UCI. In my mind, this is really what is going on here. Life Time wants to grab the top athlete pool for themselves and push the UCI out of North American gravel. 

I could be wrong, but this is how I see it now.  

A Great "First Time"

Lambeau Field, Green Bay WI. 

I don't generally veer off the topic of bicycling here on this blog. However; I hope you will indulge me on at least this occasion to allow me to tell you about my experiences of the last couple of days. And if you don't like the Green Bay Packers, you may want to skip today's entry.

That is because I was in attendance at the game in Lambeau Field this past Thursday. It is something I never thought I would ever be able to experience. So, it was a very big deal for me, especially since I am a fan of the Green Bay Packers. 

I will not get into all the history I have with the team, going back to my youth. I won't get into all the reasons why I never went to a game before this, nor why I never thought I ever would go attend any NFL game. It was just something I figured was beyond my reach both financially and travel-wise. 

But Mrs. Guitar Ted and I have some old friends who have been avid Packer fans, and season ticket holders, for many years. They offered to take us to the game if we paid for lodging. So, the plan was set, and even the day before we left I found the entire idea so unreal I could not believe it. And sitting here writing this, I still kind of feel like it all was a dream. 

Mrs. Guitar Ted being silly at Titletown next to Lambeau Field

A huge statue of Curly Lambeau, the stadium's namesake. 

The plan our host had was to guide us on a kind of overall look at Lambeau Field and its surroundings. We walked about 3/4's of the way around the building, saw Kroll's tailgate party, went to Titletown, and the Johnsonville Tailgate Village. 

The Johnsonville Tailgate Village

A giant Lombardi Trophy replica greets you as you enter the stadium at the American Family Insurance gate.

We entered the stadium and saw a 50ft high replica of the Vince Lombardi Trophy which represents the championship trophy of the NFL.. The trophy was named in honor of the famous coach of the Packers when the Packers won multiple championships in the 1960's. 

Then we went through the Atrium. A large open area where we came across a drum corp banging out a cadence at a deafening volume. It was the ultimate pep rally! If you weren't hype after this, you were dead. 

The drum team was awesome, and LOUD!

 Then we began the slow climb upwards towards our seats......

A view within the original "bowl" of Lambeau Field, erected in 1957. It originally held a little over 32,000 fans.

 

My view from my seat on the 7th Level. The stadium now holds 72,515 fans.

Our seats were in the South End Zone area, the newest part of the stadium. It was pretty high up there and I was glad there was a Jumbo-tron so I could actually see what was happening on the field a little more clearly. 

Now, a few random impressions I gathered from my experience:(No particular order)

• Lambeau Field is considered one of the "must see" stadiums of any kind in the world, and certainly in the NFL. I would agree that it is very impressive. 
• This place is cleaner than anyone's home you've been in. There is not one piece of trash anywhere on the ground. There are no little corners filled with dust, random spider webs, or anything. It's an amazingly spic and span joint. Shout out to this stadium's caretakers. You rule!
• The stories you hear about the fans are true. Nice, fun, and gregarious. We had a Panther fan sitting in front of us and he was treated with all due respect as a human. Nice! 
• Lambeau gets LOUD. The televised crowd noise does not do it justice. The vibes are real. 
• The game moves quickly at times and then you get the "TV ad breaks" which slow things down tremendously. It's a contrast which is noticeable at the field. 
• Prices for concessions are very expensive. 
• The Milwaukee Brewers, who had just won the World Series the evening before, showed up with the Commissioners Trophy in between the first and second quarters wearing cheese heads. The crowd lost their minds. 
• The Packers defeated the Carolina Panthers 27 - 19. 

So, that is where I've been and with travel, what I've been up to for two days this week. I hope you've enjoyed this tiny look at Lambeau Field and the experience I had there. Tomorrow I will return to regular content again. 

Thanks for reading Guitar Ted Productions.