Friday News And Views

As seen on Trek's "X" account Tuesday

 Welcome To The First FN&V of 2025 Spring!

 Data Acquisition:

Trek entered the data acquisition game with a new app they call "Trek Ride Club" . Promising many of the same benefits which are embedded into most ride apps, Trek Ride Club also features a roadside/trailside repair assistance feature. A rider can call in, for instance, for assistance on how to repair a flat tire on the roadside or on the trail.

Trek Ride Club can also be the one-stop source for all your ride data as it will pull in data from Strava accounts and other apps for you.

Comments: Cannondale has been trying to get riders hooked on their data acquisition model for well over five years now, so Trek's efforts are not the first in this field. It stands to reason though to assume most big brands will likely roll out some sort of ride/data programs in the future because of the perceived benefits to the rider, but more importantly, for what that data can tell the brands.

Cannondale's app is modeled after a safety/maintenance theme while Trek's looks like any other ride app from a GPS computer company.  In fact, this begs the question: Is Trek going to get into the GPS computer game? It would make total sense since they already have the app and a GPS unit, say a Bontrager branded one, would further integrate users into the Trek ecosystem.

While that may or may not happen in the future, in my opinion, this is all about Trek gathering data on its customers and not so much about a "club".  

Cannondale Habit 26 (Image courtesy of Cannondale Bicycles)

 Cannondale Habit 26 - Wait...What?!

So, I cruise the internet for bicycle news for this post weekly and sometimes I discover an oddball thing or two. This happened this week as I decided to bite on a social media post by Cannondale concerning their Habit full suspension Limited 29"er model.

As I perused the range a bike caught my eye, in particular, the name: Habit 26.

Wait! A twenty six inch wheeled full suspension bike? Yep! It is aimed at the youth market, and I see a lot of wisdom in having a model like this. Get the kid on a serious FS MTB, the kid gets the bug for MTB, and hopefully continues into adulthood as a mountain biker. Makes sense.

But what made me smile was the idea of a 26 inch wheeled full suspension bike design being derived from a 29 inch wheeled design. Maybe this has happened before, but if it has, I am not aware of it. Ten years ago this would have been unthinkable. Certainly 15 years ago it was not considered possible.

And getting back to this idea from a practical standpoint, I like that it costs well under 2G. But why Cannondale did not spec a dropper post is beyond me. If there ever were a perfect application for a dropper post, this qualifies, in my opinion.

Image courtesy of Kogel Bearings

It's Huge, It's Kolossos:

Kogel Bearings just announced a less expensive derailleur cage/pulley product in their Kolossos ST. It uses the same cage material and pulleys as the normal Kolossos but trades in the ceramic ball bearings for stainless steel ones.

The new Kolossos ST sells for $324.99 and you can find it at www.kogel.cc

Of course, that thing is for roadies. If you are a gravel person, Kogel has you covered as well. Here is a link to their GRX compatible 11 speed cage. There is a 12 speed one as available also.

Comments: I get the idea. Less chain articulation equals less losses to efficiency. But man....those are expensive gizmos! I've only ever seen a few at gravel events, but then again, I am not riding with the "fast guys and gals" either.

Have you used one of these things? I'd love to hear about it in the comments.

Image courtesy of Ritchey Design

New Colors, New Size For Ritchey Outback:

Ritchey Design sent out news on Thursday concerning a few tweaks to their classic Outback gravel/adventure frame set. 

Now available in an XXL size, the Outback has six sizes available now in two new colorways: Aurora and Winter Sage.

There is also now internal dropper post routing and the frameset comes with the carbon, straight 1 1/8th steer tube, Adventure Fork which has a drilling on the fork crown and internal routing for a dynamo hub. 

Pricing is set at $1,599.00 USD,  €1599 (inc. VAT), and £1392 (inc. VAT) See your Ritchey dealer or check out this frameset at ritcheylogic.com    

Comments: I wanted to like the Outback when it came out several years ago. However, it was another of those offerings which tried to be a 700c and 650B compatible design. The compromise there is the bottom bracket has to have less drop, in case the end user wants to go with 650B wheels.

This made sense then. Also, tire clearances are- for 700c, 48mm maximum, and for 650B it is 2.0". That was great several years ago, but now? Well, first of all, 650B is, for all intents and purposes, dead to me, at any rate. So, any design making a compromise to fit something I'd never consider using is a waste. Secondly, with the move toward wider tires across the gravel-sphere, this frame set loses a bit of its appeal for me in this regard as well.

Keep in mind that my 2014 Raleigh Tamland has about the same exact clearances for both wheel sizes, so I feel this illustrates how the Outback is a bit dated in this regard.

That's it for this week! Look for some gravel related releases next week on these digital pages. Until then, get out and "spring" forth on those bicycles!

When I Wrote About Mary

 In celebration of the twentieth year of this blog, I have a few tales to tell. This post is one of them. This series will occur off and on throughout this anniversary year, I hope to illuminate some behind-the-scenes stories and highlights from the blog during this time. Enjoy!

As I was starting out the blog I was often posting the latest stuff on the then new 29 inch wheeled mountain bikes. I posted a lot of the things I was seeing that made more sense to me than the smaller 26"er wheels had to offer, which I knew all too well having ridden and raced on those wheels for a dozen years or so.

The 2007 Haro Mary SS

Consequently one of the opportunities offered to me came by way of Mike Varley, he now of Black Mountain Cycles. Back in 2006, Mike was working at Haro as the brand manager, I suppose you would call it. 

Mike has a long history in mountain biking and he has a wealth and depth of knowledge that is well beyond what most folks possess today in terms of mountain bikes and what works. His talents and knowledge were being utilized at Haro to spiff up their mountain bike range, and 29"ers were going to be a part of that. Mike somehow got wind of what I was writing, must have thought I was a pretty decent wordsmith, and so he asked that I write some catalog copy for the 2007 Haro Mary 29"ers. 

Okay, I was barely past one year of blogging and then this opportunity came along? I had to pinch myself to see if I was dreaming when I read the email. Me? A dude from Iowa write catalog copy for a 29"er bike? Wow.... 

The copy I wrote in the catalog.

Not only was I writing some marketing stuff, but my task was to present the Mary, and 29"ers in general, as something that was a serious thing, not some fad or joke. Because things back in 2006 were different concerning the perception of 29"ers by most mountain bikers, this was no easy feat!

I jotted some words down, scrapped them, started again, and tweaked the copy. I sent it off to Mike thinking it would get rejected. I mean, this wasn't my area of expertise, or at least I did not think it was.

However; I was surprised and delighted to find out what I sent in was so good that they were actually going to use it! You can try reading it in the image here if you'd like. I know it is not much, but in the context of the day, I was pretty chuffed to have this be published by a legitimate bicycle brand. 

Mike wanted to recognize my efforts and he offered to send out a frame and fork for one of the two Haro Mary 29"ers, a geared or single speed. At the time, almost every brand was pushing single speed as the way 29"ers were to be consumed, so I chose the geared version, despite my proclivities to being a single speeder. 

The Haro Mary 29"er I built up in 2007. Unfortunately I asked for the wrong size!

Geometry for 29"ers was still a thing being experimented with and not every company was doing things in a way that could be cross referenced to other brands. This led me to choosing a Mary that was one size too small for me. Drat! I was bummed, but I made it work for a bit. Then I decided to move on from this bike and I sold it to a former coworker at the shop I was at during this time. 

Later that year, at Trans Iowa v3 which was run out of Decorah, Iowa, I saw Marty Larsen's Mary SS and I kicked myself for not getting that bike. I probably would still have the Mary if I had gotten the correct size in a single speed, but alas! Such is life. 

The main point here is that this blog, and the eyeballs that were reading it, somehow got me into a place where I was doing things I would have never dreamt of doing. Writing catalog copy for a bicycle catalog was one such thing which fit that list. I am happy it was an opportunity which came along though. This opportunity pushed my work in front of more eyes that eventually would take me off into other opportunities that I am super-grateful for having had the chance to partake in. 

Looking back after twenty years from starting this blog, some of these things I was able to do are still pretty unbelievable to me. Did I really do that? Yes, I did. And I have you dear blog readers to thank, in part, for those opportunities. 

Thank you for reading Guitar Ted Productions!

Bikes Of 2023: Karate Monkey

 It's another December here on the blog. You know what that means? Yep! Another round of my bikes I used in 2023. This round-up will not include some of the bikes I did not use this year much, or at all. I focus only on the bikes that played a big role in my riding during this year.  

As always, any changes or future plans for any bike I feature will also be detailed. I hope that you enjoy this year's round-up. 

The Karate Monkey, a bike I have owned now for twenty years! That's crazy to write that! But.....it is true, and it was my first 29"er. Big changes to this rig for 2023 included going back to a flat bar, the first time the ol' KM has seen that since 2005! 

I used the Velo Orange Utility Bar and I affixed their Utility Rack to it. Then I found a used Velo Orange handle bar bag and kind of rigged that on there. A seat pack and a Revelate Designs "Jerry Can" went on it as well. That rounded out the set up and I've ridden this all over the town during 2023. 

I did do one gravel ride with the set-up to fetch a pint jar of gravel which the Gravel Cycling Hall of Fame requested from me. That trip revealed that the gearing chosen for this bike is too steep! So, that may be a change for 2024, as I wouldn't mind this becoming my flat bar gravel bike, but I really have to change the gearing. 

Another change may be getting a basket instead of that randonnuering bag. Baskets. All the rage now! I'll be sooooo trendy! Ha! 

But otherwise the only thing I ever think about swapping here is the cantilever brakes for disc. And that's just because the wheel choices are so much better than rim brake rims offer. I also want better tires, and I want to run tubeless. 

I have some rad cantilever brakes and levers from Velo Orange that were going to go on this bike, but then I realized that the Karate Monkey was set up for linear pull brakes out back, so that sort of ixnayed that idea! Oh well.... 

From the gravel fetching trip back in May

 The Karate Monkey has seen some adventures and some long down times since I've owned it. My hope is that 2024 will be the year that the KM makes a big return to gravel travel. It was my first "gravel bike" as well as being my first 29"er, and this bike has been one of my sentimental favorites for many years now. I hope to write several more chapters in its story with me going forward.

Friday News And Views

The "Ozark Trail" model in 27.5 wheels.Image courtesy of Walmart

Walmart Introduces "Ozark Trail" MTB Bikes:

A few industry sources have published this announcement of the Walmart "Ozark Trail" line of mountain bikes. Company officials say that, "Many of the bikes in this sport come with a high price point. We wanted to offer our customers a more affordable option while maintaining the quality and versatility that the sport requires, and I think we've done that with the Ozark Trail bike." This according to a "Bicycle Retailer and Industry News" article. 

The 27.5"er retails for $298.00 and the 29"er retails for $398.00. Both come with 1X drive trains and suspension forks. The frames are aluminum. The bikes come in Small, Medium, and Large sizes according to the webpage on the bikes. The 27.5 model, the "Vibe", clocks in at 37.5lbs, claimed weight, and the 29"er does not show up currently on the Walmart site at all. (?) 

Comments: Okay, so a lot of chatter on social media concerning these bikes was centered on how the Walmart family has promoted cycling, how the Walmart family has enhanced Northwest Arkansas, specifically Bentonville, and how these bikes will be a gateway to making cyclists out of non-cyclists. So, it's okay that these bikes exist. Ahh......no. I'm not buying any of this. 

Why? Because at this price-point, which if you have not noticed yet, is now what most "box store" mountain bikes are going for now, these bikes are nothing different than what you have seen proffered before in the aisles of places like Target, Costco, Walmart, etc. In other words, this is not the bike that gets more people to ride on a regular basis. It is that bike that most often ends up rusted, neglected, and in a landfill before long. It is that bike that the under-privileged, lower income folks have to buy because there is nothing at this price-point or cheaper that is better.

That the Walton's did 'this-or-that' in NW Arkansas has absolutely no bearing on what this product is all about. It is a poorly designed, low-spec "mountain-bike-shaped-object" that follows right in line with its MTB-BSO predecessors. With that said....back to your regularly scheduled program....

Revel Ranger FS 29"er. Image courtesy of Revel Bikes.

Revel Bikes Announces Revised Ranger FS Bike:

I see a lot of mountain bikes come and go in the press. I often think whether or not I might like them, but maybe 90% of the time these are bikes built for raging bike parks, going way fast downhill, or they have some goofy thing that turns me off.

Then every once in a while a bike comes along that makes sense to me. The Revel Ranger is that MTB right now. 

The geometry is reasonable. Not really slack and long travel. Heck, you can even fit three water bottles on the frame in size Large! A threaded bottom bracket? Yes. Internal cable guides so I don't have to fish cables through a frame? Yes. 29" wheels? Yes. 

That last point: It's really interesting to me now that to find out if this was a 29"er I had to go all the way down to the spec sheet for the tire size. No where else is that mentioned. Why? Because a 29"er is a mountain bike, of course. What else is there? (I kid, but only a little bit, you 27 fiver folks!) 

I didn't look at the price, because, well why? I cannot afford it, and also, I don't need it. But "if" I were to buy a MTB tomorrow? I'd be hard pressed not to want that Ranger. You can read more about it here.

Mavic's electric motor. Image courtesy of Bike Radar's social media feed

Mavic Working On New Motor For Lightweight Applications:

According to a "Bike Radar" article recently, Mavic have been quietly working on an electric motor with Swiss bicycle manufacturer BMC. The results so far would point to something rather impressive. A 21lb bicycle with on-demand power assist. While the article says there are still hurdles to overcome to make the system consumer ready, they are on-track to place this in rider's hands perhaps as early as 2025.

Comments: That's a light bike for having a motor, and with the on-demand feature, it is reasonable to think that this would be palatable for cyclists to have on-board for anything from group rides to competitions. Which, if the system can be made to be nearly undetectable while riding, is another problem for event promoters to deal with in terms of keeping the playing field level. 

Obviously, we have no idea what the price would be for such privilege, but one would assume this is going to be very expensive to purchase. That said, if you will be able to buy it, it will show up at start lines. Will this bring back the days of "motor doping" as we saw in the twenty-teens? Perhaps, but it is a fascinating development. 

Ritchey Announces Updated Ascent Model:

This week Ritchey Design quietly introduced a new update to their Acsent model. Now in a "Desert Sand" color, the new Ascent has "Three-Pack" bosses on the fork blades and underneath the downtube. 

The bike has a maximum tire clearance of 2.6" whether you run 29"ers or 650B tires. It also s a Boost spaced bike. You can see more details on the bike at the webpage here. 

Comments: This is about as close to a Gen I Fargo as you can get with modern through axles and Boost spacing. (The Tumbleweed Stargazer is another good example of this type of bicycle) I'm kind of flabbergasted that Ritchey would even bother to list a 27.5" tire size if it wasn't wider than what you could run with a 29 inch wheel. Seems odd to me.....

But yeah, this is a very Gen I Fargo type bike. Especially since Ritchey added the Three-Pack style mounts on the fork blades. Which, by the way, have a nice appealing curve to them. I like that. It makes the Ritchey have a bit of a throw-back flair to this design.

Thanks for reading Guitar Ted Productions! Have an excellent weekend.

Friday News And Views

The "Ozark Trail" model in 27.5 wheels.Image courtesy of Walmart

Walmart Introduces "Ozark Trail" MTB Bikes:

A few industry sources have published this announcement of the Walmart "Ozark Trail" line of mountain bikes. Company officials say that, "Many of the bikes in this sport come with a high price point. We wanted to offer our customers a more affordable option while maintaining the quality and versatility that the sport requires, and I think we've done that with the Ozark Trail bike." This according to a "Bicycle Retailer and Industry News" article. 

The 27.5"er retails for $298.00 and the 29"er retails for $398.00. Both come with 1X drive trains and suspension forks. The frames are aluminum. The bikes come in Small, Medium, and Large sizes according to the webpage on the bikes. The 27.5 model, the "Vibe", clocks in at 37.5lbs, claimed weight, and the 29"er does not show up currently on the Walmart site at all. (?) 

Comments: Okay, so a lot of chatter on social media concerning these bikes was centered on how the Walmart family has promoted cycling, how the Walmart family has enhanced Northwest Arkansas, specifically Bentonville, and how these bikes will be a gateway to making cyclists out of non-cyclists. So, it's okay that these bikes exist. Ahh......no. I'm not buying any of this. 

Why? Because at this price-point, which if you have not noticed yet, is now what most "box store" mountain bikes are going for now, these bikes are nothing different than what you have seen proffered before in the aisles of places like Target, Costco, Walmart, etc. In other words, this is not the bike that gets more people to ride on a regular basis. It is that bike that most often ends up rusted, neglected, and in a landfill before long. It is that bike that the under-privileged, lower income folks have to buy because there is nothing at this price-point or cheaper that is better.

That the Walton's did 'this-or-that' in NW Arkansas has absolutely no bearing on what this product is all about. It is a poorly designed, low-spec "mountain-bike-shaped-object" that follows right in line with its MTB-BSO predecessors. With that said....back to your regularly scheduled program....

Revel Ranger FS 29"er. Image courtesy of Revel Bikes.

Revel Bikes Announces Revised Ranger FS Bike:

I see a lot of mountain bikes come and go in the press. I often think whether or not I might like them, but maybe 90% of the time these are bikes built for raging bike parks, going way fast downhill, or they have some goofy thing that turns me off.

Then every once in a while a bike comes along that makes sense to me. The Revel Ranger is that MTB right now. 

The geometry is reasonable. Not really slack and long travel. Heck, you can even fit three water bottles on the frame in size Large! A threaded bottom bracket? Yes. Internal cable guides so I don't have to fish cables through a frame? Yes. 29" wheels? Yes. 

That last point: It's really interesting to me now that to find out if this was a 29"er I had to go all the way down to the spec sheet for the tire size. No where else is that mentioned. Why? Because a 29"er is a mountain bike, of course. What else is there? (I kid, but only a little bit, you 27 fiver folks!) 

I didn't look at the price, because, well why? I cannot afford it, and also, I don't need it. But "if" I were to buy a MTB tomorrow? I'd be hard pressed not to want that Ranger. You can read more about it here.

Mavic's electric motor. Image courtesy of Bike Radar's social media feed

Mavic Working On New Motor For Lightweight Applications:

According to a "Bike Radar" article recently, Mavic have been quietly working on an electric motor with Swiss bicycle manufacturer BMC. The results so far would point to something rather impressive. A 21lb bicycle with on-demand power assist. While the article says there are still hurdles to overcome to make the system consumer ready, they are on-track to place this in rider's hands perhaps as early as 2025.

Comments: That's a light bike for having a motor, and with the on-demand feature, it is reasonable to think that this would be palatable for cyclists to have on-board for anything from group rides to competitions. Which, if the system can be made to be nearly undetectable while riding, is another problem for event promoters to deal with in terms of keeping the playing field level. 

Obviously, we have no idea what the price would be for such privilege, but one would assume this is going to be very expensive to purchase. That said, if you will be able to buy it, it will show up at start lines. Will this bring back the days of "motor doping" as we saw in the twenty-teens? Perhaps, but it is a fascinating development. 

Ritchey Announces Updated Ascent Model:

This week Ritchey Design quietly introduced a new update to their Acsent model. Now in a "Desert Sand" color, the new Ascent has "Three-Pack" bosses on the fork blades and underneath the downtube. 

The bike has a maximum tire clearance of 2.6" whether you run 29"ers or 650B tires. It also s a Boost spaced bike. You can see more details on the bike at the webpage here. 

Comments: This is about as close to a Gen I Fargo as you can get with modern through axles and Boost spacing. (The Tumbleweed Stargazer is another good example of this type of bicycle) I'm kind of flabbergasted that Ritchey would even bother to list a 27.5" tire size if it wasn't wider than what you could run with a 29 inch wheel. Seems odd to me.....

But yeah, this is a very Gen I Fargo type bike. Especially since Ritchey added the Three-Pack style mounts on the fork blades. Which, by the way, have a nice appealing curve to them. I like that. It makes the Ritchey have a bit of a throw-back flair to this design.

Thanks for reading Guitar Ted Productions! Have an excellent weekend.

If I Had The Controls....

My old 2007 El Mariachi

Sometimes it is fun to play "What If?" when it comes to how things played out. One of the events in cycling design and branding that has always haunted me is, "Why did Trek kill off the Gary Fisher Brand?" That one has always baffled me. But there are other stories as well that have me thinking "what if" from time to time. 

Recently I was reminded of the old Salsa El Mariachi model hard tail 29"er bike. For anyone that doesn't remember, (I have to keep reminding myself that many of you don't catalog memories, or are not old enough to know things that I have stuffed into my brain closet), the Salsa El Mariachi was Salsa Cycles take on a 29" wheeled mountain bike. Not the first model that Salsa ever made with big wheels. That would be the Dos Niner in 2005. No, the El Mar, as we lovingly called it, was the steel hardtail, "do it all" 29"er hard tail bike meant to be tweaked into whatever it was you thought a 29"er should be. Suspension fork? Get one and throw it on. Single speed? The El Mar, well the original one, anyway, had an eccentric bottom bracket, so you could do that. Bike pack? Yes! Gravel bike? Yes! It was a super-versatile, really nice riding steel hard tail. 

Times changed. The El Mariachi spawned the Fargo, (Yes, in part it did), and then full suspension, slacker this, steeper that, and whatnot came into vogue. Salsa Cycles trimmed out the El Mariachi to be a single speed that could be geared, and sales plummeted. The geometry stayed stale, and finally it was time to upgrade the model. Only they didn't. They introduced the Timberjack. That's an okay bike, but what about a modernized El Mar? Many, well......maybe just me, thought that there was a place for a versatile, steel, 29"er MTB that could do anything. Why did the El Mariachi idea go away?

The Panorama Taiga. (Image courtesy of Panorama)

So, I saw a review for a bicycle recently called the Panorama Taiga which sparked my memories concerning my old El Mariachi. This bicycle was lauded as a great 'all-around' MTB by a reviewer, and so I'll take his word for that. But after looking at the geometry table and at the feature set this bike has, well, it's hard for me to not think about what could have been.

I always thought Salsa should have just updated the El Mariachi. Keep it steel. but allow a tapered steer tube fork. Modernize the geometry, but don't go overboard with that. Add on some Three-Pack bosses on a rigid fork option, or sell it with suspension. Keep the single speed option, but use the Alternator Drop Outs. Allow for big, fat 29"er tires on wider rims. If they only would have done that....

And since they haven't, we get bikes like Tumbleweed Prospectors and this Panorama Taiga. Remember when I mentioned that the El Mar spawned the Fargo? Well, even Panorama has a Taiga EXT which is a drop bar version of this idea. Take away something that was popular, modernize it, and sell it from another company. It could have been Salsa Cycles, but........maybe only if I had the controls! Maybe no one else would have bought this idea and if you look at this Panorama Taiga, check out that price. Oof! Yeah...... You're not going to sell many of those whether or not it is a Salsa.

But if I had a hankering for a mountain bike, this is probably what I would get, or something very similar to it.

If I Had The Controls....

My old 2007 El Mariachi

Sometimes it is fun to play "What If?" when it comes to how things played out. One of the events in cycling design and branding that has always haunted me is, "Why did Trek kill off the Gary Fisher Brand?" That one has always baffled me. But there are other stories as well that have me thinking "what if" from time to time. 

Recently I was reminded of the old Salsa El Mariachi model hard tail 29"er bike. For anyone that doesn't remember, (I have to keep reminding myself that many of you don't catalog memories, or are not old enough to know things that I have stuffed into my brain closet), the Salsa El Mariachi was Salsa Cycles take on a 29" wheeled mountain bike. Not the first model that Salsa ever made with big wheels. That would be the Dos Niner in 2005. No, the El Mar, as we lovingly called it, was the steel hardtail, "do it all" 29"er hard tail bike meant to be tweaked into whatever it was you thought a 29"er should be. Suspension fork? Get one and throw it on. Single speed? The El Mar, well the original one, anyway, had an eccentric bottom bracket, so you could do that. Bike pack? Yes! Gravel bike? Yes! It was a super-versatile, really nice riding steel hard tail. 

Times changed. The El Mariachi spawned the Fargo, (Yes, in part it did), and then full suspension, slacker this, steeper that, and whatnot came into vogue. Salsa Cycles trimmed out the El Mariachi to be a single speed that could be geared, and sales plummeted. The geometry stayed stale, and finally it was time to upgrade the model. Only they didn't. They introduced the Timberjack. That's an okay bike, but what about a modernized El Mar? Many, well......maybe just me, thought that there was a place for a versatile, steel, 29"er MTB that could do anything. Why did the El Mariachi idea go away?

The Panorama Taiga. (Image courtesy of Panorama)

So, I saw a review for a bicycle recently called the Panorama Taiga which sparked my memories concerning my old El Mariachi. This bicycle was lauded as a great 'all-around' MTB by a reviewer, and so I'll take his word for that. But after looking at the geometry table and at the feature set this bike has, well, it's hard for me to not think about what could have been.

I always thought Salsa should have just updated the El Mariachi. Keep it steel. but allow a tapered steer tube fork. Modernize the geometry, but don't go overboard with that. Add on some Three-Pack bosses on a rigid fork option, or sell it with suspension. Keep the single speed option, but use the Alternator Drop Outs. Allow for big, fat 29"er tires on wider rims. If they only would have done that....

And since they haven't, we get bikes like Tumbleweed Prospectors and this Panorama Taiga. Remember when I mentioned that the El Mar spawned the Fargo? Well, even Panorama has a Taiga EXT which is a drop bar version of this idea. Take away something that was popular, modernize it, and sell it from another company. It could have been Salsa Cycles, but........maybe only if I had the controls! Maybe no one else would have bought this idea and if you look at this Panorama Taiga, check out that price. Oof! Yeah...... You're not going to sell many of those whether or not it is a Salsa.

But if I had a hankering for a mountain bike, this is probably what I would get, or something very similar to it.

650B vs 700c For Gravel

No "Country Views" today- I had a little graduation celebration to attend to.

 Normally I would have a big ride report today, but I had a busy weekend setting up for, attending, and tearing down for my son's graduation celebration for his final High School year. In between doing all those things I did get around to swapping back the Standard Rando v2 to 700c wheels and tires and getting a couple of shorter rides in on it. I wanted to get a feel for the bigger diameter wheel again before giving my assessment on the 650B vs 700c wheel debate for gravel bicycles. 

Also, and obviously if you hang around here for very long, I have been riding other 700c wheeled bicycles on gravel right alongside the Twin Six Standard Rando v2 with 650B wheels for months. So, this post will also draw from all those experiences, plus my past thoughts and experiences with both wheel sizes going back for several years now. So, without further adieu, here are my thoughts on the wheel sizes and why I would choose one over the other. 

So, some of this opinion has been formed over a decade of messing about on 27.5"/650B MTB wheels and tires. I have ridden several bikes with that wheel size on mountains, gravel, single track, and on the road. Of course, at one point a lot of people thought that 650B/27.5, (they are essentially the same thing, so don't get confused), was going to knock 29"er wheels and tires out and take over the MTB world, but as we all know, 27.5"ers have, to a great extent, been relegated to being the size better suited to shorter statured riders off-road. But, as we now know, 29"ers actually gained ground on 27.5"ers over the years, and it is now the established wheel size for many styles of MTB bikes. 

I mention this because as others have formed their own opinions over the years, and market forces naturally selected out which bikes have big wheels and which do not, the findings I have regarding the 650B vs 700c debate for gravel follow roughly the same thoughts as many others have come around to over the years. That said, I have had strongly held opinions about each wheel size for over decade and a half of riding, reading about, and writing about these wheels. So, that's where I am coming from here. 

650B for Gravel: 

The most recent review I wrote for RidingGravel.com was for a set of 650B tires, so I rode those wheels and tires for the better part of three months most recently. I have ridden 650B gravel wheels and tires before that, most often for all those WTB tires that came out, and last year for some IRC tires, so it isn't like I haven't been on 650B for a long time before this. I feel like I have a pretty good handle on what is going on here. 

In my opinion this wheel size does a couple things for you. One- It gives you more cushion, if you choose the right tires. It is close to what you might get out of a heavier, larger wheel with wide tires. That is- if you are comparing similar quality wheels. A heavy, entry level 650B wheel set will just plain suck compared to a decent set of 700c wheels and tires, and vice versa. If all the 700c wheels were heavy and all you could get were nice 650B wheels, then the choice is obvious. Nice wheels (light, strong, stiff laterally) trump all including diameter, to a degree, and especially for this discussion. More on that in relation to my specific situation in a bit....

But the point is, big air volume = better comfort, theoretically. The truth is, 650B kind of gets you there, but there is something missing, which I will bring up in a bit. 

Secondly, those wider tires can aid in getting over rougher, looser gravel and dirt with more stability. You get maybe a bit better flotation too, so a bit better in mud, loose sand, etc. A wider footprint, if you will, and that is something that, if we are talking running 700 X 43 or 650B X 47-50? In the same bike? That's where it makes a difference. But keep in mind, this debate is mostly about the bikes that claim to fit either wheel size, but have clearance limitations, like my Standard Rando here. 

But the big bummer with these wheels, in my opinion, is that they just do not carry momentum like a larger diameter wheel. And maybe you are not at all in 'tune' with that. Then you will not understand my criticism here. But, as a single speeder first, I crave momentum and use it often. 650B looses that momentum faster than a bigger wheel, like 700c X 45mm, let's say. I can feel this every time I ride 650B. These wheels also do not have that roll over effect, the way a big wheel does, so they seem to feel rougher, and things have more of a 'zing' to the hands when you hit them with 650B wheels. So, remember that air volume thing? Some of that gets lost in the trade-off to a smaller diameter wheel. 

700c for Gravel:

So, if you have a bike that takes both wheel sizes, you likely have the option for wider, 650B X 47/48mm tires or something like 700c X 43-45mm. Which do you choose? Well, I already have told you a few things about why I would choose 700c, but what are the downsides? Well, in this specific situation, 700c looses that 'big-volume' tire thing. So, it doesn't float as well, it is not as stable on looser soils and gravel, and you cannot tease out as much comfort with air pressure settings like you can with 650B. That said, in the case of this Standard Rando v2, I am much happier with the bike in 700c mode. 

These wheels just roll over stuff better and they stay rolling with more ease. Oh, yeah....one other thing. This has specifically to do with single speed bikes, but a smaller wheel diameter lowers the gear versus everything else being the same but the wheel size getting slightly larger, as it does with 700c. So, now with the 700c wheels, I have a slightly 'taller' gear, but I'll adapt to that quickly. I could approximate similar gearing range by varying the rear cog by one tooth, but I have the same cogs for both wheel sets. 

And speaking of that, I promised I would get back to the wheels. I wanted to point out that in my comparison here, the 650B wheels you see are the same model as the 700c ones. They are both Irwin Cycles Aon Carbon 35's. The only difference is the diameter. So, this is an apples to apples comparison in this case. 

So, while some of the benefits of 650B are worthwhile to pursue, for general purpose gravel riding I choose 700c. I choose the 650B option when flotation and traction are imperative, as in Wintry conditions, or on really soft, early Spring roads, as a for instance. But most of the time I'm going to run 700c and it works better, in my opinion, than 650b for all-around stuff. Again- this only applies to bicycles like my T-6 Standard Rando which cannot clear big 700c rubber. I mean, I have  put 650B on a Fargo, but for most riding I'd do, a 29"er tire would work better on a bike that can clear a 29"er tire. 

Which brings me to bikes like my Black Mountain Cycles MCD, or an Otso Warakin, or several others of that ilk that can clear up to a 29" X 2.0 tire. In some cases even bigger. Here the need to swap in 650B wheels and tires is even less, in my opinion. Maybe if you are 5'4", that's a different story, but for me at 6'1"? I'm never going to want to swap 650B wheels and tires into the MCD, not when I can run a 700c X 47mm tire like the Teravail Rutlands.

So, to my way of thinking 650B is a good option if it makes sense for a specific bike/situation. But again- for most riding and for many bicycles? I am opting for 700c. That's my take on things.

650B vs 700c For Gravel

No "Country Views" today- I had a little graduation celebration to attend to.

 Normally I would have a big ride report today, but I had a busy weekend setting up for, attending, and tearing down for my son's graduation celebration for his final High School year. In between doing all those things I did get around to swapping back the Standard Rando v2 to 700c wheels and tires and getting a couple of shorter rides in on it. I wanted to get a feel for the bigger diameter wheel again before giving my assessment on the 650B vs 700c wheel debate for gravel bicycles. 

Also, and obviously if you hang around here for very long, I have been riding other 700c wheeled bicycles on gravel right alongside the Twin Six Standard Rando v2 with 650B wheels for months. So, this post will also draw from all those experiences, plus my past thoughts and experiences with both wheel sizes going back for several years now. So, without further adieu, here are my thoughts on the wheel sizes and why I would choose one over the other. 

So, some of this opinion has been formed over a decade of messing about on 27.5"/650B MTB wheels and tires. I have ridden several bikes with that wheel size on mountains, gravel, single track, and on the road. Of course, at one point a lot of people thought that 650B/27.5, (they are essentially the same thing, so don't get confused), was going to knock 29"er wheels and tires out and take over the MTB world, but as we all know, 27.5"ers have, to a great extent, been relegated to being the size better suited to shorter statured riders off-road. But, as we now know, 29"ers actually gained ground on 27.5"ers over the years, and it is now the established wheel size for many styles of MTB bikes. 

I mention this because as others have formed their own opinions over the years, and market forces naturally selected out which bikes have big wheels and which do not, the findings I have regarding the 650B vs 700c debate for gravel follow roughly the same thoughts as many others have come around to over the years. That said, I have had strongly held opinions about each wheel size for over decade and a half of riding, reading about, and writing about these wheels. So, that's where I am coming from here. 

650B for Gravel: 

The most recent review I wrote for RidingGravel.com was for a set of 650B tires, so I rode those wheels and tires for the better part of three months most recently. I have ridden 650B gravel wheels and tires before that, most often for all those WTB tires that came out, and last year for some IRC tires, so it isn't like I haven't been on 650B for a long time before this. I feel like I have a pretty good handle on what is going on here. 

In my opinion this wheel size does a couple things for you. One- It gives you more cushion, if you choose the right tires. It is close to what you might get out of a heavier, larger wheel with wide tires. That is- if you are comparing similar quality wheels. A heavy, entry level 650B wheel set will just plain suck compared to a decent set of 700c wheels and tires, and vice versa. If all the 700c wheels were heavy and all you could get were nice 650B wheels, then the choice is obvious. Nice wheels (light, strong, stiff laterally) trump all including diameter, to a degree, and especially for this discussion. More on that in relation to my specific situation in a bit....

But the point is, big air volume = better comfort, theoretically. The truth is, 650B kind of gets you there, but there is something missing, which I will bring up in a bit. 

Secondly, those wider tires can aid in getting over rougher, looser gravel and dirt with more stability. You get maybe a bit better flotation too, so a bit better in mud, loose sand, etc. A wider footprint, if you will, and that is something that, if we are talking running 700 X 43 or 650B X 47-50? In the same bike? That's where it makes a difference. But keep in mind, this debate is mostly about the bikes that claim to fit either wheel size, but have clearance limitations, like my Standard Rando here. 

But the big bummer with these wheels, in my opinion, is that they just do not carry momentum like a larger diameter wheel. And maybe you are not at all in 'tune' with that. Then you will not understand my criticism here. But, as a single speeder first, I crave momentum and use it often. 650B looses that momentum faster than a bigger wheel, like 700c X 45mm, let's say. I can feel this every time I ride 650B. These wheels also do not have that roll over effect, the way a big wheel does, so they seem to feel rougher, and things have more of a 'zing' to the hands when you hit them with 650B wheels. So, remember that air volume thing? Some of that gets lost in the trade-off to a smaller diameter wheel. 

700c for Gravel:

So, if you have a bike that takes both wheel sizes, you likely have the option for wider, 650B X 47/48mm tires or something like 700c X 43-45mm. Which do you choose? Well, I already have told you a few things about why I would choose 700c, but what are the downsides? Well, in this specific situation, 700c looses that 'big-volume' tire thing. So, it doesn't float as well, it is not as stable on looser soils and gravel, and you cannot tease out as much comfort with air pressure settings like you can with 650B. That said, in the case of this Standard Rando v2, I am much happier with the bike in 700c mode. 

These wheels just roll over stuff better and they stay rolling with more ease. Oh, yeah....one other thing. This has specifically to do with single speed bikes, but a smaller wheel diameter lowers the gear versus everything else being the same but the wheel size getting slightly larger, as it does with 700c. So, now with the 700c wheels, I have a slightly 'taller' gear, but I'll adapt to that quickly. I could approximate similar gearing range by varying the rear cog by one tooth, but I have the same cogs for both wheel sets. 

And speaking of that, I promised I would get back to the wheels. I wanted to point out that in my comparison here, the 650B wheels you see are the same model as the 700c ones. They are both Irwin Cycles Aon Carbon 35's. The only difference is the diameter. So, this is an apples to apples comparison in this case. 

So, while some of the benefits of 650B are worthwhile to pursue, for general purpose gravel riding I choose 700c. I choose the 650B option when flotation and traction are imperative, as in Wintry conditions, or on really soft, early Spring roads, as a for instance. But most of the time I'm going to run 700c and it works better, in my opinion, than 650b for all-around stuff. Again- this only applies to bicycles like my T-6 Standard Rando which cannot clear big 700c rubber. I mean, I have  put 650B on a Fargo, but for most riding I'd do, a 29"er tire would work better on a bike that can clear a 29"er tire. 

Which brings me to bikes like my Black Mountain Cycles MCD, or an Otso Warakin, or several others of that ilk that can clear up to a 29" X 2.0 tire. In some cases even bigger. Here the need to swap in 650B wheels and tires is even less, in my opinion. Maybe if you are 5'4", that's a different story, but for me at 6'1"? I'm never going to want to swap 650B wheels and tires into the MCD, not when I can run a 700c X 47mm tire like the Teravail Rutlands.

So, to my way of thinking 650B is a good option if it makes sense for a specific bike/situation. But again- for most riding and for many bicycles? I am opting for 700c. That's my take on things.

Updating Thoughts For The Fargo Gen 1

 

The excitement factor for the Fargo Gen 1 bike gets re-stoked from time to time, and I just never know where that stoke is coming from. This time a swap of tires has me wanting to make upgrades to the old bike. 

The 9 speed drive train that is currently on there is getting pretty tired. I've already stated that I wanted to swap back in the original XT crank set, (which I barely used, by the way), and a new chain and cassette, of course, would have to be put on as well. That also would include the green anodized Chris King bottom bracket I've had laying around for ever too. 

I swapped in a Brooks saddle, a C-17, which so far has been great in combination with the titanium Regulator seat post. So, that bit is relatively recent in terms of upgrades. I could see going with a high end WTB Volt saddle at some point though. The combination of 'give' that the Brooks has in conjunction with the seat post is really nice, so maybe not. 

My biggest beef as of now is with the brakes. I've fiddled and tweaked on the brakes for this bike for years. I think it is high time for a hybrid cable/hydraulic set up on here. I may just be getting something along those lines to solve my braking issues. I could migrate over my fully hydraulic set up on the Raleigh, but the length of the lines is maybe not right and well......that's messing with a good set up. I just do not wish to get that bike screwed up by taking off what works so well over there. 

Anyway, the biggest upgrade, and one I have been talking about as well, is the wheels. I think I need to go to a carbon rim with some really nice quick release hubs and build a set this Winter for this bike. That would go a long way toward making these Extraterrestrial tires worth the extra weight. So that would, obviously, be really expensive. So, while that would likely make far more difference than anything else on the table here, it may be the most difficult to pull off due to the expense. 

I can also see going for a carbon handle bar here also. If I did, it would be like the Whiskey bar I have on the pink MCD or a carbon Cowchipper, unless I can find something in carbon closer to the Luxy Bar. Like that would ever happen!

Updating Thoughts For The Fargo Gen 1

 

The excitement factor for the Fargo Gen 1 bike gets re-stoked from time to time, and I just never know where that stoke is coming from. This time a swap of tires has me wanting to make upgrades to the old bike. 

The 9 speed drive train that is currently on there is getting pretty tired. I've already stated that I wanted to swap back in the original XT crank set, (which I barely used, by the way), and a new chain and cassette, of course, would have to be put on as well. That also would include the green anodized Chris King bottom bracket I've had laying around for ever too. 

I swapped in a Brooks saddle, a C-17, which so far has been great in combination with the titanium Regulator seat post. So, that bit is relatively recent in terms of upgrades. I could see going with a high end WTB Volt saddle at some point though. The combination of 'give' that the Brooks has in conjunction with the seat post is really nice, so maybe not. 

My biggest beef as of now is with the brakes. I've fiddled and tweaked on the brakes for this bike for years. I think it is high time for a hybrid cable/hydraulic set up on here. I may just be getting something along those lines to solve my braking issues. I could migrate over my fully hydraulic set up on the Raleigh, but the length of the lines is maybe not right and well......that's messing with a good set up. I just do not wish to get that bike screwed up by taking off what works so well over there. 

Anyway, the biggest upgrade, and one I have been talking about as well, is the wheels. I think I need to go to a carbon rim with some really nice quick release hubs and build a set this Winter for this bike. That would go a long way toward making these Extraterrestrial tires worth the extra weight. So that would, obviously, be really expensive. So, while that would likely make far more difference than anything else on the table here, it may be the most difficult to pull off due to the expense. 

I can also see going for a carbon handle bar here also. If I did, it would be like the Whiskey bar I have on the pink MCD or a carbon Cowchipper, unless I can find something in carbon closer to the Luxy Bar. Like that would ever happen!

When 26 Is Like 27

Kona Bikes Dew Plus

WARNING: Intense bike nerding out to follow. Please move on if the consideration of the minutiae of bike tire and wheel technology finds you falling asleep!

 I had a chance to build up a Kona Dew Plus yesterday at Andy''s Bike Shop and it got me to thinking. "Twenty Six is like Twenty Seven". If you know your wheel size history, you'll understand. No- this is not my goofy understanding of math coming to the fore. But yeah....I can see where you might think that. My math skills are not what you might call 'very good'. 

Anyway..... Years ago there were tons of bicycles sold at retail which had the 630ISO bead diameter. These were commonly known as "27 inch tires". They are slightly bigger in diameter than 700c, which is the modern road bike derived size that also supports 29'er MTB and most all gravel tires. So, what happened to twenty seven inch tires and wheels? 

Well, they were phased out in the 1980's when Mavic and some other racing oriented companies moved to the ISO622 diameter sized wheel, or otherwise known as 700c (French designation). These tires and wheels were slightly smaller in diameter, but more importantly, they were lighter. Most manufacturers copied this for their designs on road racing style and lightweight bikes going forward. 27"/630ISO became a 'dead' wheel size, but of course, there are a million of these bikes out there yet, so tires are still available, albeit in limited options. Since 27"/630ISO is now relegated to having no new development, the 'replacement' tires and wheels tend to be- but not always- very low quality items. This has been the norm since I started in the bicycle business in the early 1990's. 

Compare this to what has happened to 26"/559ISO diameter tires and wheels. Once the darling of every high end mountain bike line, with scads of high end wheel and tire offerings, this wheel size has shrunk down to resemble the standing of 27"/630ISO in a very short period of time. It's really one of the startling, untold stories of the bicycling world. 

Think back ten years ago. In 2010 26" wheels were in a heated race for market supremacy with- ironically - a 622ISO based wheel, once again, fitted with 2"+ sized rubber, dubbed "29"ers".  At the time many said there was no way that 26" MTB would ever fade away. 29"ers were just too big and cumbersome for many things off-road riders wanted to do. Meanwhile, in 2007, Kirk Pacenti hacked a tire down to 27.5" size, claiming this 'new' MTB wheel/tire combo, presented as half the good stuff of 26" mixed with the other half of the good stuff from 29", was now going to be the "Next Big Thing". 

Of course, three tire sizes for off road was ridiculous. One of them, or two of them, had to go. Without beating the story to death, we all know which bird got pushed out of the nest. It was 26"ers that were doomed to the dust heap of forgotten tire and wheel sizes. 

I'd say that without fat bikes, anything 559ISO would pretty much be replacement type fare, just as with 27'/630ISO stuff. The 27.5" thing became a MTB size, which you all know now, but it isn't really 'new'. It is a derivative of an old French utilitarian/tandem/commuter wheel known as 650B in the French and 584ISO by the bike industry. In fact, it is a variant on 26" diameter wheels in reality. However; that has been pretty much lost to the depths of time now. 

What matters now is that, for all intents and purposes, adult, lightweight, sporting bikes are either 650B/584ISO or 700c/622ISO and the old 26" MTB and 27" road sizes are dinosaurs of our past. I think it is a fascinating turn of events, and the Kona Dew Plus was a sharp reminder of what has happened in a very short period of time.

When 26 Is Like 27

Kona Bikes Dew Plus

WARNING: Intense bike nerding out to follow. Please move on if the consideration of the minutiae of bike tire and wheel technology finds you falling asleep!

 I had a chance to build up a Kona Dew Plus yesterday at Andy''s Bike Shop and it got me to thinking. "Twenty Six is like Twenty Seven". If you know your wheel size history, you'll understand. No- this is not my goofy understanding of math coming to the fore. But yeah....I can see where you might think that. My math skills are not what you might call 'very good'. 

Anyway..... Years ago there were tons of bicycles sold at retail which had the 630ISO bead diameter. These were commonly known as "27 inch tires". They are slightly bigger in diameter than 700c, which is the modern road bike derived size that also supports 29'er MTB and most all gravel tires. So, what happened to twenty seven inch tires and wheels? 

Well, they were phased out in the 1980's when Mavic and some other racing oriented companies moved to the ISO622 diameter sized wheel, or otherwise known as 700c (French designation). These tires and wheels were slightly smaller in diameter, but more importantly, they were lighter. Most manufacturers copied this for their designs on road racing style and lightweight bikes going forward. 27"/630ISO became a 'dead' wheel size, but of course, there are a million of these bikes out there yet, so tires are still available, albeit in limited options. Since 27"/630ISO is now relegated to having no new development, the 'replacement' tires and wheels tend to be- but not always- very low quality items. This has been the norm since I started in the bicycle business in the early 1990's. 

Compare this to what has happened to 26"/559ISO diameter tires and wheels. Once the darling of every high end mountain bike line, with scads of high end wheel and tire offerings, this wheel size has shrunk down to resemble the standing of 27"/630ISO in a very short period of time. It's really one of the startling, untold stories of the bicycling world. 

Think back ten years ago. In 2010 26" wheels were in a heated race for market supremacy with- ironically - a 622ISO based wheel, once again, fitted with 2"+ sized rubber, dubbed "29"ers".  At the time many said there was no way that 26" MTB would ever fade away. 29"ers were just too big and cumbersome for many things off-road riders wanted to do. Meanwhile, in 2007, Kirk Pacenti hacked a tire down to 27.5" size, claiming this 'new' MTB wheel/tire combo, presented as half the good stuff of 26" mixed with the other half of the good stuff from 29", was now going to be the "Next Big Thing". 

Of course, three tire sizes for off road was ridiculous. One of them, or two of them, had to go. Without beating the story to death, we all know which bird got pushed out of the nest. It was 26"ers that were doomed to the dust heap of forgotten tire and wheel sizes. 

I'd say that without fat bikes, anything 559ISO would pretty much be replacement type fare, just as with 27'/630ISO stuff. The 27.5" thing became a MTB size, which you all know now, but it isn't really 'new'. It is a derivative of an old French utilitarian/tandem/commuter wheel known as 650B in the French and 584ISO by the bike industry. In fact, it is a variant on 26" diameter wheels in reality. However; that has been pretty much lost to the depths of time now. 

What matters now is that, for all intents and purposes, adult, lightweight, sporting bikes are either 650B/584ISO or 700c/622ISO and the old 26" MTB and 27" road sizes are dinosaurs of our past. I think it is a fascinating turn of events, and the Kona Dew Plus was a sharp reminder of what has happened in a very short period of time.

Salsa Cycles Introduces The Rangefinder

Rangefinder SX Eagle 29

There is a new hard tail in Salsa's line up now, which you probably heard all about yesterday. I am writing this post up ahead of the actual release, so I have no idea how this will be received by the marketplace, but I have my opinions, so.......

NOTE: Large doses of "my opinion" will be handed out in gloppy dollops today. You've been forewarned.....

Okay, this seems like a weird bike to add to the line up. It almost strikes me as the Mukluk/Beargrease thing does. One has Alternators and the other doesn't. One has a certain geometry and the other seems like a mild tweak to its counterpart. Both use similar frame materials. Yeah.... It's hard to make distinctions with the Rangefinder and the Timberjack, except when you look at the pricing and some finer details. But on the surface of things, it looks as though the new Timberjacks are up-spec and more expensive and the Rangefinders are priced where the Timberjack used to be.

The Rangefinder comes in two spec levels and in two wheel sizes for each spec level- 27.5+ and 29"er. There are two color choices in each spec level. Four bikes total in the range. One is Eagle SX, two colors, one has 29"ers, the other 27.5"ers. Same for the Deore spec. All four bikes use similar wheels, and the rear wheel is 141mmQR standard. Fronts are 100 X 15mm through axle.

Rangefinder Deore 29

This is a very competitive price point, so you are going to find a LOT of hard tails with similar specs. It's just the way of the world when you are talking entry level mountain bikes, and that's what these are- Entry level. Anything less expensive is making far too many compromises to be considered a "real mountain bike" in terms of expectations off road. In fact, there are some spec choices on these rigs which are.......meh.... Not so awesome, shall we say?

All bikes in this range are fitted with SR Suntour forks. I've been in the bicycle business a long time, and SR Suntour has a checkered history in forks and they are not what I consider a good choice if one is really going to be pushing this sort of bike off-road. I've just seen too many disappointed people with SR Suntour spec'ed bikes. And this isn't a bash on Salsa. It's just the nature of this price point. I mean, take the dropper post- a TransX branded one. Yeah..... You just are barely getting by on this price for a mountain bike. Maybe it'll work for you, but don't be surprised when it doesn't. That's my take on this price point. For any brand's bikes at this price point. It is what it is.

That's why people need to be conscious of spec and what their expectations are. Going mountain biking and you don't want issues? Then the Rangefinder may not be for you, that's my opinion. At that point, a Timberjack is where I'd point you in Salsa's line up. The spec is solid where it matters: Rock Shox forks, rear through axle hubs, better drive train spec, and good wheels.

Timberjack SLX 29

And even then you are only getting a Rock Shox Sektor fork, SLX drive train, and the same dropper post. Look.....real mountain bikes are expensive. They always have been. I recall back in the mid-90's it was that way, and it has remained so ever since. I mean, decent, reliable front forks retail at upwards of a half a grand to a grand anymore, and top of the line forks are more than that.

That's just the fork, add in some good hubs, decent hoops, and a set of tires, and you've already spent more than an entire Rangefinder. I know.....I get it, completes are always a better deal than spec'ing piece by piece. But to illustrate a point, I think it helps to understand that the Rangefinder is not a mid-range spec bike, and a Timberjack is maybe barely that. In the mountain biking world, if you want "no worries" and top performing bikes, you'd better warm up that credit card. It's gonna get used up.

This might be a reason why gravel riding has taken off. You can get a decent rig that will work just fine at Rangefinder pricing. Not "just barely getting by" either, but a really decent bike. Mountain biking is equipment intensive, as they like to say, and the correct tools for the job are going to be expensive.

Then again- ya gotta wonder, do we really need a slacked out, long/low 130mm travel mountain bike in the Mid-West? Just think how much better a fully rigid, slightly steeper MTB could be spec'ed. Maybe an aluminum frame, steel fork, decent components, cost maybe a grand? It'd be all the mountain bike most folks would ever need. I bought a rigid MTB in 1989 for about $400.00. It was serviceable. Today that same money would translate into about an $830.00 bike. (According to Google) So, yeah.... I figure about a thousand bucks is basement price for a fully rigid bike with decent parts. Better wheels, better drive train, and less issues than a compromise that has a suspension fork and dropper post from any brand.

But what do I know.....

Note: Images and some information provided by Salsa Cycles.