Friday News And Views

Image courtesy of Crust Bikes

 Crust Bikes Didn't Want 26+ To Die:

Crust Bikes released a new 26"er tire this week in 26 X 2.8" size, which is commonly called "plus sized" in mountain bike terms, by most folks anyway.  

The new tire is called the Mateo, and is a modestly knobbly affair with a 120TPI tubeless ready casing, foldable bead, and weighs approximately 750 grams. 

Available now via Crust Bikes website in black sidewall only and in the 2,8" width only. 

Comments: I think this is a great idea. However; there are not a lot of bicycles this tire will fit into. Some Surly bikes will allow for this to slide in, and of course, rim choice will determine fit with this tire as well. A wider rim will yield wider tire widths and narrower rims will make the same tire less wide. 

I'm not sure this would fit my Big Dummy without some modification of the rear end. I have Northstar 45mm wide rims on the bike now running 26" x 2.4" tires and that is pushing the limits already. I ran 26" x 2.5" tires on Velocity Cliffhangars on my old 1X1 single speed bike, which I loved for urban commuting. So, I almost want to get a set of these tires to try on my Big Dummy. 

Image courtesy of Surly Bikes

Speak Of The Devil:

Surly pulled the Big Dummy out of their range in 2023. However; now it is back again as a complete or as a frame set with bags. The new offering can handle 26" x 2.5" tires with fenders and comes with a center mount kickstand in the complete offering. 

Sporting a 1X Shimano CUES 9 speed drive train and Tektro two-piston hydraulic brakes, the Big Dummy is rated for 499lbs of weight bearing. 

Prices for the Twilight Zone blue complete is $2,699.00 and the frame set is in the same color for $1,999.00. See the Surly webpage for the Big Dummy HERE. 

Image courtesy of Salsa Cycles

32: Fargos Arriving Soon:

The Salsa Cycles Fargo, it's longest running model, takes a leap into another level with the advent of 32" wheels. According to an email blast sent out this week riders can expect to be able to grab a steel Fargo 32" frame set sometime in August. The titanium frame set will follow in the Fall, according to the email.

Also there will be wheels and tires on offer, (likely the Teravail components, but possibly something else as well), to flesh out your build. It should be noted that complete 32" bikes are not available yet from Salsa Cycles. No indication of when completes might become available with 32" wheels was made either. 

Comments: While this is great news for 32" wheel curious folks, there has been no indication of what exact pricing will be on the steel frame set. Those hoping for an inexpensive option will likely have their hopes dashed though, as I am expecting these frame sets to top out over 2K and you still need wheels and tires to boot.  

Not to say this won't be a great option, because it probably will be a great option in my opinion. It just won't be a "32 curious friendly" option. I do like what appears to be color-shift paint on the steel Fargo 32"er though. 

Image courtesy of Selle Italia

Selle Italia Introduces New SLR Gravel Range:

News came out this week about a new gravel oriented saddle range from venerable saddle maker Selle Italia. Their SLR model was one of the darlings of the early ultra-MTB scene in the early 2000's, and now this range looks to become a top choice for gravel riders. 

Focusing on rider comfort over rough terrain, this new saddle range has what Selle Italia calls a "Bow Rail System" to deal with vibrations. This particular saddle shown here, the SLR Gravel Elite, has another unique feature in the included Protective Insert. The small sliver of material fills the cut-out to help prevent riders from getting wet or from having debris contact their shorts while riding in inclement weather or over looser terrain. This insert can be left out as needed by the rider also. 

The SLR Gravel Elite comes in two widths and sells for $249.90 USD. 

Comments: Perhaps a lot of younger riders do not know Selle Italia, but their saddles are legendary in the older annals of MTB and ultra-MTB racing. This new saddle seems a bit different than most gravel oriented saddles. I especially like seeing this protective insert option, which whether or not is effective, seems smart from a marketing perspective. 

Image courtesy of West High Wahawks Football

A Dedication:

Today would have been my son Jacob's birthday. I wanted to dedicate this FN&V column to his memory. I have an image of him here at football practice from 2020. Thanks to Waterloo West High Wahawk Football for the image.  

Tomorrow I will be hosting the Ride For Jacob. The 46 mile, mostly gravel route will be a good one and I am expecting at least a small number of folks to show up to help me remember my son.

One thing I wanted to add here, and that is my sincere thanks and deep gratitude to you, the readers of Guitar Ted Productions, who have steadfastly supported me through this past year. Your kind comments and even your silence when I posted some intensely personal feelings concerning the death of my son a year ago were noted.  

One never knows if things expressed which are intense in nature and not the ordinary content for a cycling related blog will be acceptable to the readership, but I felt I could trust you all with this. I was certainly not disappointed in doing so. And so I thank you all for your kindness, your consideration, and yes, even your silence, all which has allowed me to express myself freely without condemnation of any kind.  

A report on the ride will appear Monday.

Thanks again. Now get out there and ride those bicycles! 

Bikes Of 2025: Surly Big Dummy

  It's another end-of-year period on the blog. You know what that means? Yep! Another round of my bikes I used in 2025. 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.

Cycling to recycle

The Surly Big Dummy has been around for a while here at Guitar Ted Productions and while you blog readers do not see much of the bike, I do use it quite often. 

This bike goes on nearly weekly trips to the recycling station. I get a lot of odd looks when I haul all my cardboard, plastic, and cans over the river and to the nearest station to me. I don't mind the stares. 

But I also use this bicycle occasionally as the delivery bike for the Collective. However; this year I only did this trip once as we cut way back on ordering stuff. So, there wasn't a lot of hauling action for this bike from the Collective. 

I did get the chance to haul tools and a repair stand to a nearby bike check at the Public Library. That was interesting! I always find it to be fun to figure out how to carry different things on te Big Dummy. 

The saddest cargo I carried this year, or in any year, was the body of our cat which died suddenly in June. Felix the Cat got a last ride in a long, black "bicycle hearse" with wide white walls. Fitting for a black cat, I'd say. That was one tough ride on the big Dummy. I don't care to ever repeat it. 

Another recycling run

The repair stand and tool box loaded on the Big Dummy.

The interesting thing about the big Dummy is in all the years I've had it, I've never replaced or done any deep maintenance on anything on the bike. I did get a flat tire on the front this year. The first flat ever for the bike. Otherwise, it runs fine, but there are hints telling me things need looked into. 

So, in 2026 I plan on doing deep maintenance on this bicycle to get it up to snuff. It won't be fun to take off the bags and work around the Big Dummy's clumsiness in a repair stand, but it must be done. Otherwise this bike is doing great.  

Bikes Of 2024: Surly Big Dummy

 It's another late November/December here on the blog. You know what that means? Yep! Another round of my bikes I used in 2024. 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 Big Dummy at the Cedar Valley Bicycle Collective loaded with supplies.

This bike has been around for a while now and this year I think I used it more than I ever have. Working at the Cedar Valley Bicycle Collective has brought a new angle to owning this bike. I use it to haul supplies the last three-plus miles from the UPS Store to the shop. I also do a recycling run once a week with this bike as well. 

The ride from the UPS Store has been a hoot for me. I get really side-eyed and gawked at when folks see me lacing these big boxes to the rack with my bungee cords! The UPS folks know who I am since they figured out "I'm that bike guy" and now their amazement at how I take the packages away has subsided a bit, but they were pretty weirded out in the beginning. 

Of all the bikes I ride, the Big Dummy gets the most compliments. It is a pretty snazzy looking bike, if I do say so myself. 

As far as any changes go, I am probably going to have to service this bike which will entail a new suite of drivetrain parts, a bottom bracket, and brake service. It's been far too long. But as far as anything major goes? No, there are no modifications to be had on the horizon. I will only add that last year's decision to purchase that double-legged kickstand has paid dividends. I'd do that again in a heartbeat if I had to set up another cargo bike and it did not have a dual-leg kickstand.

Two Things

Last delivery of the year.

 Community Service:

This "Two Things" has a common thread. That being the Cedar Valley Bicycle Collective where I work these days. 

Last week I delivered the last supplies for the year from our vendor who had my order dropped shipped to the local UPS Store, which is several miles away from the shop. 

While I haven't been there in a few months, the UPS Store employees have gotten to know me and I would wager that is due to my chosen mode of transportation. There probably are not too many cargo bike riders going there to make a pick-up. I always get the side-eye glances and I'm sure many folks think I'm 'stupid' or worse. Once in awhile I get a compliment, and I did on this last run of 2024.

A middle-aged looking lady, who did not look at all like a typical cyclist, saw me run my boxes out and said, "I wondered who had the cargo bike. Cool bike!" I thanked her and went on my way. As I lashed the boxes to the bike, I thought about how rare that interaction is likely to be in Waterloo, Iowa and I smiled as I savored that one. I bet it will be awhile before I hear anything like that again. 

Usually, if anyone dares to say anything, it is more like, "Are you sure that bike can handle that?", or "Ya need a motor on that thing!". When that happens I just smile and nod politely while I'm doing my 'internal eye roll' and thinking that these folks would probably be amazed by eBikes.

Last Thursday I had to hoof it down to the Collective by 7:15 am to let in a group of six John Deere engineers who were volunteering through a program John Deere encourages their employees to get involved in. John Deere wants their employees to volunteer at non-profit organizations that benefit their local community. So, since the Collective is a non-profit, we qualify to host some of the employees throughout the year to help us do our work. 

Typically this is a "tear-down day" where I have the volunteers take bikes down to bare frames and forks. The parts are then sorted into bins and later on I sort those and save what we need to use as a source for rebuilding donated bikes, and in a secondary need, as parts for people trying to build up used bikes that cannot afford bike shop's new part prices. 

I hosted six fellows and in four hours they tore down around 30 bikes and several wheels as well. That'll keep me busy for quite some time! But this program helps us out tremendously at the Collective with being able to process bikes through more efficiently and allows us to continue to help needy people in the community with transportation needs, as well as helping with kid's programs and educational programs. 

Late 1980's vintage Shimano bottom bracket

Old Technology Rears Its Head:

Another thing that happens at the Collective from time to time is what I call "a blast from the past". Something on a bicycle that gets donated that I once knew about but had forgotten until it shows up in the Collective. 

One such thing occurred last week when my co-worker Carl was puzzled by an odd looking bottom bracket in a bicycle he was working on. It looked like a typical cartridge bottom bracket but the plastic cup was on the wrong side. I didn't even have to look at it to know what this was going to be. I was instantly reminded of early Shimano cartridge bottom brackets. 

Now, I may be wrong, but I think these were Shimano's first efforts at a cartridge bottom bracket. At least in the form-factor we know them as today. The main difference being that the steel cup which was attached to the cartridge was on the non-drive side instead of the drive side, which only lasted for a short time before Shimano flip-flopped the cups to what we all know today.  

Also back then, these were adjustable and rebuildable cartridge bottom brackets. I assume Shimano did this to appease the "old ways" and sway mechanics into accepting these new designs. Again, it did not take long for Shimano to abandon this first version of the cartridge bottom bracket for their well known sealed, non-serviceable type. 

I pulled the rubber seal off one end of this bottom bracket to show the ball bearings. The non-drive side has an actual jamb nut and adjusting nut set up, much like a wheel might have, in classic Shimano style. I actually have a Park tool to adjust these with that has followed me to every stop along my mechanic journey since my first shop job in 1993. 

By the way, as I recall, these bottom brackets were already out of the catalog by the time I started wrenching. So, those drive side, left hand threaded plastic cups were like gold! I saved every one I could because they were the weak link in those early cartridge bottom brackets as they were prone to breaking under high-stress pedaling. 

Anyway, it was fun to come across one of those old dinosaurs. Of course, I saved it. I plan on trying to service it later this Winter.

Cargo Biking

One of my favorite alleys in Waterloo

It has been pretty cold here and also- I just got over that illness I had over the holidays. I was trying to be careful here because I am no longer a young lad and I cannot bounce back as quickly as I used to. Still, I am not doing bad, I just am careful. More careful than I used to be.

So, while my heart has been into doing a cold weather gravel ride, something like that is about as tough a deal as you could be putting yourself through. It is raw and the elements give you no quarter out in the country. If you have been weakened by sickness, it is not probably prudent then to be trying yourself that severely right after feeling well again. 

But I was up for a ride, and I had two opportunities to ride for a purpose. one on Friday and one on Monday. Both took me to the local UPS store which is about a three mile ride from the house. I then take my load of packages to the Cedar Valley Bicycle Collective for a round trip of about 8 miles. It ain't much, but it is a start after being so ill. 

Of course, I have a route I selected which takes me off the beaten path when I can do that. One of my favorite parts on the way out is an alley I found which looks a lot like a Level B Road. But I ride other alleys too and this keeps me off the streets and away from almost all traffic. 

Interestingly, my home is very near to the oldest parts of Waterloo, and alleys were a thing when the parcels were platted out. There are more alleys than streets in some places. The alleys get less and less as I move Southward into newer parts of Waterloo until there are none at all.

Loaded up at the UPS Store

I often get a lot of "side-eye" at the UPS Store. First is how I can park right next to the door, and cars cannot. That sometimes raises eyebrows! And on cold January days like Monday, I get those looks like, "Is this guy a DUI offender or just some weirdo?" 

They probably think "both!" and worse things. I don't know, but I do know this is an attention-getter way of living. It just may not be the quality of attention you are looking for! I just shrug it off and try to make sure I am being friendly. That and I keep a sharp look-out for cars and other vehicles. People drive waaaaayyy too fast  in parking lots! 

Destination reached!

On the way to the Collective I don't take alleys because they are too rough and the loads can be heavy anyway. This time I had a whole box of bulk chains onboard and the tail was wagging the dog a bit, if you catch my drift. So,  I tend to take it slower and easier on the way back to the shop.

Two trips down and back. Two more bike rides with a little exertion and cold to deal with, but not too much. It may not seem like much but it is a start.

Bikes Of 2023: Surly Big Dummy

 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.

This bike has been a real workhorse for the last couple of years.

Several years ago I had obtained an Xtra-Cycle attachment to convert my Schwinn Sierra into a cargo bike. That turned me on to cargo bike versatility and eventually that fueled the desire to get a "real" cargo bike. Then I came across a local rider at the time, Mike, who had a Surly Big Dummy, and he asked if I'd like to purchase it from him. 

The rest, as they say, is history.

The Big Dummy has found a home in my everyday cycling routine whenever I have anything pretty big to transport by bicycle. That role expanded in 2022 when I started working at the Cedar Valley Bicycle collective. Our orders from our supplier come to a local UPS Store, and I have to pick them up there. Why not do that with a bicycle? I mean, I have the perfect one for the job, right?

Well, it was made even more perfect with the addition of a Surly kickstand this past Summer. While these are expensive kickstands, they are worth every penny, as this addition makes loading and unloading the Big Dummy far easier to do. Now I can easily carry big, heavy boxes of supplies from the UPS Store to the CVBC shop and not have to have some circus act moves at the ready for the loading and unloading process.

Besides the kickstand the only future changes I can foresee here are maintenance related and at some pint I'll have to get tires, but I hope that doesn't happen for a long time. I like my XR1 whitewalls!  I could see doing a wheel set for Winter with dedicated  tires for Winter, like a studded set up. We will see....

Heatwave

Tuesday's delivery ride.

Yeah, you know it's been hot in a lot of places this Summer. I don't need to tell you about that. This has been a record-breaking week here as it got to 104° F here yesterday. I don't think it has been over 100° F for several years and this hot spell ranks right up there with the 1988 Summer heatwave. 

But that doesn't mean that there has not been any cycling. I've gotten in some urban rides this week, most notably a test of the Big Dummy's new kickstand on Tuesday. 

I got out early while it was still only in the upper 80's and rode over to the UPS Store to pick up two heavy boxes full of components for the shop. So, how did the kickstand do?

Yeah....pretty much as predicted, this kickstand made all the difference in the world. I was able to easily load up the bike and figure out a strapping system with my various lengths of bungee cords without worrying about the bike tipping over or having to steady the bike at all. 

If you have a Big Dummy and do not have this kickstand you need to get one. This will transform your Big Dummy into a very useful bicycle. I wish I had one of these kickstands long ago, but I have it now and I am very happy with how it is working out. 

So, Wednesday I opted for a two mile brisk walk and I will tell you that it was simply awful outdoors. It wasn't 100 yet, but I felt like I was walking in a universe fueled by the air from a hair dryer. It was windy, not real humid, and the Sun had full rein of the sky. Yikes! Today isn't supposed to be much better. 

I hope everyone is staying safe and is well. This is crazy weather to be outdoors in right now in the Mid-West. Friday we'll get some relief and Saturday it will be 20 degrees cooler than it was Wednesday and it will still be above 80 degrees! That is insane.

Heatwave

Tuesday's delivery ride.

Yeah, you know it's been hot in a lot of places this Summer. I don't need to tell you about that. This has been a record-breaking week here as it got to 104° F here yesterday. I don't think it has been over 100° F for several years and this hot spell ranks right up there with the 1988 Summer heatwave. 

But that doesn't mean that there has not been any cycling. I've gotten in some urban rides this week, most notably a test of the Big Dummy's new kickstand on Tuesday. 

I got out early while it was still only in the upper 80's and rode over to the UPS Store to pick up two heavy boxes full of components for the shop. So, how did the kickstand do?

Yeah....pretty much as predicted, this kickstand made all the difference in the world. I was able to easily load up the bike and figure out a strapping system with my various lengths of bungee cords without worrying about the bike tipping over or having to steady the bike at all. 

If you have a Big Dummy and do not have this kickstand you need to get one. This will transform your Big Dummy into a very useful bicycle. I wish I had one of these kickstands long ago, but I have it now and I am very happy with how it is working out. 

So, Wednesday I opted for a two mile brisk walk and I will tell you that it was simply awful outdoors. It wasn't 100 yet, but I felt like I was walking in a universe fueled by the air from a hair dryer. It was windy, not real humid, and the Sun had full rein of the sky. Yikes! Today isn't supposed to be much better. 

I hope everyone is staying safe and is well. This is crazy weather to be outdoors in right now in the Mid-West. Friday we'll get some relief and Saturday it will be 20 degrees cooler than it was Wednesday and it will still be above 80 degrees! That is insane.

Surly Double Wide Kickstand: Reviewed

 Note: I purchased the Surly Double Wide Kickstand at full retail price and was not asked to do this review by Surly, or any organization, brand, or person in the cycling industry. Surly is not aware I am writing this review. (Well.....maybe now they are....)

About two weeks ago now I saw an Instagram post by Heath Creek Cycles (Ben Witt) which showed a new product from Surly Bikes, the Double Wide Kickstand. 

This caught my eye because I own a Big Dummy and I use it regularly to haul big, heavy loads. The bike had the stock single legged kickstand which is "okay" until you start loading anything with enough mass that can tip over the bike. Then you have to start being very intentional when you load the bags or Side Loaders. And even then you are doing a balancing act which can fail, or cause a lot of frustration. While my kids are fully grown adults now, I would have had a big problem even considering using my stock Big Dummy as a kid hauler with that single side kickstand. 

So, I was all-in on buying the Surly Double Wide Kickstand, despite it costing $200.00 USD. The alternative dual-legged kickstand option from a smaller brand that has been out there a while is almost $200.00 more, with shipping, so in reality, the Surly kickstand is a bargain in comparison. I'm not aware of anything that would work as a bolt-on solution that costs anything near the Double Wide Kickstand, but yes - The Surly kickstand is not cheap. So, what do you get for your two-hunnert bucks? 

A look at what is in the box

Yes, that's what it weighs! Plus, you can see how small the text and figures are.

The Double Wide Kickstand is made from steel and aluminum and it has stainless steel fasteners. It is not light, as you can see from the image above where I wrote down the weight of everything included in the box. That said, this is a cargo bike, and "light weight" parts are not desirable here. So, the sturdy build and solid looking design is appreciated by me.

Speaking of the build, the dual legs are a two-piece design where the lowers of each leg slide into the uppers which are attached to the base of the kickstand. These legs are marked with insertion lines, much as you might see on seat posts. The legs are fastened together by a 5mm pinch bolt affair on each leg, again, much like a seat post. The attachment to your Big Dummy, and for some Big Easy cargo bikes, (see the Surly site linked above for possible compatibility with your cargo bike) looks custom-made and uses two "U" bolts and a bolt/strap affair to attach the kickstand to three points on your frame. 

There are dual springs which act on the legs which swing down and up again, depending on deployment mode. Each leg has a welded on "foot" to help stabilize the bike when the kickstand is deployed. The design seems very well thought out and the execution of the design looks well done. 

Installation: If at all possible, I'd ask a shop to put this thing on, if I were you, because having a professional grade, heavy-duty work station makes this job much, much easier, and it is a difficult installation even then. Not because of poor design! Far from it! But the weight of this kickstand and the way you have to attach it make this installation challenging, to say the least. 

I was able to put my Big Dummy in my shop-grade Park stand and get the job done in less than 30 minutes from start to finish. If I had to do another one now, I've learned how to make it go faster, so it would take less time, but that's how I was trained to think as a mechanic in a retail situation. You? Hey....what do I know? Maybe it'll take you 15 minutes. I doubt it though.... 

But at any rate, you may want to take a bit of time before you mount the kickstand, maybe put a little tape on the frame members where the clamps will contact the frame, and that might save your finish a bit. But whatever you decide, clean that area because it might be the last time you will be able to, at least easily. 

A close up of the kickstand mounted.

Impressions: So, the kickstand seems well designed, and the instructions were clear enough to guide me to a successful installation. I will say that the drawings/figures that Surly provided weren't very clear, and they were waaaaaay too small! Listen, not everyone has perfect 20/20 vision out here! But beyond that, I have no nits about the installation, other than to say that it is up there on the "difficulty scale" when it comes to things you can work with on a bicycle.  Note: I did put tape on my frame where the points of contact are with the kickstand, but I wasn't too picky about how it looked, and I ended up with three different bits of tape scraps. Those inclined to perfection? Please look away. This will get the job done and I used what I had.

The Double Wide Kickstand provides a much more secure and safe platform for loading/unloading.

In use it is easy to place the kickstand in its down position and the resulting stabilized loading position is light years better than what I had before. No more precarious loading here! The way you roll back and kick down the kickstand may take a bit of practice, so I advise trying it several times before you load up anything and try parking your bike. I got the motion down immediately, so I don't think it will take most people long to figure it out, but practice first! 

This cinder block would have pulled the bike over using the old single leg kickstand.

Conclusions: Is $200.00 and some sweat equity in installation worth the juice? That depends on whether or not you use a cargo bike to its full potential. If you do, then the answer is an unqualified "yes". This addition increases the versatility and, frankly, the ease of which you can use the bike, exponentially, and that is not hyperbole. I will go as far as to say that the Surly cargo bikes should have been equipped with dual legged kickstands from the get-go. The Double Wide Kickstand is the key that unlocks the potential of the Big Dummy. 

Also, consider that if you get to a point where you have to sell your Big Dummy, (or other compatible cargo bike), the Double Wide Kickstand is going to add value to the bike such that a Big Dummy without a Surly Kickstand is going to bring a lot less money and sell slower than yours will with the Kickstand installed. You may not recoup the total cost, but I'm betting I increased the value of my Big Dummy on the open market by a 100 bucks easily. My opinion, of course. Just a guess, but I wouldn't bet against it either. 

Now we'll see if it holds up. That will be the test. Stay tuned....

Surly Double Wide Kickstand: Reviewed

 Note: I purchased the Surly Double Wide Kickstand at full retail price and was not asked to do this review by Surly, or any organization, brand, or person in the cycling industry. Surly is not aware I am writing this review. (Well.....maybe now they are....)

About two weeks ago now I saw an Instagram post by Heath Creek Cycles (Ben Witt) which showed a new product from Surly Bikes, the Double Wide Kickstand. 

This caught my eye because I own a Big Dummy and I use it regularly to haul big, heavy loads. The bike had the stock single legged kickstand which is "okay" until you start loading anything with enough mass that can tip over the bike. Then you have to start being very intentional when you load the bags or Side Loaders. And even then you are doing a balancing act which can fail, or cause a lot of frustration. While my kids are fully grown adults now, I would have had a big problem even considering using my stock Big Dummy as a kid hauler with that single side kickstand. 

So, I was all-in on buying the Surly Double Wide Kickstand, despite it costing $200.00 USD. The alternative dual-legged kickstand option from a smaller brand that has been out there a while is almost $200.00 more, with shipping, so in reality, the Surly kickstand is a bargain in comparison. I'm not aware of anything that would work as a bolt-on solution that costs anything near the Double Wide Kickstand, but yes - The Surly kickstand is not cheap. So, what do you get for your two-hunnert bucks? 

A look at what is in the box

Yes, that's what it weighs! Plus, you can see how small the text and figures are.

The Double Wide Kickstand is made from steel and aluminum and it has stainless steel fasteners. It is not light, as you can see from the image above where I wrote down the weight of everything included in the box. That said, this is a cargo bike, and "light weight" parts are not desirable here. So, the sturdy build and solid looking design is appreciated by me.

Speaking of the build, the dual legs are a two-piece design where the lowers of each leg slide into the uppers which are attached to the base of the kickstand. These legs are marked with insertion lines, much as you might see on seat posts. The legs are fastened together by a 5mm pinch bolt affair on each leg, again, much like a seat post. The attachment to your Big Dummy, and for some Big Easy cargo bikes, (see the Surly site linked above for possible compatibility with your cargo bike) looks custom-made and uses two "U" bolts and a bolt/strap affair to attach the kickstand to three points on your frame. 

There are dual springs which act on the legs which swing down and up again, depending on deployment mode. Each leg has a welded on "foot" to help stabilize the bike when the kickstand is deployed. The design seems very well thought out and the execution of the design looks well done. 

Installation: If at all possible, I'd ask a shop to put this thing on, if I were you, because having a professional grade, heavy-duty work station makes this job much, much easier, and it is a difficult installation even then. Not because of poor design! Far from it! But the weight of this kickstand and the way you have to attach it make this installation challenging, to say the least. 

I was able to put my Big Dummy in my shop-grade Park stand and get the job done in less than 30 minutes from start to finish. If I had to do another one now, I've learned how to make it go faster, so it would take less time, but that's how I was trained to think as a mechanic in a retail situation. You? Hey....what do I know? Maybe it'll take you 15 minutes. I doubt it though.... 

But at any rate, you may want to take a bit of time before you mount the kickstand, maybe put a little tape on the frame members where the clamps will contact the frame, and that might save your finish a bit. But whatever you decide, clean that area because it might be the last time you will be able to, at least easily. 

A close up of the kickstand mounted.

Impressions: So, the kickstand seems well designed, and the instructions were clear enough to guide me to a successful installation. I will say that the drawings/figures that Surly provided weren't very clear, and they were waaaaaay too small! Listen, not everyone has perfect 20/20 vision out here! But beyond that, I have no nits about the installation, other than to say that it is up there on the "difficulty scale" when it comes to things you can work with on a bicycle.  Note: I did put tape on my frame where the points of contact are with the kickstand, but I wasn't too picky about how it looked, and I ended up with three different bits of tape scraps. Those inclined to perfection? Please look away. This will get the job done and I used what I had.

The Double Wide Kickstand provides a much more secure and safe platform for loading/unloading.

In use it is easy to place the kickstand in its down position and the resulting stabilized loading position is light years better than what I had before. No more precarious loading here! The way you roll back and kick down the kickstand may take a bit of practice, so I advise trying it several times before you load up anything and try parking your bike. I got the motion down immediately, so I don't think it will take most people long to figure it out, but practice first! 

This cinder block would have pulled the bike over using the old single leg kickstand.

Conclusions: Is $200.00 and some sweat equity in installation worth the juice? That depends on whether or not you use a cargo bike to its full potential. If you do, then the answer is an unqualified "yes". This addition increases the versatility and, frankly, the ease of which you can use the bike, exponentially, and that is not hyperbole. I will go as far as to say that the Surly cargo bikes should have been equipped with dual legged kickstands from the get-go. The Double Wide Kickstand is the key that unlocks the potential of the Big Dummy. 

Also, consider that if you get to a point where you have to sell your Big Dummy, (or other compatible cargo bike), the Double Wide Kickstand is going to add value to the bike such that a Big Dummy without a Surly Kickstand is going to bring a lot less money and sell slower than yours will with the Kickstand installed. You may not recoup the total cost, but I'm betting I increased the value of my Big Dummy on the open market by a 100 bucks easily. My opinion, of course. Just a guess, but I wouldn't bet against it either. 

Now we'll see if it holds up. That will be the test. Stay tuned....

Fall Schedule

It's August and that means Fall is coming soon. The days will be shorter, the temperatures will be cooler, and it will be what is possibly my most favorite time of the year to ride. So, with that in mind I am taking this day to make a post about what I expect to be doing through the Fall here. 

So, August: There will be no planned events since I work on Saturdays and I am pretty much the only option for an employee on that day. Getting a stand in is possible, but things don't go well with my assistant, nor with the shop in general, if I am not there on Saturdays. So, no events for me. 

My open day for adventure is going to be Friday, and maybe Thursdays, so some time away from the house and opportunities for longer rides do exist there. That's when I am planning to fit in any century ride, sub24 trip, or the like. Again, things like nails in car tires and other life happenings can, and probably will, rear their ugly heads during this time, so no guarantees. And weather, as always, is the wildcard. 

But, I am ready for both a longer ride, possibly a century, and the sub24 ride. I can be out of the house with a minimum of notice, so, if the opportunity arises, I'm gone. Stay tuned on any of of that.  Besides these things being possibilities, I have pre-Winter maintenance to attend to. In fact, I've already started it.

First in the stand for maintenance was the Blackborow DS

The above image from Winter 2023 may have been the last time I've ridden the Blackborow DS because when I drug it out for maintenance it was set up exactly as shown there. Well, here is the deal with this bike. It needs a new chain, since the Rustbuster chain it came with in 2014 is about shot. No surprise there.

But other than that? Not much other than some accessorizing. Through a set of strange and unfortunate circumstances, I ended up in possession of a set of 45NRTH pogies that will be going on this bike. They will replace the big, overgrown ATV pogies I've had since 2011. 

I also came into possession of a Thomson seat post in the correct size and I attached a WTB Volt saddle to that. A bit lighter than the stock set up I've run on the bike since 2014. I still may do a set of wheels for this bike, but that has been pushed back by the next project/update which will be happening soon.

Gonna get rid of that lean.

I use the Big Dummy on a fairly regular basis as a bike to haul our orders for the Cedar Valley Biccyle Collective and as a hauler for recycling stuff from G-Ted Headquarters. This has brought up the single most glaring weakness of the bike, ts kickstand. 

To load this bike with a single legged kickstand is a very dicey thing to do if the loads are heavy, big, or both. You have to have a level, solid surface to work from, hopefully no wind, and the load has to be carefully placed before you secure it or all hell breaks loose. It's not an easy task to load this rig. 

That all will go away when I get the dual-legged Surly kickstand this week. Stay tuned for more on that to come.

I have to fab up a new rear fender flap-thingie for the Ti Muk, (or should this be called a Ti Heyday! ? - more on that later this week....) I also have to re-up the tubeless sealant and this one will likely be fine to go through another Winter. Plus, it may be a candidate for a fat Tire Century, if I can ever get around to it, that is. 

Anyway, that's it for this update on the schedule for Fall. I'll be playing it by ear, mostly, as opportunities to ride longer, more focused rides will happen more spontaneously than ever before here.

Fall Schedule

It's August and that means Fall is coming soon. The days will be shorter, the temperatures will be cooler, and it will be what is possibly my most favorite time of the year to ride. So, with that in mind I am taking this day to make a post about what I expect to be doing through the Fall here. 

So, August: There will be no planned events since I work on Saturdays and I am pretty much the only option for an employee on that day. Getting a stand in is possible, but things don't go well with my assistant, nor with the shop in general, if I am not there on Saturdays. So, no events for me. 

My open day for adventure is going to be Friday, and maybe Thursdays, so some time away from the house and opportunities for longer rides do exist there. That's when I am planning to fit in any century ride, sub24 trip, or the like. Again, things like nails in car tires and other life happenings can, and probably will, rear their ugly heads during this time, so no guarantees. And weather, as always, is the wildcard. 

But, I am ready for both a longer ride, possibly a century, and the sub24 ride. I can be out of the house with a minimum of notice, so, if the opportunity arises, I'm gone. Stay tuned on any of of that.  Besides these things being possibilities, I have pre-Winter maintenance to attend to. In fact, I've already started it.

First in the stand for maintenance was the Blackborow DS

The above image from Winter 2023 may have been the last time I've ridden the Blackborow DS because when I drug it out for maintenance it was set up exactly as shown there. Well, here is the deal with this bike. It needs a new chain, since the Rustbuster chain it came with in 2014 is about shot. No surprise there.

But other than that? Not much other than some accessorizing. Through a set of strange and unfortunate circumstances, I ended up in possession of a set of 45NRTH pogies that will be going on this bike. They will replace the big, overgrown ATV pogies I've had since 2011. 

I also came into possession of a Thomson seat post in the correct size and I attached a WTB Volt saddle to that. A bit lighter than the stock set up I've run on the bike since 2014. I still may do a set of wheels for this bike, but that has been pushed back by the next project/update which will be happening soon.

Gonna get rid of that lean.

I use the Big Dummy on a fairly regular basis as a bike to haul our orders for the Cedar Valley Biccyle Collective and as a hauler for recycling stuff from G-Ted Headquarters. This has brought up the single most glaring weakness of the bike, ts kickstand. 

To load this bike with a single legged kickstand is a very dicey thing to do if the loads are heavy, big, or both. You have to have a level, solid surface to work from, hopefully no wind, and the load has to be carefully placed before you secure it or all hell breaks loose. It's not an easy task to load this rig. 

That all will go away when I get the dual-legged Surly kickstand this week. Stay tuned for more on that to come.

I have to fab up a new rear fender flap-thingie for the Ti Muk, (or should this be called a Ti Heyday! ? - more on that later this week....) I also have to re-up the tubeless sealant and this one will likely be fine to go through another Winter. Plus, it may be a candidate for a fat Tire Century, if I can ever get around to it, that is. 

Anyway, that's it for this update on the schedule for Fall. I'll be playing it by ear, mostly, as opportunities to ride longer, more focused rides will happen more spontaneously than ever before here.

Two Things For Thursday

You know, this could have also been a News and Views! But this really also has something to do with two bicycles I (will) have here. One is here, the other, well it looks like it will be later than I thought. Read on for more.....

The latest, and perhaps last, Big Dummy. (Image courtesy of Surly Bikes)

The Last Hurrah For The Big Dummy?

Surly social media posted yesterday that the Big Dummy had a slight redesign, new color, and new spec. Also, they said this probably is the last run for the bike. To my mind, that is not shocking news. 

Not many people are looking to buy a non-motorized, off-road capable cargo bike. Most cargo bikes you see these days are shorter, more compact, and have smaller wheels with wider tires. They also all have assist in the form of an electric motor, and you can get that for less than this non-motorized cargo bike. 

Of course, I really like my Big Dummy, and it even looks a heck of a lot like the new one. The new one has Extraterrestrials with grey-walled tires while mine has similarly sized tires with white walls. Mine is jet black while this is a lovely shade of purple, my favorite color. It would be cool to have that color for my Big Dummy, but no- I'm good with mine the way that it is. 

Many were dismayed that this newer Big Dummy still doesn't have a center stand, and yes, that is a major flaw with the design, especially if you have a heavy load or use it for kid-hauling. But that center stand would be expensive, and pushing the MSRP of this bike closer to 3K wouldn't be ideal, as I said, with electric cargo bikes coming in well under that price. 

A recent shot of my Big Dummy for reference.

There is a made-for-Big Dummies center stand, but it is nearly $400.00. Ouch! No thanks! I've been able to make-do without spending that kind of cabbage on a kickstand. 

The only concern I have with Surly dropping this model is tires. Right now Surly has a few models and a legacy in 26" wheels. I expect that Extraterrestrials will be available in 26" for some time to come, but I think I am going to purchase a set of the 26" X 2.5" versions in that fetching gray-wall just to have as backstock. Those old Bontrager XR-1's aren't going to last forever! 

Other than that, I've been playing with the idea of a front rack for more cargo-carrying options. But then I think about how that always seems to make the fork want to flop to one side or the other and I talk myself out of doing that. Ha ha! On to the next thing then......

Image of the Mark 3 Gryphon courtesy of Singular Cycles

The Waiting Game:

I pre-ordered a Singular Cycles Gryphon Mk3 about this time last year. The first indications were that it might show up in Fall of 2022. Then that got shuffled back to December. Then it was to be January. Still no sign of tangible hope. That is, until yesterday.

That was when Singular had an actual Mk3 Gryphon on their Instagram. There was also an updated ETA of February, but this gives me hope that the frame set will actually materialize and I'll have something to put my hands to soon enough. 

This is, as most Singulars are, an unusual beast in terms of specifications. Most bikes of this ilk are going to have tapered steer tubes, but this looks to be a traight 1 1/8th external cup head set standard. You'd probably figure on having Boost axle spacing, but nope! Singular went with standard 142R/100F spacing with 12mm through axles. And flat mount brakes, because, you know.... 

The frame has an eccentric bottom bracket, as most Singulars have, so you've got the bail-out option built in, or a dedicated single speed drive train can be utilized here. I'm planning on using 29" X 2.8" rubber that I have, but this bike can take up to a 29" X 3.0 tire. 

I know- I posted about this bike not long ago, but here is an actual image of one built up. Everything else I've shared up to this point has been computer generated imagery. 

And those are your "two things" for today.

Two Things For Thursday

You know, this could have also been a News and Views! But this really also has something to do with two bicycles I (will) have here. One is here, the other, well it looks like it will be later than I thought. Read on for more.....

The latest, and perhaps last, Big Dummy. (Image courtesy of Surly Bikes)

The Last Hurrah For The Big Dummy?

Surly social media posted yesterday that the Big Dummy had a slight redesign, new color, and new spec. Also, they said this probably is the last run for the bike. To my mind, that is not shocking news. 

Not many people are looking to buy a non-motorized, off-road capable cargo bike. Most cargo bikes you see these days are shorter, more compact, and have smaller wheels with wider tires. They also all have assist in the form of an electric motor, and you can get that for less than this non-motorized cargo bike. 

Of course, I really like my Big Dummy, and it even looks a heck of a lot like the new one. The new one has Extraterrestrials with grey-walled tires while mine has similarly sized tires with white walls. Mine is jet black while this is a lovely shade of purple, my favorite color. It would be cool to have that color for my Big Dummy, but no- I'm good with mine the way that it is. 

Many were dismayed that this newer Big Dummy still doesn't have a center stand, and yes, that is a major flaw with the design, especially if you have a heavy load or use it for kid-hauling. But that center stand would be expensive, and pushing the MSRP of this bike closer to 3K wouldn't be ideal, as I said, with electric cargo bikes coming in well under that price. 

A recent shot of my Big Dummy for reference.

There is a made-for-Big Dummies center stand, but it is nearly $400.00. Ouch! No thanks! I've been able to make-do without spending that kind of cabbage on a kickstand. 

The only concern I have with Surly dropping this model is tires. Right now Surly has a few models and a legacy in 26" wheels. I expect that Extraterrestrials will be available in 26" for some time to come, but I think I am going to purchase a set of the 26" X 2.5" versions in that fetching gray-wall just to have as backstock. Those old Bontrager XR-1's aren't going to last forever! 

Other than that, I've been playing with the idea of a front rack for more cargo-carrying options. But then I think about how that always seems to make the fork want to flop to one side or the other and I talk myself out of doing that. Ha ha! On to the next thing then......

Image of the Mark 3 Gryphon courtesy of Singular Cycles

The Waiting Game:

I pre-ordered a Singular Cycles Gryphon Mk3 about this time last year. The first indications were that it might show up in Fall of 2022. Then that got shuffled back to December. Then it was to be January. Still no sign of tangible hope. That is, until yesterday.

That was when Singular had an actual Mk3 Gryphon on their Instagram. There was also an updated ETA of February, but this gives me hope that the frame set will actually materialize and I'll have something to put my hands to soon enough. 

This is, as most Singulars are, an unusual beast in terms of specifications. Most bikes of this ilk are going to have tapered steer tubes, but this looks to be a traight 1 1/8th external cup head set standard. You'd probably figure on having Boost axle spacing, but nope! Singular went with standard 142R/100F spacing with 12mm through axles. And flat mount brakes, because, you know.... 

The frame has an eccentric bottom bracket, as most Singulars have, so you've got the bail-out option built in, or a dedicated single speed drive train can be utilized here. I'm planning on using 29" X 2.8" rubber that I have, but this bike can take up to a 29" X 3.0 tire. 

I know- I posted about this bike not long ago, but here is an actual image of one built up. Everything else I've shared up to this point has been computer generated imagery. 

And those are your "two things" for today.

Bikes Of 2022: Surly Big Dummy

It's the end of the year and time to review what's up with the bikes I used over the course of 2022. You'll get a brief overview, any changes made, and what the future has in store for each bike listed. Enjoy!

This is my "pick-up truck" in my bicycle fleet. This one is all about utility and hauling stuff I'd not be able to on other bicycles I have. Granted, it is a fancy-pants utility rig, and it bucks the current trend of having an electric motor on it, but that's all good with me. 

This year the Big Dummy expanded it's duties as a carrier of parts for the Cedar Valley Bicycle Collective. Since the shop is a non-profit, our hours are not "regular" in that we are not open every day. That makes deliveries difficult at the shop for folks like UPS, who handle our distributor's shipping duties. 

So, the Board of Directors set up a drop box at our local UPS Store where I can go anytime they are open, pick up our supplies, and haul them to the shop in downtown Waterloo. Instead of using a car, or my pick-up truck, I use the Big Dummy.

After a bike rodeo we helped put on this past Summer

I also used this bike twice to help with support of two bike rodeos we put on over the Summer. Runs to pick up other stuff for our household were done, and, of course, I used the Big Dummy for some recycling runs. The Big Dummy also serves as a bike I can utilize when I go to work, ferrying bits I am donating to the Collective. 

So, 2022 saw a big uptick in usage for the Big Dummy, and that's a very good thing. 

Stay tuned for more "Bikes Of 2022" coming soon!