Friday News And Views

The Message Does Not Match The Rhetoric:

As I scrolled through Twitter earlier in the week I came across a sponsored Tweet from the Mashable website featuring a new HPC (electrified bicycle) which was supposedly cool from a styling standpoint. It looked like a 'retro motorcycle'. 

Now you may shrug your shoulders and say, "Whatever. As long as people are out of cars and riding bicycles, I am good with it." End of story, we move on......

But hold on here a minute.... I watched the entire video Tweet and not once did the person on the machine make a pedaling motion. Not once. The message there? "It not only looks like a motorcycle, it is one". Now, of course, you may have to actually pedal this particular contraption to get assist, but that is not the visual messaging here, nor does it explicitly say in the video that "you have to pedal this". 

Next, I saw somewhere, (I apologize, because I should have a reference, but it wasn't cycling specific where I saw this), that recreational activities cease for most people surveyed recently when the temperatures get below 60°F. This also has been my contention- that if we think that cycling will become a major transportation mode, we're deluding ourselves. For the poor and less fortunate, yes- but they already are walking and cycling. That doesn't forgive our lack of infrastructure, but it isn't going to increase numbers of cyclists if non-cyclists can find easier ways to be mobile, even if we have infrastructure for cycling in a meaningful way. Electrified cars will pacify most people's feelings that we're 'environmentally conscious' (although I'd say its six of one- half a dozen of another from where we are now) and if you can afford a car- you will live in that mode of transportation every time over that of two wheeled varieties. Especially when everything is miles from everything else and weather is what it is for six months out of the year in the USA. 

Why? Because it is easier to roll with 'car culture'- even over an HPC/electrified bicycle, even if you only have to sit and coast around on it. That's why. Maybe I have a dim view of humanity, but go ahead- change my mind. The message I see being sent doesn't match what the cycling pundits are thinking. Speaking of messages sent, where are the ebike police on this one? Class systems will prevent HPC's from becoming motorcycles? Pssshaw!

New Riding Gravel Radio Ranch Episode #73:

Another podcast is up, which you can grab the link to HERE. But the big news I wanted to point out is that the podcast is now sponsored by Bike Rags. They are the Iowa based supplier of customized apparel for events, businesses, and brands. Mostly cycling related stuff here, but they do hats, t-shirts, and stickers too, so you could use Bike Rags for any promotions you have in mind. 

I'm stoked that we have a sponsor for the podcast now and we will be doing some cool things in the near future with Bike Rags, so stay tuned for that. 

In the meantime, check out the newest podcast and let me know what you think. We are planning on some new features and new ways to access what we do there, so I am excited about the possibilities. (Think visual) I am also proud that since a year ago now we have done twice the output of podcasts in that time than the six previous years combined. I was always a bit dismayed at the haphazard roll out of new podcasts in previous years and one of my goals for 2020 was to get that rectified. With the help of Andy of Andy's Bike Shop that goal was achieved.

The first 29"er- Wes Williams' Willits New Sheriff. Image courtesy of Wes Williams

22 Years Of 29"ers:

The other day on Facebook I noted where Wes Williams posted an image I'd seen several times before. An orange "New Sheriff"  model Willits bike sitting against a building in the snow. It was March 2nd, 1999. You may be saying, "So what?". Well, that bike, and Wes Williams, and a whole bunch of other people behind that bike- and especially "The Tire", ended up revolutionizing mountain biking as we know it today.  

Back in 1999 a bigger wheel for a mountain bike was unheard of. Literally- no one could have even conceived of such a thing. Well, that is unless you were Wes Williams, or some folks from WTB, or Bruce Gordon, or some other folks like Gary Fisher, and others like Bob Poor. Yep! It took a small village, but they got the ball rolling and now look at how things are. 26"ers? Gone..... As a real alternative size for most anyone, it is a dead thing. I'll tell you what- that is a small miracle. I still find it amazing. 

And give credit to 650B/27.5"ers. They helped eradicate 26"er MTB as well. But the 29"er was the thought, the idea that finally became reality, and through every adversity, prevailed and opened up a lot of doors and minds to something better. 

Want to know more? I wrote a history of the wheel size and you can read my page on it HERE. 

Fakes of real products are never made to the same standards.

This Blog Is Real:

Earlier in the week I saw that a deep-fake video had surfaced showing a visage that was purportedly Tom Cruise, but it wasn't. It was so convincingly realistic though that now experts are worried that technology can now be used to influence people by way of using faked images of real people saying and doing things that the 'real' versions of those folks had not ever conceived of saying or doing. 

Sounds like science fiction? But it isn't, and it is truly worrisome. I've seen benign uses of this technology used to animate historical figures, like Frederick Douglass, American social reformer, abolitionist, orator, writer, and statesman.It's creepy for sure, and I can see how this sort of thing could get out of hand. But what does faking real people have to do with cycling?

Well, due to the parts shortages, forgery of bike parts and bicycles themselves, while always having been a thing, is now a very big deal. People are more susceptible to falling for these scams when the 'real thing' is not available through traditional sources. This came to focus again when Mavic found that forgeries of Mavic wheels were being sold to consumers that were of such low quality that they had caused injury to at least one cyclist. This as reported by road.cc. Furthermore; apparently Mavic tested these wheels after purchasing a set and found that they were so far below standard that they posed a risk of injury and death to anyone who fell prey to the companies that are foisting these fake Mavic wheels on the unsuspecting consumer. 

The lesson? Don't believe what you see celebrities saying and doing on social media and don't buy fake bike parts and bikes. If the sources are not verifiable, traditional retail, don't bite. Or even better- if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. 

That said, this blog is real and I- Guitar Ted- approve these posts.

Sale On C.O.G. 100 Hats:

I've got a lot of C.O.G 100 hats left and I need to move them outta here. So, through the month of March, I will be knocking $5.00 off the price making these one-off hats fifteen bucks each plus shipping. See the link to the "Guitar Ted's Garage Sale Page" underneath the header image and scroll down a bit to see how to order. 

Mention this post and I will throw in a free hat if you purchase a jersey, also listed on the Garage Sale Page. 

There are not many jerseys left, so once those are gone- they are gone for good and the hat offer will end. So, if you want a piece of gravel grinding history, grab a hat or jersey and wear them proudly. Plus, it will help me get good stuff into the hands of people so it can be used up and I won't have to hawk the stuff here anymore so I can clear out space in my basement. 

And as long as I am here, I'll mention the link to the G-Ted Merchandise on the right column of the blog here. Hit that link and it will take you to Redbubble and my daughter's page there where the G-Ted merch can be ordered. A portion of each sale made there goes directly to my daughter to help fund her art work. Thanks for considering all of this.

Friday News And Views

The Message Does Not Match The Rhetoric:

As I scrolled through Twitter earlier in the week I came across a sponsored Tweet from the Mashable website featuring a new HPC (electrified bicycle) which was supposedly cool from a styling standpoint. It looked like a 'retro motorcycle'. 

Now you may shrug your shoulders and say, "Whatever. As long as people are out of cars and riding bicycles, I am good with it." End of story, we move on......

But hold on here a minute.... I watched the entire video Tweet and not once did the person on the machine make a pedaling motion. Not once. The message there? "It not only looks like a motorcycle, it is one". Now, of course, you may have to actually pedal this particular contraption to get assist, but that is not the visual messaging here, nor does it explicitly say in the video that "you have to pedal this". 

Next, I saw somewhere, (I apologize, because I should have a reference, but it wasn't cycling specific where I saw this), that recreational activities cease for most people surveyed recently when the temperatures get below 60°F. This also has been my contention- that if we think that cycling will become a major transportation mode, we're deluding ourselves. For the poor and less fortunate, yes- but they already are walking and cycling. That doesn't forgive our lack of infrastructure, but it isn't going to increase numbers of cyclists if non-cyclists can find easier ways to be mobile, even if we have infrastructure for cycling in a meaningful way. Electrified cars will pacify most people's feelings that we're 'environmentally conscious' (although I'd say its six of one- half a dozen of another from where we are now) and if you can afford a car- you will live in that mode of transportation every time over that of two wheeled varieties. Especially when everything is miles from everything else and weather is what it is for six months out of the year in the USA. 

Why? Because it is easier to roll with 'car culture'- even over an HPC/electrified bicycle, even if you only have to sit and coast around on it. That's why. Maybe I have a dim view of humanity, but go ahead- change my mind. The message I see being sent doesn't match what the cycling pundits are thinking. Speaking of messages sent, where are the ebike police on this one? Class systems will prevent HPC's from becoming motorcycles? Pssshaw!

New Riding Gravel Radio Ranch Episode #73:

Another podcast is up, which you can grab the link to HERE. But the big news I wanted to point out is that the podcast is now sponsored by Bike Rags. They are the Iowa based supplier of customized apparel for events, businesses, and brands. Mostly cycling related stuff here, but they do hats, t-shirts, and stickers too, so you could use Bike Rags for any promotions you have in mind. 

I'm stoked that we have a sponsor for the podcast now and we will be doing some cool things in the near future with Bike Rags, so stay tuned for that. 

In the meantime, check out the newest podcast and let me know what you think. We are planning on some new features and new ways to access what we do there, so I am excited about the possibilities. (Think visual) I am also proud that since a year ago now we have done twice the output of podcasts in that time than the six previous years combined. I was always a bit dismayed at the haphazard roll out of new podcasts in previous years and one of my goals for 2020 was to get that rectified. With the help of Andy of Andy's Bike Shop that goal was achieved.

The first 29"er- Wes Williams' Willits New Sheriff. Image courtesy of Wes Williams

22 Years Of 29"ers:

The other day on Facebook I noted where Wes Williams posted an image I'd seen several times before. An orange "New Sheriff"  model Willits bike sitting against a building in the snow. It was March 2nd, 1999. You may be saying, "So what?". Well, that bike, and Wes Williams, and a whole bunch of other people behind that bike- and especially "The Tire", ended up revolutionizing mountain biking as we know it today.  

Back in 1999 a bigger wheel for a mountain bike was unheard of. Literally- no one could have even conceived of such a thing. Well, that is unless you were Wes Williams, or some folks from WTB, or Bruce Gordon, or some other folks like Gary Fisher, and others like Bob Poor. Yep! It took a small village, but they got the ball rolling and now look at how things are. 26"ers? Gone..... As a real alternative size for most anyone, it is a dead thing. I'll tell you what- that is a small miracle. I still find it amazing. 

And give credit to 650B/27.5"ers. They helped eradicate 26"er MTB as well. But the 29"er was the thought, the idea that finally became reality, and through every adversity, prevailed and opened up a lot of doors and minds to something better. 

Want to know more? I wrote a history of the wheel size and you can read my page on it HERE. 

Fakes of real products are never made to the same standards.

This Blog Is Real:

Earlier in the week I saw that a deep-fake video had surfaced showing a visage that was purportedly Tom Cruise, but it wasn't. It was so convincingly realistic though that now experts are worried that technology can now be used to influence people by way of using faked images of real people saying and doing things that the 'real' versions of those folks had not ever conceived of saying or doing. 

Sounds like science fiction? But it isn't, and it is truly worrisome. I've seen benign uses of this technology used to animate historical figures, like Frederick Douglass, American social reformer, abolitionist, orator, writer, and statesman.It's creepy for sure, and I can see how this sort of thing could get out of hand. But what does faking real people have to do with cycling?

Well, due to the parts shortages, forgery of bike parts and bicycles themselves, while always having been a thing, is now a very big deal. People are more susceptible to falling for these scams when the 'real thing' is not available through traditional sources. This came to focus again when Mavic found that forgeries of Mavic wheels were being sold to consumers that were of such low quality that they had caused injury to at least one cyclist. This as reported by road.cc. Furthermore; apparently Mavic tested these wheels after purchasing a set and found that they were so far below standard that they posed a risk of injury and death to anyone who fell prey to the companies that are foisting these fake Mavic wheels on the unsuspecting consumer. 

The lesson? Don't believe what you see celebrities saying and doing on social media and don't buy fake bike parts and bikes. If the sources are not verifiable, traditional retail, don't bite. Or even better- if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. 

That said, this blog is real and I- Guitar Ted- approve these posts.

Sale On C.O.G. 100 Hats:

I've got a lot of C.O.G 100 hats left and I need to move them outta here. So, through the month of March, I will be knocking $5.00 off the price making these one-off hats fifteen bucks each plus shipping. See the link to the "Guitar Ted's Garage Sale Page" underneath the header image and scroll down a bit to see how to order. 

Mention this post and I will throw in a free hat if you purchase a jersey, also listed on the Garage Sale Page. 

There are not many jerseys left, so once those are gone- they are gone for good and the hat offer will end. So, if you want a piece of gravel grinding history, grab a hat or jersey and wear them proudly. Plus, it will help me get good stuff into the hands of people so it can be used up and I won't have to hawk the stuff here anymore so I can clear out space in my basement. 

And as long as I am here, I'll mention the link to the G-Ted Merchandise on the right column of the blog here. Hit that link and it will take you to Redbubble and my daughter's page there where the G-Ted merch can be ordered. A portion of each sale made there goes directly to my daughter to help fund her art work. Thanks for considering all of this.

Friday News And Views

Otso Cycles Waheela C

Otso Cycles Waheela C: 

Otso Cycles has been making gravel bikes for a few years now and their Waheela S was one that I tried and had a bit of bother with. It wasn't all the bike's fault, more so some of the componentry on the bike. Had I ran it with a carbon fork and a decent ranged drive train that shifted correctly, I may have had fonder memories.

I also swung a leg over their unusual Warakin stainless steel rig, and quite liked that bike, but that one was set up quite differently as well. Still- a fine rig in my mind. Now they have finally come forth with a carbon fiber version of the Waheela dubbed- you guessed it- the Waheela C. This bike has many of the same features as the Waheela S, just rendered in carbon. The way it was set up in the press release I got is how I'd like it best. I think it would be a fine rig for a lot of folks.

One cool thing about the steel bike was that it would fit 29" X 2.1" tires and they actually made that work for the carbon one too. Dang! Now that is something I could get behind. Plus, this bike they show is a really great shade of red. There isn't much to not like here, but the frame price, which is above 2G. Ouch!

But they really did a nice job on the feature set here. Plenty of mounting points, bowed seat stays for compliance. (Hmmm.........ya mean like a Warbird?), and they sleeved the cable runs, (Yay!), so this frame seems pretty well thought out.

Foam filled. Really!

Okay- There Are So Many Bad Jokes Here......

Sometimes I think marketers are a little dense, or careless, or, (hopefully not), intentional with the double entrendre. Anyway, Spank, a company most well known for their MTB stuff, has a gravel drop bar with their "Vibrocore" technology. It's a complex foam injected into the handle bar with the intention that it will cut down on vibrations to the rider.

I had a look at a marketing copy for Sea Otter and they have the fast becoming traditional 12° and 25° degree flare options. But wait a gol durn minute there! Is that a straight 31.8mm bar top on that 25° degree bar? Why yes! I think it is. Could this be the bar that comes closest to a Luxy Bar redux?

Well, maybe it is, and maybe it is not. But one thing is for certain. I'm going to be finding out. This is one of a few things coming in for testing at RidingGravel.com from Grannygear's Sea Otter visit. Look for more on this bar- hopefully coming soon.

 Did you Get Your Jersey?

The C.O.G. 100 is pretty much closed up for the year, but one thing remains. I have a couple of extra C.O.G. 100 jerseys laying around and I have to wonder if someone out there didn't get theirs.

By my records, I show nothing missing but the extra jerseys seem like an odd thing. It is quite possible we didn't get one to someone at the pre-event meeting at the Peace Tree Taproom in Grinnell. So, let me know if you haven't gotten what you ordered and I will ship it out ASAP. Hit me with the size you ordered and I will sort it out.

If it turns out that I was shipped extras by mistake, I will make them available and I will mention that here on the blog and on the C.O.G. 100 site. But let's see if someone is missing their pre-ordered jersey first. Then we'll proceed from there. I'd like to divest myself of this inventory and not have it around here. It is better that someone be wearing the jerseys as opposed to having them laying about the Guitar Ted Productions headquarters where they would likely get squirreled away and then forgotten until who knows when.


Have a great weekend! Good Luck To The Iowa Wind And Rock Riders, Volunteers, and Crew!!

Friday News And Views

Otso Cycles Waheela C

Otso Cycles Waheela C: 

Otso Cycles has been making gravel bikes for a few years now and their Waheela S was one that I tried and had a bit of bother with. It wasn't all the bike's fault, more so some of the componentry on the bike. Had I ran it with a carbon fork and a decent ranged drive train that shifted correctly, I may have had fonder memories.

I also swung a leg over their unusual Warakin stainless steel rig, and quite liked that bike, but that one was set up quite differently as well. Still- a fine rig in my mind. Now they have finally come forth with a carbon fiber version of the Waheela dubbed- you guessed it- the Waheela C. This bike has many of the same features as the Waheela S, just rendered in carbon. The way it was set up in the press release I got is how I'd like it best. I think it would be a fine rig for a lot of folks.

One cool thing about the steel bike was that it would fit 29" X 2.1" tires and they actually made that work for the carbon one too. Dang! Now that is something I could get behind. Plus, this bike they show is a really great shade of red. There isn't much to not like here, but the frame price, which is above 2G. Ouch!

But they really did a nice job on the feature set here. Plenty of mounting points, bowed seat stays for compliance. (Hmmm.........ya mean like a Warbird?), and they sleeved the cable runs, (Yay!), so this frame seems pretty well thought out.

Foam filled. Really!

Okay- There Are So Many Bad Jokes Here......

Sometimes I think marketers are a little dense, or careless, or, (hopefully not), intentional with the double entrendre. Anyway, Spank, a company most well known for their MTB stuff, has a gravel drop bar with their "Vibrocore" technology. It's a complex foam injected into the handle bar with the intention that it will cut down on vibrations to the rider.

I had a look at a marketing copy for Sea Otter and they have the fast becoming traditional 12° and 25° degree flare options. But wait a gol durn minute there! Is that a straight 31.8mm bar top on that 25° degree bar? Why yes! I think it is. Could this be the bar that comes closest to a Luxy Bar redux?

Well, maybe it is, and maybe it is not. But one thing is for certain. I'm going to be finding out. This is one of a few things coming in for testing at RidingGravel.com from Grannygear's Sea Otter visit. Look for more on this bar- hopefully coming soon.

 Did you Get Your Jersey?

The C.O.G. 100 is pretty much closed up for the year, but one thing remains. I have a couple of extra C.O.G. 100 jerseys laying around and I have to wonder if someone out there didn't get theirs.

By my records, I show nothing missing but the extra jerseys seem like an odd thing. It is quite possible we didn't get one to someone at the pre-event meeting at the Peace Tree Taproom in Grinnell. So, let me know if you haven't gotten what you ordered and I will ship it out ASAP. Hit me with the size you ordered and I will sort it out.

If it turns out that I was shipped extras by mistake, I will make them available and I will mention that here on the blog and on the C.O.G. 100 site. But let's see if someone is missing their pre-ordered jersey first. Then we'll proceed from there. I'd like to divest myself of this inventory and not have it around here. It is better that someone be wearing the jerseys as opposed to having them laying about the Guitar Ted Productions headquarters where they would likely get squirreled away and then forgotten until who knows when.


Have a great weekend! Good Luck To The Iowa Wind And Rock Riders, Volunteers, and Crew!!

Friday News And Views

The special one time only jerseys are IN!

Last Minute Delivery!

Okay, we weren't sure they would make it before tomorrow's inaugural C.O.G. 100, but they did come in! The C.O.G. 100 jerseys we put on one time only pre-order made it just in time despite a snafu in the initial run which required another run to be produced.

I should have these along with me today in Grinnell at the Peace Tree Taproom and they will also be at the start/finish area at Miller Park. If you pre-ordered one, just hit me up and you can pick yours up.

Those that don't make it to Grinnell, or had made arrangements for shipping, your jerseys will be going out next week. Thank you for your patience! I tried mine on and it fits, (I could stand to lose a few Winter LB's), so I am confident the sizing should be okay for everyone.

A little about the design: I worked with N.Y. Roll and we decided on something simple, yet classy. Something that had roots in older, Worlds jerseys or National Championship jerseys. The tri-stripe was a no brainer. We used "John Deere" influenced colors since that reflects the Mid-west, Iowa, and is N.Y. Roll's place of employment. The lavender was chosen since I kind of like purple, but we didn't want anything too dark, so lavender was the choice. The central "shield" was an inspiration from the Iowa Highway Patrol and their "kernel" shield design and has the name of the event versus "C.O.G 100 SS Champ" like the winner's jerseys do. Sorry! No extra jerseys were made available. We may have some extra C.O.G 100 caps and posters. Stay tuned......

And Now.......

Yes, I leave for Grinnell today to get this silly single speed only event in gear. (Pardon the pun) It will be kind of odd, since a few of the riders are old Trans Iowa regulars and are coming because I am involved in putting this on. Really, that is quite humbling and I sure hope that the C.O.G. 100 does live up to their lofty expectations. It is a compliment of the highest order that these folks have decided to come to this for those reasons.

I'll have a lot more to say once the event is over, but obvious comparisons to Trans Iowa will be drawn by many, including myself. I have pretty much summed up my feelings about things, but I will wait until my report to give that take. Stay tuned for that and an event recap Monday.

Of course, since it is early Spring, weather will be a factor. Rain is forecast for today down that way and depending upon how much Grinnell receives, it may be "quite interesting" come tomorrow. The "C.O.G." part of this event refers to "Creatures Of Gravel", of course, and if conditions are what I expect them to be, we will see exactly what "creatures" are created by the wet, muddy roads. It might be epic.

Those who are inclined can follow along on Instagram and Twitter where I will be posting images and whatnot. Search the hashtag "#COG100" for my posts and perhaps those of others.

Adding an e-bike to your household has become a concern for insurance companies.

The Latest In Fire Hazards For The Home:

The stories of e-bike fires seem to be getting more common these days. The latest big one occurred recently at an e-bike charging station for Citi Bike, a New York e-bike share concern. (Story here)

I asked a vendor who represents a company that sells e-bikes (Hybrid Powered Bicycles) recently about home owners insurance policies and HPC's. I wondered if there were any concerns that should be covered with potential hybrid powered cycle purchasers in the future. His reaction was that it is of great concern to home owners as a fault in a battery charging system could easily cause damage or great loss to a home, and that insurance companies are becoming increasingly aware of the issue. This rep suggested that e-bike (HPC) batteries be charged only in a supervised manner and that they be stored in a place, preferably not attached to a home. Furthermore, it was told to me that most, if not all e-bike batteries can be permanently damaged if they are not charged up throughout the off-season. If they are left to drain down, it would be likely that they need to be replaced, and that at great cost.

I find it odd that these sorts of possibilities are not discussed more frequently, or at all, by the cycling media. I think it behooves us all to be upfront about these things, if we're to believe that this is where cycling is going in the future. (And trust me- the cycling media and advocates of cycling are really pushing hard for hybrid powered bikes to take over the marketplace) Obviously, it is an issue that is of great concern and technologies will certainly be applied by some to mitigate the dangers, but you can bet that not all companies will have such altruistic aims.

It is definitely something that bears watching.....

Okay, I'm off do do some event promoting of the entirely human powered variety. See ya next week!

Friday News And Views

The special one time only jerseys are IN!

Last Minute Delivery!

Okay, we weren't sure they would make it before tomorrow's inaugural C.O.G. 100, but they did come in! The C.O.G. 100 jerseys we put on one time only pre-order made it just in time despite a snafu in the initial run which required another run to be produced.

I should have these along with me today in Grinnell at the Peace Tree Taproom and they will also be at the start/finish area at Miller Park. If you pre-ordered one, just hit me up and you can pick yours up.

Those that don't make it to Grinnell, or had made arrangements for shipping, your jerseys will be going out next week. Thank you for your patience! I tried mine on and it fits, (I could stand to lose a few Winter LB's), so I am confident the sizing should be okay for everyone.

A little about the design: I worked with N.Y. Roll and we decided on something simple, yet classy. Something that had roots in older, Worlds jerseys or National Championship jerseys. The tri-stripe was a no brainer. We used "John Deere" influenced colors since that reflects the Mid-west, Iowa, and is N.Y. Roll's place of employment. The lavender was chosen since I kind of like purple, but we didn't want anything too dark, so lavender was the choice. The central "shield" was an inspiration from the Iowa Highway Patrol and their "kernel" shield design and has the name of the event versus "C.O.G 100 SS Champ" like the winner's jerseys do. Sorry! No extra jerseys were made available. We may have some extra C.O.G 100 caps and posters. Stay tuned......

And Now.......

Yes, I leave for Grinnell today to get this silly single speed only event in gear. (Pardon the pun) It will be kind of odd, since a few of the riders are old Trans Iowa regulars and are coming because I am involved in putting this on. Really, that is quite humbling and I sure hope that the C.O.G. 100 does live up to their lofty expectations. It is a compliment of the highest order that these folks have decided to come to this for those reasons.

I'll have a lot more to say once the event is over, but obvious comparisons to Trans Iowa will be drawn by many, including myself. I have pretty much summed up my feelings about things, but I will wait until my report to give that take. Stay tuned for that and an event recap Monday.

Of course, since it is early Spring, weather will be a factor. Rain is forecast for today down that way and depending upon how much Grinnell receives, it may be "quite interesting" come tomorrow. The "C.O.G." part of this event refers to "Creatures Of Gravel", of course, and if conditions are what I expect them to be, we will see exactly what "creatures" are created by the wet, muddy roads. It might be epic.

Those who are inclined can follow along on Instagram and Twitter where I will be posting images and whatnot. Search the hashtag "#COG100" for my posts and perhaps those of others.

Adding an e-bike to your household has become a concern for insurance companies.

The Latest In Fire Hazards For The Home:

The stories of e-bike fires seem to be getting more common these days. The latest big one occurred recently at an e-bike charging station for Citi Bike, a New York e-bike share concern. (Story here)

I asked a vendor who represents a company that sells e-bikes (Hybrid Powered Bicycles) recently about home owners insurance policies and HPC's. I wondered if there were any concerns that should be covered with potential hybrid powered cycle purchasers in the future. His reaction was that it is of great concern to home owners as a fault in a battery charging system could easily cause damage or great loss to a home, and that insurance companies are becoming increasingly aware of the issue. This rep suggested that e-bike (HPC) batteries be charged only in a supervised manner and that they be stored in a place, preferably not attached to a home. Furthermore, it was told to me that most, if not all e-bike batteries can be permanently damaged if they are not charged up throughout the off-season. If they are left to drain down, it would be likely that they need to be replaced, and that at great cost.

I find it odd that these sorts of possibilities are not discussed more frequently, or at all, by the cycling media. I think it behooves us all to be upfront about these things, if we're to believe that this is where cycling is going in the future. (And trust me- the cycling media and advocates of cycling are really pushing hard for hybrid powered bikes to take over the marketplace) Obviously, it is an issue that is of great concern and technologies will certainly be applied by some to mitigate the dangers, but you can bet that not all companies will have such altruistic aims.

It is definitely something that bears watching.....

Okay, I'm off do do some event promoting of the entirely human powered variety. See ya next week!

Friday News And Views

Bontrager's new "WaveCell" technology claims it is a dramatically safer helmet.

Over-Hyped Or Deserved Accolades?

A couple weeks ago Trek rolled out a mysterious social media campaign claiming that it was about to unleash a new technology that was going to be the best thing in 30 years in its category. Immediately the media pundits, keyboard jockeys, and forum crazies were yakking about what it might be. Things from wildly unreasonable fantasies to more down to earth ideas like a new carbon fiber frame technology, or more American manufacturing were thought up.

Then I saw about a week ago what it really was. Boy! Were most people waaaaay off! My reaction was a laugh, because I knew that when the word came out that many people were going to slag Trek for over-hyping a helmet, while others were just going to groan and turn their heads. I figured it would definitely be one of the most talked about marketing ploys in many a year. I wasn't wrong.

To their credit, Trek social media folks were on point the day of the launch and for the following days. They watched for every positive reaction and regurgitated it on their feeds so as to minimize the collective groans and comments of disappointment from the innergoogles. Talk about stamping out fires! They may have a bigger fire to stamp out now though.

We actually got one in at the shop where I work and I have to say that I wasn't all that impressed. First of all, (and referring to my comments about big-headed cyclists earlier this week), the size Large WaveCell roadie helmet hit my head like a medium sized helmet. No way could I use that! Others tried it on and said it was really a rounder shaped helmet and it seemed pretty wide. Hrrumph! Not that I'd get one anyway. I am not a believer in that design as far as keeping your head cool. It looks like a recipe for a sweaty, hot lid. Time will tell if that proves right. I guess in the meantime I'll just be 40 something percent more likely to have a concussion. Thanks Bontrager!

Teravail Rutland variants.

Teravail Introduces New Gravel Tire: 

The Quality Bicycles tire brand, Teravail, has announced a new tire, the Rutland, in three sizes. The Rutland will come in 700 X 38, 700 X 42, and 650B X 47mm. All are tubeless ready, and both "Light and Supple" and "Durable" casings will be offered. There are skinwall options as well.

Whoo! Another "gravel" tire. The marketplace is pretty crowded now. Amazing to think this when ten years ago there weren't any "gravel specific" tires except the Bruce Gordon "Rock & Road" (which is still available, by the way) I am grateful for all of the choices. That said, I feel that this one is highly derivative.

To my eyes, the Rutland looks a lot like a WTB Resolute with a touch of Riddler thrown in for good measure. Those are fine gravel tires to mimic if you are going to mimic a tire, I guess. It will be interesting to see if they ride as well as the WTB offerings do. I would guess that the Light and Supple variant will be the one that rides the best. By the way, that's the only casing offered in skin wall.

Interestingly, I've noted many tire brands are now recommending inner rim widths in either a range, or a specific dimension, for their tires. The Rutland is best on a 23mm inner width rim, apparently. That's a "wide" rim in terms of what was the norm only a few years ago. In fact, I am testing wheels which are narrower than that and the marketing copy reads as thought these narrower widths are "wider for gravel tires". To be sure, it wasn't all that long ago that a Salsa Delgado rim was considered a "wide" rim and that looks narrow by today's standards. Ten years ago most "road" rims were sub-20mm inner rim width. Things sure have changed.

The Women's Single Speed Champ jersey.

C.O.G.100 Jerseys Are In:

The championship jerseys for the inaugural C.O.G. 100 Iowa Single Speed Gravel Championships are in! They look fantastic too. The Bike Rags company knocked it outta the park with these jerseys and N.Y. Roll and I are stoked about the quality job that Bike Rags provided. The jerseys have a soft, in the hand feel, are full zip, and the colors pop really well. (My image here notwithstanding) The design was rendered just as I wanted it and I am happy that everyone I have shown these to has had nothing but positive reactions to them.

The Men's jersey is pink, the Women's is powder blue. The "C.O.G. 100" pre-order jerseys are lavender and will not say "Iowa SS Champ" on them, but will say "Iowa C.O.G. 100" instead. Those are not quite here yet, but they are promised by the event. If that doesn't happen I will ship jerseys to all the pre-order folks on the list, whether you chose that option during your payment or not. Hopefully they show up.....

In other C.O.G. 100 news, I have the number plates ready, and cues will be stuffed into baggies this weekend. I have to make a check in sheet and a roster sheet and then we are good to roll. Remember, N.Y. Roll and I will be hanging out at the Peace Tree Grinnell taproom from 6:00pm -10:00pm next Friday. If you are in the event, you can come down and get waivers signed, and pick up your schwag if you'd like. Cues will not be distributed until the morning of the event. Right now it looks like the weather will be cool, but clear and with no chances for rain.

That's it for this week. Have a great weekend and get some riding in!

Friday News And Views

Bontrager's new "WaveCell" technology claims it is a dramatically safer helmet.

Over-Hyped Or Deserved Accolades?

A couple weeks ago Trek rolled out a mysterious social media campaign claiming that it was about to unleash a new technology that was going to be the best thing in 30 years in its category. Immediately the media pundits, keyboard jockeys, and forum crazies were yakking about what it might be. Things from wildly unreasonable fantasies to more down to earth ideas like a new carbon fiber frame technology, or more American manufacturing were thought up.

Then I saw about a week ago what it really was. Boy! Were most people waaaaay off! My reaction was a laugh, because I knew that when the word came out that many people were going to slag Trek for over-hyping a helmet, while others were just going to groan and turn their heads. I figured it would definitely be one of the most talked about marketing ploys in many a year. I wasn't wrong.

To their credit, Trek social media folks were on point the day of the launch and for the following days. They watched for every positive reaction and regurgitated it on their feeds so as to minimize the collective groans and comments of disappointment from the innergoogles. Talk about stamping out fires! They may have a bigger fire to stamp out now though.

We actually got one in at the shop where I work and I have to say that I wasn't all that impressed. First of all, (and referring to my comments about big-headed cyclists earlier this week), the size Large WaveCell roadie helmet hit my head like a medium sized helmet. No way could I use that! Others tried it on and said it was really a rounder shaped helmet and it seemed pretty wide. Hrrumph! Not that I'd get one anyway. I am not a believer in that design as far as keeping your head cool. It looks like a recipe for a sweaty, hot lid. Time will tell if that proves right. I guess in the meantime I'll just be 40 something percent more likely to have a concussion. Thanks Bontrager!

Teravail Rutland variants.

Teravail Introduces New Gravel Tire: 

The Quality Bicycles tire brand, Teravail, has announced a new tire, the Rutland, in three sizes. The Rutland will come in 700 X 38, 700 X 42, and 650B X 47mm. All are tubeless ready, and both "Light and Supple" and "Durable" casings will be offered. There are skinwall options as well.

Whoo! Another "gravel" tire. The marketplace is pretty crowded now. Amazing to think this when ten years ago there weren't any "gravel specific" tires except the Bruce Gordon "Rock & Road" (which is still available, by the way) I am grateful for all of the choices. That said, I feel that this one is highly derivative.

To my eyes, the Rutland looks a lot like a WTB Resolute with a touch of Riddler thrown in for good measure. Those are fine gravel tires to mimic if you are going to mimic a tire, I guess. It will be interesting to see if they ride as well as the WTB offerings do. I would guess that the Light and Supple variant will be the one that rides the best. By the way, that's the only casing offered in skin wall.

Interestingly, I've noted many tire brands are now recommending inner rim widths in either a range, or a specific dimension, for their tires. The Rutland is best on a 23mm inner width rim, apparently. That's a "wide" rim in terms of what was the norm only a few years ago. In fact, I am testing wheels which are narrower than that and the marketing copy reads as thought these narrower widths are "wider for gravel tires". To be sure, it wasn't all that long ago that a Salsa Delgado rim was considered a "wide" rim and that looks narrow by today's standards. Ten years ago most "road" rims were sub-20mm inner rim width. Things sure have changed.

The Women's Single Speed Champ jersey.

C.O.G.100 Jerseys Are In:

The championship jerseys for the inaugural C.O.G. 100 Iowa Single Speed Gravel Championships are in! They look fantastic too. The Bike Rags company knocked it outta the park with these jerseys and N.Y. Roll and I are stoked about the quality job that Bike Rags provided. The jerseys have a soft, in the hand feel, are full zip, and the colors pop really well. (My image here notwithstanding) The design was rendered just as I wanted it and I am happy that everyone I have shown these to has had nothing but positive reactions to them.

The Men's jersey is pink, the Women's is powder blue. The "C.O.G. 100" pre-order jerseys are lavender and will not say "Iowa SS Champ" on them, but will say "Iowa C.O.G. 100" instead. Those are not quite here yet, but they are promised by the event. If that doesn't happen I will ship jerseys to all the pre-order folks on the list, whether you chose that option during your payment or not. Hopefully they show up.....

In other C.O.G. 100 news, I have the number plates ready, and cues will be stuffed into baggies this weekend. I have to make a check in sheet and a roster sheet and then we are good to roll. Remember, N.Y. Roll and I will be hanging out at the Peace Tree Grinnell taproom from 6:00pm -10:00pm next Friday. If you are in the event, you can come down and get waivers signed, and pick up your schwag if you'd like. Cues will not be distributed until the morning of the event. Right now it looks like the weather will be cool, but clear and with no chances for rain.

That's it for this week. Have a great weekend and get some riding in!

Friday News And Views

On One Geoff Bar (Image from One One's Instagram)

On One Does It Again With Trio Of Handle Bars:

A little over ten years ago On One brought three "alt bars" to market which really changed the face of 29"ers, drop bar for off road, and eventually, gravel bikes. Their take on the WTB Dirt Drop, the groundbreaking Midge Bar, became an early favorite of mine with its decent flare and short and shallow drops. The Mary was a bendy bit of tubing which many took and used on 29" hard tails early on and also which influenced several imitations. The third bar in that series, the Mungo, wasn't as popular. Those three bars were based on a popular UK animation show from years past.

Now On One have done a similar trick, only this time basing their bar's names on the show, "The League Of Gentleman". The three new bars, named after characters from the show, are once again aimed at similar disciplines as the originals. The urban focused bar being the "Mike Bar", the mtb focused bar being the "Geoff Bar", and a new off road drop bar named the "Brian Bar".

Also in true On One/Planet Bike fashion, the bars are all pretty reasonably priced. You'll have to order online from the UK, but in my experience, that hasn't been an issue. I haven't had any trouble with their delivery or with components arriving damaged at all.

The Brian Bar. (Image from On One's site)

Well, as far as what I think, I feel there is going to be an eyebrow raised concerning that "Geoff Bar. It strikes a resemblance to another bar designed by a "Jeff" and I am sure a lot of comments will be made regarding that. But On One have never been too shy when it comes to riffing on a theme and the Geoff Bar is a perfect example of that. And well, so too is the Brian Bar. It just seems "less offensive" because everyone does flared drops now.

The Brian Bar seems to be hitting on all cylinders, as far as design. It is offered in a few different widths, including a wide 46cm width, so I think they covered that base well also. It's a constantly varying radius drop design, which can be quite nice. At least the extensions are long, (you can always cut them back) and they are not "opened" in relation to the tops, like a Woodchipper's are, which in my view, is a fatal flaw in that bar's design.

I would be remiss if I didn't express my disappointment that there is no reissue of the Luxy Bar here. My last reliable information was that Brant Richards, the original designer of the bar, had gotten the rights to the design again from a previous employer. He is now doing work, (once again), for On One. I was hoping to see a Luxy reboot, but alas.......not yet.

Jersey order went in earlier this week.

C.O.G. 100 Update:

The special C.O.G. 100 jersey order was paid for and submitted earlier this week. So, the 13 others of you who joined me in ordering one will be waiting for several weeks to get our dirty mitts on them. On a related note, the special C.O.G. 100 Championship jerseys, (design similar to what is shown here with slight difference in logo and colors) was also submitted. The hats for all the registered racers are already done.

Insurance purchase will happen soon after the "year" flips over to 2019 with the company's policy we are using. Then that will get paid for via the registration fees. Part of those fees also paid for the hats and Champion's jerseys, by the way. As per N.Y. Roll and my agreement, we are being 100% transparent about our finances with regard to the C.O.G. 100, so all of this will be put on a financial statement which will get posted to the C.O.G. 100 site at a later date.

Next up is final cue sheet formatting and number plate production. A final recon is scheduled for sometime in February. There still are a few spots left for anyone wanting to register. Just in case you think a single speed race is a good idea on gravel.

The new Gravel Worlds Logo for 2019

Events I Am Doing: Gravel Worlds-

I thought I'd start talking a bit more about some of the events I am signed up to do in 2019 now and give you an idea of why it is that I have decided upon these as worth my time.

Gravel Worlds, as many of you long time readers know, is one of my favorite events. It's an irony amongst gravel events since it has "big name appeal", (Alison Tetrick, Neal Shirley, and Rebecca Rusch are all past winners of this event), it has a "title sponsor" (Gravel Worlds Presented by Lauf), and yet Gravel Worlds retains a VERY grassroots feel and doesn't get near the backlash that the Dirty Kanza 200 gets from those who claim "grassroots gravel is dead".

I attribute this to the clever and steady hands of its RD's, Craig "Schmidy" Schmidt and Corey "Cornbread" Godfrey, who are pivotal figures in the success of this event, amongst a host of other volunteers, Oasis Stop hosts, and "trail angels". I was hooked immediately on the event back when it was still called "The Good Life Gravel Adventure" and that was precipitated by the enthusiastic persuasion for my attendance then by my former T.I. co-RD, David Pals, who did the first ever "GLGA" in 2008.

Things have changed at Gravel Worlds over the past decade, for sure, but all along the changes have been positive and have added to- not taken away from- the grassroots, down to earth vibe that has been part of this event since day one. There are new changes for 2019, but I bet that they will be met with positive comments, or just accepted as "normal". That seems to be the way most of the evolutionary changes this event has had over the years have been seen by its riders.

Interested? there are still spots available on the roster. It's every bit as fun and rewarding as the Dirty Kanza 200, so check it out here.

That's all for this week. get ready for more weird weather out there and keep the rubber side down y'all!

Friday News And Views

On One Geoff Bar (Image from One One's Instagram)

On One Does It Again With Trio Of Handle Bars:

A little over ten years ago On One brought three "alt bars" to market which really changed the face of 29"ers, drop bar for off road, and eventually, gravel bikes. Their take on the WTB Dirt Drop, the groundbreaking Midge Bar, became an early favorite of mine with its decent flare and short and shallow drops. The Mary was a bendy bit of tubing which many took and used on 29" hard tails early on and also which influenced several imitations. The third bar in that series, the Mungo, wasn't as popular. Those three bars were based on a popular UK animation show from years past.

Now On One have done a similar trick, only this time basing their bar's names on the show, "The League Of Gentleman". The three new bars, named after characters from the show, are once again aimed at similar disciplines as the originals. The urban focused bar being the "Mike Bar", the mtb focused bar being the "Geoff Bar", and a new off road drop bar named the "Brian Bar".

Also in true On One/Planet Bike fashion, the bars are all pretty reasonably priced. You'll have to order online from the UK, but in my experience, that hasn't been an issue. I haven't had any trouble with their delivery or with components arriving damaged at all.

The Brian Bar. (Image from On One's site)

Well, as far as what I think, I feel there is going to be an eyebrow raised concerning that "Geoff Bar. It strikes a resemblance to another bar designed by a "Jeff" and I am sure a lot of comments will be made regarding that. But On One have never been too shy when it comes to riffing on a theme and the Geoff Bar is a perfect example of that. And well, so too is the Brian Bar. It just seems "less offensive" because everyone does flared drops now.

The Brian Bar seems to be hitting on all cylinders, as far as design. It is offered in a few different widths, including a wide 46cm width, so I think they covered that base well also. It's a constantly varying radius drop design, which can be quite nice. At least the extensions are long, (you can always cut them back) and they are not "opened" in relation to the tops, like a Woodchipper's are, which in my view, is a fatal flaw in that bar's design.

I would be remiss if I didn't express my disappointment that there is no reissue of the Luxy Bar here. My last reliable information was that Brant Richards, the original designer of the bar, had gotten the rights to the design again from a previous employer. He is now doing work, (once again), for On One. I was hoping to see a Luxy reboot, but alas.......not yet.

Jersey order went in earlier this week.

C.O.G. 100 Update:

The special C.O.G. 100 jersey order was paid for and submitted earlier this week. So, the 13 others of you who joined me in ordering one will be waiting for several weeks to get our dirty mitts on them. On a related note, the special C.O.G. 100 Championship jerseys, (design similar to what is shown here with slight difference in logo and colors) was also submitted. The hats for all the registered racers are already done.

Insurance purchase will happen soon after the "year" flips over to 2019 with the company's policy we are using. Then that will get paid for via the registration fees. Part of those fees also paid for the hats and Champion's jerseys, by the way. As per N.Y. Roll and my agreement, we are being 100% transparent about our finances with regard to the C.O.G. 100, so all of this will be put on a financial statement which will get posted to the C.O.G. 100 site at a later date.

Next up is final cue sheet formatting and number plate production. A final recon is scheduled for sometime in February. There still are a few spots left for anyone wanting to register. Just in case you think a single speed race is a good idea on gravel.

The new Gravel Worlds Logo for 2019

Events I Am Doing: Gravel Worlds-

I thought I'd start talking a bit more about some of the events I am signed up to do in 2019 now and give you an idea of why it is that I have decided upon these as worth my time.

Gravel Worlds, as many of you long time readers know, is one of my favorite events. It's an irony amongst gravel events since it has "big name appeal", (Alison Tetrick, Neal Shirley, and Rebecca Rusch are all past winners of this event), it has a "title sponsor" (Gravel Worlds Presented by Lauf), and yet Gravel Worlds retains a VERY grassroots feel and doesn't get near the backlash that the Dirty Kanza 200 gets from those who claim "grassroots gravel is dead".

I attribute this to the clever and steady hands of its RD's, Craig "Schmidy" Schmidt and Corey "Cornbread" Godfrey, who are pivotal figures in the success of this event, amongst a host of other volunteers, Oasis Stop hosts, and "trail angels". I was hooked immediately on the event back when it was still called "The Good Life Gravel Adventure" and that was precipitated by the enthusiastic persuasion for my attendance then by my former T.I. co-RD, David Pals, who did the first ever "GLGA" in 2008.

Things have changed at Gravel Worlds over the past decade, for sure, but all along the changes have been positive and have added to- not taken away from- the grassroots, down to earth vibe that has been part of this event since day one. There are new changes for 2019, but I bet that they will be met with positive comments, or just accepted as "normal". That seems to be the way most of the evolutionary changes this event has had over the years have been seen by its riders.

Interested? there are still spots available on the roster. It's every bit as fun and rewarding as the Dirty Kanza 200, so check it out here.

That's all for this week. get ready for more weird weather out there and keep the rubber side down y'all!

C.O.G. 100 Update

Jersey pre-order has closed.

Okay, it's time to talk about the C.O.G. 100 some more. The latest update is that we have 9 spots left to go before the event field limit is reached. Registration is open until March 22nd and we still have a few spots left that we are designating for women entrants. So, if you are considering an event for late March, here ya go.

It is single speed only though, just so ya know. It isn't for everybody, and that is perfectly alright. No event I've ever done was "for everybody". Really, no single event on gravel is. Anyway......

On the jerseys, we got 14 commitments to purchase these. So, that pre-order window closed Monday, and the order will be put in after about a week or so to allow for everyone to get their funds in. No funds-no jersey, so if you dilly-dally no one will get these. An e-mail was sent out yesterday regarding this to those interested parties. If you are one of those folks and didn't receive the e-mail, let me know.

Next on the agenda is getting the cues drafted. Then when that is done those will be checked next month in the field on another course recon. If everything checks out we will go to print. Along with that I will begin doing the race numbers and finalize those in March.

Finally, we have a couple of other things that are not 100%, or even 50% nailed down just yet. I cannot say a lot about those two things other than one has to do with an idea for awards to places 1-4 and the other has to do with a joint to hang out at post-event.

Stay tuned on those and more coming soon. The event will be just around the corner, so I hope that y'all are sharpening up your single speed devices and getting into shape for this deal. It's going to be a fun time and I cannot wait to see everyone down in Grinnell on the weekend of March 29-30.