Friday News And Views

 Double Posting Of Trans Iowa Stories For This Weekend:

Last weekend a Trans Iowa Series post was scheduled but another one was inadvertently scheduled to drop at the same time. This caused a technical issue which I could not resolve, so I ended up pushing both posts back a week.

That mistake is on me, and to the fans and readers of the series, I apologize. 

The good news is that both of those posts will appear this Sunday, one following a little after the other time-wise. They will appear as originally intended also, so you won't be missing a thing that I originally formatted for you to see. 

So, that's a brief note, for those who care, about what happened to last week's 'Trans Iowa Stories' post and what to look forward to for this Sunday. Now with that, I should be back on track and hopefully there will be one post for each of the following Sundays for the remainder of the year. Look for the series to wrap up sometime early in 2022. 

Rides Requiring Proof Of Vaccination:

Recently the news that the Mid-South was requiring proof of vaccination, or a negative COVID test, to get into their 2022 event spread amongst the gravel community. Now word is out that a smaller event out in Vermont organized by the group that puts on the well known Rasputitsa event is also going the proof of vax route. 

While the "Grateful" isn't a big nationally known event, the fact that the organizers are pursuing the proof of vax/negative test route seems to point to a trend in the gravel event scene. It also seems to be consistent with many concerts. sporting events, and with what some businesses are doing. 

Andy and I speculated about this on the podcast recording this week and my take is that this is probably being driven by three elements. 1- A Sense of Social Responsibility where promoters feel compelled to protect and care for their riders in the best way they can. 2 - Legal Ramifications where the possibility that being sued over COVID transmissions, or deaths/health issues may loom over an event, especially when that event is charging a healthy entry fee. 3 - Insurance requirements where it may be possible that municipalities and/or event insurance providers are leveraging event promoters to require proofs of vaccination to hold an event under their insurance/oversight. 

Now, you may have issues with the whole proof of vax/testing thing, and that is a completely valid discussion and far too big a deal for this column. I'll just say this- you don't have to go participate in any events, much less those that require proofs of vax/negative COVID tests. You could organize your own rides. You are free to ride how you want to ride. 

That's a very important thing to remember in all of this. 

The Whisky Parts Co. Spanos Bar

Big Week At Riding Gravel:

The bits and baubles came rolling in over the past week for testing and review on RidingGravel.com. (See the Standard Disclaimer Page here)

Amongst the products that were received are some unusual things. How about some woven cloth bar tape? No.....not the traditional type. This is quite a bit different stuff from Grepp. They claim it is reusable, washable, and that it has superior grip properties over traditional tapes. 

Then there is the American Classic tire, the Wentworth, which I purchased with my own money, by the way, and will be checking out here and on Riding Gravel. 

Then there is the Topeak Gravel Gear Bag, which is not maybe what you think it is. This is an organizer with tools and spaces for tubes and things which you strap to you frame for the rare case that you may need to repair a tire in the field. 

Finally, there is the Whisky Parts Co. Spano Bar, (pictured) which is a carbon fiber drop bar with some unique features. It has flattened tops, a squished profile for the bar in the drops, and a very short reach and drop. 

So, I've spent the week getting all these things set up and checked over for longer rides to come soon. Most of the blurbs I write will be over at Riding Gravel, but you'll probably see this stuff in images and mentions over the next several weeks.

A newMTB trail system is planned near Copper Creek in Des Moines.

New Mountain Bike Trails In The DSM;

Recently, AXIOS Des Moines reported that a new mountain bike park is set to be implemented which would connect Des Moines and the Pleasant Hill areas. 50 acres of undeveloped land have been purchased for the project which will include an area to buffer rain run off to help prevent flooding and improve water quality in the area. 

The park, named the Copper Creek MTB Park, is envisioned as a way to satisfy recreational cyclist who have been using local trails at an ever increasing rate. Plus, this should draw more tourism to the area due to the other local cycling attractions and Iowa's dearth of public lands devoted to off-pavement cycling.

For more details on the project see this link.

NOTE- I'll have a missive on the UCI/Gravel World Championships and series for tomorrow. Otherwise, that's a wrap for this week! Enjoy your weekend and get some riding in!

Friday News And Views

 Double Posting Of Trans Iowa Stories For This Weekend:

Last weekend a Trans Iowa Series post was scheduled but another one was inadvertently scheduled to drop at the same time. This caused a technical issue which I could not resolve, so I ended up pushing both posts back a week.

That mistake is on me, and to the fans and readers of the series, I apologize. 

The good news is that both of those posts will appear this Sunday, one following a little after the other time-wise. They will appear as originally intended also, so you won't be missing a thing that I originally formatted for you to see. 

So, that's a brief note, for those who care, about what happened to last week's 'Trans Iowa Stories' post and what to look forward to for this Sunday. Now with that, I should be back on track and hopefully there will be one post for each of the following Sundays for the remainder of the year. Look for the series to wrap up sometime early in 2022. 

Rides Requiring Proof Of Vaccination:

Recently the news that the Mid-South was requiring proof of vaccination, or a negative COVID test, to get into their 2022 event spread amongst the gravel community. Now word is out that a smaller event out in Vermont organized by the group that puts on the well known Rasputitsa event is also going the proof of vax route. 

While the "Grateful" isn't a big nationally known event, the fact that the organizers are pursuing the proof of vax/negative test route seems to point to a trend in the gravel event scene. It also seems to be consistent with many concerts. sporting events, and with what some businesses are doing. 

Andy and I speculated about this on the podcast recording this week and my take is that this is probably being driven by three elements. 1- A Sense of Social Responsibility where promoters feel compelled to protect and care for their riders in the best way they can. 2 - Legal Ramifications where the possibility that being sued over COVID transmissions, or deaths/health issues may loom over an event, especially when that event is charging a healthy entry fee. 3 - Insurance requirements where it may be possible that municipalities and/or event insurance providers are leveraging event promoters to require proofs of vaccination to hold an event under their insurance/oversight. 

Now, you may have issues with the whole proof of vax/testing thing, and that is a completely valid discussion and far too big a deal for this column. I'll just say this- you don't have to go participate in any events, much less those that require proofs of vax/negative COVID tests. You could organize your own rides. You are free to ride how you want to ride. 

That's a very important thing to remember in all of this. 

The Whisky Parts Co. Spanos Bar

Big Week At Riding Gravel:

The bits and baubles came rolling in over the past week for testing and review on RidingGravel.com. (See the Standard Disclaimer Page here)

Amongst the products that were received are some unusual things. How about some woven cloth bar tape? No.....not the traditional type. This is quite a bit different stuff from Grepp. They claim it is reusable, washable, and that it has superior grip properties over traditional tapes. 

Then there is the American Classic tire, the Wentworth, which I purchased with my own money, by the way, and will be checking out here and on Riding Gravel. 

Then there is the Topeak Gravel Gear Bag, which is not maybe what you think it is. This is an organizer with tools and spaces for tubes and things which you strap to you frame for the rare case that you may need to repair a tire in the field. 

Finally, there is the Whisky Parts Co. Spano Bar, (pictured) which is a carbon fiber drop bar with some unique features. It has flattened tops, a squished profile for the bar in the drops, and a very short reach and drop. 

So, I've spent the week getting all these things set up and checked over for longer rides to come soon. Most of the blurbs I write will be over at Riding Gravel, but you'll probably see this stuff in images and mentions over the next several weeks.

A newMTB trail system is planned near Copper Creek in Des Moines.

New Mountain Bike Trails In The DSM;

Recently, AXIOS Des Moines reported that a new mountain bike park is set to be implemented which would connect Des Moines and the Pleasant Hill areas. 50 acres of undeveloped land have been purchased for the project which will include an area to buffer rain run off to help prevent flooding and improve water quality in the area. 

The park, named the Copper Creek MTB Park, is envisioned as a way to satisfy recreational cyclist who have been using local trails at an ever increasing rate. Plus, this should draw more tourism to the area due to the other local cycling attractions and Iowa's dearth of public lands devoted to off-pavement cycling.

For more details on the project see this link.

NOTE- I'll have a missive on the UCI/Gravel World Championships and series for tomorrow. Otherwise, that's a wrap for this week! Enjoy your weekend and get some riding in!

Friday News And Views

More Shipping Woes Spark Fears Of Prolonged Shortages: 

The news isn't good concerning shipping, and COVID in the world, for that matter, which is affecting shipping. We heard last week from an industry contact that China's largest shipping port is closed due to the pandemic. Manufacturers are still sitting on huge quantities of finished products in the Far East with no means of getting them to Europe or North America. Furthermore, this has caused some factories to cut down production, since they cannot get raw materials to produce products, or get finished goods off the docks. 

I would assume that unless product is 'on the water', which is shipping parlance for 'already on the way', that many things we need here will be delayed until late in 2021 or early 2022 at the soonest. It would appear that, by reading through things I have heard and seen, that 2022 will be a 'lost season' for bicycles for several companies. The so-called "Big Four", (Cannondale, Specialized, Trek, and Giant) may have some bikes showing up, but several smaller brands are shut out due to the scarcity of parts and the raw materials to make them. Some of these brands will, no doubt, have to wait until 2023 to have new bikes to sell. 

Thursday, Shimano sent out a communication to dealers and LBS' to say that the Malaysian factory shutdown is indefinite, (it was to be reviewed on 6/28/21) and that this will affect all groups BELOW 105 and SLX, wheels, hubs, and some cassettes and free wheels. This means that the severe aftermarket shortage will be extended, but more than this- the 'meat of the bicycle market', will be adversely affected as well.

As the Delta variant of COVID rages throughout the globe and a Winter of uncertainty looms in terms of flu and further COVID outbreaks, this situation remains fluid. One bright spot- The Evergiven, the ship that plugged the Suez canal back in March for about a week, has finally been released and is sailing to Europe with its cargo. A small pittance, but at least something to cheer about here. 

Lachlan Morton- Image from Twitter

Lachlan Morton Does Something Similar To Others- Gets Cred Anyway:

You've probably heard about Lachlan Morton, the Pro road rider that is raising funds to help get bikes for World Bicycle Relief. His attempt to run the entire 2021 Tour de France stages solo, self-supported and ride all transfers, has raised a lot of kudos and awareness amongst the roadie cognoscenti. Many are ballyhooing all this as being quite remarkable and noteworthy, and while I would agree to some extent, I have a question. "Where were you when Stamstad, Curiak, Matthew Lee, Mike Hall, and literally thousands of others were doing exactly this?" 

I don't take anything away from Morton's efforts, but the way the Pro roadie press would have you believe things, this is an oddity and 'new'. That's my observation and my only nit against this story. It isn't anything new, excepting the specific format, which, in a way, is kind of ironic in that Morton is beating the peloton to Paris as we speak. 

These sorts of efforts often are held to be a throwback to what some think of as 'more pure forms of competitive cycling'. You know, like the Tour was supposed to be way back when. But I disagree. This is one way to ride a bicycle competitively, and others have their ideas. As a fan of cycling, and as a sometimes participant in competitive events, I neither have to participate, nor pay any attention at all to any of it, no matter what some say about 'purity' or what have you. I only wish that reporting on this particular feat would have a bit longer perspective and not be so shallow historically speaking.

Image courtesy of Trek

Bontrager RSL MTB Handlebar/Stem Introduced:

Every few years or so we see a company, this time it is Bontrager (again), that tries a one piece bar/stem combo in carbon for road or MTB. Bontrager has just dropped the RSL level MTB handlebar/stem for $349.99. The bar/stem is made in OCLV carbon, has a 0° or -13° stem angle options, and comes in a few different lengths of stem reach and two bar widths, the longest being 820mm. the bars can be customized for length by cutting them down at prescribed trim lines at 40mm from the ends. 

Comments: Impressive weight savings, (214-250 grams, depending on model) carbon feel, and a sleek look with the addition of integrated Bontrager "Blender" mounts make this a sweet choice if..... If you like the angles and the specific choices available. Want to rotate the bar a tad to meet your preferences? Too bad, you cannot do that. 

And that, ultimately, has always been one of the biggest downfalls to one piece bar/stem combinations. That and any damage to the bar means you have to get a stem as well. Or if you want a 10mm longer stem, or a 5mm shorter one, well...... You know. It seems like a great idea until these things come along. But for those who can get around all that? Here you go..... They are available now online or from a Trek dealer near you. 

Image courtesy of Wolf Tooth

B-Rad Everywhere Base Introduced:

Just when I go spouting off on alternative bottles and cage mounts, here comes a product in the same vein from Wolf Tooth, the B-Rad Everywhere Base. 

Obviously, not a new idea here, but the B-Rad Everywhere Base does do it a bit differently by utilizing the tried and true B-Rad aluminum base and silicone backed straps. There are two hole and three hole styles to accommodate traditional water bottle cages or those triple boss, cargo style cages. 

The aluminum base can also be used as a traditional B-Rad cage mount to offset a cage 'by up to 22mm', which in my case would have been great. However; I am using a different B-Rad mount I already have. Had I known this was coming out? I may have opted for it as it is a really versatile product from the looks of it. 

The B-Rad Everywhere Base kit is available now from Wolf Tooth at $24.95

And that's a wrap folks! Have a great weekend and get some riding in! Thanks again for reading Guitar Ted Productions.

Friday News And Views

More Shipping Woes Spark Fears Of Prolonged Shortages: 

The news isn't good concerning shipping, and COVID in the world, for that matter, which is affecting shipping. We heard last week from an industry contact that China's largest shipping port is closed due to the pandemic. Manufacturers are still sitting on huge quantities of finished products in the Far East with no means of getting them to Europe or North America. Furthermore, this has caused some factories to cut down production, since they cannot get raw materials to produce products, or get finished goods off the docks. 

I would assume that unless product is 'on the water', which is shipping parlance for 'already on the way', that many things we need here will be delayed until late in 2021 or early 2022 at the soonest. It would appear that, by reading through things I have heard and seen, that 2022 will be a 'lost season' for bicycles for several companies. The so-called "Big Four", (Cannondale, Specialized, Trek, and Giant) may have some bikes showing up, but several smaller brands are shut out due to the scarcity of parts and the raw materials to make them. Some of these brands will, no doubt, have to wait until 2023 to have new bikes to sell. 

Thursday, Shimano sent out a communication to dealers and LBS' to say that the Malaysian factory shutdown is indefinite, (it was to be reviewed on 6/28/21) and that this will affect all groups BELOW 105 and SLX, wheels, hubs, and some cassettes and free wheels. This means that the severe aftermarket shortage will be extended, but more than this- the 'meat of the bicycle market', will be adversely affected as well.

As the Delta variant of COVID rages throughout the globe and a Winter of uncertainty looms in terms of flu and further COVID outbreaks, this situation remains fluid. One bright spot- The Evergiven, the ship that plugged the Suez canal back in March for about a week, has finally been released and is sailing to Europe with its cargo. A small pittance, but at least something to cheer about here. 

Lachlan Morton- Image from Twitter

Lachlan Morton Does Something Similar To Others- Gets Cred Anyway:

You've probably heard about Lachlan Morton, the Pro road rider that is raising funds to help get bikes for World Bicycle Relief. His attempt to run the entire 2021 Tour de France stages solo, self-supported and ride all transfers, has raised a lot of kudos and awareness amongst the roadie cognoscenti. Many are ballyhooing all this as being quite remarkable and noteworthy, and while I would agree to some extent, I have a question. "Where were you when Stamstad, Curiak, Matthew Lee, Mike Hall, and literally thousands of others were doing exactly this?" 

I don't take anything away from Morton's efforts, but the way the Pro roadie press would have you believe things, this is an oddity and 'new'. That's my observation and my only nit against this story. It isn't anything new, excepting the specific format, which, in a way, is kind of ironic in that Morton is beating the peloton to Paris as we speak. 

These sorts of efforts often are held to be a throwback to what some think of as 'more pure forms of competitive cycling'. You know, like the Tour was supposed to be way back when. But I disagree. This is one way to ride a bicycle competitively, and others have their ideas. As a fan of cycling, and as a sometimes participant in competitive events, I neither have to participate, nor pay any attention at all to any of it, no matter what some say about 'purity' or what have you. I only wish that reporting on this particular feat would have a bit longer perspective and not be so shallow historically speaking.

Image courtesy of Trek

Bontrager RSL MTB Handlebar/Stem Introduced:

Every few years or so we see a company, this time it is Bontrager (again), that tries a one piece bar/stem combo in carbon for road or MTB. Bontrager has just dropped the RSL level MTB handlebar/stem for $349.99. The bar/stem is made in OCLV carbon, has a 0° or -13° stem angle options, and comes in a few different lengths of stem reach and two bar widths, the longest being 820mm. the bars can be customized for length by cutting them down at prescribed trim lines at 40mm from the ends. 

Comments: Impressive weight savings, (214-250 grams, depending on model) carbon feel, and a sleek look with the addition of integrated Bontrager "Blender" mounts make this a sweet choice if..... If you like the angles and the specific choices available. Want to rotate the bar a tad to meet your preferences? Too bad, you cannot do that. 

And that, ultimately, has always been one of the biggest downfalls to one piece bar/stem combinations. That and any damage to the bar means you have to get a stem as well. Or if you want a 10mm longer stem, or a 5mm shorter one, well...... You know. It seems like a great idea until these things come along. But for those who can get around all that? Here you go..... They are available now online or from a Trek dealer near you. 

Image courtesy of Wolf Tooth

B-Rad Everywhere Base Introduced:

Just when I go spouting off on alternative bottles and cage mounts, here comes a product in the same vein from Wolf Tooth, the B-Rad Everywhere Base. 

Obviously, not a new idea here, but the B-Rad Everywhere Base does do it a bit differently by utilizing the tried and true B-Rad aluminum base and silicone backed straps. There are two hole and three hole styles to accommodate traditional water bottle cages or those triple boss, cargo style cages. 

The aluminum base can also be used as a traditional B-Rad cage mount to offset a cage 'by up to 22mm', which in my case would have been great. However; I am using a different B-Rad mount I already have. Had I known this was coming out? I may have opted for it as it is a really versatile product from the looks of it. 

The B-Rad Everywhere Base kit is available now from Wolf Tooth at $24.95

And that's a wrap folks! Have a great weekend and get some riding in! Thanks again for reading Guitar Ted Productions.

C.O.G. 100 Update: Not Looking Good

 NOTE: This is NOT an announcement of whether or not the C.O.G. 100 will happen or not. It IS an indication of that status as of 11/20. N.Y. Roll and I offer this as a way of being more transparent about what is happening within the 'think tank' here at C.O.G. 100 headquarters. Thanks for your patience and understanding ahead of time.

For regular blog readers- this also may help you navigate where 2021 might take you in regard to events. Please feel free to ask questions or to leave comments. I am open to dialogue on this subject. Now for the post......

The current thinking here between N.Y. Roll and I concerning whether or not to completely cancel the C.O.G. 100 is a process of back-and-forth, a changing of thoughts on a daily basis, and is a hope against hope situation that is- frankly- exhausting us. Here are things that are shaping our thoughts as of November 2020 in no particular order.

1. We acknowledge that certain events have taken place and have been relatively 'safe' in retrospect. There have been big, event impacting decisions done with regard to these events that, honestly, if we followed suit, would take a lot of what we intend for the C.O.G. 100 away and in our view make it less the event we originally had intended on putting on. This is not where our hearts are at. So, regarding the comparisons one may make here, we get that others have done their events. But we cannot do ours the way we intended to in the current situation we have found ourselves in. We feel it is, therefore, difficult to call it the "C.O.G. 100" then if it isn't really done in the way the first one was. 
2. COVID-19 is not going away by the time we want to have the C.O.G. 100. Yes, you may have heard news recently about a vaccine, and that is good news. However; the reality is that it will take months to roll out any - as yet unapproved by the way - vaccine, and then it will be first administered to our most vulnerable in the population, as it should be. With less than four months to go until a rescheduled C.O.G. 100, it is our estimation at this time, having reviewed the best information we can gather, that there will be no vaccine available in time to affect whether or not we can put this event on without enforcing restrictive protocols. 
3. The current situation with regard to the pandemic is worsening. The Governor of Iowa announced restrictions yesterday on crowd sizes and masks, mandating that any outdoor gathering of 100 or more people would have to be required to wear masks if they cannot socially distance. This was one of a few mandates made Tuesday, and are the first 'mask mandates' made in Iowa on a statewide level. That should tell you that we are quite a ways away from getting clear from having public restrictions with or without a vaccine. It is our best judgement that IF a C.O.G. 100 were to happen that we would have to enforce some strict protocols regarding group sizes and make sure riders were administering social distancing practices. 
4. Our insurance would have to be re-purchased for the event. The policy we hoped to make use of runs out before we'd get to a rescheduled C.O.G. 100. This means an out-of-pocket expenditure or perhaps adding enough riders to make up the shortfall by re-opening registration. Adding more folks sounds like a really bad idea right now though.  
5. While some may feel having 'something' is better than nothing, I am not of that school of thought. Racing, competitions, and socially gathering for events, are frivolous activities that are expendable when a random element to a deadly virus could cause a lot of pain and suffering. For what? A silly single speed only gravel event? 
   

In closing, all of these things are weighty issues to consider and we haven't even touched upon what we would have to consider IF we cancelled the C.O.G. 100 altogether. But we'll cover that IF we get to that point.

In closing, I want to say that I appreciate everyone's patience regarding the situation with the C.O.G. 100. We are leaning toward NOT having the event at all at this point because we do not feel that by late March things will be any safer than they are today. I think we will have a definite answer one way or the other by the end of this month. Look for our final word by then.

C.O.G. 100 Update: Not Looking Good

 NOTE: This is NOT an announcement of whether or not the C.O.G. 100 will happen or not. It IS an indication of that status as of 11/20. N.Y. Roll and I offer this as a way of being more transparent about what is happening within the 'think tank' here at C.O.G. 100 headquarters. Thanks for your patience and understanding ahead of time.

For regular blog readers- this also may help you navigate where 2021 might take you in regard to events. Please feel free to ask questions or to leave comments. I am open to dialogue on this subject. Now for the post......

The current thinking here between N.Y. Roll and I concerning whether or not to completely cancel the C.O.G. 100 is a process of back-and-forth, a changing of thoughts on a daily basis, and is a hope against hope situation that is- frankly- exhausting us. Here are things that are shaping our thoughts as of November 2020 in no particular order.

1. We acknowledge that certain events have taken place and have been relatively 'safe' in retrospect. There have been big, event impacting decisions done with regard to these events that, honestly, if we followed suit, would take a lot of what we intend for the C.O.G. 100 away and in our view make it less the event we originally had intended on putting on. This is not where our hearts are at. So, regarding the comparisons one may make here, we get that others have done their events. But we cannot do ours the way we intended to in the current situation we have found ourselves in. We feel it is, therefore, difficult to call it the "C.O.G. 100" then if it isn't really done in the way the first one was. 
2. COVID-19 is not going away by the time we want to have the C.O.G. 100. Yes, you may have heard news recently about a vaccine, and that is good news. However; the reality is that it will take months to roll out any - as yet unapproved by the way - vaccine, and then it will be first administered to our most vulnerable in the population, as it should be. With less than four months to go until a rescheduled C.O.G. 100, it is our estimation at this time, having reviewed the best information we can gather, that there will be no vaccine available in time to affect whether or not we can put this event on without enforcing restrictive protocols. 
3. The current situation with regard to the pandemic is worsening. The Governor of Iowa announced restrictions yesterday on crowd sizes and masks, mandating that any outdoor gathering of 100 or more people would have to be required to wear masks if they cannot socially distance. This was one of a few mandates made Tuesday, and are the first 'mask mandates' made in Iowa on a statewide level. That should tell you that we are quite a ways away from getting clear from having public restrictions with or without a vaccine. It is our best judgement that IF a C.O.G. 100 were to happen that we would have to enforce some strict protocols regarding group sizes and make sure riders were administering social distancing practices. 
4. Our insurance would have to be re-purchased for the event. The policy we hoped to make use of runs out before we'd get to a rescheduled C.O.G. 100. This means an out-of-pocket expenditure or perhaps adding enough riders to make up the shortfall by re-opening registration. Adding more folks sounds like a really bad idea right now though.  
5. While some may feel having 'something' is better than nothing, I am not of that school of thought. Racing, competitions, and socially gathering for events, are frivolous activities that are expendable when a random element to a deadly virus could cause a lot of pain and suffering. For what? A silly single speed only gravel event? 
   

In closing, all of these things are weighty issues to consider and we haven't even touched upon what we would have to consider IF we cancelled the C.O.G. 100 altogether. But we'll cover that IF we get to that point.

In closing, I want to say that I appreciate everyone's patience regarding the situation with the C.O.G. 100. We are leaning toward NOT having the event at all at this point because we do not feel that by late March things will be any safer than they are today. I think we will have a definite answer one way or the other by the end of this month. Look for our final word by then.

An Interesting, Low Key Summer In Store?

Not Memorial Day weekend? Not this year!

Let's see..... No Summer Olympics, The Tour looks like it may be run with no spectators, if they run it at all, and the Indy 500 postponed their traditional Memorial Day event to August.

Y'all know why, I won't drag you through that again....

Add in many gravel events and other cycling events to that list. The Prairie Burn 100, which is run the first weekend of June- cancelled for 2020, The Heywood Ride, postponed, and others are either postponed, or leaning that way.

Even the venerable Dirty Kanza said they will make it official one way or the other on May 1st. You have to wonder, with this thing still ramping up and it is almost April, it is hard to imagine we'll be getting any "all-clear" signals by the end of May, but who knows?

Whatever happens, it is going to be a very interesting, (or boring, depending upon your point of view), Summer in the gravel world. I saw a discussion on Facebook, on one gravel oriented page, with many voicing the opinion that this catastrophe is going to knock the corporate element out of the gravel scene. There was talk about how there would be a return to individual rides and non-competitive adventuring.

Well, not to be a wet rag, but as the kids say, "no duh!" See, many events are cancelled and/or postponed for the Spring and maybe most of the Summer. Getting into groups is frowned upon, and possibly deadly. So, yeah....of course that line of thinking is correct, for now. 

But when this whole thing is over, and it will be, we don't know exactly what will happen. I'm betting people will be itching to do something like the Dirty Kanza, or Prairie Burn, or The Heywood. They will be buying stuff again, fixing stuff again, and going out in droves in groups again because they will be allowed to. That will bring the situation right back to where we are today. Too many people remember how it was and will want it back that way again.

Or maybe something more radical will occur. Again- I don't know. But anyone who is thinking that this pandemic is going to "fix the gravel scene" is not thinking straight. Disrupting it? Sure. Absolutely. But once this passes, then what? I'm not so sure that things won't be very similar to how they were. At least in terms of the gravel riding community. In the meantime, it looks like we are in for a very strange, interesting Summer.

An Interesting, Low Key Summer In Store?

Not Memorial Day weekend? Not this year!

Let's see..... No Summer Olympics, The Tour looks like it may be run with no spectators, if they run it at all, and the Indy 500 postponed their traditional Memorial Day event to August.

Y'all know why, I won't drag you through that again....

Add in many gravel events and other cycling events to that list. The Prairie Burn 100, which is run the first weekend of June- cancelled for 2020, The Heywood Ride, postponed, and others are either postponed, or leaning that way.

Even the venerable Dirty Kanza said they will make it official one way or the other on May 1st. You have to wonder, with this thing still ramping up and it is almost April, it is hard to imagine we'll be getting any "all-clear" signals by the end of May, but who knows?

Whatever happens, it is going to be a very interesting, (or boring, depending upon your point of view), Summer in the gravel world. I saw a discussion on Facebook, on one gravel oriented page, with many voicing the opinion that this catastrophe is going to knock the corporate element out of the gravel scene. There was talk about how there would be a return to individual rides and non-competitive adventuring.

Well, not to be a wet rag, but as the kids say, "no duh!" See, many events are cancelled and/or postponed for the Spring and maybe most of the Summer. Getting into groups is frowned upon, and possibly deadly. So, yeah....of course that line of thinking is correct, for now. 

But when this whole thing is over, and it will be, we don't know exactly what will happen. I'm betting people will be itching to do something like the Dirty Kanza, or Prairie Burn, or The Heywood. They will be buying stuff again, fixing stuff again, and going out in droves in groups again because they will be allowed to. That will bring the situation right back to where we are today. Too many people remember how it was and will want it back that way again.

Or maybe something more radical will occur. Again- I don't know. But anyone who is thinking that this pandemic is going to "fix the gravel scene" is not thinking straight. Disrupting it? Sure. Absolutely. But once this passes, then what? I'm not so sure that things won't be very similar to how they were. At least in terms of the gravel riding community. In the meantime, it looks like we are in for a very strange, interesting Summer.

Friday News And Views

The full announcement made Tuesday of this week.

Viruses and Gravel Don't Mix: 

As you all know by now, everything is cancelled that is fun. That or postponed. I don't care if I don't hear "cancelled" or "postponed" again for.......years! I'm getting pretty worn out by it all now, as I am sure many of you out there are as well.

However; there are always consequences. That's one thing we haven't looked at much yet. One of the MAJOR consequences of all these postponements and potential postponements is that the month of October, for whatever reason, is getting all the rescheduled dates I am seeing. Iowa Wind And Rock, is one of the major ones doing that here. But many other events nationwide that should be happening now, or in April, are looking to October now. Why October?

I'm going to take a stab and say that insurance is one reason why. Many policies for events let you slide a date, but only for so long. October may be as late as some can push their events back to. School starting and other concerns may also play a part here, and of course, weather plays a factor here as well. But I know from our C.O.G. 100 rescheduling choices that October is really an attractive choice, but my concern is that all these Spring events are going to essentially cannibalize the already scheduled Fall events. You know, there are only so many things a person can do, and since Spring is, for all intents and purposes, going to be devoid of events, and maybe even the beginning of Summer, (who knows?) everyone is looking to Fall to push their event to and hold it, despite what is already going to be happening anyway.

The big domino yet to fall is the Dirty Kanza. If- and I stress IF - they decide to reschedule, and IF they choose Fall to do that, (and all bets would be pretty sure if you place them on a cooler Fall day for that location), then that event will suck away a huge number of potential riders. Not to mention college football, high school football, school, and other fall activities like cyclo cross. Ya know, I don't see it working out real well if everybody chooses a Fall date. Might be better just to write off 2020 as a complete loss and go to 2021.

But we'll see.

Industry papers are reporting that Europe factory closures are further damping HPC sales.

HPC Production Further Hurt By Factory Closures In Europe:

The COVID-19 effects roll on as not only has Chinese production taken a hit, but now it is reported that the big electric Hybrid Powered Cycles (HPC) manufacturers are being affected in Europe by factory closures. While sales were expected to increase over last year by double-digit percentages, I would assume expectations are being tempered somewhat by the closures.

This news should also affect saddles and shoes for cycling, not to mention clothing, all of which comes from Northern Italy where the pandemic has hit pretty hard. What the results will be are yet to be seen, but I wouldn't be surprised to see disruptions in supply over the course of 2020 and perhaps into next year depending upon how long this lasts.

Seat post testing: Here the Noble Bikes GX5 is set up with the Specialized C-GR post.

Seat Post Testing: 

Seat posts have the potential for being a vibration absorbing component on many gravel bikes, especially with the extensions many gravel bikes require. All that bare seat post can be effective in making for a smoother ride if the post is designed correctly.

I am using a few posts now which promise to have a nice, vibration absorbing ride. The PRO Dyneema Carbon post was first. Now I've got the Specialized C-GR post cued up and I've ridden it a little bit. My impressions so far are that it is slicing hairs to compare these things. I have also been running a Whiskey carbon post along with the Ti Regulator Salsa post for some time. Really........I gotta say that they are all pretty similar. Maybe one is feeling nicer on one day and a different one feels better on another day. That's how blurry the lines are between all these posts.

I'll continue to explore the differences as the gravel roads get better and the weather warms some more. But I suspect I am going to find that there isn't a hill of beans of difference between all the carbon/titanium posts and they all will compare unfavorably to the suspension posts. There is just a huge difference in feel once you go to a full on mechanically suspended post.  Traditional passive flexing posts just don't match up here.

So, the bottom line will likely be that if you are seeking relief from vibrations and bumps in terms of gravel riding, then go suspended on the seat post. The best a passive flexing post can do is take the zing out of a hit or maybe damp a little bit of the frequency range. I'll come back with a final write up on this subject and I will also give you reasons why a suspension seat post may be a bad idea.

From last year's GTDRI

 Guitar Ted Death Ride Invitational 2020 Cancelled:

In light of our new realities here, I am going to go ahead and cancel the Guitar Ted Death Ride Invitational for 2020. It is my belief that it would be irresponsible to hold such an event in light of the suggestions that the COVID-19 pandemic may not be 100% wrapped up by that time.

And even if it is, which right now would be a minor miracle, I am going to clear this event off people's radar so that they can make other plans, just in case I am wrong. My belief is we won't be out of the woods yet by late July.

My suggestion is that we all do our own adventure rides and get used to being alone, or maybe with another companion. But practicing social distancing in a group is not workable. Not in my opinion. (See yesterday's post)

My intentions are to ride the course to vet it out and then, if it works out, I will use this route I have planned for a 2021 ride. We will see how that all works out. Look for posts concerning this throughout Spring and Summer.

Andy's Bike Shop Video: Earlier this week I promised you all that I would post that link to the video we did reviewing a couple of Giant Revolt gravel bikes. If you care to see that, here is that link. WARNING: They tell me I have more of a "radio face", so be prepared! Ha!

Remember CIOCC?  They are back in the UK.

Italian Speakers Will Laugh Now:

When I first got into working on bicycles, the shop I worked at had a large selection of Italian made frames for sale. There were the "common" Bianchi frames, Colnago, DeBernadi, Gios, and more I cannot remember.

Among all the Italian marques though, the most mysterious one to me was CIOCC. No one seemed to know a whole lot about about them, and then ........how the heck do you pronounce THAT name?!!

Now there were a few people that had those bikes in the area back then and we tried pronouncing the name to the best of our Mid-Western ways. We arrived on something that sounded like "chee-ohch". Well, since no one I knew spoke Italian, how were we to know back in the 90's? It wasn't like we could look it up on the innergoogles, ya know!

So, the other day I get a press release for this brand announcing their return to the UK market. The press release tells how to pronounce the name! So, apparently it is like saying "church" without much of the "r" in that word. Try it. Once you say it, I think a green light will go off and it will make sense. How we used to say that name in the 90's never sat right with me.

Anyway, the bikes! They have a gravel bike, of course, which is steel and is quite fetching, as seen here in brown. But they also do steel classic road frames, titanium road frames (gorgeous, by the way), and carbon fiber. All of Italian manufacture, and all beautiful to look at. Too bad we won't see them over here.

I apologize for the bummer FN&V this week, but it is what it is now. Hopefully better news is on the horizon. Stay safe and stay positive!

Friday News And Views

The full announcement made Tuesday of this week.

Viruses and Gravel Don't Mix: 

As you all know by now, everything is cancelled that is fun. That or postponed. I don't care if I don't hear "cancelled" or "postponed" again for.......years! I'm getting pretty worn out by it all now, as I am sure many of you out there are as well.

However; there are always consequences. That's one thing we haven't looked at much yet. One of the MAJOR consequences of all these postponements and potential postponements is that the month of October, for whatever reason, is getting all the rescheduled dates I am seeing. Iowa Wind And Rock, is one of the major ones doing that here. But many other events nationwide that should be happening now, or in April, are looking to October now. Why October?

I'm going to take a stab and say that insurance is one reason why. Many policies for events let you slide a date, but only for so long. October may be as late as some can push their events back to. School starting and other concerns may also play a part here, and of course, weather plays a factor here as well. But I know from our C.O.G. 100 rescheduling choices that October is really an attractive choice, but my concern is that all these Spring events are going to essentially cannibalize the already scheduled Fall events. You know, there are only so many things a person can do, and since Spring is, for all intents and purposes, going to be devoid of events, and maybe even the beginning of Summer, (who knows?) everyone is looking to Fall to push their event to and hold it, despite what is already going to be happening anyway.

The big domino yet to fall is the Dirty Kanza. If- and I stress IF - they decide to reschedule, and IF they choose Fall to do that, (and all bets would be pretty sure if you place them on a cooler Fall day for that location), then that event will suck away a huge number of potential riders. Not to mention college football, high school football, school, and other fall activities like cyclo cross. Ya know, I don't see it working out real well if everybody chooses a Fall date. Might be better just to write off 2020 as a complete loss and go to 2021.

But we'll see.

Industry papers are reporting that Europe factory closures are further damping HPC sales.

HPC Production Further Hurt By Factory Closures In Europe:

The COVID-19 effects roll on as not only has Chinese production taken a hit, but now it is reported that the big electric Hybrid Powered Cycles (HPC) manufacturers are being affected in Europe by factory closures. While sales were expected to increase over last year by double-digit percentages, I would assume expectations are being tempered somewhat by the closures.

This news should also affect saddles and shoes for cycling, not to mention clothing, all of which comes from Northern Italy where the pandemic has hit pretty hard. What the results will be are yet to be seen, but I wouldn't be surprised to see disruptions in supply over the course of 2020 and perhaps into next year depending upon how long this lasts.

Seat post testing: Here the Noble Bikes GX5 is set up with the Specialized C-GR post.

Seat Post Testing: 

Seat posts have the potential for being a vibration absorbing component on many gravel bikes, especially with the extensions many gravel bikes require. All that bare seat post can be effective in making for a smoother ride if the post is designed correctly.

I am using a few posts now which promise to have a nice, vibration absorbing ride. The PRO Dyneema Carbon post was first. Now I've got the Specialized C-GR post cued up and I've ridden it a little bit. My impressions so far are that it is slicing hairs to compare these things. I have also been running a Whiskey carbon post along with the Ti Regulator Salsa post for some time. Really........I gotta say that they are all pretty similar. Maybe one is feeling nicer on one day and a different one feels better on another day. That's how blurry the lines are between all these posts.

I'll continue to explore the differences as the gravel roads get better and the weather warms some more. But I suspect I am going to find that there isn't a hill of beans of difference between all the carbon/titanium posts and they all will compare unfavorably to the suspension posts. There is just a huge difference in feel once you go to a full on mechanically suspended post.  Traditional passive flexing posts just don't match up here.

So, the bottom line will likely be that if you are seeking relief from vibrations and bumps in terms of gravel riding, then go suspended on the seat post. The best a passive flexing post can do is take the zing out of a hit or maybe damp a little bit of the frequency range. I'll come back with a final write up on this subject and I will also give you reasons why a suspension seat post may be a bad idea.

From last year's GTDRI

 Guitar Ted Death Ride Invitational 2020 Cancelled:

In light of our new realities here, I am going to go ahead and cancel the Guitar Ted Death Ride Invitational for 2020. It is my belief that it would be irresponsible to hold such an event in light of the suggestions that the COVID-19 pandemic may not be 100% wrapped up by that time.

And even if it is, which right now would be a minor miracle, I am going to clear this event off people's radar so that they can make other plans, just in case I am wrong. My belief is we won't be out of the woods yet by late July.

My suggestion is that we all do our own adventure rides and get used to being alone, or maybe with another companion. But practicing social distancing in a group is not workable. Not in my opinion. (See yesterday's post)

My intentions are to ride the course to vet it out and then, if it works out, I will use this route I have planned for a 2021 ride. We will see how that all works out. Look for posts concerning this throughout Spring and Summer.

Andy's Bike Shop Video: Earlier this week I promised you all that I would post that link to the video we did reviewing a couple of Giant Revolt gravel bikes. If you care to see that, here is that link. WARNING: They tell me I have more of a "radio face", so be prepared! Ha!

Remember CIOCC?  They are back in the UK.

Italian Speakers Will Laugh Now:

When I first got into working on bicycles, the shop I worked at had a large selection of Italian made frames for sale. There were the "common" Bianchi frames, Colnago, DeBernadi, Gios, and more I cannot remember.

Among all the Italian marques though, the most mysterious one to me was CIOCC. No one seemed to know a whole lot about about them, and then ........how the heck do you pronounce THAT name?!!

Now there were a few people that had those bikes in the area back then and we tried pronouncing the name to the best of our Mid-Western ways. We arrived on something that sounded like "chee-ohch". Well, since no one I knew spoke Italian, how were we to know back in the 90's? It wasn't like we could look it up on the innergoogles, ya know!

So, the other day I get a press release for this brand announcing their return to the UK market. The press release tells how to pronounce the name! So, apparently it is like saying "church" without much of the "r" in that word. Try it. Once you say it, I think a green light will go off and it will make sense. How we used to say that name in the 90's never sat right with me.

Anyway, the bikes! They have a gravel bike, of course, which is steel and is quite fetching, as seen here in brown. But they also do steel classic road frames, titanium road frames (gorgeous, by the way), and carbon fiber. All of Italian manufacture, and all beautiful to look at. Too bad we won't see them over here.

I apologize for the bummer FN&V this week, but it is what it is now. Hopefully better news is on the horizon. Stay safe and stay positive!

Why Putting Off Gravel Events Now Is A Good Idea

The Gent's Race has been postponed to an as yet undetermined date

Lately I have seen a little push-back in regard to the postponing/cancellation of most of the Spring gravel events. The main reasoning being used, that I have observed anyway, is that gravel riders are pretty much "practicing social distancing", so what's the big deal?

Well, that's totally wrong thinking, and it smacks of selfishness and denial. Sorry.....not sorry. Here's why......

First off, the authorities in matters regarding this pandemic all say that we must maintain a distance of six feet or more from each other. Thinking that any gravel event start, just as one example, is going to be maintained in that sort of fashion- distancing each other at a start line- is unrealistic thinking. Not to mention packet pick-up, or registration practices, which could be side-stepped, but at great effort and expense. Probably not practical at any rate. And remember, this virus lives on surfaces for long periods of time. What event can guarantee all surfaces will be sanitized with up to hundreds of participants showing up? An event like my beloved Gent's Race, with well over 150 riders, just couldn't happen under such circumstances. So that event has been postponed.

Then you have food and drink. Let's say that you have a self-supported ethos for your event. Well, how about all those chances to pick up a virus at the local convenience store? Or share what you unwittingly have with a local Grandma or Grandpa? Okay- let's say you have fully stocked aid stations. How do you insure a safe food and drink supply? That's an extra wrinkle. Could be done, but again- not every event can do this.

How would you enforce a six foot separation rule? Image by Jon Duke.

 Then there is the unreality of trying to maintain social distancing during an event. Not gonna happen folks. Simple as that. I mean, it's a race, and you aren't going to see riders maintain distances. Plus, as we are learning, wind and the fact the the virus can live in an aerosol state for several hours means that even if you might be 20 feet from a competitor, if they sneeze or cough, you still could come in contact with the virus if the wind is "just right". Not safe - so not advisable. At least not with this particular virus.

These issues get bigger and exponentially harder to control as field sizes get bigger. Is your event 20-50 people? Well, maybe you could pull it off. Try doing this with 250 people. Much, much more difficult. Now try it with 1000 people. Yeah......impossible. This alone is reason number one why events have to reschedule or cancel due to this virus. We just cannot take chances like that.

This leads me to what the events in the near future should be considering, and what the difficulties in postponing or cancelling are for the big events. In my opinion, no one knows when we will get an "all clear" on the COVID-19 virus restrictions. I've been trying to read any expert opinions that I can find, and most say that we are in for a long haul in regard to this pandemic. Estimates now are in the six month area. SIX MONTHS! You know that is now pushing on toward October? In my opinion, it doesn't make any sense to hold any gravel event if this is the case until October at the earliest. Why? Why take the risk and maybe make it so this pandemic has to last longer? That's why.

We also do not know what medical science may do to mitigate any long term concerns. If we get some sort of vaccine, and it can be administered to all the population (unlikely in a very short period of time, but still...), then maybe we "get out of jail" before October, but you have to figure, "what are the chances of that?" 

Again- no one knows. 

And what if you are a bigger event with registration already sewn up and you have $$$$'s invested which cannot be liquidated? What if your host city has a big stake in benefits from your potential event? Well, then you have a very difficult decision to make. I do not envy you, if you are event directors of such events. But.....please do the right thing sooner than later. In my view, it would be better to not have the events, lose money, and be wrong about the danger than to forge ahead and expose folks to this virus. And by the way, this goes for group rides as well.  But yeah, I get it. Guitar Ted can say whatever the hell he wants and he doesn't have any skin in the game.

Right. But you'll have to make up your own mind and remember- It won't only be you that will have to live with your consequences. It will be your community, and the communities of the participants in your event. The bigger that event is, the more influence you have. That's a BIG responsibility. Wouldn't it make more sense to make a decision based on an overabundance of caution?

Tell me I'm wrong.......

Why Putting Off Gravel Events Now Is A Good Idea

The Gent's Race has been postponed to an as yet undetermined date

Lately I have seen a little push-back in regard to the postponing/cancellation of most of the Spring gravel events. The main reasoning being used, that I have observed anyway, is that gravel riders are pretty much "practicing social distancing", so what's the big deal?

Well, that's totally wrong thinking, and it smacks of selfishness and denial. Sorry.....not sorry. Here's why......

First off, the authorities in matters regarding this pandemic all say that we must maintain a distance of six feet or more from each other. Thinking that any gravel event start, just as one example, is going to be maintained in that sort of fashion- distancing each other at a start line- is unrealistic thinking. Not to mention packet pick-up, or registration practices, which could be side-stepped, but at great effort and expense. Probably not practical at any rate. And remember, this virus lives on surfaces for long periods of time. What event can guarantee all surfaces will be sanitized with up to hundreds of participants showing up? An event like my beloved Gent's Race, with well over 150 riders, just couldn't happen under such circumstances. So that event has been postponed.

Then you have food and drink. Let's say that you have a self-supported ethos for your event. Well, how about all those chances to pick up a virus at the local convenience store? Or share what you unwittingly have with a local Grandma or Grandpa? Okay- let's say you have fully stocked aid stations. How do you insure a safe food and drink supply? That's an extra wrinkle. Could be done, but again- not every event can do this.

How would you enforce a six foot separation rule? Image by Jon Duke.

 Then there is the unreality of trying to maintain social distancing during an event. Not gonna happen folks. Simple as that. I mean, it's a race, and you aren't going to see riders maintain distances. Plus, as we are learning, wind and the fact the the virus can live in an aerosol state for several hours means that even if you might be 20 feet from a competitor, if they sneeze or cough, you still could come in contact with the virus if the wind is "just right". Not safe - so not advisable. At least not with this particular virus.

These issues get bigger and exponentially harder to control as field sizes get bigger. Is your event 20-50 people? Well, maybe you could pull it off. Try doing this with 250 people. Much, much more difficult. Now try it with 1000 people. Yeah......impossible. This alone is reason number one why events have to reschedule or cancel due to this virus. We just cannot take chances like that.

This leads me to what the events in the near future should be considering, and what the difficulties in postponing or cancelling are for the big events. In my opinion, no one knows when we will get an "all clear" on the COVID-19 virus restrictions. I've been trying to read any expert opinions that I can find, and most say that we are in for a long haul in regard to this pandemic. Estimates now are in the six month area. SIX MONTHS! You know that is now pushing on toward October? In my opinion, it doesn't make any sense to hold any gravel event if this is the case until October at the earliest. Why? Why take the risk and maybe make it so this pandemic has to last longer? That's why.

We also do not know what medical science may do to mitigate any long term concerns. If we get some sort of vaccine, and it can be administered to all the population (unlikely in a very short period of time, but still...), then maybe we "get out of jail" before October, but you have to figure, "what are the chances of that?" 

Again- no one knows. 

And what if you are a bigger event with registration already sewn up and you have $$$$'s invested which cannot be liquidated? What if your host city has a big stake in benefits from your potential event? Well, then you have a very difficult decision to make. I do not envy you, if you are event directors of such events. But.....please do the right thing sooner than later. In my view, it would be better to not have the events, lose money, and be wrong about the danger than to forge ahead and expose folks to this virus. And by the way, this goes for group rides as well.  But yeah, I get it. Guitar Ted can say whatever the hell he wants and he doesn't have any skin in the game.

Right. But you'll have to make up your own mind and remember- It won't only be you that will have to live with your consequences. It will be your community, and the communities of the participants in your event. The bigger that event is, the more influence you have. That's a BIG responsibility. Wouldn't it make more sense to make a decision based on an overabundance of caution?

Tell me I'm wrong.......